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  1. First Edition Of Ian Fleming's 'Casino Royale' Sells For 20,000 Pounds

    By Devin Zydel on 2007-12-19
    Ian Fleming

    Ian Fleming

    A first edition, first impression of the James Bond novel that started it all, Ian Fleming’s Casino Royale, sold for £20,000 (about $40,000) as part of the massive literary 007 sale at Bloomsbury Auctions earlier this month.

    As earlier reported on CommanderBond.net, this copy of Casino Royale along with nearly 40 other Bond novels (mostly Fleming, but there were a few John Gardner and Raymond Benson books included as well) went up for sale on 6 December in London.

    007 Magazine OnLine updated fans with the results from the sale on some of the notable Bond lots:

    Ian Fleming's 'Casino Royale'

    Ian Fleming’s Casino Royale

    42. Fleming (Ian) Casino Royale, first edition, first impression , full-page inscription from the author on front free endpaper, original boards, slightly cocked, first state dust-jacket without Times review, slightly chipped at head of spine, otherwise an unusually good example, 8vo, 1953.

    £18000 – £22000 (SOLD FOR £20,000)

    The inscription reads “To / the power behind / the publishers’ throne! / from / the author / May 1953”, presumably referring to somebody related to the publishers Jonathan Cape.


    43. Fleming (Ian) Live and Let Die, first edition, full-page inscription from the author on front free endpaper, original boards, first state dust-jacket, slightly rubbed at joints, rubbed at corners with minor fraying to spine ends, 2 small closed tears, otherwise a very good example, 8vo, 1954.

    £8000 – £12000 (SOLD FOR £9500)

    Inscription reads “To / Donald Crowther / Who helped with the coin!” / from / the author / 1954″. Donald Crowther seemingly worked at Spink at this time, before becoming Head of Coins at Sotheby’s, and must have advised Fleming on the 17th century gold coins being sold by “Mr Big” in the plot of Live and Let Die.


    44. Fleming (Ian) Moonraker, first edition , issue with ‘shoot’, near full-page signed presentation inscription from the author on front free endpaper , 1955, original boards, dust-jacket, slightly rubbed at corners, spine slightly dulled, otherwise a very good example, 8vo, 1955.

    £5000 – £7000 (SOLD FOR £8500)

    The inscription reads: “To E.B. Strauss / This ‘Tagebuch eines / halbwüchsigen Spiones’! / Ian Fleming / 1955.” [Journal of an adolescent Spy].


    50. Fleming (Ian) Thunderball, first edition , near full-page inscription from the author on front free endpaper, original boards, dust-jacket, slightly rubbed at tips of corners, but overall an unusually fine copy , 8vo, 1961.

    £3500 – £4500 (SOLD FOR £7000)

    The inscription reads “To / Jack. / By appointment, / M.O. to the SIS! / Ian” – possibly to Jack Whittingham, who worked on a treatment of Thunderball with Fleming for a film version; the idea was scrapped and the treatment converted into the novel instead. ‘SIS’ is the Secret Intelligence Service, aka MI6.


    52. Fleming (Ian) On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, first edition, number 125 of 250 copies signed by the author , colour portrait of Fleming by Amherst Villiers, bookplate of Colonel H.C.C.Newnham on front pastedown, original vellum-backed buckram, t.e.g., in original plastic jacket, a fine copy, 8vo, 1963.

    £3000 – £4000 (SOLD FOR £3000)

    For the complete list of James Bond novels that went up for sale, visit http://www.bloomsburyauctions.com/auction/634.

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