Diamond Smugglers

by FLEMING, Ian

$27,500 · Offered by Biblio

First edition · Signed

London: Jonathan Cape, 1957. London: Jonathan Cape, [1957]. First edition. Inscribed by Ian Fleming on the front endpaper to Sir William Stephenson, who was known as the "Real James Bond." Small octavo (7 7/8 x 5 1/4 inches; 200 x 135 mm). [10], 11-160 pp. In original dust jacket. Publisher's full black cloth. Spine lettered in white. Book is about fine. In a near-fine price-clipped dust jacket. Jacket spine very lightly sunned. One small tape repair on to inside of front panel. With a second jacket, price not clipped. Housed in a custom black morocco clamshell. Inscription reads: "To Bill/ This further volume for/ your free library!/ Ian/ 1957" A wonderful book with an exceptional provenance. Inscribed by Fleming to his good friend Sir William Stephenson, aka "Bill." We acquired this copy from the grandson of famous auto maker. E.L. Cord. Cord, Fleming and Stephenson were all close friends and Cord and Stephenson owned an airplane factory together producing spitfires. Cord acquired Bill's collection of Fleming books and his grandson eventually took ownership. Butterfields and Butterfields sold three other Fleming books inscribed to "Bill" acquired from the same source at their 4/16/1997 sale. Our inscription recipient Sir William "Bill" Stephenson is of utmost interest as he is considered the basis of the character of James Bond. Sir William "Bill" Stephenson, was a "Canadian soldier, airman, businessman, inventor, spymaster, and the senior representative of British Security

• Publisher: Jonathan Cape
• Year: 1957
• Edition: First Edition
• Binding: unknown

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