ROYAL MAIL on 8 January 2008 issued a First Day Cover set of six stamps showing a selection of James Bond novel covers to celebrate the centenary of 007 creator Ian Fleming's birth. The stamps were slightly longer than usual and featured covers from "Casino Royale", "Dr No", "Goldfinger", "Diamonds Are Forever", "For Your Eyes Only" and "From Russia With Love".
This vibrant collection of six stamps celebrated the world of James Bond novels written by their originator, Ian Fleming. Each stamp included an original Cape cover, as well as three others from later editions. The first–ever Bond novel, Casino Royale, is featured, and "Dr No", "Goldfinger", "Diamonds are Forever", "For Your Eyes Only" and "From Russia with Love" were also part of this very special collection.
1st class - Casino Royale. Bond’s first adventure (published 1953) pitted him against the ruthless SMERSH (Death to Spies Russian counter intelligence) paymaster Le Chiffre across the gaming table of Royale-les-Eaux. The original Jonathan Cape edition pictured here had a dust jacket designed by Fleming himself. Pan edition, artist unknown; Jove edition, illustration by Barnett Plotkin; Penguin edition cover design by Roseanne Serra and Richie Fahey. First U.S. paperback edition was retitled "You Asked for It".
1st class - Dr. No. Published in 1958, Dr No pits Bond against the scientist Dr. Julius No from his secret base at Crab Key in Jamaica. The Cape edition has a cover by Pat Marriott; Pan edition, artist unknown; Jove edition, illustration by Barnett Plotkin; Penguin edition cover design by Roseanne Serra and Richie Fahey.
54p - Goldfinger. In Goldfinger Bond foils a plot by the gold smuggler Auric Goldfinger to steal Fort Knox’s gold deposits. The Cape book jacket here is designed by Richard Chopping; Pan edition, artist unknown; Jove edition, illustration by Barnett Plotkin; Penguin edition cover design by Roseanne Serra and Richie Fahey
54p - Diamonds are Forever. In Diamonds are Forever Bond takes on the Spangled Mob, a group of American gangsters running a diamond smuggling racket out of Africa to the USA. Cape edition jacket is by Pat Marriott; Pan edition, artist unknown; Jove edition, illustration by Barnett Plotkin; Penguin edition cover design by Roseanne Serra and Richie Fahey.
78p - For Your Eyes Only. Five Bond short stories in one volume. Cape dust jacket designed by Richard Chopping; Pan edition, artist unknown; Jove edition, illustration by Barnett Plotkin; Penguin edition cover design by Roseanne Serra and Richie Fahey
78p - From Russia with Love. In From Russia with Love SMERSH hatch a plan to kill Bond using a decoding device and its beautiful operator as bait. Cape edition jacket devised by Ian Fleming and illustrated by Richard Chopping; Pan edition, artist unknown; Jove edition, illustration by Barnett Plotkin; Penguin edition cover design by Roseanne Serra and Richie Fahey.
Technical details:
The 60 x 21mm stamps and the miniature-sheet measuring 190 x 67mm, were designed by A2, and are litho-printed by De La Rue Security Print, perforated 14½ x 14½. The stamps were printed in sheets of 24 and 48. The Prestige Stamp book was printed by De La Rue Security Print and all panes are printed in litho.
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