Casino Royale - photo 1
Casino Royale - photo 2
Casino Royale - photo 3

Casino Royale

Lot 122
25.04.2022 10:00UTC -05:00
Classic
Sold
$ 119 700
AuctioneerCHRISTIE'S
Event locationUSA, New York
Archive
The auction is completed. No bids can be placed anymore.
Archive
ID 743778
Lot 122 | Casino Royale
Estimate value
$ 90 000 – 120 000
FLEMING, Ian (1908-1964). Casino Royale. London: Jonathan Cape, 1953.First edition, first impression: a remarkable presentation copy inscribed by the author “To M, these pages from my memoirs! Ian”. The iconic codename M in the James Bond novels refers to the head of the Secret Intelligence Service (MI6). Memorably played on screen by Bernard Lee, Robert Brown, Judi Dench, and most recently Ralph Fiennes, the inspiration for M may have been one of several figures closely associated with the author. It is believed the most likely candidate is Admiral John Godfrey, Fleming’s superior at the Naval Intelligence Department during WWII and the person with whom Fleming visited the Estoril Casino in Portugal which inspired the plot of Casino Royale. Such familiarity with Fleming’s wartime exploits would perhaps justify his inscription: ‘these pages from my memoirs’. Godfrey himself believed he was the basis of the character, complaining after Fleming’s death that he had “turned me into that unsavoury character, M”. An alternative candidate is Maxwell Knight, the head of MI5 whom Fleming knew well and who signed his memos with the initial “M”. It is believed this copy was sold at auction in 1983 from the library of Maud Russell, British socialite, art patron and friend of Fleming, who aided Jewish relatives in their escape from Nazi Germany during the 1930s. Whoever the original recipient, this remains perhaps the most evocative presentation copy of this title to appear on the market. A fine copy in a very good dust jacket. Gilbert A1a (1.1).Octavo. Publisher's black cloth lettered in red, red heart device to front cover; first issue dust jacket decorated in red and yellow after the author's design (extremities lightly rubbed, rear panel slightly toned, minor nicks expertly repaired); housed in custom black quarter morocco case, red morocco labels, front panel with decorative onlays echoing design from dust jacket.
Place of origin:United Kingdom
Auction house category:Printed books
Address of auction CHRISTIE'S
20 Rockefeller Plaza
10020 New York
USA
Preview
11.04.2022 – 25.04.2022
Phone +1 212 636 2000
Fax +1 212 636 4930
Email
4FQ.AYGKAGLUQ@FO3G@
Conditions of purchaseConditions of purchase
Shipping Postal service
Courier service
pickup by yourself
Payment methods Wire Transfer
Business hoursBusiness hours
Mo 09:30 – 17:00   
Tu 09:30 – 17:00   
We 09:30 – 17:00   
Th 09:30 – 17:00   
Fr 09:30 – 17:00   
Sa closed
Su closed

Related terms

Frequently asked questions

First of all, you should register to be able to purchase at auction. After confirming your email address, enter your personal information in your user profile, such as your first name, last name, and mail address. Choose a lot from the upcoming auction and the maximum amount you want to place on it. After confirmation of your choice, we will send your application by e-mail to the appropriate auction house. If the auction house accepts a request, it will participate in the auction. You can view the current status of a bid at any time in your personal account in the "Bids" section.
Auctions are performed by auction houses and each of the auction houses describes their terms of auction. You can see the texts in the section "Auction information".
The results of the auction are published within a few days after the end of the auction. In the top menu of the site, find the tab "Auctions". Click on it and you will be on the auction catalog page, where you can easily find the category "Results". After opening it, select the desired auction from the list, enter and view the current status of the interested lot.
The information about the auction winners is confidential. The auction winner will receive a direct notification from the auction house responsible with instructions for further action: an invoice for payment and the manner in which the goods will be received.
Each of the auction houses has its own payment policy for the won lots. All auction houses accept bank transfers, most of them accept credit card payments. In the near future you will find detailed information for each case in the section "Auction information" on the page of the auction catalog and the lot.
Shipment of the won lot depends on its size. Small items can be delivered by post. Larger lots are sent by courier. Employees of the auction houses will offer you a wide range to choose from.
No. The archive serves as a reference for the study of auction prices, photographs and descriptions of works of art.