'Competition' contained within 'Alphabet and Image'. A quarterly edited by Robert Harling (September 1947).
London: Art and Technics Ltd., printed by The Shenval Press. Spring 1946 - December 1948. EARLY FLEMING IN PRINT, The complete eight numbers (all published) of this quarterly magazine of typography and graphic arts. With the all-important additional inserts (coloured order forms and three separate Stop Press notices; Fleming's contribution appears in the inserts Stop Press, included with nos.5 and 7, not the magazine!). Catalogue format, first four issues comb-bound, remainder perfect-bound in jackets, as issued. Some expected wear, one plastic binder slightly cracked, small loss to jacket of volume 8 (not affecting text). A very good set. Ian Fleming proposed the terms of the first competition to be run by this journal, to design the twenty-seventh letter of the alphabet. Terms were detailed in Stop Press No.1, a four-page insert to Magazine No 5. "All submissions to be received by 15th November 1947, with Mr. Fleming to be the sole judge. The prize is a book token of five guineas". An update appears in No.6 (p.92), and a postscript in Stop Press No.7 accompanying Alphabet and Image No. 7, mentions that Mr Fleming went abroad (his annual Jamaican trip) but the competition was kept open under the sponsorship of Tom Driberg, MP, and the more curious entries are shown within, with a notification of the winner. A very early literary endeavour by the future James Bond novelist. The journal also contains regular contributions by Fleming's bookselling colleague Percy Muir, and is edited by his close friend, typographer Robert Harling. Item #63099
Gilbert C13, pp.531-2, Lycett page 204.
Price: £675.00
See all items by Ian Lancaster FLEMING