Happy Saturday, Spy Vibers! My students arrived back from summer holidays this week and we're already busy with the start of a new school year. One of the highlights from the week was a community viewing of a new documentary called Screenagers, which looks at the changing role and effects of technology on relationships, health, and the brain. Like many issues, our discussions came down to the notion of balance. Check the film out if you get a chance. Today I wanted to share these great catalog pages from 1960s Japan, where it appears young Mods could walk in the footsteps of Pierre Cardin. Which outfit would you choose? By the way, I'm still going through the photographs from my summer travels in the UK. There is a lot to edit. Just to give you an idea: during my stay in Portmeirion, for example, I took almost 1,000 images! I will start sharing some of the gems soon. Have a great weekend! Related posts: Japan Ads, Tokyo Beat 1964, Nihon Surf, Johnny Sokko & His Flying Robot, Ian Fleming's Japan, Japanese 007 Editions, Japanese UNCLE Editions, Mods to Moongirls, Peeling Off the Trench Coats, Mad For Mondrian.
Selected Spy Vibe Posts: Gaiman McGinnins Project, Ian Fleming Grave, Revolver at 50, Karen Romanko Interview, Mod Tales 2, Umbrella Man: Patrick Macnee, New Beatles Film, The Curious Camera, Esterel Fashion 1966, Exclusive Ian Ogilvy Interview, 007 Tribute Covers, The Phantom Avon novels return, Ian Fleming Festival, Argoman Design, Sylvia Anderson R.I.P., Ken Adam R.I.P., George Martin R.I.P., The New Avengers Comics, Trina Robbins Interview, The Phantom at 80, 007 Manga, Avengerworld Book, Diana Rigg Auto Show, The Prisoner Audio Drama Review, David McCallum novel, Andre Courreges R.I.P., Who's Talking on Spy Vibe, UFO Blu-ray, Avengers Pop Art Interview, Fergus Fleming Interview, Avengers: Alan Hayes Interview, Jaz Wiseman Interview, Diana Rigg BFI Interview, Casino Royale Interview: Mike Richardson, Lost Diana Rigg Interview, Honor Blackman at 90, UNCLE School, Ian Fleming Memorial, Portmeirion Photos, Doctor Who Exhibit, Farewell Steed, Pussy Galore Returns, Diana Rigg birthday, Sherlock at 221B, Invisible Agent, Saint Interview: Ian Dickerson, Saint Doppelgänger, Fleming's Typewriter, Rare Fleming, Fleming's Music, Ian Fleming's Japan, Jim Wilson Corgi Interview, Fantomas Design, John Buss interview, Saint Volvo, Mod Tales Interview, Agente Secreto Comics, Danger Man Comics 2, Danger Man Comics, John Drake Comics, Der Mann Von UNCLE, Golden Margaret Nolan, Man From UNCLE Rocksteady, Pussy Galore Calypso, Cynthia Lennon R.I.P., Edward Mann Fashion, Leonard Nimoy Tribute, Shatner at 84, Bob Morane series, Thai Bond Design, Bond vs Modernism, Tokyo Beat 1964, Feraud Mod Fashion, Green Hornet Manga, Avengers Interview: Michael Richardson, Ian Fleming: Wicked Grin, Jane Bond Hong Kong Records, Ryan Heshka Interview, Comics Week: Man From R.I.V.E.R.D.A.L.E., Comics Week: Archie, Comics Week: Robots, Comics Week: Cold War Atomic, Comics Week: SPYMAN, Comics Week: Jimmy Olsen, Shakespeare Spies: Diana Rigg, Shakespeare Spies I, Rodney Marshall Avengers Interview, Richard Sala: Super-Enigmatix, Cold War Archie, Playboy Bunny Interview, The 10th Victim Japanese and Kindle, U.N.C.L.E. Japanese Books, Catsuits, Batman '66 Green Hornet Interview: Ralph Garman Ty Templeton.
A rare catalog of Modesty Blaise art was produced last May in a limited edition of 600 copies. Printed in softcover at 88 pages, the book featured high-quality scans of original black and white comic strips, book covers, and presentation pieces for sale(!) at Illustration Art Gallery. It's a difficult volume to track down, but copies just appeared over at Buds Art Books for $35. Spy Vibers with deep pockets should check out the original artwork for sale at IAG (two color illustrations from the sale below). It's quite impressive to see so many pieces in one place. They keep an archive of sold work on-line as well, so fans can study literally hundreds of originals. Peter O'Donnell's Modesty Blaise ran as a newspaper strip from 1963 to 2001, with drawings by Jim Holdaway, Enric Romero, John Burns, Pat Wright, and Neville Colvin. I haven't had a chance to see this catalog yet, so hopefully some Modesty collectors among our Spy Vibe community can report back with their impressions. I believe the book is completely black and white (no color reproductions), can anyone confirm? Learn More: Official Site, Mod Book Covers, Book Cover Site, Modesty Blaise News.
Selected Spy Vibe posts: Avengers Blu-ray update, Tokyo Beat 1964, Polaroid Spy, Modesty Monday, Feraud Mod Fashion, Flint Scores!, Bond Danish, Louis Feraud, Roger Moore Day, Home Movies, New Richard Sala Book, New 007 Comics, Unseen Fleming in new 007 by Horowitz, Designing Bond Books, Foster Spies, Green Hornet Manga, Margaret Nolan Art, No 6 Festival, Barbarella Returns, 007 Audio Books Return, Harry Palmer Blu, One Million Prizes, Designer: Gene Winfield, Avengers Blu-Ray, Avengers Interview: Michael Richardson, Ian Fleming: Wicked Grin, Jane Bond Hong Kong Records, Ryan Heshka Interview, Comics Week: Man From R.I.V.E.R.D.A.L.E., Comics Week: Archie, Comics Week: Robots, Comics Week: Cold War Atomic, Comics Week: SPYMAN, Comics Week: Jimmy Olsen, Diana Rigg at 76, Gerry Anderson Doc, Mr. Hulot's Box Set, Rare Avengers Scripts, Man From Uncle UK Comics, Mattel X-15, Thunderbirds Comics, Shakespeare Spies: Diana Rigg, Shakespeare Spies I, Batman News, Monty Python Fathom Spies, Rodney Marshall Avengers Interview, Avengers Book: Bowler Hats & Kinky Boots, George Lois Design & Mad Men, Richard Sala: Super-Enigmatix, Big Fun Toys, Danger Diabolik Soundtrack, Mod Fashion Dolls, Cold War Archie, Playboy Bunny Interview, The 10th Victim Japanese and Kindle, U.N.C.L.E. Japanese Books, The 10th Victim German Edition, The Saint books return, Trina Robbins Interview, Catsuits, Batman '66 Green Hornet Interview: Ralph Garman Ty Templeton.
I had a nice birthday in the Spy Vibe lair today! Sushi lunch and dinner with fellow agents, and I got to add more volumes to my collection of classic Dick Tracy comic strips. Opening the box got me thinking about those childhood treasures and holiday moments. How many Spy Vibers liked to look at the Sears or Corgi catalogs back in the day and dream over the cool spy toys? Did any of you collect the Gilbert toys? I never had the Gilbert action figures and play sets below until I was in college (hey, I was a late bloomer!), but they still managed to fire my imagination. I love that they made things like Goldfinger's laser table. Just what every kid needed to torture their own secret agent and stage cliff-hangers at home! And Ken Adam's designed trick pool table with secret map- ingenious! I eventually had all of the sets sealed on their original cards, but sold them off with other James Bond artifacts to help fund my first move to Japan. Sometimes I think about picking some of these up again and photographing ala David Leventhal or Slinkachu. But for now, the catalog does the trick. Here's a little dream for you. Click to enlarge. Enjoy!
Jon Gilbert, editor of Ian Fleming: The Bibliography, announced over the weekend that he has released a new catalog of rare Ian Fleming publications through Adrian Harrington Ltd. See Spy Vibe's post here. Gilbert's Bibliography came out last fall to high acclaim and has quickly become the premiere reference book to Fleming's work. Ian Fleming. A Catalog is a descriptive resource of rare and unusual material that Gilbert has uncovered over the years as the Ian Fleming archivist for Adrian Harrington. This edition will be a nice companion to the Bibliography, and a much-needed update from Iain Campbell's catalog from the 1980s.
Chapters in the new catalog include: Fleming's James Bond novels, short stories, omnibus editions and collected works, The Diamond Smugglers, Thrilling Cities, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, miscellaneous Ian Fleming works, biographies and reference books, Bond source books and background material, and a selected bibliography. The book is 80 pages, with illustrations in color and black and white. Spy Vibers can send inquiries to rare@harringtonbooks.co.uk. Spy Vibe's interview with Jon Gilbert here. More Catalog images below.
Ian Fleming on Spy Vibe: recent posts include Ian Fleming Music Series links: Noel Coward,Whispering Jack Smith, Hawaiian Guitar, Joe Fingers Carr, discovery of one of Ian Fleming's WWII Commandos, James Bond book covers, Ian Fleming's Playboy interview for Kindle, Spy Vibe's discovery of a rare Ian Fleming serialization, Fleming's Royal gold typewriter, Ian Fleming's memorial address, and our Ian Fleming image archive link here.
Check Spy Vibe for recent posts about Op Art, Thomas Allen pulp art, The Shadow, Operation Kid Brother (MST3K), PG Tips Brooke Bond, 1960s espionage writers, my review of SKYFALL, 007 at the Intnl Spy Museum, Syd Cain's comic strip, and more. Spy Vibe is now on Pinterest! Check out our image archives and follow us here.
Want to support Spy Vibe? Please make a small donation with our secure Paypal tip-jar link at the top left of the main page. Nothing is too small to help cover the increasing bills for the domain, web-forwarding and other costs to maintain the site. Thank you!
Jon Gilbert, editor of Ian Fleming: The Bibliography, has announced that Adrian Harrington is releasing a new Ian Fleming Catalog. I am interested to hear about the scope of the book and about whether it will contain images of rare artifacts. Iain Campbell's collection catalog was a go-to resource for many years, but Gilbert's Bibliography has since become the premiere reference book about Fleming's publications. More news coming soon! Jon Gilbert posted this image of the book on-line today- the 60th anniversary of Casino Royale. Read Spy Vibe's interview with Jon Gilbert here.
Collectors of Ian Fleming now have a chance to pick up two unusual pieces on eBay. The first is a softcover edition of William Plomer's Memorial Service for Fleming. The ten-page volume was printed privately in 1964 and only 50 copies of the hardbound edition were made. Presumedly many more copies of this softcover edition exist, though they are quite rare. Auction details here. The second item is Iain Campbell's collection catalog of Fleming's manuscripts and books. Also printed in very small numbers, the volume features reproductions of Fleming's notes and manuscripts, as well as images of his home library. Jon Gilbert, editor of Ian Fleming: The Bibliography, tells me that he found this catalog very useful in the past- so much so that he wore out his copy! Gilbert's new bibliography surpasses all previous catalogs, but this remains an interesting piece for a collection. Auction details here. The eBay price is quite high, so Spy Vibers may want to shop around on Amazon or Bookfinder. You can also find the catalog at James Bond First Editions here.
Ian Fleming on Spy Vibe: recent posts include Ian Fleming Music Series links: Noel Coward,Whispering Jack Smith, Hawaiian Guitar, Joe Fingers Carr, discovery of one of Ian Fleming's WWII Commandos, James Bond book covers, Ian Fleming's Playboy interview for Kindle, Spy Vibe's discovery of a rare Ian Fleming serialization, Fleming's Royal gold typewriter, Ian Fleming's memorial address, and our Ian Fleming image archive link here.
Check Spy Vibe for recent posts about Operation Kid Brother (MST3K), PG Tips Brooke Bond, 1960s espionage writers, my review of SKYFALL, 007 at the Intnl Spy Museum, Johnny Sokko and His Flying Robot, and more.
Want to support Spy Vibe? Please make a small donation with our secure Paypal tip-jar link at the top left of the main page. Nothing is too small to help cover the increasing bills for the domain, web-forwarding and other costs to maintain the site. Thank you!
