FLEMING | Live and Let Die, 1954, first edition, presentation copy

IAN FLEMING

LIVE AND LET DIE. LONDON: JONATHAN CAPE, 1954

8vo, FIRST EDITION, FIRST IMPRESSION, PRESENTATION COPY INSCRIBED BY THE AUTHOR ("To | Wm. | Who set these balls rolling! | from | The Author | 1954.") on front free endpaper, original black cloth, lettered in gilt, design to upper cover in gilt, DUST-JACKET (first issue without the additional text to the front flap), collector's purple full morocco folding box by The Cottage Bindery, Bath

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 36.

This copy includes a note, loosely laid in, by Valerie Kettley (a Jonathan Cape employee) concerning the book’s provenance. Apparently Ms Kettley joined the firm in 1960 but hadn't read any books by Fleming. Plomer presented the present volume to her and said "...with mock asperity something on the lines that if he were to be remembered at all he hoped it would be for something other than as progenitor of James Bond".

This copy of Live and Let Die is noted by Gilbert in his bibliography of Fleming (p. 58) as one of a small number of advance copies which Fleming used for presentation, including other copies to Lord Beaverbrook, Philip Brownrigg, John Hayward and William Plomer.

LITERATURE:

Gilbert A2a (1.1)

PROVENANCE:

The Library of William Plomer; Valerie Kettley; Christie's, South Kensington, 17 November 1995, lot 76