Thrilling Cities – INSCRIBED BY THE AUTHOR HIS FRIEND HILARY BRAY BY WAY OF A TIPPED IN PAGE TO THE FRONT PASTE DOWN – Ian Fleming

Description

HARDBACK – A very good book bound in the publishers boards that shows quite heavy toning to the spine. Internally, the inner text is very clean indeed, free of any previous owner names or inscriptions. The book at some time has had an inscribed title page neatly added to the front paste down. The inscription from the author is to his friend Hilary Bray. The inscription reads – HILARY / IN EXCHANGE FOR / THAT TWEED ! / IAN. Hilary Bray was a life-long friend of the author, having attended Eton College with Fleming and Ivar Bryce. Bray was a fine golfer who represented the school at Stoke Poges [the golf course seen in the film ?Goldfinger? (1964)]. He caught up with Fleming again in the ‘forties through their mutual friend Hugo Pitman, and Bray succeeded Fleming at the city firm Rowe & Pitman. He worked in Military Intelligence during the war (as did Fleming’s brother Peter Fleming), and afterwards was a golf and bridge partner of Ian; indeed Bray nominated Fleming for membership of Royal St. Georges in 1948. Bray holidayed with the Flemings at Goldeneye, Jamaica, and was present on the only occasion Ian Fleming met James Bond (the ornithologist). His name, elevated to Sir Hilary Bray, was used as an alias of James Bond in the novel On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, which was also dedicated to him” -from Ian Fleming. The reference to tweed in the inscription of the present copy most likely relates to their golfing attire, given their mutual love of the game. The errata slip is present to page 223. The supplied dust wrapper is in near fine condition with a little rubbing to the extremities, but with no fading to the spine. The publisher’s printed price of 30s. net is present to the front flap. A nice association copy. Seller Inventory # 002218