O. F. Snelling — Double O Seven, James Bond, a Report

London, Neville Spearman, 1964 . First edition. Cloth. A signed presentation copy of the first edition of the first book-length critique of James Bond, by author and antiquarian book auctioneer O. F. Snelling. The first edition, first impression, in the publisher's original dust wrapper. A signed presentation copy, inscribed 'To David Matthews, with best wishes from the author O. F. Snelling' to the front free endpaper.Snelling's work draws on his experience as an intelligence operative in Russia, and friendship with Ian Fleming for this study on the James Bond phenomena. This is the earliest serious study of the phenomena of Fleming's legacy. He analyses Bond as a character, with chapters on 'his predecessors', 'his image', 'his women', 'his adversaries' and 'his future&apos. Snelling was a noted antiquarian bookseller and worked for both Hodgson's and Sotheby's. He assisted Fleming in his research for the Bond novels. Former owner's pencil inscription to the title page. In the publisher's original cloth binding, with unclipped dust wrapper. Externally, fine. Front free endpaper and half title detached and loosely inserted. Signed to front free endpaper. Light rubbing to dust wrapper back strip head and tail, with a touch of rubbing to fold over front joint, and with light handling marks to rear wrap. Internally, firmly bound. Pages clean and bright. Very Good Indeed . Ill.: None. Very Good Indeed/Very Good Indeed.