The collection had been expected to fetch £3,000

Letters between James Bond author Ian Fleming and his “Miss Moneypenny” have fetched £14,340 at auction – almost five times more than expected.

The collection, which included four letters signed by Ian Fleming and an annotated invoice with his initials, were sold by Dorset auctioneers Duke’s.

The letters showed a close relationship

with Jean Frampton, a secretary hired

to type his 007 manuscripts.

They also mentioned books

including Thunderball and

Live and Let Die.

Interest in the correspondence

had been high in the centenary

year of Fleming’s birth.

In March 1960, Fleming wrote

to Mrs Frampton, telling her

about his novel Thunderball.

“I am afraid this is not a good transcript,”

he wrote.

“I would be deeply obliged if you

could apply your keen mind to any points.”

As well as his typist she was an editor as such, and she was the first person to read the books Amy Brenan Assistant auctioneer

Mrs Frampton, who never met Fleming, was clearly interested in the spy’s adventures, and asked Fleming: “I still regret the end of Thunderball. What about Blofeld or does he live to fight another day?”

Assistant auctioneer Amy Brenan said:

“Mrs Frampton was actually an

intelligent lady who had a French degree

which she kept secret from her family.

“She had lots of attributes like that and

she enjoyed reading the novels as she

was typing them.

“Her interest led her to make suggestions

to the plot, for her to make alterations,

and Fleming actually welcomed it.

“As well as his typist she was an

editor as such, and she was the

first person to read the books.

“You can look on her as Ian Fleming’s

Miss Moneypenny,”

she added, referring to the character

 played by Lois Maxwell in

the James Bond films.

Included in the sale were a number

 of letters which Mrs Frampton wrote

to Fleming’s secretaries,

Una Trueblood and Beryl Griffie-Williams.