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Lot #590
Ian Fleming

Written to a spy under his Kemsley cover

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Estimate: $1500+
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Description

Written to a spy under his Kemsley cover

TLS signed “Yours ever, Ian Fleming,” one page both sides, 8 x 10, Kemsley House letterhead, November 16, 1951. Letter to journalist and spy Antony Terry, in part: "The attached is self-explanatory and will, of course, result in a vast saving of energy and expense. You should have a much easier life and at the same time have more leisure to pursue news features and features which can be airmailed. I hope the quantity of your coverage won't diminish too much since we want to keep our editors happy and at the same time keep alive our syndication services which do not depend greatly on spot-news. You will also have far more leisure to devote to 'The Sunday Times.' Your last piece was voted at 'The Sunday Times' conference the best foreign despatch from any centre for months past. It is a great question whether we shall really need the office and Miss Michelau under the new regime…Incidentally, I think I shall be packing Stanbury up, also with much regret. Hamburg is comparatively unproductive and his retainer is rather on the high side. [Fleming handwrites: But this is not decided yet]. Personally, I think the whole service will benefit from this reorientation and we all look forward to providing foreign coverage for our editors which is really 100% exclusive." In fine condition, with two file holes, three horizontal folds, and a rusty paperclip impression to the top edge. Accompanied by a five-page carbon copy report sent to Felming by Terry, containing details on expenditures and potential cost-cutting measures. While working as foreign manager of the Kemsley newspaper group's Sunday Times, Fleming hired Terry to be posted in Germany. Utilizing this legitimate news organization as a cover, Fleming also ran an intelligence outfit known as Mercury which used foreign correspondents to gather information in sensitive foreign zones—Terry was one such correspondent.

Auction Info

  • Auction Title: March Auction
  • Dates: #523 - Ended March 07, 2018





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