1) When/why did you start your James Bond collection?
I was around 12 I guess. We were on vacation in a place called Mexico Beach, Florida, which is about one hour from Panama City and much quieter and the beaches far less crowded, at least in the early 1980's. We stopped at a small yard sale near the grocery store and I found 6 or 7 of the Signet Ian Fleming paperbacks from the 1960's. Because I had already finished what I had taken with me to read and the paperbacks were 10 cents each I bought them all and read them over the remainder of the vacation. By the time we returned home I went looking for the remaining Flemings which, at that time, were far easier to find. I got the ones I needed plus a paperback of "License Renewed" by John Gardner. I flew through these and went out for more but found only "For Special Services" hardcover on a Waldenbooks clearance table. I read and waited for the next hardcover.
When Octopussy hit theatres in 1983 I wanted to but because I was only 13 and my mother was uncomfortable with the title I didn't get to go but once Never Say Never Again hit she let me and my sister go to it. I loved it but my sister was bored. After that I never missed a new Bond film and when we got our first VCR, the few Bonds there were available were among my first purchases. I, of course upgraded to DVD when we got that machine, then Blu-Ray just this year.
I collect pretty much any Bond book, movie or CD I find. I love all the novels and have a passion for the many books about the series (movie & books) that I can get my hands on. I essentially have only a hardcover or paperback of each title with a few exceptions. In the USA, the UK Cape editions are very expensive but I keep looking. If I find unusual covers or whatever I grab those as well. I have a few Large Print editions as well.
I don't collect every variant cover but I do get the ones that are really attractive and/or out of the ordinary. I may change and add more covers as I can find them now because I have seen so many great ones on the PizGloria site.
2) What books do you collect?
I buy any new fiction and non-fiction as they are released (or as I can afford them), older books that I missed as well. I buy all the movies and documentaries released on DVD or Blu-Ray plus all the movie soundtracks. I don't really do toys for lack of space and funds though I do wish I still had the old Corgi Astin Martin that ejected the passenger. I wore that thing out decades ago!
My father isn't a Bond fan so my love of the series was discover pretty much on my own and my viewings of the movies and reading of the books has always been a solitary affair. It wasn't until the internet and discovering sites and people who share my love of Bond that I got to enjoy conversations with other Bond fans.
I hope to continue adding to my collection which, in comparison to some may be considered meager, but it is mine and I am pleased with it, and happy to continue my hunt for more.
I would like to thank Bazeer for the chance to show my collection to others and learn more about a subject I dearly love.
3) What is the "holy grail" of your Bond collecting?
For the longest time my "Holy Grail" was a hardcover UK 1st of "Tomorrow Never Dies". Since I now have that my biggest one is the signed limited of "On Her Majesty's Secret Service". My other grail is to complete my Ian Fleming US hardcover 1st editions.
