|
QUEEN ANNE PRESS was
created in 1951 by Lord Kemsley, proprietor of The Sunday Times, to
publish the works of notable contemporary authors. In 1952, as a wedding
present to his then Foreign Editor, he made Ian Fleming its managing
director. Fleming remained at the helm until his death in 1964. It was
subsequently absorbed by the Maxwell empire and became an imprint
specialising in sports books. In 2007 it was acquired by Fleming’s
literary estate. It is now managed by his niece Kate Grimond and his
nephew Fergus Fleming.
To celebrate the Centenary of Ian Fleming’s birth Queen Anne Press is
publishing an edition of his complete works. There are eighteen volumes:
all the Bonds, plus Thrilling Cities, The Diamond Smugglers,
Chitty-Chitty-Bang-Bang and Talk of the Devil. The last is a
collection of rarely seen material, some of it unpublished, the title
being chosen from a list drawn up by Fleming himself. Where applicable the
books contain explanatory comments written by Fleming in the flyleaves of
his personal copies.
No such edition has been published before.
Four very special and strictly limited categories are available, all bound
by Shepherds, Sangorski & Sutcliffe:
1) 26 sets, lettered A-Z, bound to the highest possible specification. To
include diamonds, gold leaf, pieces of eight (rather, pieces of two),
gilt-edges and handmade watermarked endpapers. Individual slipcases. M & Q
£18,000, otherwise PRICE: £14,000
2) 30 sets as above but lettered according to the Russian alphabet. M to
be auctioned for charity, otherwise PRICE: £14,000
3) 100 sets numbered 001-100. Based on Fleming’s own design for a limited
edition of ON HER MAJESTY'S SECRET SERVICE. Vellum spines, titles stamped
in red gold on grey shadow, black cloth boards, gilt-edges, handmade
stamped endpapers. Individual slipcases. 007 to be auctioned for charity,
otherwise PRICE: £6,000
4) 250 sets numbered I-CCL. Bound in cloth, bearing a leather plaque on
the spine, the front stamped in gold with the recipient’s initials. Gilt
edges, specially printed endpapers. Individual slipcases. PRICE £2,000 |
