'The Guns of James Bond' contained within 'Sports Illustrated' Magazine Vol 16, No.11, 19th March 1962.
Chicago, Illinois: Time Inc., 1962. [James Bond Reference] FIRST US APPEARANCE. pp.84. Original price 25 cents. Magazine format, illustrated. Housed in an elegant custom-made gilt-titled black buckram chemise case. This issue contains the first American appearance of this original Ian Fleming feature entitled 'The Guns of James Bond', which not published in book-form until 2008. Scarce thus. Postal label to upper, minor wear; near fine. 'Q Branch' (aka Major Boothroyd) in the Bond novels is based on Major Geoffrey Boothroyd, a gun expert who lived in Glasgow, Scotland. Boothroyd wrote to Fleming concerning his choice of firearms after reading the novels; he criticized Bond's use of guns, and Fleming, instead of being offended, took the expert's advice and adapted his writing accondingly- Boothroyd's comments included switching the Beretta (a ladies gun) for the Walther PPK, and he noted that a shoulder holster (as seen in the film 'Dr. No' (1962) does not provide as quick a draw as a belt holster (seen in many Westerns). Geoffrey Boothroyd can be seen in person with Sean Connery in the black and white 1964 short documentary "The Guns of James Bond". This article is framed by the actual correspondence between Fleming and Boothroyd. Item #58754
Gilbert C103.
Price: £750.00
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