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’s CIA agent friend, Felix Leiter. The novel ‘Diamonds Are Forever’ is dedicated to him. Fleming had the endearing habit of including in-jokes in his books and the diamond shown on the original cover of, ‘Diamonds Are Forever’ belonged to Jo Bryce, Ivar’s third wife. The writer often stayed at the Bryce’s farm in Vermont and many local place names feature in the book.

Bryce’s niece, Janet, married David Mountbatten, the third Marquess of Milford Haven, and the jacket is being sold by his great nephew, Lord Ivar Mountbatten, younger brother of the present Marquess.

Other Fleming items in the sale include a first edition of the first Bond novel, ‘Casino Royale’ estimated at £6,000-8,000.