FLEMING, IAN, 1908 to 1964

Ian Fleming

Ian Fleming (1908-1964) was an English author and journalist, creator of James Bond and author of Casino Royale (1953).

Books: 15
Editions tracked: 21
First editions: 15
Nationality: United Kingdom

Wikidata Open Library Search within Ian Fleming

About Ian Fleming

Ian Fleming (1908-1964) was an English author and journalist who created James Bond, writing twelve Bond novels and two story collections between Casino Royale (1953) and his death.

He was born in Mayfair, London, on 28 May 1908 and died in Canterbury, Kent, on 12 August 1964, aged 56. In October 1931 he joined Reuters as a sub-editor and journalist. In 1939 Rear Admiral John Godfrey recruited him as his personal assistant, and he spent the Second World War in the Naval Intelligence Division, working from Room 39 at the Admiralty, experience that later fed the Bond books.

Jonathan Cape published Casino Royale in London on 13 April 1953, and further Bond novels followed, among them Live and Let Die, Diamonds Are Forever, Goldfinger and Thunderball. The Man with the Golden Gun appeared about eight months after his death, and the last Bond book, Octopussy and The Living Daylights, was published in Britain on 23 June 1966. His only children's novel, Chitty-Chitty-Bang-Bang, came out in October 1964, two months after he died.

For collectors. The first edition of Casino Royale was a Jonathan Cape hardback of 4,728 copies, which sold out within a month; a second printing the same month also sold out. Fleming devised the jacket himself: rows of hearts with drops of blood around a central heart in a gold laurel wreath. The American edition, from Macmillan, did not appear until 23 March 1954, so the Cape edition is the true first.

For collectors

Collect Ian Fleming

Earliest first editionCasino RoyaleJonathan Cape, 1953 Most editions trackedChitty Chitty Bang Bang2 editions

First published by

Jonathan Cape 13
New American Library 2

Series

Reading guide

Ian Fleming books in order

In publication order

Show all 15 books in order

13You Only Live Twice1964
14The Man with the Golden Gun1965
15Octopussy and the Living Daylights1966

By series

James Bond 3 books

In order

First editions, year by year

1953Casino RoyaleJonathan Cape
1954Live and Let DieJonathan Cape
1955MoonrakerJonathan Cape
1956Diamonds Are ForeverJonathan Cape
1957From Russia, With LoveJonathan Cape
1958Dr NoJonathan Cape
1959GoldfingerJonathan Cape
1959For Your Eyes OnlyNew American Library
1961ThunderballJonathan Cape
1962The Spy Who Loved MeJonathan Cape
1963On Her Majesty's Secret ServiceNew American Library
1964Chitty Chitty Bang BangJonathan Cape
1964You Only Live TwiceJonathan Cape
1965The Man with the Golden GunJonathan Cape
1966OctopussyJonathan Cape

Books and editions

Which edition do you have?

Casino Royale

Ian Fleming · first published 1953 · Modern First Editions

Spot the first: Binding: Black cloth with a red heart on the upper board (first edition)

1st Jonathan Cape1953 Hardback Not yet valued Log in to want this

Live and Let Die

Ian Fleming · first published 1954 · Modern First Editions

Spot the first: Jacket, front flap: No Kenneth Lewis credit (first state jacket)

1st Jonathan Cape1954 Hardback Not yet valued Log in to want this

Moonraker

Ian Fleming · first published 1955 · Modern First Editions

Spot the first: P.10, line 31: Misprint shoo for shoot (first impression, shoo state)

1st Jonathan Cape1955 Hardback Not yet valued Log in to want this

Diamonds Are Forever

Ian Fleming · first published 1956 · Modern First Editions

Spot the first: Upper board: Diamond pattern embossed with a diamond stamped in silver (first edition)

1st Jonathan Cape1956 Hardback Not yet valued Log in to want this

From Russia, With Love

Ian Fleming · first published 1957 · Modern First Editions

Spot the first: Upper board: Silver revolver over a red rose (first edition)

1st Jonathan Cape1957 Hardback Not yet valued Log in to want this

Dr No

Ian Fleming · first published 1958 · Modern First Editions

Spot the first: Upper board: Plain, with no silhouette (plain binding state)

1st Jonathan Cape1958 Hardback Not yet valued Log in to want this

For Your Eyes Only

Ian Fleming · first published 1959

1st New American Library1959 Hardback · James Bond Not yet valued Log in to want this
Jonathan Cape1960 Hardback · James Bond Not yet valued Log in to want this

Goldfinger

Ian Fleming · first published 1959 · Modern First Editions

Spot the first: Upper board: An extra embossed line about 3mm long at the top left of the skull (first state binding)

1st Jonathan Cape1959 Hardback Not yet valued Log in to want this

Thunderball

Ian Fleming · first published 1961 · Modern First Editions

Spot the first: Upper board: Skeletal hand blind-stamped (first edition)

1st Jonathan Cape1961 Hardback Not yet valued Log in to want this

The Spy Who Loved Me

Ian Fleming · first published 1962

1st Jonathan Cape1962 Hardback · James Bond Not yet valued Log in to want this
Viking1962 Hardback · James Bond Not yet valued Log in to want this

On Her Majesty's Secret Service

Ian Fleming · first published 1963

1st New American Library1963 Hardback · James Bond Not yet valued Log in to want this
Pan Books1965 Paperback · James Bond Not yet valued Log in to want this

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

Ian Fleming · first published 1964

1st Jonathan Cape1964 Hardback Not yet valued Log in to want this
Random House1964 Hardback Not yet valued Log in to want this

You Only Live Twice

Ian Fleming · first published 1964

1st Jonathan Cape1964 Hardback · list of James Bond novels and short stories Not yet valued Log in to want this
The Book Club1964 Hardback · list of James Bond novels and short stories Not yet valued Log in to want this

The Man with the Golden Gun

Ian Fleming · first published 1965

1st Jonathan Cape1965 Hardback Not yet valued Log in to want this
New American Library1965 Hardback Not yet valued Log in to want this

Octopussy and the Living Daylights

Ian Fleming · first published 1966

1st Jonathan Cape1966 Paperback Not yet valued Log in to want this

Questions collectors ask

Frequently asked questions

What order should I read Ian Fleming's books in?

In publication order they begin with Casino Royale (1953), then Live and Let Die (1954) and Moonraker (1955). Books in a series are listed in series order on this page.

What was Ian Fleming's first book?

The earliest book we list is Casino Royale, first published in 1953.

When was Ian Fleming born?

Ian Fleming was born in 1908 and died in 1964.

How many Ian Fleming books does MyVolumes track?

We track 15 books by Ian Fleming across 21 editions, 15 of them first editions.

How do I know if my Ian Fleming book is a first edition?

Open the book's page here and compare the publisher, place, date and the issue points we list for the first printing with your copy's title page and copyright page.

Sources

Where these facts come from

Ian Fleming, Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org)
Casino Royale (novel), Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org)
Ian Fleming (Q82104), Wikidata (wikidata.org)

Every fact on this page was checked against the sources listed. Checked 17 October 2026.