A few days back it was my birthday and I decided treat myself with a truly nice James Bond / Ian Fleming collectable that I never believed would be mine.
But then I found one one Ebay and when I had received that one a new one appeared on Ebay. So I got some help from my English friend Alan to have it sent to me as well (a small tip for all Ebay sellers. to make sure you sell to the highest bidder, offer international shipping).
So I decided to shoot a small video while I open it.
But I do need to say that I am sorry for the poor picture quality. I need to learn more about my camera and I need to know more on how to take photos and shoot film when its dark outside to prevent all the grain.
I am also sorry that you get to see my belly from time to time. I am eating a medicine that has a side effect. It makes by body keep most of its fat and I have gained a lot in wight this year.
I am really giving you a great opportunity to play the game "try not to laugh" here.
So do focus on the actual package that is being opened.
Below is the video or if you wish to head over to YouTube you can do so here!
The blog is now up on Youtube with its first little exclusive clip taking from my mobile.
I attended the Whitlit festival in Whitstable on Friday May 13 this month and it was that day that Young Bond writer Steve Cole decided to reveal the title for his upcoming James Bond novel STRIKE LIGHTNING.
In the audience that day were many exited kids learning how to write a James Bond novel. Steve Cole was an excellent teacher and was truly enthusiastic of teaching the kids. He was honestly like the famous Duracell rabbit that go's on and on without ever getting tired. As I told him that evening, if he would have been my teacher back in the day I am sure I would have learned a lot more in school. Ian Fleming Publications has really done a great choice in letting Steve Cole write the James Bond stories.
On the blogs YouTube channel I will upload interesting material from time to time. First upload is the presentation done by Steve Cole on May 13, 2016 where you can see him as the Duracell rabbit and also see how it went down when he presented his upcoming James Bond book STRIKE LIGHTNING.
Ever since the first time I ever heard about how Ian Fleming choose the name for his secret agent James Bond, I have always wanted to have the FIELD GUIDE OF BIRDS OF THE WEST INDIES in my collection. I have been hunting this book for over 20 years, and now I have it.
Okey I have had a reprint of the book printed in 1971 in my collection for some time but it is now for sale. The reason that I was not satisfied with that version of the book is because when Ian Fleming built his Jamaica home after the second world war he had a copy of the FIELD GUIDE OF BIRDS OF THE WEST INDIES in his home written by James Bond. A book he often used while looking at birds.
The book was first released in 1936 with a stunning dust jacket and the second printing came out in 1947 and that is the one I have now and most surely the edition of the book that Fleming had as well.
On the below YouTube clip you can see Fleming explain how he came to use the name but on that footage there is a 1960's copy of the book. Since Casino Royale was released in 1953 Ian Fleming must have had the 1947 edition at his home.
So this is not the actual book Fleming had but a really rare piece of James Bond memorabilia to have in the collection and I am very happy to have gotten it from a auction house in the UK for £230.
Note that many people wrongly says that this book was called BIRDS OF WEST INDIES but the actual title was FIELD GUIDE OF BIRDS OF THE WEST INDIES.
In 1964, Fleming gave Bond a first edition copy of You Only Live Twice
signed, "To the real James Bond, from the thief of his identity". In
December 2008 the book was put up for auction, eventually fetching $84,000.
In the 2002 Bond film Die Another Day, the fictional Bond, played by Pierce Brosnan, can be seen examining Birds of the West Indies in an early scene that takes place in Havana, Cuba. The author's name (James Bond) on the front cover is obscured. In the same film, when Bond first meets Jinx (Halle Berry), he introduces himself as an ornithologist.
Anyone else out there who have this book in the collection?
The below picture is said to be a picture of Flemings copy of the book signed by no other then the real James Bond...
Back in late December 2013 Ian Fleming Publications and the Ian Fleming estate presented their new logo. The logo featured the Ian Fleming signature and a golden Jamaican Hummingbird. The hummingbird is actually the national bird of Jamaica.
Ian Fleming loved Jamaica and when he started to work for Kemsley after the second world war he made sure the he got two months paid vacation that he could spend at his newly build house called Goldeneye in Jamaica. During these eight weeks Fleming wrote his James Bond books that later was published one year later.
The new logo is produced by Webb & Webb and among the art directors of UK there new approach for Ian Fleming Publications got some negative response saying for instance "Unfortunately none of this comes together nicely in the logo. The nearly Photoshop-posterized hummingbird lacks personality and it offers no point of view nor visual relationship to the worlds and characters created by Ian Fleming, its white markings on the side of the body are distracting, and the tail breaking the signature doesn't make a lot of sense. The serif typography in applications feels forced and overly nostalgic and the gold printing of the logo isn't particularly flattering. This needs to be shaken and stirred and started all over again."
I do not agree with this feedback at all. If you know your Fleming then you know that the hummingbird can be found in Jamaica where Fleming lived. Also the house is called Goldeneye so the golden colour is great as well. Last but most important is that Fleming got the name from a ornithologist called James Bond who had written Field guides of birds of the West Indies. Therefore it is so correct to use this bird as a logo together with his signature. The only part I do agree on is that the bird should not split the signature in two. I would have done the logo as on the top of this blog post.
I also like the circle with the 007 in it. It is used frequently across the globe which link all the books together.
The task that Webb & Webb had was to "creating a brand identity that could be developed beyond the '007' mark and into licensed products as well as written and audiobooks. The new identity needed to celebrate Ian Fleming the author, his style, his wit, his 'englishness' and not just his most famous creation"
The old logo was simply the text IAN FLEMING with a silhouette of the man himself with a shadow that was James Bonds.
I do understand that Ian Fleming Publications needs to find new ways to sell their brand to make revenue. I myself would look more into the artworks of the books and see if they might be suitable to have on products instead of the Ian Fleming logo. So far I have only noticed Gillette paying to have the Fleming logo in their marketing (see video below)
But one thing is sure. If the below business cards a something they actually made and not just prototypes I want one because they are so cool.
To read other blog post where Ian Fleming Publications are mentioned click here!
So it is Christmas time again and I am sure many of you got James Bond associated gifts for presents. I did not but took care of that my self a few days back a bought myself around 15 new James Bond books for the collection. I will get back to these later.
But I felt the need to give all my readers a little something as a Christmas gift.
So here it is. The complete 27 minute interview with Ian Fleming, The creator of James Bond himself. It was broadcast on August 16 just two days after the passing of the writer.
I thought I would never get hold of this full interview but a little Googleing found a link to CBC (Canadian TV) with a link to the interview in full.
I have emaild CBC trying to make them print Bluray copies of the interview. If this will work out I will get back to this on the blog. I would love to have this interview on a Bluray not being affrayed that it will be taken down.
Special book dealer PETER HARRINGTON is having a SPECTRE party on November 3. Peter Harrington is famous for having many first editions and special books in their shop. I myself have never been to the shop in person but I have ordered at least one Fleming book and am planing a visit in December when I am going to London.
As you might be aware the James Bond perfume fragrance that is on sale now is from Paul Smith and this party is a collaboration between Paul Smith and the Peter Harrington bookshop. Following the release of highly anticipated Bond film SPECTRE, guests
will be invited to browse Paul Smith menswear, alongside Fleming first
editions and ephemera, all available to purchase on the night.
Complementary nibbles and martinis will be served from 6pm-8pm.
I myself cant attend this event since I live in Sweden but if you are a collector of Ian Fleming books and live nearby I suggest that you contact them and ask them if you can be on the invitation list.
Best of luck but do not buy anything I intend to buy in December.
In an earlier blog post I recommended you all to check out the BBC Shortlist documentary on Bond that was broadcast the other day. This link did not work for people living outside of the UK. Now the same program has been uploaded to Youtube. You can check it out below. Thanks to Niclas for the heads up!
When I commute by train or take a walk during my lunch break I like to enjoy what my smartphone can offer me. The other day I found this fantastic documentary on YouTube.
It was a one hour long close look at Ian Flemings first novel Casino Royale and you can see the program below. it shows many (for me) new facts about Ian Fleming and also the BBC interview in really great picture quality. You truly get the feeling that you get closer to Ian Fleming and to his first book of 14.
I was planing to write a whole blog post about the following but I insert it here instead.
Have you ever thought about how much page 60 of Casino Royale actually means to us Bond fans. On this page you get Bond to present himself as Bond... James Bond and a few lines lower he order his Vodka Martini, shaken, not stirred. That page has followed his books and films since 1953 to present day. Quite amazing.
check out the documentary below! You will not be disappointed! It might even make you want to read the book...again.
