This autumn, Sotheby’s will present James Bond on Bond Street, an auction of over 100 items relating to Ian Fleming’s enduring creation, from a complete set of first edition books, rare posters including the first ever James Bond poster from 1962 to a limited edition signed gold-plated replica Golden Gun and a limited edition Bollinger champagne set.
Marking 60 years since the premier of the first Bond film, Dr. No, the sale will herald the early years of Bond at his most classic, focusing on the era of Sean Connery and Roger Moore and bringing together a unique assemblage of ‘Bondiana’ for old and new collectors alike.
Highlights will be exhibited at Sotheby’s New Bond Street galleries from 1-6 September as well as offered for bidding online.
Sotheby’s connection to the Bond dynasty dates back to Fleming’s short story, The Property of a Lady, that includes an auction sequence of a Fabergé egg set in the Main Sale Room, which was brought to life in the 1983 film Octopussy, filmed at the New Bond Street premises.
Among the sale highlights are a British poster advertising the 1962 film Dr. No, estimated between £20,000 and £30,000. The original James Bond film starred Sean Connery and Ursula Andress and was directed by Terence Young. Other Dr. No items include a rare transparency featuring the iconic image of Andress on a beach holding a conch shell (est. £800-£1,200). These transparencies were produced by the studio to send to newspapers and magazines, as opposed to the usual black and white photographs of the time.
Bond enthusiasts will also be able to bid on a limited edition replica of the gun from The Man with the Golden Gun, one of the most memorable props of the Bond films that was carried by villain Francisco Scaramanga, played by Christopher Lee. Made of 18 carat gold plated components consisting of a fountain pen, lighter, cigarette case and inscribed 007 bullet, the replica gun’s display case is signed by both Lee and Sir Roger Moore and the piece is numbered 007/400, the ultimate edition number for any Bond collector (est. £6,000-£9,000). A poster of the same film with Roger Moore’s signature is estimated at £3,000-£5,000, having belonged to a gentleman who worked at Pinewood Studios at the same time as Moore.
In addition to film memorabilia, a selection of Terry O’Neill’s behind the scenes photographs from film sets will be offered, including of Sean Connery filming Diamonds are Forever in Las Vegas, as James Bond in the bath (est. £5,000-£7,000) and at a dinner table dressed in his iconic white suit (est. £4,000-£6,000). Connery, who starred in seven Bond films, also features in a rare transparency showing a unique image from the film Goldfinger (est. £3,000-£5,000), one of the most popular films in the series.
The hugely successful Bond series, the longest continually running of all time, owes its inception to the novels of Ian Fleming, British writer, journalist and naval intelligence officer. Rare and important books included in the sale provide an insight into Fleming’s creative process, literary influences and inner circle of friends, including a first edition presentation copy from 1956 of Diamonds are Forever (est. £20,000-£25,000) in a dust jacket inscribed to Fleming’s close friend John Hayward. Hayward was an editor and proof-reader, reading each Bond novel in manuscript – and also marking up textual errors in this edition. Hayward famously shared a flat with T.S Eliot, gathering and archiving his papers.
Also available in the sale is a first edition presentation copy of Thunderball by Fleming (est. £10,000-£15,000), inscribed to Sir Charles Denis Hamilton, editor of the Sunday Times between 1961 and 1967, and a close friend of the writer. It was Hamilton who first encouraged Fleming to write novels.
A first edition presentation copy of You Only Live Twice by Fleming, inscribed to Robert Harling, is also set to go under the hammer (est. £10,000-£15,000). Harling was a close friend of Fleming’s, creating the Tea Chest font used on all dust jackets for the Bond books. He is also possibly the model upon whom Fleming based the character of James Bond following their service together in naval intelligence in the Second World War.
Finally, a unique crystal set relating to the 2015 film Spectre will be offered, estimated at £2,000-£3,000. Designed by Eric Berthés of Saint Louis, the oldest crystal manufacturer in Europe, it includes a premium limited edition 1988 magnum of Bollinger R.D. encased in unique crystal ice artwork. Its base replicates 007’s distinctive rifle barrel, capped off with a cabochon displaying the octopus’s sign, the SPECTRE. Only 307 of the sets were created to mark the release of the film, each individually numbered.
James Bond on Bond Street takes place during Sotheby’s September Luxury Week. For further information:
Smith Greenfield is an independent insurance broker specialising in insurance for collectors of valuable objects including: art insurance, antiques insurance, memorabilia insurance, vintage car insurance, fine wine insurance and more. To discuss specialist insurance for your collection, please contact our Premier Client Adviser, Imran Moideen, via email imran.moideen@smithgreenfield.co.uk or telephone 020 8603 3730.
Image: Dr. No transparency estimate £800-£1,200 Photo courtesy of Sotheby’s