James Bond First Editions

The Organisation of a Foreign News Service [Kemsley Newspapers Reference Book].

[FLEMING, Ian Lancaster, Editor]

London: Kemsley House [Privately Published], Winter 1948-9. FIRST [AND ONLY] EDITION, bibliographer's copy. Octavo, pp.[1-2] 3-10; [11-20, marked 'In Course of Preparation']; 21-124. Coloured map ("Kemsley Newspapers Publishing Centres") on p.105. Ring-bound leaves in a limp black leatherette folder binding, stamped 'Walker's Ready Ring Book' to inside cover, black card ends. Holder's annotations to several pages, minor tears to punched holes; very good indeed. A working handbook for journalists, devised by Ian Fleming as Foreign Manager of Kemsley Newspapers, which published (among others) The Sunday Times. It is a privately distributed ring-bound manual published primarily for foreign correspondents, the verso of the title page bearing the name of the recipient, and a note that the book is to be surrendered by the holder upon their leaving the service. This little volume represents author's first book and is a major Fleming rarity. Bibliographically speaking, this is a complex book with various revisions occurring throughout its lifespan. Despite two former Kemsley Mercury Service employees denying its existence, four copies are recorded by Jon Gilbert (pp.532-23), this example being the fifth to be noted. All feature subtle differences in pagination and text layout. Clearly copies were produced over a period of many months and differ accordingly, with the outdated leaves intended to be replaced with new information (hence the ring-binder); Fleming's own copy (currently in our possession) bears the date 'January 1948' on p.39, whereas the present copy is dated 'June 1949' on p.41. The Lilly copy has no date. The colour map is on p.99 in Fleming's copy( p.105 here). The present copy also features several ms. notes, mostly changes to personnel and contact details. This likely belonged to Commonwealth correspondent (and later Fleming bibliographer) Donald McCormick, whose Kemsley pass and related papers were previously sold by this firm; McCormick's name is written on p.21 in a similar hand. This copy lacks the first leaf and the two blanks/notes to rear, demonstrating the working nature of the book. These would be the first to go under heavy use and are supplied in facsimile, together with Xerox pages from the Sims catalogue (1985), where Fleming's copy first appeared for sale. This useful accompanying reference material was supplied to Gilbert in June 2009 by bookseller Peter Harrington. Item #67245

Gilbert C20.

Price: £15,000.00