A Harrogate shop has listed a rare collection of James Bond books with inscriptions from the author for £475,000.

John Atkinson Fine & Rare Books specialises in the most collectable editions but the James Bond books are by far the most valuable.

There are 15 books in the collection. John, the shop owner with his name on the door, says they are so rare because Ian Fleming would only sign the books for the people he liked.

With his shop closed for lockdown John Atkinson invited the Stray Ferret down. These special books are for your eyes only.

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Ian Fleming dedicated the copy of Casino Royale, the first 007 book, to his first girlfriend List Popper and later left her £500 in his will.

The author, who died at 56, also wrote a special message to William Plomer in the Spy Who Loved Me. Mr Plomer encouraged Ian Fleming’s writing and helped him get his first novel published.

So who is the type of person who would drop close to half a million pounds on this collection? Mr Atkinson believes there are plenty of people out there.

“Maybe they are an evil genius or a Bond villain. Perhaps they already have a DB5.

“I suppose it’s also an investment. The prices of these books are just going north and will continue to do so.

“I wouldn’t expect anyone to buy them and read them. There are plenty of paper backs around.

“In fact if somebody does buy this collection I will buy them the paper backs.”