The Royal Mail today released a set of commemorative stamps to mark the 100th anniversary of the birth of Bond creator Ian Fleming.

The range features classic 007 book covers, including a 1st Class Dr No:

The full range is made up of the above, a 1st Class Casino Royale, From Russia with Love and For Your Eyes Only for 78p, plus Goldfinger and Diamonds are Forever at 54p a pop.

The full mint set costs £3.32, while the philatelists among you can get a first day cover for £4.38.

The Fleming centenary - which actually falls on 28 May - will also be marked down at Penguin, which is releasing the Sebastian Faulks-penned Devil May Care on that date.

Faulks last year described the onerous task of penning a Bond novel thus: "In his house in Jamaica, Ian Fleming used to write a thousand words in the morning, then go snorkelling, have a cocktail, lunch on the terrace, more diving, another thousand words in late afternoon, then more Martinis and glamorous women. In my house in London, I followed this routine exactly, apart from the cocktails, the lunch and the snorkelling." ®

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