FLEMING, Ian

“The distance between insanity and genius is measured only by success”

Ian Lancaster Fleming, creator of iconic spy, James Bond was himself a flamboyant character. Educated at Eton, he later became a naval intelligence officer and a journalist, all of which provided in depth background details for his fictional creation. The “007” stories were written during winter sojourns at Fleming’s Jamaican house, “Goldeneye” and the name James Bond was appropriated from an American Ornithologist, who wrote about birds of the Caribbean.

In 1953 at the request of Peter Fleming, one of their signed authors, Cape reluctantly agreed to publish a debut novel by Peter's brother, Ian. Casino Royale was published in a print run of less than 5000 copies, but sold well and four more Bond books followed, Live and Let Die, Moonraker, Diamonds Are Forever and From Russia with Love (generally regarded as the best of Fleming's novels). The sixth Bond book, Dr. No, was not a critical success, but did form the basis for the first "007" film in which Sean Connery starred as James Bond. Eight more Bond books were written by Fleming and today they are among the most collected of all twentieth century books.

In addition to creating the world’s best known spy, Fleming also wrote Chitty, Chitty, Bang, Bang, the screenplay for which was written by Roald Dahl.

Please scroll down for our current stock of first edition James Bond books, signed books and original manuscripts by Ian Fleming.