Ian Fleming

Signed First Edition paperback of the James Bond 007 spy thriller The Spy Who Loved Me. Signed “Ian Fleming” in his characteristic blue ballpoint on the first inside teaser page. First printing April 1963 by Signet Books. Light rubbing to spine and cover edges, with minor handling wear and a small fold on lower right corner on cover, otherwise very good; appears tight and unread, especially so given its age. Provenance from the estate of English footballer and cricketer Norman Lawson.

IAN FLEMING (1908-1964) was a British author, journalist and Second World War Navy Commander. Fleming is best remembered for creating the character of James Bond and chronicling his adventures in twelve novels and nine short stories. Additionally, Fleming wrote the children’s story Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and two non-fiction books.

The Spy Who Loved Me (1962) stylistically departs from other books in the Bond series as it is written in the first person perspective of the (fictional) protagonist, Vivienne Michel, whom Fleming credits as co-author. It is the story of her life, up until when James Bond serendipitously rescues her from the wrong circumstance at the wrong place and time.

Authentically-signed books by Ian Fleming are very scarce, and are eagerly sought after by avid James Bond fans. The condition of this book is remarkable for its age. There is a horizontal crease on the top of the back, and a small fold on the corner on the front of the book. There are also slight creases on the front of the book. The fold continues for just a few pages. The quality of the signature is wonderful, though it is slightly fading. The binding is in very good shape. With provenance and Certificate of Authenticity from the Norman Lawson Estate.

Norman Lawson (1936-2011) was an English football and cricket player. In football (soccer) Lawson played as a winger, spending his early career with Hednesford Town, Bury and Swansea Town. He later played for Watford, Kettering Town and Hereford United, before becoming player-manager of both Merthyr Tydfil and Ton Pentre. His later cricket career was spent playing for Swansea Civil Service, Sketty Church, AWCO and Sketty Quins clubs, while he was Captain of the Welsh over-50 team.

In his youth, Ian Fleming was an extraordinary athlete during his years at Eton, playing both football and cricket, and were it not for the fact that, as Fleming biographer John Pearson put it, “team games never suited his isolated spirit,” might easily have take a different path in life.