Licence to bill! Rare collection of 15 first-edition James Bond books goes on sale for £475k

James Bond fans have a golden opportunity to get their hands on a rare collection of 15 first-edition books related to the agent.

The unique set, which includes 14 007 novels by Ian Fleming and a book by the birdwatcher that lent his name to the fictional spy, are up for sale for £475,000.

Each in the collection, which is being sold by John Atkinson Fine and Rare Books in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, is complete with their dust wrappers. 

Nine Bond novels, which date from 1953 to 1966, are signed by the author and include personal inscriptions to important people in his life.

A copy of Casino Royale, the first 007 book, is dedicated to Lisl Popper, one of Fleming’s lovers for whom he left £500 in his will.

While The Spy Who Loved Me is made out to Fleming’s friend William Plomer, who urged him to publish his first novel. 

Other titles include Goldfinger, which was addressed to golfer Sir Henry Cotton, You Only Live Twice and Octopussy – the latter signed by Bond actor Sir Roger Moore.

A copy of non-fiction book Birds of the West Indies is inscribed by the real James Bond who wrote it – an American ornithologist whose name Fleming took for his spy.

Bookshop owner Dr John Atkinson said: ‘Fleming was a massive bibliophile. He knew that once he signed the book, it would be worth more money.’ 

A handful of the books came from America and one from Australia, while editions such as Casino Royale have been in private ownership for decades.

Dr Atkinson, who runs the business with his wife Lottie, estimates the number of Fleming collections similar to this worldwide would be in single figures.

He added: ‘They came from different collections all over the world. It took a couple of years to put it together.’