Former British intelligence officer (1908–1964) whose novels featuring suave spy James Bond have attained unprecedented and seemingly indestructible popularity in more than twenty film adaptations over the course of four decades. Scarce and humorous ALS, one page, 8 x 10, Goldeneye letterhead, February 26. Letter to Mrs. Walter Councill. In full: “I’m so sorry but I have no photographs here. I am generally depicted as either an aged Dracula or a young Somerset Maugham, so I suggest you choose from the morgue of your nearest newspaper which to depict.” In the lower left corner, Fleming adds a brief and apologetic postscript: “Forgive the brevity but I am hard at work, I.F.”
Double matted and framed, with a photo of Fleming brandishing a pistol, to an overall size of 19.25 x 17. In fine condition. Accompanied by the original mailing envelope, addressed in Fleming’s hand. Also accompanied by an original color lobbycard for Goldfinger, as well as a blank sheet of embossed Goldeneye stationery, a Goldeneye mailing envelope and pad of note paper, and a desirable hardcover 1959 first edition of Goldfinger.
Although the letter is undated and the postmark indistinguishable, the Jamaican stamp was released in 1963, just a year before Fleming’s death. Having already suffered one heart attack, the author nonetheless was still “hard at work” as he states in his postscript. That literary dedication continued, even though the financial success of his ‘James Bond’ series allowed him to retire in the late 1950s to Goldeneye, his estate in Saint Mary Parish, Jamaica. His witty reference to Maugham is interesting, as Fleming had often credited that author and his ‘Ashenden’ series of espionage-themed short stories, published in 1928, as influencing his own writing of spy stories. Pre-certified John Reznikoff/PSA/DNA and RRAuction COA.
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