"A book should serve as the axe for the frozen sea within us."
— Franz Kafka
Ian Fleming | First Editions
1908 - 1964
See below for our world-leading stock of Ian Fleming first editions, signed first editions, fine bindings, sets, association copies, letters, and other collectible material relating to Fleming and his famous creation, James Bond.
Ian Lancaster Fleming was born in Mayfair, London on 28th May 1908, the second of four brothers. He was schooled at Eton College and continued his education in Europe, studying languages in Kitzbuhel, Munich and Geneva. In the 1930's Fleming worked as both a merchant banker and a stockbroker, but it was at journalism (initially reporting for Reuters, then freelance) that he excelled. During World War II, with the rank of Commander, he worked as assistant to the Director of Naval Intelligence at the Admiralty in London, privy to many secrets. It was his experience in this role and his earlier escapades in Russia that were to inspire many of the plots and characters that would appear within his later novels. After the war Fleming dabbled in travel journalism and began writing instructional articles for his network of 'Mercury [news] Service' agents. In the late '40s he bought a property in Jamaica, where in early 1952 he settled down to write a novel. Casino Royale, the first James Bond adventure, was produced in just two months. The same successful routine was followed every year for the rest of his life, leading to a total of fourteen Bond books.
Ian Fleming
Queen Anne Press
Ian Fleming the Bibliography by Jon Gilbert
The Lilly Library
James Bond First Editions
The Ian Fleming Foundation
![Item #69895 Diamonds Are Forever [four variant copies of the same impression]. Ian Lancaster FLEMING](https://harringtonbooks-co-uk.cdn.bibliopolis.com/pictures/69895.jpg?width=320&height=427&fit=bounds&auto=webp&v=1727805368)
Diamonds Are Forever [four variant copies of the same impression].
London: Pan Books, 1963. [James Bond spy novel] Twenty-first printing in paperback (UK version, export version, international version home market issue, and Australian version). August 1963. Octavo (18 x11cm), pp.192. Publisher's salmon card wrappers designed by Hawkey, one priced at 3/6, one unpriced for export, one with printed price but..... More
![Item #72791 Diamonds Are Forever [three variant copies of the same impression]. Ian Lancaster...](https://harringtonbooks-co-uk.cdn.bibliopolis.com/pictures/72791.jpg?width=320&height=427&fit=bounds&auto=webp&v=1754930439)
Diamonds Are Forever [three variant copies of the same impression].
London: Pan Books, 1965. [James Bond spy novel] UK Paperback edition, twentieth printing (UK version and international versions, May 1965). Slim octavos (18 x 11cm), pp.190. Publisher's photographic softcovers with design elements by Raymond Hawkey, one priced 3/6 (UK home market), another unpriced for export and another priced 60c for..... More
![Item #69189 Diamonds Are Forever [two variant copies of the same impression]. Ian Lancaster FLEMING](https://harringtonbooks-co-uk.cdn.bibliopolis.com/pictures/69189.jpg?width=320&height=427&fit=bounds&auto=webp&v=1723480093)
Diamonds Are Forever [two variant copies of the same impression].
London: Pan Books, 1963. [James Bond spy novel] UK Paperback edition, twelfth printing, BINDING A and BINDING B (August 1963). Octavo (18 x11cm), pp.192. Publisher's yellow card wrappers illustrated by Rex Archer priced at 3/6, and publisher's salmon card wrappers designed by Hawkey priced at 3/6. Cheap paper toned as..... More
![Item #69432 Diamonds Are Forever [two variant copies of the same impression]. Ian Lancaster FLEMING](https://harringtonbooks-co-uk.cdn.bibliopolis.com/pictures/69432.jpg?width=320&height=427&fit=bounds&auto=webp&v=1724834907)
Diamonds Are Forever [two variant copies of the same impression].
London: Pan Books, 1963. [James Bond spy novel] UK Paperback edition, tenth printing, BINDING A and BINDING B (August 1963). Octavo (18 x11cm), pp.192. Publisher's yellow card wrappers illustrated by Rex Archer, designated either 'Great Pan' series G101 priced 2/6 or 'X series' X235 priced 3/6. Cheap paper toned as..... More
![Item #72790 Diamonds Are Forever [two variant copies of the same impression]. Ian Lancaster FLEMING](https://harringtonbooks-co-uk.cdn.bibliopolis.com/pictures/72790.jpg?width=320&height=427&fit=bounds&auto=webp&v=1754930439)
Diamonds Are Forever [two variant copies of the same impression].
London: Pan Books, 1962. [James Bond spy novel] UK Paperback edition, ninth printing (UK version and international version, October 1962). Octavo (18 x11cm), pp.192. Publisher's 'yellow band' card wrappers with Dressing table illustration, priced at 2/6 or unpriced. Great Pan G101. Cheap paper toned as expected, ink marks to cover..... More
![Item #72792 Diamonds Are Forever [two variant copies of the same impression]. Ian Lancaster FLEMING](https://harringtonbooks-co-uk.cdn.bibliopolis.com/pictures/72792.jpg?width=320&height=427&fit=bounds&auto=webp&v=1754930439)
Diamonds Are Forever [two variant copies of the same impression].
London: Pan Books, 1962. [James Bond spy novel] UK Paperback edition, seventh printing (UK version and exportl version, March 1962). Octavo (18 x11cm), pp.192. Publisher's 'yellow band' card wrappers with Dressing table illustration, one priced at 2/6, one priced at 60c for Canada via publisher's label. Great Pan G101. Cheap..... More
![Item #68364 Diamonds are Forever [two variant copies]. Ian Lancaster FLEMING](https://harringtonbooks-co-uk.cdn.bibliopolis.com/pictures/68364.jpg?width=320&height=427&fit=bounds&auto=webp&v=1719592932)
Diamonds are Forever [two variant copies].
New York, NY: The Macmillan Company, no date [1971]. [Movie tie-in hardcovers] Bibliographer's copies. Octavo (22 x 14cm), pp.211; [3]. Publisher's navy blue cloth over boards, lettered in silver to the spine [together with] publisher's mid-blue vinyl over boards, lettered in white to the spine. Both in pictorial dust-wrapper featuring..... More
Diamonds are Forever.
London: Queen Anne Press, in association with Adrian Harrington, [2022]. [Spy thriller] CLASSIC READERS EDITION. Octavo (22 x 14cm), pp.288. Publisher's granite-coloured hardcovers stamped in gilt, decorated with the author's initials in gilt to cover, plain black endpapers. Absolutely fine/as new. SIGNED on behalf of the publisher by Jon Gilbert..... More
Diamonds are Forever.
London: Jonathan Cape, 1956. [Spy thriller] FIRST EDITION, Binding B (Linson cloth), bibliographer's copy. Octavo (20 x 14cm), pp.257; [1], blank. Publisher's black cloth titled in silver. Boots 'Booklovers' Library copy with printed slip at rear, no d/j, likely as issued to Boots. Slip lists title as MYST.[ERY], with earliest..... More
Diamonds are Forever.
London: Jonathan Cape, 1956. [Spy thriller] FIRST EDITION, Binding A (Fabroleen cloth), bibliographer's copy. Octavo (20 x 14cm), pp.257; [1], blank. Publisher's black cloth titled in silver. A working copy with some spotting, edges toned, area of soiling to foot of upper, provided with a later plain brown paper jacket..... More
Diamonds are Forever.
London: Jonathan Cape, 1956. [Spy thriller] FIRST EDITION, Binding A (Fabroleen cloth), an unusual association/presentation copy with signed inscription by Ian Fleming's literary editor William Plomer. Octavo (20 x 14cm), pp.257; [1], blank. Publisher's black cloth titled in silver, pictorial jacket by Pat Marriott. With ink note to flyleaf; A...... More
Diamonds are Forever.
London: Jonathan Cape, 1956. [Spy thriller] FIRST EDITION, Binding B (Linson cloth), bibliographer's copy. Octavo (20 x 14cm), pp.257; [1], blank. Publisher's black cloth titled in silver. Discreet bookseller ticket to rear pastedown. First gathering of this copy shows the two black location discs and title 'DIAMONDS FOREVER' as described..... More
Diamonds are Forever.
London: Jonathan Cape, 1956. [Spy thriller] FIRST EDITION, first impression, Binding B (Linson cloth), export copy. Octavo (20 x 14cm), pp.257; [1], blank. Publisher's black cloth titled in silver, pictorial dust-wrapper by Pat Marriott. Housed in a custom-made cloth clamshell. No inscriptions or spotting. A crisp, fine copy of the..... More
Diamonds are Forever.
New York, NY: The Macmillan Company, [1966]. [Spy novel] SECOND U.S. EDITION. Octavo (22 x 14cm), pp.215; [1], blank. Publisher's black vinyl-style cloth-covered boards, lettered in gilt to the spine, in pictorial dust-jacket illustrated by Jerome Kuhl, priced at $3.95. Owner's names to endpaper otherwise a fine, fresh copy. A...... More
Diamonds are Forever.
New York, NY: The Macmillan Company, [1966]. [Spy novel] SECOND U.S. EDITION. Octavo (22 x 14cm), pp.215; [1], blank. Publisher's black vinyl-style cloth-covered boards, lettered in gilt to the spine, in pictorial dust-jacket illustrated by Jerome Kuhl, priced at $3.95. A mis-bound copy, lacking a central gathering, pp.89-120. Jacket is..... More
Diamonds are Forever.
London: Jonathan Cape, 1962. [Spy thriller] Fifth Impression, BINDING A, bibliographer's copy. Octavo (20 x 14cm), pp.257; [1], blank. Publisher's brown cloth (binding B was black), titled in silver, pictorial dust-wrapper by Pat Marriott priced at 16s. This copy exported for sale in Malaysia (bookseller ticket to pastedown). Contents and..... More
Diamonds Are Forever.
USA: Charter, 1987. [Spy Fiction] FIRST EDITION of the Charter paperback. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.[8] 215 [1]. Publisher's softcovers. With silhouette cover design, edges tinted yellow. Contents clean, some rubbing to joints, reading crease to spine. Very good. This copy is from the library of Jon Gilbert (pencil signature..... More
Diamonds are Forever.
London: Jonathan Cape, 1956. [Spy thriller] FIRST EDITION, ADVANCE BINDING. Octavo (20 x 14cm), pp.257; [1], blank. Original blue cloth, top edge red, lettered in silver, with Jonathan Cape imprint and 'Greek urn' device blocked to spine. Collector's blue and grey cloth clamshell box. Moderately used with a few institutional..... More
Diamonds are Forever.
London: Jonathan Cape, 1956. [Spy thriller] FIRST EDITION, Binding B (Linson cloth). Octavo (20 x 14cm), pp.257; [1], blank. Publisher's black cloth titled in silver. Contents and page edges are clean, one small spot of foxing to fore-edge. Fine, but for a neat gift inscription to the endpaper. Covers are..... More
Diamonds are Forever.
London: Jonathan Cape, 1959. [Spy thriller] FIRST EDITION, third printing, bibliographer's copy. Octavo (20 x 14cm), pp.257; [1], blank. Publisher's dark grey 'Fabroleen' cloth titled in silver, illustrated dust-jacket by Pat Marriott priced at 15s. Contents clean, no inscriptions. A fresh, clean book in a fine wrapper with faintest rubbing..... More
Diamonds are Forever.
London: Jonathan Cape, 1956. [James Bond] FIRST EDITION, Binding A, REVIEW COPY belonging to novelist and critic ANTHONY LEJEUNE. Octavo (20 x 14cm), pp.257; [1]. Publisher's black cloth, titled in silver, in pictorial dust-wrapper designed by Pat Marriott, with original price 12/6 present. Housed in an elegant black cloth clamshell..... More
Diamonds are Forever.
London: Jonathan Cape, 1956. [James Bond] FIRST EDITION, Binding B (no priority). Octavo (20 x 14cm), pp.257; [1]. Publisher's black cloth, titled in silver, in pictorial dust-wrapper designed by Pat Marriott, with original price 12/6 present. No inscriptions, contents clean, some spotting to edges, jacket lightly rubbed/worn at extremities, chipped..... More
Diamonds are Forever.
New York, NY: The Macmillan Company, no date [1971]. [Movie tie-in hardcover] Octavo (22 x 14cm), pp.211; [3]. Publisher's navy blue cloth over boards, lettered in silver to the spine, in pictorial dust-wrapper featuring the Robert McGuinness promotional illustration for the film adaptation. Contents clean, no inscritpions Jacket with a...... More
Diamonds are Forever.
London: Jonathan Cape, 1959. [Spy thriller] FIRST EDITION, third printing. Octavo (20 x 14cm), pp.257; [1], blank. Publisher's dark grey 'Fabroleen' cloth titled in silver, illustrated dust-jacket by Pat Marriott priced at 15s. Contents clean, no inscriptions, jacket virtually unworn. A fresh example. The fourth of fourteen James Bond books..... More
Diamonds are Forever.
London: Jonathan Cape, 1974. [Spy thriller] Crown Octavo (20 x 14cm), pp.257; [1], blank. Seventh printing, bibliographer's copy, ex-library. Publisher's dark grey 'Fabroleen' cloth titled in silver, illustrated dust-jacket by Pat Marriott priced at £1.95. Contents clean, library stamp and a few associated marks (not unsightly!). Jon Gilbert's bookplate and..... More