"To the real James Bond from the thief of his identity…"

A very important piece of James Bond history is among the 007 collectables to be auctioned off at the 33rd Profiles in History Hollywood Memorabilia auction on December 11: a copy of You Only Live Twice inscribed by Ian Fleming to the ornithologist whose name he used for the character of James Bond – the only book Fleming ever inscribed to the real Bond.

The only 007 book to ever be inscribed to the “real” James Bond is expected to fetch between $60,000 and $80,000 at auction next month

The first edition of Fleming’s 1964 James Bond novel is inscribed by the author as follows…

To the real James Bond from the thief of his identity,

Ian Fleming
Feb. 5 1964
(A great day!)

Fleming gave the book to the real James Bond on the only occassion that the pair met. The book is expected to fetch between $60,000 and $80,000. Profiles in History’s full description follows…

The inscription to the “real” James Bond

Ian Fleming’s You Only Live Twice (Jonathan Cape, 1964). First British edition. Orig. black cloth boards lettered in silver (spine a bit cocked, light offsetting to endpapers), pictorial dust jacket after a design by Richard Chopping (very fine). Inscribed by Fleming on the front free endpaper, “To the real James Bond from the thief of his identity. Ian Fleming, Feb. 5, 1964, (a great day!)”. When writing Casino Royale in the early 50s, Fleming needed a name for his soon-to-be famous fictional secret agent. He looked no further than the coffee table of his home in Jamaica, where he found inspiration in a copy of Birds of the West Indies by American Ornithologist James Bond. It was not until 1964 that the two authors met in person, when Fleming received the real James Bond at the Jamaican home where 007 was born. Fleming gave Bond a prepublication copy of You Only Live Twice as a memento of his visit, signing it as above. It was the only book ever inscribed for the real-life Bond by Fleming, who died several months after the meeting. Includes a copy of How 007 Got His Name (Collins, 1966, 1st ed.) by Mrs. James Bond and a dust jacket for the book Birds of the West Indies by James Bond. You Only Live Twice housed in a custom half morocco clamshell slipcase. The ultimate James Bond association! Fleming acknowledges the source of secret agent 007’s name!

A range of other Ian Fleming books and James Bond items are also to be auctioned. Below is the full list of 007 collectables to go under the hammer.

• Lot #91: From the library of Ian Fleming, Humoresque by Humbert Wolfe – $1,200–$1,500 (details…)
• Lot #92: Noel Coward drawing of Ian Fleming dated 1939 – $8,000–$12,000 (details…)
• Lot #93: Original portrait proof photograph of author Ian Fleming published on the back cover of his first James Bond novel, Casino Royale – $3,000–$5,000 (details…)
• Lot #94: First American edition of Casino Royale inscribed by Ian Fleming – $12,000–$15,000 (details…)
• Lot #95: First British edition of From Russia With Love by Ian Fleming (Ian Fleming’s personal copy with his corrections on five pages) – $18,000–$20,000 (details…)
• Lot #96: First British edition of Goldfinger, inscribed by Ian Fleming – $30,000–$50,000 (details…)
• Lot #97: First British edition of For Your Eyes Only, inscribed by Ian Fleming – $20,000–$30,000 (details…)
• Lot #98: First British edition of Thunderball inscribed by Ian Fleming $25,000–$35,000 – (details…)
• Lot #99: Original poster advertising Ian Fleming’s James Bond novel, Thunderball – $4,000–$6,000 (details…)
• Lot #100: Collection of original photographs of Sean Connery and Ursula Andress from Dr. No – $1,000–$1,500 (details…)
• Lot #101: Rare Ian Fleming handwritten letter with great content regarding Dr. No, as he was writing the book – $8,000–$12,000 (details…)
• Lot #102: First British edition of The Spy Who Loved Me, inscribed by Ian Fleming to Richard Chopping – $40,000–$60,000 (details…)
• Lot #103: First British edition of You Only Live Twice inscribed by Ian Fleming to the real James Bond – $60,000–$80,000 (details…)
• Lot #104: Second draft original handwritten manuscript of You Only Live Twice signed by Roald Dahl – $30,000–$50,000 (details…)
• Lot #105: You Only Live Twice (Mimeographed)film typescript written by Roald Dahl – $3,000–$5,000 (details…)
• Lot #106: Original hand-drawn Ken Adams set design from You Only Live Twice (Asian Spa) – $2,000–$3,000 (details…)
• Lot #107: Original hand-drawn Ken Adams set design from You Only Live Twice (Asian Bedroom) – $2,000–$3,000 (details…)
• Lot #110: James Bond Moonraker original second advance one-sheet poster artwork – $15,000–$18,000 (details…)
• Lot #111: James Bond A View To A Kill original first advance one-sheet poster artwork – $12,000–$15,000 (details…)
• Lot #112: Pierce Brosnan’s rubber stunt pistol from Tomorrow Never Dies – $6,000–$8,000 (details…)

The auction will take place at 11:00 am PST at Profiles in History, 26901 Agoura Rd Ste 150, Calabasas Hills, CA 91301. Full details can be found at the Profiles In History website.

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