# Ian Fleming artist context and auction value notes

Canonical page: https://appraisily.com/artist/ian-fleming/
Profile generated: 2026-05-07T06:31:00.000Z
Quality: high confidence, strong sources

## Artist identity

- Birth date: 1908-05-28
- Death date: 1964-08-12
- Nationality: British

## About Ian Fleming

Ian Lancaster Fleming (1908–1964) was a British author and former naval intelligence officer best known for creating the James Bond series of spy novels. Born in London into a prominent banking family, Fleming was educated at Eton and Sandhurst before working in journalism and finance. His wartime service in British Naval Intelligence during World War II provided the experiential foundation for the espionage fiction that made him famous. Between 1953 and his death in 1964, Fleming published fourteen Bond novels and story collections, beginning with Casino Royale. He also wrote the children's book Chitty-Chitty-Bang-Bang. Fleming's Bond franchise grew into one of the most successful entertainment properties in history, spanning film, television, and publishing, and his first editions remain among the most sought-after modern literary collectibles.

## Common works and media

Collectors and appraisers most commonly encounter Fleming material in the form of first-edition hardcovers from Jonathan Cape (the original UK publisher), often with dust jackets designed by Kenneth Lewis or Richard Chopping. Signed copies, limited editions, proof copies, and literary manuscripts also appear at auction. Occasionally, book cover artwork and promotional posters related to Fleming's publications are offered. Items are typically categorized under modern literature, literary first editions, or twentieth-century books and manuscripts.

## Market and appraisal context

Ian Fleming's literary works appear regularly at major auction houses, with early James Bond first editions—particularly Casino Royale (1953) and Live and Let Die (1954)—commanding significant premiums when accompanied by original dust jackets in good condition. Signed copies, presentation inscriptions, and manuscripts with Fleming's annotations carry additional value. The enduring popularity of the Bond film franchise continues to drive collector demand. Provenance, edition points, jacket condition, and authenticity of signatures are the primary factors specialists evaluate when appraising Fleming material.

## Appraisily data basis

Appraisily artist pages combine published artist and author identity research with auction records, auction-house context, sale dates, realized prices, and comparable lots when those records are available. For Ian Fleming, sources include authority files from the Library of Congress and VIAF, the official Ian Fleming estate website, and Wikipedia for biographical corroboration.

## Sources

- Library of Congress: https://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n50004065
- VIAF: https://viaf.org/viaf/51689472/
- Wikidata: https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q82104
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ian_Fleming
- Ian Fleming estate: https://ianfleming.com