Rare Hebrew James Bond book added to the collection

A few days back I noticed a very rare book on Ebay.

It looked just like the UK Pan Books movie tie in for FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE (see photo below) but the text was in exotic Hebrew and the publication had been done in Israel. 

The price was not high. Including postage I paid £14 for the book and it arrived just a few days later.

It was then I noticed two funny things about the book.

First of all Hebrew is read from right to left so for me the book is read the other way around.

Secondly the story in the book is not FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE. It is actually THUNDERBALL.

It is hard to tell when the book was published but it says "Copyright 1691 by Glidrose Publications". I think they mean 1961, the correct year when THUNDERBALL was published.

Since the cover design comes from the FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE movie tie in the release of this book must be after September 1963 when that cover was released in the UK.

My guess is that this book was released in spring/summer of 1965 in Israel and I consider it a fun thing to have added to the collection. Especially since the book and cover does not match each other.

Hebrew version 

UK movie tie in version

Worst James Bond birthday card ever?

So this blog post does not have anything to do with the literary James Bond but I felt the need to share this with you any way.

A few days back it was my fortieth birthday. Actually it was December 15 that was the big day.

two of my brothers had therefore joint forces and bought me a present together.
But since they know I am a James Bond nut they decided to give me a James Bond card.

You can see the card below. is it not the worst James Bond card in history? They just do not come uglier then this. I laught out load when I saw it! What is it? A duck? I guess that there is no licensing fees involved this time :0).

Have you seen uglier James Bond greeting cards? Feel free to share them below.

 The card is made by Amanda Seymour and is owned by AB Pictura.

Christmas card from Ian Fleming Publications

Last year I received this Christmas card from Ian Fleming Publications. Today I had the great pleasure of receiving there new Christmas card for 2016.You can read their entire Christmas card/year in review below.

Last year this email included a lot of new information on what was to come later on. Sadly this year does not contain much to get extra exited about. But it is interesting to notice that Ian Fleming Publications works together with Random House Enterprises to make revenue from potential upcoming collectables. I myself sees a collaboration opportunity between IFPL and Floris, The London based fragrance maker that I wrote about here.

Below is the letter from Ian Fleming publications.

Dear All

Here we are again looking back at another busy year. 

Having seen the publication of the English language paperback editions of Trigger Mortis earlier in May, we were absolutely delighted to be able to announce in the Autumn that Anthony Horowitz will be writing a second James Bond novel for publication in 2018.  As with his first 007 novel, Anthony is planning to use one of Ian Fleming's television script outlines and, from what we've seen so far, it will be a cracker.

2016 has been a particularly colourful year in the IFPL office, as we've had a constant stream of wonderful comic book art for approval.  The two contemporary Bond series, Vargr and Eidolon by Warren Ellis and Jason Masters have been very well received, as has the mini-series Hammerhead by Andy Diggle and Luca Casalanguida. More excellent, creative partnerships are on board to continue the Bond series in 2017, and Felix Leiter will be having his own adventures in the capable hands of James Robinson and Aaron Campbell from January.   We thank Mike Lake and Dynamite for guiding us carefully through this vibrant medium.

Staying in the illustrated world, Titan Books are continuing their re-mastering of the original Express comic strips and published their second collection, Dr No - The Classic Comic Strip 1958-60, in the same stunning hardback format as their 2015 SPECTRE Collection.   And the Folio Society published beautiful editions of Casino Royale and From Russia With Love with illustrations by Fay Dalton.

Young Bond has been particularly active courtesy of Steve Cole with escapades in both May, Heads You Die, and September, Strike Lightning.   Red Nemesis, Young Bond's final adventure, is listed for May next year.

We were delighted when Pan MacMillan included Chitty Chitty Bang Bang in the launch of their new Collector's Library.   Chitty is in very good company, and the pocket, hardback format suits Joe Berger's illustrations extremely well.  

Our international publishing partners have continued to delight us with new editions of the Fleming titles as well, of course, as our new releases.

Random House Enterprises are kindly looking at opportunities for licensed products with focus on literary Bond.   The first offerings come from Out of Print who are producing stylish t-shirts and sweatshirts featuring some of the iconic covers from the original Fleming hardbacks. 

To support all this activity, our website has had a complete make-over and was re-launched in September (www.ianfleming.com).   Jo and Jonny worked tirelessly with the web developers, and we hope everyone enjoys the new experience.   Jonny is also very active on our behalf on social media, especially Instagram, which features on the website's home page and is well-worth following.

As for the IFPL team, we were very sad when our former Chairman and, of course, Ian Fleming's literary agent, Peter Janson-Smith, died in April this year and at the passing of our other former colleague, Gillon Aitken, in October.    Both were our good friends and wise advisers.   On a far happier note, we welcomed Romena Ratkeviciute to the finance team in February this year, and she has taken over the Finance Manager role while Tilly Cookson is on maternity leave. 

We send our best wishes to you all for the festive season and wish you a very happy New Year.

Yours

Corinne B TurnerManaging Director

Attached with there Christmas Card was a drawing of James Bond hunting Santa made by Jason Masters who drew James Bond in the two stories Vargr and Eidolon.

Added to the collection: A rare proof copy

A proof copy of a book is a far less version of the original book. These are printed in very low numbers to be able to make people at the publishers to search for errors that can be changed when the actual first edition is released. Proof copy's are also sent to big book shops and dealers as a marketing tool to make them interested in a book soon to be released.
Most of the proof copy's never survives past the release of the first printing of the regular books. These make them highly sought after amongst book collectors.

When I was in London this weekend I went to a dealer at Portobello road that I had done business with before.
Amongst his offerings was a proof copy of John Gardner's first bond novel LICENCE RENEWED from 1981.
As I write above these books are rare but to actually have a dustjacket that also says proof copy is even more rare.

Here we can see the differences with the first edition. On the proof they do not name the publishers and the actual selling price of £6.50 is mentioned on the proof but was removed on the first and changed to a sticker instead. (In my collection I also have a book signed by John Gardner that does not have the price sticker of £6.50.

So what did I pay for this book then? Searching the internet I cant find anything like this currently for sale. I do find some other Proof Copys of John Gardners Bond novels without the dust jacket and they are on sale for £250. I bought my copy with the dust jacket for only £30. It is nice to have some hunting luck sometimes.

Note that someone made an error with the release date on the dust jacket!

Do you shampo your hair like James Bond?

A few days back I wrote a blog post about the scent of Ian Fleming / James Bond. That blog post was well received with over 1 000 page views so I felt the need to do something similar, especially when I came across a very special listening on Ebay.

It is in the second chapter of Ian Flemings James Bond novel ON HER MAJESTY'S SECRET SERVICE that we get to read more about the shampoo of choice for James Bond.

The second chapter is called Gran Turismo and it is on page 26-27 the below text can be found.

"His two battered suitcases came and he unpacked leisurely and then ordered from Room Service a bottle of the Taittinger Blanc de Blancs that he had made his traditional drink at Royale. When the bottle, in its frosted silver bucket, came, he drank a quarter of it rather fast and then went into the bathroom and had an ice-cold shower and washed his hair with Pinaud Elixir, that prince among shampoos, to get the dust of the roads out of it."

I recently checked Ebay for Ian Fleming books that my collection is missing when I found an listening for a bottle of Pinaud Clubman Elixir Shampoo. The cool thing here is that the bottle is vintage and do look like something that can have been sold in time of the books release.

I find it very strange that is says "For professional use only" on the bottle. Was this product not sold directly to customers?
I cant recommend the above shampoo being used today. I would much rather recommend something that is biodegradable and do not harm our streams and water life.

Now who among you readers will be the first to place a bid on this listning. The Bottle have a "Buy it now" price of $39,99.Note that I am not the seller.

You can read some more about the shampoo over at James Bond Lifestyle.

The maskuline scent of James Bond

Ian Fleming was born in Mayfair London. and just a few streets from his home was Jermyn Street and at number 89 on that street was the high class Floris perfume shop.
According to the owner of the shop Ian Fleming spend some time there from time to time and their products became common in Ians life.

In 1951 Floris released the smell titled No 89 (just as their street number) and it instantly became Ian Flemings favourite. Back then the bottle was apparently green and has changed to transparent nowadays.
The formula of the perfume has changed some since 1951 so it is hard to know the exact smell back in 1951 if you do not have an original bottle. The owners of Floris says that the change is very little so I hope that's true. Some time ago the Floris owners almost decided not to continue producing the fragrance but luckely the younger generation of owners talk some sense into the older owners. 

In the James Bond books Fleming mentions Floris three times. The first time is in MOONRAKER, The second time is in DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER and the third and final time is in DR. NO.

In all fairness the company is only mentioned in passing but if you have not read the books I do not wish to spoil where you can find it being mentioned. It actually never says that Bond favourites No 89. It was always Fleming who did that and on Floris website one can read "Introduced in 1951, No 89 takes its name from the number of the Floris shop in Jermyn Street. Devoted followers include Ian Fleming" It is clear that James Bond in the books do enjoy Floris dough. 

So what about the scent? I do own a bottle that I intend to use. I do like the smell. It smells masculine and mature and expensive. To be honest, it smells like someone would smell, who have never even seen the suburbs own the town he lives in. I believe you all know what I mean whatever country you live in.

According to Floris themself the scent is as follows:
Orange and bergamot blended with lavender and neroli give No.89 its classical cologne aspect. Warmed with a touch of spicy nutmeg, the floral heart is underscored by the dominant woody accord of sandalwood, cedarwood and vetiver in this quintessentially English gentleman's fragrance.

If you wish to get this fragrance for yourself or your loved one. You can order it here!. But bare in mind. Your friends might just think you have become a snob.

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