This week we welcome Stephan Bäckman from Sweden. Stephen has the biggest Ian Fleming collection in Sweden, possibly in Scandinavia, and he is always on the hunt for new books.

1. What is your favorite Chopping cover and why?

I must say YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE due to the fact that I searched and searched for a mint dust jacket with great colour on both the front side and the dust jacket. Sadly this seems hard to come by. I sometimes see a cover with great colors but a poor dust jacket otherwise. The hunt goes on.

2. Do you own any 1st editions?

A few but the pride in my collection is a second printing of LIVE AND LET DIE in almost mint condition. I always want my books to be as close to mint as possible. And its hard to find anything affordable. I have decided to accept later printings as long as the dust jacket is in great condition.

3. What is on your literary 007 wishlist?

I wish to have all the Pan Book covers in my collection. I have every Swedish release ever made in my collection. The cape first editions is on everybody’s wishlist I guess, so also mine. I collect beautiful covers. Right now I want to have the US GOLDFINGER paperback first edition.

For a long time YOU ASKED FOR IT and TO HOT TO HANDLE had the lead on my wish list but I now have them in excellent condition. I wanted them since the title was changed even in America.

4. When did you read your first Bond novel and which is your favorite?

I believe I was 12 years when I read THUNDERBALL. I have actually only read all the books except CASINO ROYALE once. I need to find the time to read them all once again but this time in English.

5. Do you have any favorite Bond dust jackets in paperback or by continuation authors?

As I said everybody loves the Cape first editions but I must confess that I like a few of the Swedish first editions and a second edition of OHMSS that looks really cool. I think the Swedish Fleming books show the time they were made on the cover better then the English ones.

Also the Danish first editions is a must have. Not only for the great covers but for the fact that they called Ian Fleming for Jan Fleming to make it sound more danish.

Incidental Intelligence

Stephan recommends that all collectors should check out the Swedish James Bond comics from the sixties and seventies with absolute fantastic Sean Connery covers on ALL Fleming novels.

“I started collecting James Bond when I was 12 years of age. There was so many antique book shops back then that Fleming became an easy target for me. Toys was MUCH harder to find in Sweden. I have also always been into art design of posters, records and books. Nowadays I only collect books and posters and maybe one or two toys if the price or condition is right. I am currently selling all my other James Bond stuff slowly since I suffered from a burnout that has hit my body really hard that I hope to recover from.”