Art News

Naval Coat Ian Fleming wore as he dreamed up "OO7" for sale at Bonhams

LONDON.- The naval jacket worn by James Bond author, Ian Fleming, throughout World War II, when the character of ‘007’ was first taking shape in his mind, is to be auctioned at Bonhams Books, Maps, Manuscripts & Historical Photographs sale in London on November 22. For a serving officer in Naval Intelligence such as Fleming, his naval jacket was an essential and much valued piece of kit and the author to be was wearing it while acting as observer at the ill fated Dieppe Raid in 1942. Years later, Fleming spoke of how he first began to dream up the character of Bond during the war and of how his own experiences at that time influenced the development of his most famous creation. The jacket, which is estimated at £5,000-7,000, has an impeccable provenance. It was given by Fleming to his close friend, Ivar Bryce, whom he had known from his schooldays at Eton and whose middle name – Felix – he gave to Bond