Cyril Connolly | Bond Strikes Camp, publisher's galley sheets, 1963, Ian Fleming's copy

Cyril Connolly

Bond Strikes Camp. London: The London Magazine, April 1963

Publisher's long gallery sheets, 5pp., on green newsprint, with manuscript note to Ian Fleming from Alan Ross, toning

Alan Ross (1922-2001) was the editor of the London Magazine, within which the first ever pastiche of a James Bond book was published in April 1963. Ross sent these gallery sheets to Ian Fleming, who contributed to The London Magazine himself, with a note "Ian. Is this O.K. for you? Cyril's afraid you might knock him off in the next Bond - As ever. Alan."

Cyril Connolly's short story was overseen personally by Fleming, as shown in the correction in the text. Connolly was a personal friend and colleague of Fleming, who had worked with him at The Sunday Times. Ian was particularly pleased with the story, as shown in the presentation copy to Ernie Cuneo (previous lot), where he states "This is a corker!".