007 Ways to Buy James Bond 1st Editions

It is often challenging to locate ‘very good’ or ‘near fine’ examples of James Bond / Ian Fleming novels due to condition qualities, that are specific to certain titles and make them increasingly scarce. To save you some time, I’ve collected up the 7 best companies for sourcing James Bond 1st Editions and other Ian…

Richard Chopping and Francis Bacon

Francis Bacon provides an interesting footnote into how Richard Chopping ended up creating the James Bond dust jackets for Ian Fleming; it was at one of Bacon’s art exhibitions that Ann Fleming, a close friend of Bacon, made the introduction. Chopping recalled: “He [Bacon] took her [Ann Fleming]  upstairs to see mine, which was very good of him,…

Richard Chopping

‘To a Dragon Fly’ by Richard Chopping

Here is a poem that Chopping contributed to the Grasshopper in 1931: O DRAGON-FLY, you lovely thing, I love to see you on the wing; Oh, when I hear you whirring by, I raise an aching, weary eye From off my tiring, awful task, To gaze upon your lovely mask, Your slender legs, your rainbow…

Field Report: Joachim Koch from ‘Books Tell You Why’

1. What are the rarest Bond 1st Editions you have? One of the most desirable James Bond titles we currently offer is Ian Fleming’s first book, Casino Royale, a fine first edition in a near fine dust wrapper, quite scarce in the trade. Less than 3,000 books were printed in the first state, only few survive in such excellent condition. We generally have a rather comprehensive offering of first editions from…

Kingsley Amis’ Last Words on Ian Fleming

With kind permission from Revelator: Here’s a little treat to kick off 2014. In 1981 a thick reference book was published, titled The Dictionary of National Biography, 1961-1970 and containing biographies of notable figures who had died during that decade. As one of the best-selling authors of century, Ian Fleming was naturally included, and the editors wisely…

Dan Stevens reads ‘The Living Daylights’

Back on October 24th, 2011, BBC Radio 4 broadcast a special 27-minute reading of Ian Fleming’s James Bond short story ‘The Living Daylights‘ read by Downton Abbey’s Dan Stevens. The broadcaster recently repeated the recording as part of BBC Radio 4 Extra’s ‘The Spying Game’ series. Dan also lent his voicing talents to the 007…

‘License to Cook’ by Edward Biddulph

Written by James Bond Memes blog author Edward Biddulph, this cookbook is full of exciting recipes inspired by the food that Bond eats in the novels and short stories of Ian Fleming. The recipes, devised by the author, are modern, but have a period twist. This book is very well written with attention to detail…

Richard Chopping’s ‘Butterflies in Britain’

Chopping’s love of nature was evident in Butterflies in Britain (1943) and his Butterflies book was a best seller, in print for many years. Best known for his jackets for Ian Fleming’s James Bond books he also illustrated a number of children’s books for Noel Carrington. Typically concise was his description of the Painted Lady, which:…

Lucky Jim Bond! – Kingsley Amis’ Mark on 007

Novelist, poet, critic, teacher and professional drinker Kingsley Amis‘ contribution to the James Bond franchise, cannot be overlooked. His enthusiasm for Bond and his many arguments in defense of Bond and Ian Fleming against criticism found various literary avenues, not to mention the marvelous first bond continuation novel after Fleming’s death, Colonel Sun. Amis on Fleming: “Ian…

David Craggs

Field Report: David Craggs

1. What is your favorite Chopping cover and why? From Russia With Love (FRWL) because it is completely iconic and Richard Chopping’s painting is the greatest piece of art ever to grace a dust jacket. Coincidently it also happens to enrobe Fleming’s best Bond book and payed an extremely significant part in elevating him from…

Bond on the Radio

If you like to listen to James Bond’s adventures while working or relaxing, then check out these BBC radio play productions on YouTube, not to mention the priceless Desert Island Discs interview with Ian Fleming. Sadly, not the whole broadcast. From Russia, With Love: In writer Archie Scottney’s brilliantly evocative ‘radio screenplay’, we see another…