Diamonds are Forever

London: Jonathan Cape, 1956. Inscribed to Two-Time Oscar Winner Leslie Bricusse
by Sean Connery (James Bond), Shirley Bassey (Singer of the Title-Song)
and John Barry (Composer)

FLEMING, Ian. Diamonds are Forever. London: Jonathan Cape, [1956].

First edition. Inscribed to two-time Oscar winner Leslie Bricusse by Sean Connery, Shirley Bassey
& John Barry.

Octavo ( 7 5 1/6 x 4 3/4 inches; 186 x 121 mm.). [1-10], 11-257, [1, blank] pp.

Handsomely bound ca. 1980 by Sangorski & Sutcliffe for E. Joseph in full black crushed levant morocco, covers bordered in gilt. Spine with five raised bands (truncated) decoratively paneled, tooled and lettered in gilt in compartments, marbled endpapers, all edges gilt. A fine copy.

Inscribed on front blank "With love / Shirley Bassey". "John Barry". Best wishes / Sean Connery". Leslie Bricusse has neatly written in black ink and underlined in red ink "Shirley / Bassey '(singer of / title song". "John / Barry / (Composer). "Sean / Connery / (James Bond)

Sir Sean Connery (25 August 1930 – 31 October 2020) was a renowned Scottish actor, best known as the first actor to portray the fictional British secret agent James Bond on film. He starred in seven Bond films between 1962 and 1983. Connery originated the role in Dr. No (1962) and continued with From Russia with Love (1963), Goldfinger (1964), Thunderball (1965), You Only Live Twice (1967), and Diamonds Are Forever (1971). He made his final appearance as Bond in Never Say Never Again (1983), a non-Eon-produced Bond film.

Dame Shirley Veronica Bassey CH DBE (born 8 January 1937) is a celebrated Welsh singer renowned for her powerful voice, career longevity, and her performance of theme songs for three James Bond films, making her the only artist to do so. Born in Cardiff, Bassey began performing as a teenager in 1953. In 1959, she became the first Welsh person to achieve a number-one single on the UK Singles Chart. Over the following decades, she accumulated 27 Top 40 hits in the UK, including two number-one singles ("As I Love You" and "Climb Ev'ry Mountain/Reach For The Stars") and a number one on the Dance Chart ("History Repeating"). Bassey is best known for recording the iconic theme songs for the James Bond films Goldfinger (1964), Diamonds Are Forever (1971), and Moonraker (1979). She remains one of the most popular vocalists in Britain.

Leslie Bricusse OBE (29 January 1931 – 19 October 2021) was a celebrated British composer, lyricist, and playwright known for his work on theater musicals and film theme music. Some of his most notable contributions include writing the music and lyrics for films such as Doctor Dolittle, Goodbye, Mr. Chips, Scrooge, Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, and Tom and Jerry: The Movie. He also co-wrote the iconic James Bond film songs "Goldfinger" and "You Only Live Twice". Additionally, Bricusse co-wrote "Can You Read My Mind? (Love Theme from Superman)" with John Williams for Superman and "Le Jazz Hot!" with Henry Mancini for Victor/Victoria.

John Barry Prendergast OBE (3 November 1933 – 30 January 2011) was an acclaimed English composer and conductor of film music. Born in York, Barry spent his early years working in cinemas owned by his father. During his national service with the British Army in Cyprus, he began performing as a musician after learning to play the trumpet. After completing his national service, he formed a band in 1957 called the John Barry Seven. Barry's interest in composing and arranging music led to his television debut in 1958.

Barry's association with the James Bond film series began when the makers of the first James Bond film, Dr. No, were dissatisfied with the theme provided by Monty Norman. Noel Rogers, the head of music at United Artists, approached Barry, which started a successful 25-year collaboration with the Bond series. Barry composed the scores for eleven James Bond films between 1963 and 1987 including Diamonds are Forever and Goldfinger, and he arranged and performed the iconic "James Bond Theme" for the series' first film, Dr. No (1962).

Gibert A4a (i.i.). (Inventory #: 05933)