[FLEMING, Ian (1904-1968)] – LANNE-MIRRLEES, Robin de la. Sable Basilisk. [1965].

Extremely rare, one of only six copies. 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 present work reproduces this correspondence and illustrations, and concludes 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 construction of this name is explained in the preface to this volume. We have only been able to trace one other copy selling at auction in the past 50 years (Dominic Winter, 16 June 2005, lot 256). Campbell p.22.

Quarto (255 x 200mm). 51 ff. Xeroxed typescript comprising heraldic illustrations, 41pp. of text and facsimile reproductions of correspondence between Ian Fleming and Robin de la Lanne-Mirrlees. Original buckram, lettered in gilt on spine (extremities lightly rubbed). Provenance: authorial typed letter signed dated 26 May 1965 loosely inserted presenting the book to ‘Jonathan’ – John Griswold (author of Ian Fleming’s James Bond 2006; letter loosely inserted).