Ian Fleming's James Bond first editions hit the auction block

Ian Fleming’s Goldfinger

London’s Bloomsbury Auctions will be holding their Bibliophile Sale later this month and a selection of James Bond first editions by Ian Fleming are among the lots included.

007 novels, including some signed by several Bond girls, make up four of the 700+ lots in this sale, which are set to hit the auction block on Thursday, 20 August at 10:30am (lots 1-338) and 2:00pm (lots 338-701) precisely.

Bloomsbury Auctions is located at: Bloomsbury House, 24 Maddox Street, Mayfair, London, W1S 1PP. For further details, phone +44(0) 20 7495 9494 or visit the official website.

Details on the James Bond lots follow below:

Lot 560 – Goldfinger

Goldfinger, first edition , signed by both Shirley Eaton & Tania Mallet on front free endpaper, bookseller’s small sticker on front pastedown, original boards, dust-jacket, neat, near-invisible reinforcement to inside spine, in effect an excellent example , 1959.

Signed by the actresses who played Jill & Tilly Masterson respectively in the 1964 film, identifying their characters.

Estimate: £500 – £700

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Lot 561 – Thunderball

Thunderball, first edition , original boards, dust-jacket, slightly soiled and creased at extremities, 8vo, 1961.

Estimate: £100 – £150

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Lot 562 – The Spy Who Loved Me / On Her Majesty’s Secret Service

The Spy who loved Me, 1962; On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, 1963, first editions , original boards, dust-jackets, torn and soiled, a little loss ; and another, Wain, 8vo (3)

Estimate: £80 – £120

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Lot 563 – Octopussy and The Living Daylights

Octopussy and the Living Daylights, first edition , signed & inscribed by both Maud Adams & Maryam d’Abo on title, original boards, dust-jacket, small sticker mark on inside front flap revealing publisher’s printed price 10s6d, othewise a near fine copy, 8vo, 1966.

The female leads from the movies of Octopussy and The Living Daylights respectively.

Estimate: £100 – £150

Keep your browsers locked on the CommanderBond.net main page—and our brand new Twitter feed—for all the latest news on James Bond-related events occurring around the world.

James Bond limited edition watch registries launched

Five new registries are now publicly available for the people most passionate about exclusively-numbered James Bond watches.

CommanderBond.net presents the full details below in the following press release:

“The James Bond Limited Edition Watch Registries”

Between 2002 and present day, Omega SA has produced exactly 40,035 sequentially-numbered wristwatches under license with Eon Productions, and associated with the last three 007 feature films.

Where did each individual watch start out? Where are they now? What sorts of “stories” go along with them: From where they’ve been worn, what personal life events they may been used to time, reasons they were subsequently sold—and bought by the next person? Additionally, there are print ads, images, press releases, and specifications to be included as well.

JamesBondWatches.com has created specific Blogs to answer all these questions and indulge passions. A great deal of information is already online in each one right now.

The 2002 Omega Seamaster watch, limited to 10,007 pieces and released in conjunction with Die Another Day, starring Pierce Brosnan as James Bond, and in overall commemoration of 40 years of 007 feature films

• http://253780.blogspot.com/

The 2006 Omega Seamaster watch, limited to 10,007 pieces and released in conjunction with Casino Royale, starring Daniel Craig as James Bond

• http://222680.blogspot.com/

The 2006 Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean BIG SIZE watch, limited to 5,007 pieces and released in conjunction with Casino Royale, starring Daniel Craig as James Bond

• http://29075091.blogspot.com/

The 2008 Omega Seamaster watch, limited to 10,007 pieces and released while Quantum of Solace was being filmed, starring Daniel Craig as James Bond

• http://collectorsbondwatch2008.blogspot.com/

The 2008 Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean watch, limited to 5,007 pieces and released in conjunction with Quantum of Solace, starring Daniel Craig as James Bond

• http://quantumbondwatchle.blogspot.com/

An overall Registry Index is available at the following link: http://jamesbondwatchregistries.blogspot.com/

“This is a rather die-hard group of James Bond fans,” observes Dell Deaton, creator of www.jamesbondwatches.com, and these new Registries. “As we reach critical mass with registries and followers to the Blogs, I wouldn’t be surprised if a get-together of some sort was arranged in 2010. I can already think of a great venue here in the United States. Similar collecting groups may see this as a common draw for places in their countries around the world as well.”

Blogs will be updated at most once per day. Each Blog includes an eMail link to get in touch with JamesBondWatches.com for those who have suggestions for information, including photographs, to be included. Contributors may choose not to have their names included.

Keep your browsers locked on the CBn main page—and our brand new Twitter feed—for all the latest news on James Bond-related events occurring around the world.

Quantum of Solace hardcover shortlisted for British Book Design and Production Award

IanFleming.com reports that last year’s hardcover release of Quantum of Solace: The Complete James Bond Short Stories has been nominated in the Best Jacket/Cover Design category at the 2009 British Book Design and Production Awards.

Quantum of Solace brought together all nine of Ian Fleming’s Bond short stories to coincide with the release of the film of the same name.

The book was designed by Angus Hyland and Fabian Herrmann of Pentagram; its cloth-covered boards feature a silver embossed image of 007’s weapon of choice, the Walther PPK. The book is encased in a manilla cardboard wraparound, featuring the details of Bond’s missions within.

The British Book Design and Production Awards will be held on 29 October 2009 at London’s Royal Lancaster Hotel. For more information, visit the British Book Design and Production Awards website, where the full shortlist will be available to view on Monday.

Keep watching CommanderBond.net for the latest literary James Bond news.

James Bond featured in Science of Spying exhibit in Dallas

The Dallas Museum of Nature and Science in Texas is making this the year of the undercover agent with their Science of Spying exhibit and unsurprisingly, James Bond is one of the main features.

The Dallas News reports that the traveling spy exhibit, designed in London, will make Dallas its home until the end of January 2010. It features many different kinds of games and devices designed to give visitors a hands-on look at the world of secret agents. These involve allowing them to create their own scanned identification, hack into the computer system of an evil corporation, uncover the secret plot and then stop it by cracking a code and escaping undetected.

Docent Norm Bodily said younger children will probably enjoy the activities most at the exhibit. ‘I honestly think that 8- to 12-year-olds will get the most out of this exhibit. Older kids probably won’t get as big of a kick out of it.’

007 is featured in the Shaken Not Stirred movie series, which includes three James Bond films in the IMAX theater and an expert speaker at each. Fans can catch Daniel Craig’s debut in Casino Royale on Saturday, 22 August.

For details on attending, visit the museum’s official website.

As always, keep watching the CommanderBond.net main page — and our brand new Twitter feed—for all the latest on James Bond.

Activision: James Bond to return in 2010

CommanderBond.net readers will recall that earlier this year Activision announced it was delaying the release of their follow-up James Bond game from a September 2009 release to sometime in 2010.

Today, Joystiq reports that company CEO Mike Griffith announced some of the projects due out next year in an earnings call and 007 was included on the list.

‘We’ll launch also new games based on James Bond, Tony Hawk, and Spider-Man, along with games supporting the theatrical releases for Dreamworks’ Shrek 4 and How to Train Your Dragon,’ he was quoted as saying.

Back in December of 2008, it was reported that Activision would be following up Quantum of Solace with a ‘racing-oriented’ 007 game (which was eventually delayed from the above mentioned September ’09 release date). No official word yet on whether this will be the sole Bond title Activision releases next year or if they’ll also feature another first-person shooter.

CommanderBond.net will keep you updated as more details become available.

007 marathon on USA Network kicks off

In addition to the month-long James Bond marathon taking place on Universal HD, USA Network is also joining the Bond-fest with a selection of 007 titles throughout August.

CommanderBond.net brings you the complete schedule…

Thursday, 6 August:

• 12:00am: The World is not Enough

Monday, 10 August:

• 6:00am: You Only Live Twice
• 8:30am: For Your Eyes Only
• 11:30am: The World is not Enough
• 2:30pm: Live and Let Die

Thursday, 13 August:

• 12:00am: Diamonds are Forever

Monday, 17 August:

• 6:00am: Moonraker
• 8:30am: A View to a Kill
• 11:30am: Never Say Never Again
• 2:30pm: Diamonds are Forever

Thursday, 20 August:

• 12:00am: Thunderball

Monday, 24 August:

• 6:00am: Octopussy
• 8:30am: From Russia with Love
• 11:30am: The Man with the Golden Gun
• 2:30pm: The Living Daylights

Tuesday, 25 August:

• 1:00am: Octopussy

Thursday, 27 August:

• 12:00am: You Only Live Twice

Monday, 31 August:

• 6:00am: The Spy Who Loved Me
• 8:30am: From Russia with Love
• 11:30am: The Man with the Golden Gun
• 2:30pm: The Living Daylights

For further details, visit the official USA Network website.

Keep turning to the CBn main page for all the latest news from the world of 007. Be sure to check out our Twitter feed as well.

Rare Ian Fleming James Bond books at Scotland's Ballater Book Fair

Several rare Ian Fleming James Bond titles will be on display later this month at the Ballater Book Fair in Scotland.

Ian Fleming

According to the Deeside Piper, Fleming’s The Spy Who Loved Me, You Only Live Twice and The Man with the Golden Gun are just a few of the 007 novels that will be featured at the event.

Additionally, a copy of the elusive Casino Royale will also be present, although this particular copy is missing the dustjacket.

These James Bond novels are just a small selection of the wide variety of out of print, antiquarian and collectable books that will be for sale at this year’s fair along with a good selection of maps and prints.

The Ballater Book Fair is scheduled to take place on Sunday, 9 August from 10:00am through 5:00pm at Victoria Hall, Station Square. Admission is £1.

For additional details, contact Bryn Wayte, Deeside Books, Ballater; at 01339 754080 or [email protected].

Keep your browsers pointed to the CommanderBond.net main page—Twitter feed—for all the latest news from the world of 007.

Universal HD launches Prime Bond marathon in August

James Bond is back in action all month long on Univeral HD.

007 fans will be able to tune in all month long to catch every Bond film from Dr. No through GoldenEye as part of their Prime Bond marathon.

The full schedule follows below. For additional details, visit the Universal HD official website.

Diamonds Are Forever

Wednesday, 5 August:

• 12:30am: Dr. No

Thursday, 6 August:

• 9:00am: Thunderball
• 11:30am: You Only Live Twice
• 2:00pm: Thunderball
• 4:30pm: You Only Live Twice
• 9:00pm: The Spy Who Loved Me

Friday, 7 August:

• 3:30am: The Spy Who Loved Me

Sunday, 9 August:

• 7:00pm: The World is not Enough
• 10:00pm: The World is not Enough

Tuesday, 11 August:

• 9:00pm: From Russia with Love

Wednesday, 12 August:

• 12:30am: From Russia with Love

Thursday, 13 August:

• 8:00am: Licence to Kill
• 11:00am: Live and Let Die
• 1:30pm: Licence to Kill
• 4:30pm: Live and Let Die
• 9:00pm: For Your Eyes Only

Friday, 14 August:

• 3:30am: For Your Eyes Only

Sunday, 16 August:

• 7:00pm: Tomorrow Never Dies
• 9:30pm: Tomorrow Never Dies

Tuesday, 18 August:

• 9:00pm: Diamonds are Forever

Wednesday, 19 August:

• 12:30am: Diamonds are Forever

Thursday, 20 August:

• 8:00am: On Her Majesty’s Secret Service
• 11:00am: Moonraker
• 1:30pm: On Her Majesty’s Secret Service
• 4:30pm: Moonraker
• 9:00pm: A View to a Kill

Friday, 21 August:

• 3:30am: A View to a Kill

Sunday, 23 August:

• 7:00pm: Never Say Never Again
• 10:00pm: Never Say Never Again

Tuesday, 25 August:

• 9:00pm: Goldfinger

Wednesday, 26 August:

• 12:30am: Goldfinger

Thursday, 27 August:

• 9:00am: Octopussy
• 11:30am: The Living Daylights
• 2:00pm: Octopussy
• 4:30pm: The Living Daylights
• 9:00pm: The Man with the Golden Gun

Friday, 28 August:

• 3:30am: The Man with the Golden Gun

As always, stay tuned to the CommanderBond.net main page for all the latest news from the world of 007. Be sure to check out our Twitter feed as well.

Daniel Craig included on Vanity Fair's Best Dressed list

James Bond star Daniel Craig is once again making an appearance on the best dressed lists.

This time around, Craig has been named one of the best dressed men of 2009 by Vanity Fair. He joins fellow actor Brad Pitt and United States President Barack Obama among others on the listing.

What they said about Craig…

Daniel Craig

DANIEL CRAIG – Because nobody does it better.
Residence: London.
Occupation: Actor.
Age: 40.
Notable red-carpet ensemble of 2008: Tom Ford black bespoke suit worn to Flashbacks of a Fool premiere in London.
Watch: Omega.
Causes: The Dorset Wildlife Trust, and Barnardo’s children’s charity.

Penelope Cruz, Anne Hathaway and Quantum of Solace title song performer Alicia Keys—who describes her style as ‘slick, feminine, strong, and sexy’—were sworn in as the ladies of fashion alongside First Ladies Michelle Obama and Carla Bruni-Sarkozy.

Actresses Renee Zellweger and Catherine Deneuve also made the cut.

For the complete listing, visit Vanity Fair.

As always, stay tuned to the CommanderBond.net main page for all the latest news from the world of 007. Be sure to check out our Twitter feed as well.

Sir Sean Connery's Being a Scot arrives in paperback

The UK paperback edition of Sir Sean Connery’s book, Being a Scot is available to order now from Amazon.co.uk.

Originally released last August to mark the James Bond actor’s 78th birthday, Being a Scot mixes a ‘frank account of Connery’s life with an esoteric take on Scotland’s history and culture’. The 312-page long book features more than 400 photograghs from his personal collection and is co-written with Scottish filmmaker Murray Grigor.

This brand new paperback edition is published by Phoenix and retails for £14.99.

Sir Sean Connery’s Being A Scot

“My first big break came when I was five years old. It’s taken me more than seventy years to realise that. You see, at five I first learnt to read. It’s that simple and it’s that profound. I left school at thirteen. I didn’t have a formal education… It has been a long return journey from my two-room Fountainbridge home in the smoky industrial end of Edinburgh opposite the McCowans’ toffee factory. There was no bathroom with a communal toilet outside. For years we had only gas lighting. Sometimes the light in the shared stairway would be out after some desperado had broken the mantle to bubble gas through milk for kicks.” Although he is an indubitably international superstar, Sir Sean Connery still knows the city of Edinburgh practically street by street from delivering the morning milk as a schoolboy. His round included Fettes College, where Ian Fleming had sent his fictional James Bond after he was expelled from Eton. Being A Scot is a vivid and highly personal portrait of Scotland and its achievements, which is self-revelatory whilst full of Sir Sean’s desire to shine light upon Scottish success and heroic failure.His personal quest with his friend and co-writer Murray Grigor has been to seek answers to some perplexing questions.

How did Scots come to devise so many new sports and games, or raise others to new heights? What gave fire to the Gothic tendency in Scottish literature? Why have so many creatively inventive and influential architects been Scots? Where did Scotland’s unreal blend of psychotic humour originate? And what about the national tradition of self-deprecation sometimes called the Scottish cringe? Sean Connery offers a correction to misconceptions that many believe are part of the historical record whilst revealing as never before his own vibrant personal history.

Order Being A Scot online:

• Order the UK hardback edition of Being A Scot from Amazon.co.uk
• Order the UK paperback edition of Being A Scot from Amazon.co.uk

For up-to-the-minute literary James Bond coverage, always turn your browsers to the CommanderBond.net main page. Be sure to check out our new Twitter feed as well.