Kemsley Newspapers Reference Book

Kemsley House [Privately Published], [1947-8]. Small booklet (binding 133 x 95 mm; leaves 126 x 76 mm) comprising 64 ring-bound leaves and black card free endpapers, all in a pigskin binder, front cover lettered in gilt "Ian Fleming". Housed in a custom black cloth box. Coloured map ("Kemsley Newspapers Publishing Centres") on p. 99. Corners very slightly rubbed, minor tears to punched holes; a near near-fine copy. First and only edition. This is an exceptional association item comprising the author's copy of a handbook for journalists, devised by Ian Fleming as Foreign Manager of Kemsley Newspapers. As stated by Gilbert "this title represents Fleming's first book". This significant rarity first came to light when Fleming's substantial collection was transferred to the Lilly Library and the librarian, David Randall, identified it as Fleming's first book in 1972 (see The Book Collector). Randall stated that in the Lilly Library copy, pages 11-20 were blank, but marked "In Course of Preparation". Randall's request for information as to whether any other copy had survived either with or without the missing text did not receive a published reply, but another copy was subsequently sold to Iain Campbell, a Fleming bibliographer. Again there was no text on those leaves, and the vendor, a former member of the Kemsley Newspapers Foreign Department, stated that they were never printed. In the present copy, these pages have a printed text listing the staff of the Kemsley Newspapers. In May 1945 Fleming joined the Kemsley newspaper group, which owned the Sunday Times, as foreign manager, responsible for its worldwide network of correspondents. He negotiated a favourable contract, allowing him to take Caribbean holidays every winter. From 1952 until his premature death in 1964, he used these sojourns to write the Bond novels, books written in a lean and energetic prose that reflected his news training, with dramatic set-pieces and a keen eye for contemporary political and sociological realities, made exotic by Bond's aspirational lifestyle, foreign settings and liberal use of brand names. The text largely consists of instructions to members of the Kemsley Foreign Department and is a procedural manual with several signs of Fleming's distinctive touch: "13. DYNAMITE. A 'dynamite' is a story, or an instruction, of sudden and supreme importance. If a 'dynamite' story happens in your area, flash Mercury in a dozen words, no matter what the hour. Drop everything else, forget the Agencies (our papers will want their 'own man') and file your story at once. For a big enough story which breaks at night, printers can be recalled for a special edition. But the story must be BIG". The confidential nature of the booklet and the fact that it was meant to be surrendered after use probably led to its extreme rarity (there is a note on page 2 that states "in the event of the holder leaving the service of Kemsley Newspapers, this book must be returned...") The Lilly copy appears to have been undated, but our copy is dated January 1948 on page 39 and a full calendar for the year is presented on pp. 111-2. It is thought that Fleming gave this item to his secretary, almost certainly Muriel Williams. She was an independent woman in a male-dominated newsroom and Fleming inscribed copies of his early novels for her. James Pickard notes that Kenneth Lewis, an employee at Kemsley House, remembered Williams well, commenting on her flat-chested appearance, strong and forceful personality, her use of bright red lipstick and that Fleming deferred to her. Provenance: (1) Ian Fleming; (2) Fleming's secretary, Muriel Williams; G. F. Sims, Bookseller, Catalogue 105 (1985), (2) Peter Harrington, Catalogue 50 (2007), (3) The Schøyen Collection No. 216. The Book Collector, Autumn 1972, pp. 414-15, Bibliographical Queries 267. Gilbert C20. The Schøyen Collection No. 216.