A Fine Association, Presented to the Book's Publisher

New York: William Morrow and Company, (1962). First edition, first issue, first printing. Presentation copy, humorously inscribed by Fleming on front blank to Margaret Hughes, mother of Larry Hughes, President of the publishing company William Morrow (and son-in-law of Hugo Pitman, Fleming's lifelong friend): "To Mrs John Hughes Whose son Larry Is certainly innocent of all of them! from Ian Fleming". 8vo. xvi, 87 pp. Three-quarter green morocco over green cloth-covered boards, stamped in blind and in gilt, joints and spine ends rubbed, small circular orange sticker at bottom of rear panel (applied by Larry Hughes, denoting importance); top edge gilt, other edges trimmed; marbled endpapers; signed by Larry Hughes beneath Fleming's inscription. Gilbert B3 (1.1)

A fine presentation copy, inscribed by Fleming to Margaret Hughes, the mother of the book's publisher, Larry Hughes. Writing in the Foreword, Fleming notes his appreciation to Hughes for making the book's publication possible: "My next claim to introduce these essays was my suggestion to Mr Lawrence Hughes, a friend of mine and a Director of William Morrow & Co., that he should publish them in a book. Usually when one makes brilliant suggestions to a publisher, a dull glaze comes over his eyes and nothing happens. But in this case Larry Hughes was enthusiastic and, despite all kinds of copyright problems, energetically pursued my suggestion and gathered these seven famous English authors together between hard covers--no mean feat if you know anything about copyright and literary agents."

By descent in the family, and never before offered for sale.