FLEMING | Goldfinger, 1959, first edition, the dedication copy

IAN FLEMING

GOLDFINGER. LONDON: JONATHAN CAPE, 1959

8vo, FIRST EDITION, THE DEDICATION COPY INSCRIBED BY THE AUTHOR ("To | William | This oak tree from | that acorn! | Affectionately | Ian.") on front free endpaper, original black cloth, lettered in gilt, design to upper cover in gilt and blind, DUST-JACKET, collector's green cloth chemise with green morocco-backed slipcase

INSCRIBED TO THE AUTHOR'S FRIEND WITHOUT WHOM THE BOND BOOKS MIGHT NEVER HAVE BEEN WRITTEN.

The printed dedication is to "To | my gentle Reader | William Plomer".

William Plomer (1903-1973) met Fleming during the Second World War, when both were serving in naval intelligence. Due to Plomer's encouragement, Fleming wrote Casino Royale and, upon reading the manuscript in 1952, Plomer persuaded Jonathan Cape to publish it. The publisher, at the time, did not publish 'thrillers'.

Originally born in South-Africa, Plomer was both an advisor to Jonathan Cape and literary editor for Faber and Faber. In 1925 he published Turbott Wolfe. Other writers whom Plomer promoted were Arthur Koestler, Ted Hughes, Stevie Smith, John Betjeman, Vladimir Nabokov, John Fowles, and Alan Paton. Plomer received early encouragement from the Woolfs and later wrote a number of libretti for Benjamin Britten. As a poet he was awarded the Queen's Gold Medal for Poetry in 1963 and was appointed CBE in 1968.

Plomer read each of the Bond books, providing suggested changes and improvements. Plomer received no financial reward until Fleming's death when he was left £500 with the stipulation that Plomer "commit some extravagance with it".

It was William Plomer who delivered the address at Fleming's memorial service (see lots 113 and 114).

"Despite their very different lifestyles, Plomer was one of the few people with whom Ian could always relax..." (Andrew Lycett, Ian Fleming, London, 1995, p. 42).

See also lot 12.

LITERATURE:

Gilbert A7a (1.1)

PROVENANCE:

The Library of William Plomer; Sotheby's, 14 July 2009, lot 90