Collection of inscribed Ian Fleming novels to be auctioned

A collection of Ian Fleming novels inscribed to the novelist Paul Gallico is being auctioned in London this month.

Gallico (1897 - 1976), was one of the great  writers of the 20th century. A journalist, novelist and screenwriter, he was born in New York and died in Monaco but spent much of his life living in Devon, England. He is known for writing The Snow Goose and The Poseidon Adventure.

Gallico was a good friend of Ian Fleming, working with him on the Sunday Times, and he shared Fleming’s interests in golf, diving and fencing. Fleming sent an initial typescript of his first book Casino Royale to Gallico asking if it was publishable. Gallico replied to Fleming “The book is a knockout!” Gallico also wrote an introductory essay to the first 007 Omnibus Gilt-Edged Bonds.

On January 27th, Chiswick Auctions are auctioning the Gallico Estate’s Library and Contents. The sale includes a complete set of Fleming’s Bond novels in their first editions, and eight of them are inscribed by the author to Gallico.

A first edition, first issue presentation copy of Casino Royale is inscribed by Fleming to “Paul [Gallico] from Balzache, 1953”. The pair were close drinking buddies, and Balzache is a play on “balls-ache”, which would have amused Gallico. The guide price for this copy is £18,000 - £22,000.

For more information about the sale and other items up for auction, visit Paul Gallico (chiswickauctions.co.uk)

Novelist Paul Gallico