"Outside of a dog, man's best friend is a book. Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read."
— Groucho Marx
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
Ian Fleming's Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Related group lot.
Pan Books, Penguin, Piccolo, Signet, and others, 1960s-2000s. [Childrens book] PAPERBACKS. Eight volumes, octavos. A collection of vintage paperback editions (various printings, some firsts) of Ian Fleming's beloved childrens book about a magical car. Various publishers and sizes. Very good, used condition (no ink names). Comprising; First U.K. paperback (1968)..... More
Group of three 'Talking Storybooks' comprising: Moonraker, The Spy Who Loved Me and A View To a Kill.
Florida: Kid Stuff Records and Tapes, n.d [1970s-80s]. [Story book adaptation] Three original 'talking book' sets, consisting of colour picture book and cassette recording housed in a clear bag with printed card hanger. All three are fine and unopened (not play tested). An unusual storybook adaptation of three Ian Fleming..... More
From Russia, With Love. With an Introduction by Christopher Andrew.
London: Penguin Decades, [1957] 2010. [Spy thriller] Special Edition, with cover design by Peter Blake. FIRST EDITION thus, with strike-line '1'. Octavo (20 x 13cm), pp.x; 230. Publisher's illustrated card covers, plain scarlet inners, series details printed on rear. A fine, as-new copy. Surprisingly scarce. Released as part of the..... More
![Item #67550 The Property of a Lady [within] A Treasury of Modern Mysteries. Ian Lancaster...](https://harringtonbooks-co-uk.cdn.bibliopolis.com/pictures/67550.jpg?width=320&height=427&fit=bounds&auto=webp&v=1709573067)
The Property of a Lady [within] A Treasury of Modern Mysteries.
New York: Doubleday, 1973. [Thriller collection] FIRST EDITION thus. A Book Club-only publication. Two volumes, containing Ian Fleming's 1963 James Bond novella. Octavo (22 x 14cm), pp.463; 536. Bound in publisher's red and yellow cloth hardcovers, illustrated dust-jackets. Near fine in wrappers which are gently toned to the spine. Also..... More
[jacket artwork illustrations for Casino Royale, Live & Let Die (concept) and Moonraker].
No place, no date [1953-55; 2003]. [Original James Bond artwork] Three dust-jacket miniature designs executed in watercolour on artist's paper being the front cover artwork of the books published by Jonathan Cape, each SIGNED by the illustrator. Conservation framed with UV plexiglass; in card mount backed with pH neutral corri-cor..... More
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. The Magical Car. Illustrated by John Burningham.
London: Puffin Books, 2008. [Children's Adventure] SIGNED FIRST EDITION THUS, signed by the illustrator. Quarto (26 x 22cm), pp.[8]; 113; [7]. Publisher's red cloth in metallic glossy pictorial dust-wrapper. With the publisher's 'signed' badge affixed to the upper panel. A fine copy, never used. The shiny jacket showing just a...... More
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. The Magical Car. Illustrated by John Burningham.
London: Jonathan Cape and Queen Anne Press, 2014. [Children's illustrated] LIMITED EDITION, one of only 100 copies, this set being additionally SIGNED BY THE ARTIST John Burningham to volumes one and two. 3 volumes, tall octavos (25 x 17 x 5cm in box), complete. Pp.48, 48, 48. Publisher's white hardcovers..... More
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. The Magical Car. Illustrated by John Burningham.
London: Puffin Books, 2008. [Children's Adventure] SIGNED FIRST EDITION THUS, signed by the illustrator. Quarto (26 x 221cm), pp.[8]; 113; [7]. Publisher's red cloth in metallic glossy pictorial dust-wrapper. With the publisher's 'signed' badge affixed to the upper panel. A fine copy, never used. The shiny jacket showing just a...... More
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. The Magical Car. Adventure No.1. Illustrated by John Burningham.
London: Jonathan Cape Ltd., 1964. [Children's classic] FIRST EDITION, first impression. Octavo (24 x 17cm), pp.48, Illustrated throughout in colour and black & white. Publisher's white hardcovers in glossy pictorial dust-wrapper. Gently used, no ink names, price clipped jacket jacket a little toned. A classic adventure story featuring a high-spirited..... More
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. The Magical Car. Illustrated by John Burningham.
London: Jonathan Cape. 1971. [Children's classic] FIRST CAPE SINGLE VOLUME IN HARDCOVEr, originally published in three volumes. Bibliographer's copy. Octavo (24 x 16cm), pp.128. Illustrated by John Burningham. Hand-bound in half mid-green oasis morocco with raised bands to spine, gilt rules and titles, matching cloth sides, publisher's dust-wrapper preserved at..... More
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. The Magical Car. Illustrated by John Burningham.
London: Jonathan Cape. 1971. [Children's classic] FIRST CAPE SINGLE VOLUME IN HARDCOVEr, originally published in three volumes. Bibliographer's copy. Octavo (24 x 16cm), pp.128. Illustrated by John Burningham. Gilt-titled orange cloth with green endpapers. With the dust-jacket, also illustrated by Burningham, priced at £1.75 via publisher's label. Contents clean. A...... More
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. The Magical Car. Illustrated by John Burningham.
London: Jonathan Cape. 1977. [Children's classic] CAPE SINGLE VOLUME IN HARDCOVEr, the second printing, originally published in three volumes. Bibliographer's copy. Octavo (24 x 16cm), pp.128. Illustrated by John Burningham. Gilt-titled orange cloth with green illustrated endpapers. With the dust-jacket, also illustrated by Burningham, priced at £3.95 via publisher's label..... More
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. The Magical Car. Illustrated by John Burningham.
London: Jonathan Cape. 1981. [Children's classic] CAPE SINGLE VOLUME IN HARDCOVEr, the third printing, originally published in three volumes. Bibliographer's copy. Octavo (24 x 16cm), pp.128. Illustrated by John Burningham. Gilt-titled orange cloth with plain green endpapers. With the dust-jacket, also illustrated by Burningham, priced at £4.95. As new. A...... More
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. The Magical Car. Illustrated by John Burningham.
London: Jonathan Cape. 1981. [Children's classic] CAPE SINGLE VOLUME IN HARDCOVEr, the third printing, originally published in three volumes. Bibliographer's copy. Octavo (24 x 16cm), pp.128. Illustrated by John Burningham. Gilt-titled orange cloth with plain green endpapers. With the dust-jacket, also illustrated by Burningham, priced at £6.95 via publisher's label..... More
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. The Magical Car. Illustrated by John Burningham.
London: Jonathan Cape. 1981. [Children's classic] CAPE SINGLE VOLUME IN HARDCOVEr, the third printing, originally published in three volumes. Bibliographer's copy. Octavo (24 x 16cm), pp.128. Illustrated by John Burningham. Gilt-titled orange cloth with plain green endpapers. With the dust-jacket, also illustrated by Burningham, clipped and priced at £7.50 via..... More
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. The Magical Car. Illustrated by John Burningham.
London: Jonathan Cape, 1964-5. [Children's classic] 3 volumes, octavos (24 x 17cm), pp.48, 48, 48. ALL FIRST IMPRESSIONS. Complete. Illustrated in colour throughout. Publisher's white hardcovers in glossy pictorial dust-wrappers, each priced 10/6 (none are clipped, which is unusual for this set). Contents clean, no inscriptions or bookplates. Some light..... More
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. The Magical Car. Illustrated by John Burningham.
London: Jonathan Cape and Queen Anne Press, 2014. [Children's illustrated] DELUXE LIMITED EDITION, one of just 50 sets, accompanied by two prints, measuring 297 x 210mm, SIGNED and numbered by John Burningham. Three volumes plus portfolio, housed in a grey cloth slipcase (34 x 24 x 6cm), pp.48; pp.48; pp.48..... More
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. The Magical Car. Illustrated by John Burningham.
London: Jonathan Cape Ltd., 1964, 1964, 1965. [Children's classic] ALL FIRST IMPRESSIONS. 3 volumes, octavos (24 x 17cm), pp.48, 48, 48. Illustrated throughout in colour and black & white. Publisher's white hardcovers in glossy pictorial dust-wrappers, housed in a fleece-lined cloth slipcase with ribbon pull. A presentable set with some..... More
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. The Magical Car. Illustrated by John Burningham.
London: Jonathan Cape, 1964-5. [Children's classic] First edition, second impressions. Complete in three volumes. Octavo, (24 x 17cm), pp.48, 48, 48. Illustrated in colour throughout. Publisher's white hardcovers in glossy pictorial dust-wrappers. Contents clean, owner name to volume one, bookplate to final volume, acceptable shelfwear, showing acceptable use, jackets with..... More
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. The Magical Car. Illustrated by John Burningham.
London: Jonathan Cape, 1968, 1964, 1965. [Children's classic] First edition, third, second and second impressions respectively. Complete in three volumes. Octavo (24 x 17cm), pp.48, 48, 48. Illustrated in colour throughout. Publisher's white hardcovers in glossy pictorial dust-wrappers. Contents clean, neat bookplate to volume two, jackets with some light chips..... More
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. The Magical Car. Three signed Lithographs.
London: Jonathan Cape and Queen Anne Press, 2014. [Artwork] Three lithographs signed and numbered by illustrator John Burningham, each being number 3 of 15. Three lithograph prints on art paper (297 x 420 mm), with publisher's off-white mounts. The prints show the gangsters being apprehended, Chitty flying over the Goodwin..... More
![Item #64893 Si vive solo due volte. [You Only Live Twice]. Ian Lancaster FLEMING, Enrico CICOGNA](https://harringtonbooks-co-uk.cdn.bibliopolis.com/pictures/64893.jpg?width=320&height=427&fit=bounds&auto=webp&v=1699634813)
Si vive solo due volte. [You Only Live Twice].
Milan: Garzanti, 1965. [James Bond] FIRST EDITION IN ITALIAN. Octavo (20 x 13cm), pp.183 [1]. Publisher's brown cloth with yellow titles to spine. With the purple and yellow dust-jacket, not priced (book price of 850 Lira appears on rear pastedown). Cheap paper browned as expected, jacket with a couple of..... More
![Item #64894 Si vive solo due volte. [You Only Live Twice]. Ian Lancaster FLEMING, Enrico CICOGNA](https://harringtonbooks-co-uk.cdn.bibliopolis.com/pictures/64894.jpg?width=320&height=427&fit=bounds&auto=webp&v=1699634813)
Si vive solo due volte. [You Only Live Twice].
Milan: Garzanti, 1965. [James Bond] FIRST EDITION IN ITALIAN. Octavo (20 x 13cm), pp.183 [1]. Publisher's brown cloth with yellow titles to spine. The book price of 850 Lira is printed on the rear pastedown. Cheap paper browned as expected, bookseller's slips loosely inserted, a few minor marks to covers..... More
Complete James Bond series comprising Casino Royale; Live and Let Die; Moonraker; Diamonds Are Forever; From Russia With Love; Dr. No; Goldfinger; For Your Eyes Only; 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.
London: The Folio Society, 2015-2025. [James Bond] All FIRST EDITIONS thus, first printings, SIGNED by the illustrator to the first volume. Octavos (24 x 17cm). Each with elegant colour plates by Dalton, including a frontispiece. Publisher's metallic grey cloth, with silver and bronze titles to spine and upper. Grey endpapers..... More
For Your Eyes Only.
London: The Folio Society, 2022. [James Bond] SIGNED FIRST EDITION THUS, first printing (stated). Octavo (24 x 17cm), pp.x; 223; [7], blank. With seven colour plates by Dalton, including a frontispiece. SIGNED by the acclaimed illustrator in black ink to title page, additionally dated '22'. Publisher's metallic grey cloth, with..... More