70 Years of James Bond

As 2023 marks seventy years since the first James Bond book was published, I am delighted to present my first-ever catalogue and one that is devoted purely to Ian Fleming. This milestone anniversary is a testament to the enduring popularity and cultural significance of Bond, whose legacy has captivated audiences and readers for generations.

The publication of “Casino Royale” in 1953 marked the beginning of a literary phenomenon that has spanned multiple mediums and gained countless fans worldwide. Over the past 70 years, James Bond has become an icon of popular culture and I am proud to offer a selection of rare and unique items that pay homage to Ian Fleming and his creation.

From first editions to original movie posters, the catalogue showcases the evolution of Bond over fourteen books and countless films. Great pride has gone in to sourcing these items and I am thrilled to share the collection with you. Whether you are a long-time Fleming collector or a newcomer to the world of rare books, I hope that this catalogue will serve as a source of inspiration and that you find something to add to your collection. Of course, if you have any questions or just want to wax lyrical about book collecting, feel free to contact me.

Here’s to another 70 years of Bond!

Oliver Bayliss Owner & Founder of Bayliss Rare Books Ltd

Email: oliver@baylissbooks.co.uk

Phone: +447787359977

CASINO ROYALE | 1953, FIRST EDITION, SECOND IMPRESSION, PRESENTATION COPY, INSCRIBED BY FLEMING.

“To Tanis and Teddy Read and burn! from The Author. Aoüt

First edition, second impression, presentation copy, inscribed by the author in the year of publication on the front free endpaper, “To Tanis and Teddy Read and burn! from The Author. Aoüt 1953”. The married couple Tanis and Teddy resided with the Flemings at their Goldeneye estate the following year for, in Ann Fleming’s words, “twelve interminable days” (quoted in Lycett).

The endless flirting between Tanis Eva Bulkeley Guinness (1908-1993) and Charles “Teddy” Edward Harold John Phillips (1907-2006) proved to be a nuisance to Ian Fleming; in early 1954, attempting to write Moonraker (1955), his concentration was frequently interrupted by their pet names of “Bear” and “Lion”. “At one stage Ian was driven to announce at the luncheon table that he and Ann were going away for a short while, and that their visitors could, of course, continue to use the house. Since Ann had not been informed of this ploy, it caused some embarrassment. Ann had to produce some clever social footwork, which only resulted in Ian accusing her of being a traitor” (Lycett).

Following this confrontation, temperatures cooled; the Flemings were not driven out of their own home, and Tanis and Teddy would subsequently offer their hosts two bottles of whisky as an apology. Interestingly, Teddy was a relative of Ian Fleming’s intimate friend Ivar Bryce, who was instrumental in finding for Fleming the Goldeneye estate, on Jamaica’s north shore.

1953”.

Fleming wrote the Bond novels with the assistance of an unusual clause in his contract as foreign news manager of Kemsley Newspapers: Fleming would take January and February as his annual paid leave, during which time he worked on his novels at Goldeneye.

Casino Royale, the first of the Bond novels, was first published earlier the same year. This copy is from the significant Ian Fleming collection of Martin Schøyen (b.1940), with his bookplate. Schøyen’s private collection of manuscripts, which span all cultures and all time periods, is one of the largest and most comprehensive of its kind.

First edition, second impression, presentation copy, signed and Inscribed by Ian Fleming. Original black boards, spine lettered in red, red heart device on front cover. With dust jacket. Housed in a custom blue quarter morocco solander box. Edges foxed, sporadically affecting margins, contents clean. A very good copy in like, gently foxed jacket, not price-clipped, couple of nicks and short closed tears, a bright and sharp example.

£37,500

*N.B. Item on consignment and as such is not online, if this is of of interest, get in touch.

LIVE AND LET DIE | 1954, FIRST EDITION, FIRST IMPRESSION, WITH THE RARE FIRST ISSUE DUSTJACKET.

First edition, first impression, in the first issue jacket without the design credit slug to the front flap. The earliest dust jackets issued made no mention of Kenneth Lewis and at some point the need was recognised to credit his work. A stamp was made and as a stopgap existing jackets were overstamped beneath the blurb on the front flap. This slightly amateurish solution was swiftly abandoned and the jacket was reset and reprinted to include the Lewis Credit. Copies of the first impression exist with all three states though note that the third state dust jacket may readily be found on reprints and ought therefore be regarded with some suspicion. Copies of the first issue in such condition as the present example are increasingly hard to find.

First edition, first impression, first issue dustjacket. Original black boards, spine lettered in gilt, coin design to front cover in gilt. With dust jacket. Housed in a custom black quarter morocco solander box. Faint spray of foxing to top edge, a remarkably bright and clean copy in a superb example of the dust jacket, a hint of rubbing to extremities, in exceptionally bright condition.

£25,000

*N.B. Item on consignment and as such is not online, if this is of of interest, get in touch.

MOONRAKER | 1955, FIRST EDITION, FIRST IMPRESSION.

Considered by many to be Fleming’s finest book, the first edition of Moonraker is highly sought after on the market.

First edition, first impression, one of two variant states, printed on thicker paper stock and with the word “shoot” on page 10 correctly printed. The entire first impression (containing both “shoot” and “shoo” states) was issued on 7 April 1955.

First edition, first impression, Original black cloth (Gilbert’s binding B, no priority), spine and front cover lettered in silver. With the rare dust jacket.

£8,500

*N.B. Item on consignment and as such is not online, if this is of of interest, get in touch.

DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER | 1956, FINE

FIRST EDITION.

One of the most beautiful dustjackets in the Bond collection, Diamonds are Forever contains the first mention of ‘Spectre’ which in later books would morph into the organisation of Bond’s great nemesis, Blofeld. A rare first edition to find in collectible condition as seen here.

First edition, first impression, with the original dust jacket in exceptional condition. Original black cloth over boards. Front cover stamped in blind with an overall diamond pattern with a baguette-cut diamond stamped in silver in the centre. Spine lettered in silver with Jonathan Cape logo in silver at foot. Internally near-fine.

£8,500

FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE | 1957, FIRST EDITION.

John F. Kennedy’s favourite book and the first of the Bond novels to have the dustjacket designed by Richard Chopping, who went on to execute many of the subsequent jackets, often in collaboration with Ian Fleming himself. The Chopping jackets are nothing short of iconic and this is considered by many to be his finest.

The gun on the front cover is based on that of Geoffrey Boothroyd’s, a British firearms expert who, after criticising Fleming’s choice of guns in Casino Royale, went on to become his advisor and, ultimately, the inspiration for the character of Q. An important first edition.

First edition, first impression, publisher’s black cloth, dust-jacket designed by Richard Chopping, unclipped, rear panel a little dust soiled, slight rubbing at extremities, otherwise a bright and very good-plus copy.

£5,500

DR. NO | 1958, FIRST EDITION, FIRST STATE BINDING.

Despite being the fifth title, this was the first to be made into a film and is the start of one of the greatest cinematic franchises. Dr. NO really is the start of Bond-mania and for many collectors this is the book they seek above all else.

First edition, true first state. Publisher’s original black cloth over boards with the earliest binding design( without the ‘Dancing Lady’ design on the upper board), silver titles to spine, dustjacket designed by Pat Marriott priced at 13/6. A near-fine to fine example with minor wear to the extremities of the dustjacket. Housed in a bespoke black cloth clamshell box with red interior.

£3,500

GOLDFINGER

| 1959, FIRST EDITION.

The first edition that introduced the world to one of the most memorable Bond villains in Auric Goldfinger...

Considered to be one of the best in the series, Goldfinger introduced several elements that became hallmarks of the Bond franchise. The dustjacket is one of the most sought after of the Richard Chopping designs - nothing short of iconic.

First edition, first impression. Original publisher’s black boards with gilt titles on the spine and blind stamped skull to upper cover with gilt stamped eyes. Fine dustjacket. A fine example of a classic Bond.

£3,000

FOR YOUR EYES ONLY | 1960, FIRST EDITION.

For Your Eyes Only is Ian Fleming’s first collection of James Bond short stories, which includes ‘From a View To a Kill’, ‘Quantum of Solace’, ‘Risico’, and ‘The Hildebrand Rarity’.

A noted dustjacket in that it has “the only British dust jacket with any depiction of Bond: the eye in the peep-hole is his. Fleming made artist Richard Chopping paint it many times, until he was satisfied with the shape and, particularly, the color” (Biondi & Pickard, 46).

First edition, first impression. Near-fine condition internally with a near-fine to fine dust-jacket which has none of the usual fading to the spine. A smashing copy.

£3,000

THUNDERBALL | 1961, FIRST EDITION, FIRST STATE BINDING.

Thunderball is the first novel in the so called ‘Blofeld trilogy’ - three Bond novels to feature Blofeld as the main antagonist. The trilogy consists of Thunderball (1961), On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (1963) and You Only Live Twice (1964).

Blofeld is one of the most iconic Bond villains and the three novels are some of the most popular and significant works in the Bond franchise. This might be my favourite dustjacket.

First edition, first issue , with first state binding (titles in gilt rather than silver). Original black cloth with blind stamped skeletal hand on upper cover, in the pictorial dustjacket, with design by Richard Chopping. A near fine example with minor foxing and minor wear to the jacket.

£3,500

THE SPY WHO LOVED ME | 1962, FINE FIRST EDITION.

The Spy Who Loved Me is the only of Ian Fleming’s Bond novels to be written in the first person; written as the testimony of a 23 year old Canadian woman with whom Bond has an affair. To continue this pretence, rather brilliantly, Vivienne Michel gets a credit on the title page as co-author. This is a stunning example, not usually encountered in this condition.

First edition, first impression. Fine internally with the original publishers boards with the dagger design to front cover blind stamped. A fine example of the dust jacket.

£2,500

ON HER MAJESTY’S SECRET SERVICE | 1963, SIGNED EDITION.

One of only 250 examples - Ian Fleming’s only signed limited edition and one of the rarest James Bond editions by dint of this limitation and Fleming’s signature. A first edition set can only really be said to be complete with this in its ranks. It was published simultaneously with the first trade edition on 1 April 1963. The second in the ‘Blofeld Trilogy’.

First edition signed limited issue, quarter vellum, black board sides, spine lettered in gilt, ski track decoration on front cover in white, top edge gilt. With publisher’s protective wrapper, sunning to spine and minor rubbing to sides. A near-fine example in excellent condition.

£15,000

YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE | 1964, FIRST EDITION, FIRST STATE.

A first edition, first state (stating ‘First Published 1964’ versus the second state ‘March 1964’) of Ian Fleming’s You Only Live Twice, here in highly collectible condition.

It is the last novel by Ian Fleming to be published in his lifetime, with subsequent works (The Man with The Golden Gun and Octopussy) being published posthumously.

First edition, first impression (stating ‘First Published 1964’ versus the second state ‘March 1964’), correctly priced at 16s.net. Original black cloth boards with the spine lettered in silver, with title in Japanese on front board in gilt. Internally fresh with just a hint of foxing to the top of the book block. Original dustjacket by Richard Chopping with the pink presenting beautifully (usually faded), mild toning to the jacket spine. A near-fine example.

£1,500

YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE | 1967, ORIGINAL FILM SCRIPT

A rare original script of Roald Dahl’s screenplay for the screen adaptation of Ian Fleming’s You Only Live Twice, released in 1967 starring Sean Connery as James Bond. Published by EON Productions.

Housed within buff card covers with two metal clasps, numbered 84 in red ink on front cover, 142 pages, with annotated costume notes in pencil in an unknown hand on verso of title, and further dialogue changes in pencil to the first three pages, 7 blue sheets of script updates bound-in dating between 5-15 July. Exceedingly rare.

£8,000

THE MAN WITH THE GOLDEN GUN | 1965, FINE FIRST EDITION.

A fresh and highly collectible first edition example of The Man with the Golden Gun, the twelfth and final novel in Ian Fleming’s James Bond series and the thirteenth Bond book overall (followed by Octopussy and The Living Daylights). This example is with the second state binding (the first being the scarcest recognised discreet state of any book - less than 1000 copies published.)

First edition, first impression, second state (without the gilt gun stamped on the front cover). Original black boards with gilt spine lettering. The binding is tight and square with no lean. Green patterned endpapers. Inside the book is as new with the pages remarkably fresh and white. The original dust jacket has bright colours and no toning with the correct issue point of 18 s net price on front flap. Easily the best example a collector could ask for.

£1,000

OCTOPUSSY AND THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS | 1964, FIRST EDITION.

First edition, first issue of the final book in the James Bond collection and the last to be penned by Ian Fleming with many contemporary authors picking up the Bond mantle and continuing the series after his death. ‘Octopussy and the Living Daylights’ is a collection of short stories which were written in 1961 and 1962 and then published after Fleming’s death in 1964.

First edition, first impression, first issue (price: 10s 6d). A near-fine example in a like jacket. Minor warping to the endpapers is the only defect to mention but this is almost imperceptible.

£500

THUNDERBALL | 1965, ORIGINAL UK QUAD POSTER, FRAMED.

Quad poster, first issue with sea-foam green background (later printings exist with white background). Along with From Russia With Love (by Renato Fratini), this art illustration by Robert McGinnis is arguably the other most attractive and desirable of any of the UK poster designs. Linen-backed with routine retouching to background at edges.

Until Skyfall (2012), Thunderball was the highest grossing Bond film (taking into account inflation). The film was presented by the usual Bond producers Harry Saltzman and Albert R. Broccoli but produced by Kevin McClory. McClory was deemed to have contributed to the original Ian Fleming novel and, after legal action, he was awarded the screen rights that included the character of Blofeld and the organisation SPECTRE. The film was one of the first to feature cinematic action underwater.

First issue on sea-foam green background, 760 x 1015 mm; backed on linen; some retouching and stabilising repairs around extremities, including the bottom most line of text which is common with the fragility of this poster. An excellent example of an iconic Bond poster. Framed and glazed to the highest gallery standard.

£9,500

SEAN CONNERY | 1962, RARE ORIGINAL PHOTOGRAPH TAKEN ON THE SET OF DR. NO, FRAMED.

An exceptionally rare original photograph of the iconic Sean Connery by Herman Leonard, taken on the set of the first James Bond film, Dr No.

Leonard is one of the most collectible Jazz photographers of all time, known for his dramatically lit images. Given his Jazz background, it is interesting that he was brought in to be the photographer for Dr. No. However, clearly he was the right choice as this shot of Sean Connery relaxing with a cigarette in-between takes is nothing short of iconic and a seriously unique item. You won’t find this in any other collection.

Dr. No (1962), original oversized candid double weight photograph. Framed: 15 5/8 x 17 1/2 in. (39.6 x 44.4 cm). Condition: Fine. This photograph has been framed with a perspex window on the back showing the original information. It also has measurements on the back, which were to indicate required printing size.

£8,500

YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE | 1967, ORIGINAL UK QUAD POSTER, FRAMED.

A series of three main general release poster designs were commissioned to promote Sean Connery’s fifth outing as 007: You Only Live Twice (1967), with artwork by both Robert McGinnis and Frank McCarthy. Of the three different styles produced for the film, the “Style-A”- ‘Volcano Lair’ is perhaps the most explosive and action-packed. Frank McCarthy’s illustration shows a cool, calm, tuxedo-dressed Bond striding sideways along the walls of Blofeld’s volcano headquarters, keeping his cool in a chaotic landscape featuring explosions, rockets and machine-gun-equipped helicopters all around him.

Conservation linen-backed with noticeable fold line and surface restoration, displays to excellent effect. 40” x 30” (101x 76 cm). Condition: Near-fine. Framed and glazed to the highest standard.

£3,900

MOONRAKER | 1979, ORIGINAL USA HALF SHEET POSTER, FRAMED.

date.

Goozee’s design features villains and heroes alike in zero gravity, with Bond swapping his tuxedo for a slick silver spacesuit. Presented in mint, unrestored, rolled (as issued) unfolded condition.

Unrestored, flat/unfolded, rolled (as issued). Minimal handling or age wear. Excellent condition with bright whites. 28” x 22” (71 x 56 cm). Condition: Excellent. Framed and glazed to the highest standard.

£850

Original US Half-Sheet poster for Lewis Gilbert’s Bond film Moonraker, the eleventh film in the franchise. At the time of its release in 1979, this Star Wars inspired Bond movie was the largest-grossing 007 movie to

FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE | 1963, RARE, ORIGINAL USA THREESHEET, FRAMED.

The US marketing campaign for the James Bond sequel From Russia With Love (1963) was largely the work of David Chasman, who concentrated on a text and photo montage style with the use of black, white and red (the red signified Russia). This large format Style A US Three-Sheet incorporates a series of character and action scenes but is dominated by the eye-catching bold text “69,000,000 JAMES BOND FANS LIVE IN A THROBBING WORLD OF HOT-BLOODED EXCITEMENT” whereby the ‘007’ logo is incorporated into the numbers.

Conservation linen-backed with fold line restoration. The linen on the borders have heavy handling wear but the poster remains unaffected. 41” x 79” (104 x 206 cm). Condition: Excellent. Framed and glazed to the highest standard.

£5,500

LIVE AND LET DIE | 1973, RARE ORIGINAL USA THREE-SHEET, FRAMED.

A large format US three-sheet (East Hemi) movie poster for Roger Moore’s debut as Ian Fleming’s super-spy James Bond 007 in Guy Hamilton’s “Live And Let Die” (1973). This was Robert McGinnis’ fifth official Bond poster campaign and he created the perfect Bond poster for Moore with an abundance of over the top action and exotic glamour with the voodoo theme of the movie, expressed with the fanned Tarot card display. This was also the first campaign that cleverly incorporated the ‘007’ gun barrel logo into Moore’s name as seen top right.

Conservation linen-backed with minimal fold line restoration. Linen had taken a hit on the top-left corner which has creased the paper. There is some scattered staining amongst the credits which probably occurred post-restoration. However, the piece displays to stunning effect. 41” x 81” (104 x 205 cm). Condition: Excellent.

£4,500

A VIEW TO A KILL | 1985, ORIGINAL MOVIE POSTER, FRAMED.

This is the fifteenth Bond film, and the fourteenth to be produced by Eon Productions. It was the seventh and last Bond film to star Roger Moore, and last to star Lois Maxwell as Miss Moneypenny. The film was the third Bond feature to be directed by John Glen.

Unfolded, paper backed and conservation framed with UV plexiglass. Near mint condition, colours remaining very bright. 36 x 14 in. (91.4 x 35.5 cm). Condition: Excellent. Framed and glazed to the highest standard.

£1,500

THE MAN WITH THE GOLDEN GUN| 1974, ORIGINAL

GERMAN ADVANCE BANNER.

Exceptionally rare; this banner has only surfaced a couple of times and given it’s one of a kind design, is one of the most sought after of the original Bond movie poster.

This was the ninth film in the film series and the second time that Roger Moore played James Bond. Christopher Lee played the villain Francisco Scaramanga, whose golden gun is one of the most memorable Bond film props and whose gun adorns this poster.

Paper backed and conservation framed with UV plexiglass, colours remaining very bright, very minor restoration to the centre-fold. Sheet size: 8 3/4 x 21 1/8 in. (22 x 53.5 cm). Condition: Excellent. Framed and glazed.

£3.500