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Book production can be revealed by the cut of its cloth
Differences in cloth used to bind 1st edition James Bond books might appear a detail too far. But they can reveal more production details:

Peter Crush
Oct 10, 20248 min read


Exclusive! The Michael Gillette Interview (Part 2)
In part 2 of our interview with Bond artist Michael Gillette: The design process - including an exclusive look at some that didn't make it.

Peter Crush
Oct 3, 20248 min read


Exclusive! The Michael Gillette Interview (Part 1)
Ahead of Ian Fleming Publications' new set of Bond hardbacks - we interview the man who designed the covers: Michael Gillette (Part 1)

Peter Crush
Sep 26, 20247 min read


Do Ian Fleming book collectors badly need a new film too?
A regular flow of Bond movies has kept interest in the original 1st edition books strong. So should bibliophiles worry about film delays?

Peter Crush
Sep 19, 20247 min read


How should we shelve our collection of books?
We could all do with reminding ourselves about how best to shelve our books - and I've recently learned one big lesson:

Peter Crush
Sep 12, 20248 min read


Does your book have a silver lining?
Most James Bond books have silver foil spines. Some have gilt lettering. Rare examples exist that 'should' be gilt, but are actually silver:

Peter Crush
Sep 5, 20246 min read


Bond Book Porn!
There's some amazing books currently for sale. And when I say amazing, I mean expensive. Here's my pick the books you need serious dosh for:

Peter Crush
Aug 29, 20246 min read


Me (!) With The Golden Gun
It's the book I've personally coveted for years. Finally, I tracked one down (and managed to buy it).

Peter Crush
Aug 22, 20248 min read


Actor-signed 1st editions - desecration or just different?
Do actor-signed first editions spoil or enhance James Bond first editions, or is this a crossover too far?

Peter Crush
Aug 15, 20246 min read


Bargain Books (Part 2): What does a 1st impression Casino Royale cost in 2024?
How deep into our pockets must we delve to buy a first impression of Casino Royale? Are prices still going up? Are bargains still to be had?

Peter Crush
Aug 8, 202411 min read


Is my book a 'bargain?' (Part 1)
Everyone wants a bargain, but how do we know if we're getting one if we don't have an accurate sense of what books are going for nowadays?

Peter Crush
Aug 1, 20248 min read


Hidden in plain sight: Dust jacket prices tell you more...
A later-priced dust jacket reveals much more detail about a book's publishing history than you might have previously thought.

Peter Crush
Jul 25, 20248 min read


The case of the 'placeholder' book
They're books we might not ordinarily buy. So why do we purchase so-called 'placeholder' books, and what purpose do (and should) they serve?

Peter Crush
Jul 11, 20246 min read


The one that got away…
We’ve all missed out on a book that we’ve seen but someone else beat us to. But how confident can we be that another one will appear?

Peter Crush
Jul 4, 20247 min read


Ian Fleming Rebinds: The story so far...
We're on a mission to design a full set of Ian Fleming firsts editions. Eight books down, here's their story so far...

Peter Crush
Jun 27, 20249 min read


Good - better - best (and the tyranny of collecting!)
Buying a book is often the start of a long search to improve it. But when there's always a better one out there, when do you decide to stop?

Peter Crush
Jun 20, 20247 min read


Ian Fleming proofs (Part 2): You Only Live Twice
Corrections and a substantial change of text reveals You Only Live Twice was still being tinkered with right up until the publication date.

Peter Crush
Jun 13, 20247 min read


Deciphering Fleming: Uncorrected proofs
There's no better way of getting into the mind of Ian Fleming than by sitting down and studying an uncorrected proof

Peter Crush
Jun 6, 20248 min read


Show and sell – Firsts book fair reviewed
If you missed the Firsts book fair in London this week, here's some of the superb James Bond first editions on show

Peter Crush
May 23, 20247 min read


It's signed, but is it genuine?
How do you know if a book with an Ian Fleming signature in it is the real deal or not?

Peter Crush
May 16, 20249 min read
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