Description

“ONE OF THE MOST OUTRAGEOUSLY ENTERTAINING THRILLERS EVER CONTRIVED”: FROM RUSSIA, WITH LOVE INSCRIBED BY FLEMING TO CLOSE FRIEND CLARE BLANSHARD

FLEMING, Ian. From Russia, With Love. London: Jonathan Cape, (1957). Octavo, original black cloth, original dust jacket.

First edition of one of the scarcest early Bond novels, inscribed, “To Clare To shock her! Ian.” Thought by many to be the best in the Bond series (it was one of John F. Kennedy’s favorite books), exceptionally rare inscribed.

From Russia, With Love was the first Bond novel to feature dust jacket art by Richard Chopping, who would provide jacket art for all of the following Bond titles, with the exception of Dr. No. “From Russia, With Love, Ian Fleming’s fifth book, is generally recognised as a turning point in [his] career. Richly detailed, shot through with persuasive and impressive snippets about Soviet espionage, From Russia, With Love also contains a more fully realised James Bond. Critics and readers recognised the book’s virtues. Ian Fleming had become the author of ‘the James Bond novels’ rather than an emerging thriller writer. As the series progressed, the books enjoyed increasing international success.  They received a huge boost of popularity when President Kennedy included From Russian, With Love in a list of ten favourite books for Life magazine” (Ian Fleming Centre). This copy inscribed to Clare Blanshard, whom Fleming met while serving in England’s Naval Intelligence Division during WWII; she served on the staff of Earl Mountbatten. Later she would be a colleague at Kelmsley Newspapers during Fleming’s stint as Foreign Manager. After Fleming’s death, Blanshard proved to be a valuable source of information for Bond fans, including for Raymond Benson, the author of The James Bond Bedside Companion.

Biondi & Pickard, 43-44.

A beautiful copy in exceptional condition, showing only the slightest wear to dust jacket. Scarce in this condition, exceedingly rare inscribed.