James Bond First Editions

Bond Strikes Camp. An Extravaganza by Cyril Connolly.

FLEMING, Ian - CONNOLLY, Cyril.

The London Magazine; Shenval Press; Hamish Hamilton, 3 volumes; magazine, softcover and hardback formats. Original green and white wrappers, lettered in black and white; original green wrappers, paper label to front panel; original blue boards, spine lettered in gilt, top edge blue, with dust jacket. A near-fine set. Magazine in excellent condition; small closed tear to rear panel of softcover copy, otherwise presenting well; edges of hardcover copy slightly sunned, in like dust jacket, spine toned, joints creased, one small closed tear. A remarkably attractive set given its ephemeral nature. First edition, and other appearances of this early Bond pastiche, authored and commissioned by Fleming's friends Cyril Connolly (1903-1974) and editor of the London Magazine, Alan Ross (1921-2001), and authorised by Fleming's Glidrose Publications. This set contains the first appearance of the story, in the above publication, a signed limited edition, and the first edition printed in hardback. Bond Strikes Camp was first published in the London Magazine in April 1963, and was sanctioned personally by Fleming. This makes the short story particularly significant, as the Bond franchise was heavily guarded and Fleming did not permit the unauthorised use of the character. This edition of the literary magazine also includes articles by Sylvia Plath, Simon Raven and Brigid Brophy. Connolly himself was a personal friend and literary companion to Fleming. As chief reviewer at The Sunday Times, Connolly had an office along the same hallway as Fleming, and his 1952 account of the Cambridge spy ring, The Missing Diplomats, was an inspiration for the creation of Fleming's Bond character. The accompanying signed limited edition is the first separate edition of this title, and was published in a tiny print run, this being number 26 of 50 copies, signed by Connolly on the limitation colophon. The accompanying first hardback edition of Bond Strikes Camp is contained within the author's 1963 anthology Previous Convictions, comprising a collection of 83 critical essays, biographical articles, travel pieces and satirical writings. These copies are from the significant Ian Fleming collection of Martin Schøyen (b.1940), with his bookplate. Schøyen's private collection of manuscripts, which span all cultures and all time periods, is one of the largest and most comprehensive of its kind. Item #156688

The Schøyen Collection Nos. 274, 275 and 276.

Price: £3,750.00