56, the Rank  Organisation via Ian Hunter (I) (qv) bought an advance option from  Fleming to the novel "Moonraker". Fleming stipulated £1000 for an  advance option and £10,000 for the film rights. Rank did not develop  the material further. In Spring 1959, Rank sold them back to  Fleming. Harry Saltzman (qv) obtained the rights to the James Bond  novels in 1960