FLEMING | The Diamond Smugglers, 1957, presentation copy

IAN FLEMING

THE DIAMOND SMUGGLERS. WITH AN INTRODUCTION BY ‘JOHN BLAIZE’ FORMERLY OF THE INTERNATIONAL DIAMOND SECURITY ORGANIZATION. LONDON: JONATHAN CAPE, 1957

8vo, FIRST EDITION, PRESENTATION COPY INSCRIBED BY THE AUTHOR (“To | Sir Percy Sillitoe, | Without whom, etc!!! | from | Ian Fleming | Nov. 1957.”) on front free endpaper, cartoon frontispiece by Bob Connolly, 16 pages of photographic illustrations, original black cloth, lettered in white, DUST-JACKET, collector's black morocco-backed box

Fleming's inscription in this copy was clearly intended quite literally:

"[Fleming] thought that the whole story of the battle against diamond smuggling might have formed a plot of one of his own books, but he saw no chance of writing it because the necessary basis of fact would never be revealed to him or anyone else. He had, however, reckoned without Sir Percy Sillitoe..." (See John Pearson, The Life of Ian Fleming, London, 1966, pp. 301-302).

Percy Sillitoe (1888-1962), formerly the head of MI5, ran an organzation set up by the Diamond Corporation, known as the International Diamond Security Organisation.

Fleming was introduced to Sillitoe in 1955 by his old schoolfriend Philip Brownrigg, interviewed him, and used much this research in creating this book and also in formulating the plot of Diamonds are Forever (1956). Sillitoe appears depicted in the illustrated frontispiece cartoon of this volume.

On the disbanding of the International Diamond Security Organization, Sillitoe commissioned John Collard ("John Blaize") to write its story. Fleming took on the project and The Diamond Smugglers was the result.

LITERATURE:

Gilbert A15a (1.1)

PROVENANCE:

From the Library of Sir Percy Sillitoe; Replica Shoes 's, 19 July 1990, lot 149; Replica Shoes 's, 12 December 1991, lot 57