Ian Fleming | You Only Live Twice, 1964, first edition, first state, binding A, inscribed by the author

Ian Fleming

You Only Live Twice. London: Jonathan Cape, 1964.

8vo, FIRST IMPRESSION, FIRST STATE, INSCRIBED BY THE AUTHOR on second front endpaper ("To | Brilliant Young-san | from | Humbled | Fleming-san"), binding A, original black cloth (Fabroleen), original dust-jacket by Richard Chopping, housed in bespoke black cloth clamshell case with embossed dust-jacket design and pink sides, plastic wallet containing related ephemera loosely inserted (list of ephemera available upon request)

THE INSCRIPTION IN THIS VOLUME IS ALMOST CERTAINLY TO TERENCE YOUNG (1915-1994), who directed the first, second, and fourth Bond films: Dr. No (1962), From Russia with Love (1963), and Thunderball (1965). As recounted in Nicholas Shakespeare's biography, the initial meeting between Young and Fleming was hardly a show of deference on either man's part. Fleming initially looked down on Young (the third-choice director), while Young later recalled finding Fleming "immensely arrogant". Nevertheless, they concluded their meeting with a dinner, and went on to form a strong friendship. The inscription in this volume indicates the high regard in which Young was eventually held by Fleming.

LITERATURE:

Gilbert A12a (1.1); for the relationship between Fleming and Young: Nicholas Shakespeare, Ian Fleming: The Complete Man (2023), p. 637.