FLEMING | Casino Royale, 1953, first edition, presentation copy

IAN FLEMING

CASINO ROYALE. LONDON: JONATHAN CAPE, 1953

8vo, FIRST EDITION, FIRST IMPRESSION OF THE FIRST JAMES BOND BOOK, PRESENTATION COPY INSCRIBED BY THE AUTHOR ("Dear Leonard | “Read + Burn” | Ian") on front free endpaper, original black cloth, lettered in red, design to upper cover in red, DUST-JACKET, collector's grey full morocco folding case by the Cottage Bindery, Bath, with designs in morocco onlays

A stunning copy inscribed to Ian Fleming’s Sunday Times editor at the Kemsley Group. Leonard Russell and Fleming's professional relationship culminated in 1959 when, in his role as features editor for the paper, Russell suggested that Fleming take an around-the-world trip and write a series of features for the newspaper.

Fleming initially turned down Russell telling him "that he was the world's worst sightseer and that he had 'often advocated the provision of roller-skates at the doors of museums and art galleries'" (Pearson, p. 315). Fleming was eventually convinced to visit Hong Kong, Tokyo, Hawaii, Los Angeles, Chicago and New York. The series was first published in The Sunday Times on 24 January 1960 and would eventually be published by Jonathan Cape as Thrilling Cities in 1963.

Russell wrote to Fleming when sending proofs of the articles, "What an extraordinary personality emerges from them... part sensational journalist, part diehard old clubman, part ruthless revolutionary, the whole adding up to a unique and endearing eccentric." (Pearson, p.316)