Books

Scarce first appearances in print of these three Bond titles, preceding publication in book form, and all featuring exclusive Bond illustrations by Andrew Robb. From Russia, with Love was released in serialized form just before the publication of the book edition. At the time, Fleming commented, "let us hope they [Daily Express] don't murder the book too much before your [Cape's] publication date". This is the first complete serial of the work; a short excerpt from its opening paragraphs was released around a month earlier as "The Visitor" in Now and Then magazine. Two years later, the Daily Express also serialized On Her Majesty's Secret Service. According to Jonathan Cape director Michael Howard, the newspaper was "so keen to have an absolute scoop on the Bond wedding that although we have moved our publication date forward, they are likely to serialize earlier still so as to complete it by the time we publish". This prediction proved correct, for the Daily Express issued the final part three days before the release of the book edition. The short story Murder Before Breakfast (later titled From a View to a Kill) was serialized as a five-part adventure the year before it was published in For Your Eyes Only (1960). Consequently, this serial marks the first appearance of a James Bond short story in the United Kingdom. Fleming's short stories were heavily promoted by his agent Peter Janson-Smith prior to their appearances in book form, a practice Fleming both acknowledged and defended in his writings to his publisher. Provenance: from the significant Ian Fleming collection of Martin Schøyen (b.1940), whose private collection of manuscripts, which span all cultures and all time periods, is one of the largest and most comprehensive of its kind. READ MORE Together 27 parts. From Russia, with Love, 12 parts; Murder Before Breakfast [From a View to a Kill], 5 parts; On Her Majesty's Secret Service, 10 parts. Housed together in a dark grey archival box. Illustrations by Andrew Robb. First part of On Her Majesty's Secret Service stamped "Fourth edition"; a few parts stamped "First edition fudge". Some wear to spines and extremities, strengthened in many places with tape, central folding crease and occasional spotting as expected. A very attractive set overall. Gilbert A5a, A8a, A11a; The Schøyen Collection, Nos. 38, 81, 110.

For Your Eyes Only is a collection of short stories by the British author Ian Fleming, featuring the fictional British Secret Service agent Commander James Bond. The collection includes five short stories: 'From a View to a Kill', 'For Your Eyes Only', 'Quantum of Solace', 'Risico', and 'The Hildebrand Rarity'. It is notable for including elements that were adapted into the James Bond films.