On Her Majesty’s Secret Service – SECOND IMPRESSION – SIGNED BY THE AUTHOR – ALSO INSCRIBED BY SABLE BASILISK – Ian Fleming

HARDBACK – A near fine book bound in the publisher’s black cloth boards with un-faded silver lettering to the spine. There is very mild pushing to the corners of the front panel, else very clean indeed. Internally the page block and inner pages are clean with no toning or foxing present. The book is free of any previous owner names or inscriptions and has been boldly signed by the author to the front end paper. The book has also been inscribed under Ian Flemings signature by Sable Basilisk. The inscription reads – TO FLORA / FROM / SABLE BASILISK / IN PERSON / ( ROBIN ) While Fleming was researching heraldry for one of the main plots of On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, he corresponded with Robin de la Lanne-Mirrlees, a Pursuivant, and later, Richmond Herald at the College of Arms. The work reproduced the correspondence and illustrations, and concluded with the results of research into the Bond family history and a drawing of the Bond coat-of-arms with the motto ‘The World is not Enough’. This latter was reproduced by Richard Chopping on the dust-jacket of On Her Majesty’s Secret Service. Fleming not only dedicated the novel to Mirrlees, but also honoured him by using Mirrlees as the basis of the character Sable Basilisk. The dust wrapper is in very good condition with a small chip to the spine tip, but with no further loss or tears. There is a light rubbing to the extremities, with mild soiling to the panels. The publisher’s printed price of 16s.net present to the front flap. Seller Inventory # 002610