FLEMING | On Her Majesty's Secret Service, 1963, limited edition, presentation copy signed by Amherst Villiers

IAN FLEMING

ON HER MAJESTY'S SECRET SERVICE. LONDON: JONATHAN CAPE, 1963

8vo, FIRST EDITION, LIMITED SIGNED ISSUE, ONE OF A NUMBER OF "PRESENTATION" COPIES OUTSIDE THE 250 NUMBERED COPIES, SIGNED BY THE AUTHOR, PRESENTATION COPY INSCRIBED BY AMHERST VILLIERS ("To Griffie - | with all the best | Amherst. | 11. Feb. 68.") on front free endpaper, colour frontispiece of Ian Fleming by Amherst Villiers, original vellum-backed black cloth, lettered in gilt, design to upper cover in white, top edge gilt

Amherst Villiers (1900-1991), the renowned car engineer, is remembered for the "blown" Bentley cars of the 1930s, one of which is used by Bond. In 1962, having become an accomplished portrait painter, he painted Fleming on the author's commission.

Beryl Griffie-Williams was Fleming’s secretary in the 1960s and became increasingly crucial to his day-to-day life; she stayed with him until his death, and was one of the few people named in his will.

Gilbert notes that there were thirty-five unnumbered copies marked 'Presentation' (as here).

LITERATURE:

Gilbert A11a (First Edition, Signed Limited Edition)

PROVENANCE:

From the library of Beryl Griffie-Williams; Christie's, 17 July 1985, lot 209