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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
James Bond In Focus.
UK: Mervyn Brodie and Associates Ltd. 1964. [Film promotion] Magazine format in pictorial photographic covers, perfect bound, pp.64. Original price 3s/6d. A commemorative photo book published to coincide with the release of the 1964 James Bond film 'Goldfinger'. With numerous photographs from the first three Bond films (some in colour)..... More
James Bond In Focus.
UK: Mervyn Brodie and Associates Ltd. 1964. [Film promotion] Magazine format in pictorial photographic covers, perfect bound, pp.64. Original price 3s/6d. A commemorative photo book published to coincide with the release of the 1964 James Bond film 'Goldfinger'. With numerous photographs from the first three Bond films (some in colour)..... More
Yours Ever, Ian Fleming.
New Zealand: Privately Published (Printed by Printhouse Nelson) 1994. [Letters] FIRST (and only) EDITION. Author's PRESENTATION COPY, together with two handwritten letters. Octavo, a softcover original, pp.112. Signed inscription to half-title "To James Pickard / Best Wishes / J Lenart." With two loose related manuscript letters, one signed, one initialled..... More
Casino Royale.
London: Jonathan Cape. 1957. [Spy Thriller] Reissue (First Edition thus, fourth printing overall), bibliographer's copy. Octavo (20 x 13cm), pp.218 [2]. Publisher's black cloth-effect paper over boards with red titles to spine and 'Heart' design to upper. With the pictorial green 'playing card' dust-jacket illustrated by Pat Marriott (uncredited on..... More
Casino Royale.
London: Jonathan Cape, 1953. [Spy thriller] FIRST EDITION, first impression. Octavo (20 x 13cm), pp.218; [2], blank. Publisher's black cloth-effect paper over boards with red titles and 'Heart' design to upper, tail edge untrimmed, in pictorial second issue (overprinted) dust-jacket, designed by the author, showing the correct price of 10/6..... More
Casino Royale.
London: Jonathan Cape, 1957. [Spy Thriller] Reissue (First Edition thus, fourth printing overall). Octavo (20 x 13cm), pp.218 [2]. Publisher's black cloth-effect paper over boards with red titles to spine and 'Heart' design to upper. With the pictorial green 'playing card' dust-jacket illustrated by Pat Marriott (uncredited on this impression)..... More
Casino Royale.
London: Pan Books Ltd., 1955. [Spy novel] The FIRST Pan paperback edition, second printing. Series No 334. Octavo (18 x 11cm), pp.159; [1], advertisement. Publisher's softcovers illustrated by 'R.H' (Roger Hall), priced at 2s. No ink inscriptions. Some browning to pages as expected with the vintage paperbacks, covers are clean..... More
Diamonds are Forever.
New York, NY: Permabooks, 1957. [Spy novel] FIRST AMERICAN SOFTCOVER EDITION, bibliographer's copy. Octavo (15 x 10cm), pp.179; [3], advertisements. Series No. M3084. Publisher's illustrated card covers, all edges tinted red, with printed price 25 cents. No inscriptions or ink stamps. A lovely fine copy of a cheaply-produced book. Issued..... More
![Item #75724 From Russia, With Love. Film tie-ins [two variant copies of the same impression]. Ian...](https://harringtonbooks-co-uk.cdn.bibliopolis.com/pictures/75724.jpg?width=320&height=427&fit=bounds&auto=webp&v=1783959844)
From Russia, With Love. Film tie-ins [two variant copies of the same impression].
London: Pan Books, 1964. [Spy novel] British paperback of the Ian Fleming novel, movie tie-in editions. Octavo (18 x 12cm), pp.223; [1], advertisements. Two copies; one home market edition priced at 3/6, the other being an international edition for export to Australia priced at 6/- to rear. Pictorial die-cut card..... More
From Russia, With Love. Film tie-ins.
London: Pan Books, October 1963. [Spy novel] British paperback of the Ian Fleming novel, movie tie-in editions. Octavo (18 x 12cm), pp.223; [1], advertisements. Two copies; one home market edition priced at 3/6, the other being an unpriced international edition for export. Pictorial die-cut card covers featuring stills from the..... More
Group of 'Bond Re-jacketed' paperback series. Comprising: Live and Let Die, Moonraker, Diamonds Are Forever, From Russia With Love, For Your Eyes Only (short stories inc. From A View To A Kill, Quantum of Solace), and The Spy Who loved Me
London: Penguin Books, 2006. [Spy Fiction] 6 volumes, octavo (18 x 11 x 30cm). Publisher's softcovers. With retro cover designs by Roseanne Serra and Richie Fahey. Mixed printings. Reissued in 2006 with new artwork and introductions. Two of these are The Times promotional copies. Mostly fine, with light handling only..... More
Group of 'Bond Re-jacketed' paperback series. Comprising: Moonraker, Diamonds Are Forever, Doctor No, Goldfinger, Thunderball, The Spy Who Loved Me, You Only Live Twice, and The Man With The Golden Gun.
USA: Penguin Books, 2003. [Spy Fiction] 8 volumes, octavo (19 x 13cm). Publisher's softcovers. With retro cover designs by Roseanne Serra and Richie Fahey. Mixed printings ('Moonraker' is a first printing). Larger format than the UK counterparts. Mostly fine, with light handling only, pen mark to edge of 'Moonraker'. An..... More
Ian Fleming's James Bond novels, the complete Signet paperback series. Comprising: Casino Royale, Live and Let Die, Moonraker, Diamonds Are Forever, From Russia With Love, Dr. No, Goldfinger, For Your Eyes Only (short stories inc. From A View To A Kill, Quantum of Solace), Thunderball, The Spy Who loved Me, On Her Majesty's Secret Service, You Only Live Twice, The Man with the Golden Gun, Octopussy and The Living Daylights (short stories)
New York, NY: Signet Books, Published by The New American Library, 1958-1967. [Spy Fiction] FIRST SIGNET EDITIONS, all first printings. Fourteen volumes, octavo (18 x 11 x 17cm). Publisher's colour illustrated softcovers, all edges tinted red. Expected toning to cheap newsprint-type paper stock, no ink names, some minor handling/spine roll..... More
Octopussy.
New York, NY: Signet Books, Published by The New American Library, July 1967. [Spy stories] The true first paperback edition, as advertised on the cover 'Never Before in Paperback'. The UK Pan edition was published simultaneously (Gilbert, p.463). Signet Books' series D3250 (being the FIRST ISSUE). Pp.126 + [2] advertisements..... More
Octopussy.
New York, NY: Signet Books, Published by The New American Library, July 1967. [Spy stories] The true first paperback edition, as advertised on the cover 'Never Before in Paperback'. The UK Pan edition was published simultaneously (Gilbert, p.463). Signet Books' series P3200 (being the second issue). Pp.126 + [2] advertisements..... More
Thrilling Cities.
London: The Reprint Society, 1964. [Travel literature] Reprint Society FIRST UK BOOK CLUB EDITION, with alternative jacket artwork to the Cape first printing. Large octavo (23 x 16cm), pp.223. Publisher's quarter red cloth over patterned cream boards, photographic dust-jacket. A crisp, clean, near fine copy, with no fading to the..... More
Thunderball.
New York, NY: Viking, 1961. [Spy novel] FIRST AMERICAN EDITION, regular issue. Octavo (21 x 15cm), pp.248. Publisher's yellow cloth, top edge red, in striking original pictorial dust-jacket priced at $3.95. No inscriptions, contents clean, top edge gently sunned, jacket with a little wear to spine ends. Near fine. The..... More
Thunderball.
New York, NY: Viking, 1961. [Spy novel] FIRST AMERICAN EDITION, VARIANT ISSUE. Octavo (21 x 15cm), pp.248. Publisher's yellow cloth, top edge red, in striking original pictorial dust-jacket priced at $3.95. No inscriptions, contents clean, jacket with a little wear to spine ends and extremities. Near fine. The first US..... More
Uniform group of Pan Books' 'Still Life' paperback series. Comprising: Moonraker, Dr. No, Goldfinger, Thunderball, and You Only Live Twice.
London: Pan Books, 1970s. [Spy Fiction] 5 volumes, octavo (18 x 12). A group of vintage Pan paperbacks in the collectable 'Still Life' series with wraparound photographic cover art. Mixed printings (these were never available as first printings). Discreet ink name to 'Goldfinger and 'You Only Live Twice', books well..... More
Uniform group of Penguin 'Modern Classics'. Comprising: Casino Royale (2 copies), Live and Let Die, Diamonds Are Forever, From Russia With Love, Goldfinger, Thunderball and You Only Live Twice.
London: Penguin Books, 2004. [Spy Fiction] Eight volumes, octavo (20 x 13). A group of vintage paperbacks in this collectable series with photographic cover art. Mixed printings. Includes the regular version of 'Casino Royale' plus the film tie-in (2006). Minor wear, some light toning to paper as expected. Near fine..... More
Uniform group of Penguin Books' 'Anniversary' James Bond paperbacks. Comprising: Casino Royale, Live and Let Die, Dr. No, Goldfinger Thunderball, For Your Eyes Only, The Spy Who Loved Me, On Her Majesty's Secret Service and You Only Live Twice.
London: Penguin 2002. [Spy Fiction] Nine volumes, octavo (18 x 12cm). A group of vintage paperbacks in the collectable 'Anniversary' series with wraparound photographic cover art. Mixed printings ('Spy' and 'Live Twice' are first printings). Cheap paper toned as expected, discreet library label to 'Dr. No', Goldfinger is ex-library with..... More
You Only Live Twice.
London: Jonathan Cape, 1964 [actually issued late 1963]. [Spy novel] UNCORRECTED PROOF copy of the first edition. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.256. In printed green wrappers and the oversized pictorial dust-jacket, rubber-stamped 'Proof Only' etc. on inside front flap in purple ink, with minor variations to the blurb on rear..... More
Sable Basilisk.
Privately Printed, n.d. [1960s]. [James Bond reference] FIRST EDITION. Quarto, illustrated with heraldic crests. Pp.51, comprising 41 text pages, plus preliminary letters and appendix. Original buckram boards, titled in gilt to spine. A TLS is laid in from the author "to Jonathan", dated 26 May 1965, presenting the book, and..... More
Ian Fleming and James Bond related group lot comprising: The Diamond Smugglers, Thrilling Cities, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Colonel Sun, biographies etc.
Pan Books, Panther, Fontana, Pyramid, Ballantine, 1960s-80s. PAPERBACKS. Fourteen volumes, octavos. A collection of vintage paperback editions (various printings, some firsts) of the original Ian Fleming books and other Fleming/James Bond related texts. Used condition with expected tanning to text blocks, some rubbing/creasing, a few spines sunned, may have owner..... More
Ian Fleming related group lot comprising: The Diamond Smugglers, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, The Spy's Bedside Book, For Bond Lovers Only, biographies etc.
Pan Books, Granada, Fontana, Dell, Panther, and others, 1960s-90s. PAPERBACKS. Fourteen volumes, octavos. A collection of vintage paperback editions (various printings, some firsts) of Ian Fleming and related texts. Some expected wear from reading, signs of ownership, but no significant defects; overall very good. More