Two recent public auctions have featured original James Bond memorabilia, realizing prices that continue to mark the 007 franchise as one of the most sought out and valued by collectors.
As reported last week (see Bonhams to Auction James Bond “The Spy Who Loved Me” Lotus Esprit Coupé), Bonhams offered the Lotus Esprit Coupé used in the James Bond film, The Spy Who Loved Me in their December 1, 2008 auction in Olympia, London. The vehicle was part of Sale 16256 – “Important Collectors’ Motor Cars, Pioneer and Vintage Motorcycles and Fine Automobilia”, Lot No 679.
The Lotus realized a price of £111,500 (approximately $165,000).
Full details can be found at Bonhams.com:
Yesterday, as part of their Sale 5425 at South Kensington (see Christie’s Pop Culture: Entertainment Memorabilia Auction – South Kensington, December 4, 2008 – Catalog Online) Christie’s sold Kevin McClory’s script for Warhead, an unmade James Bond project.
The script realized a price of £46,850 (nearly $70,000). The pre-sale estimate was only £2,000-£3,000.
Full details can be found at Christies.com:
Conversely, the original wardrobe pieces sold at the charity auction last week (see Olga Kurylenko’s Dress from Quantum of Solace Sells at Charity Auction) likely sold for much less than it might have compared with what we are seeing with these publicized, public auctions with the large auction houses.
Profiles in History has a number of James Bond lots consigned to their upcoming Hollywood Auction 33 next week (see Profiles in History “Hollywood Auction 33″ Catalog Available Online).
- Lot 93: Orig. photo proof of Ian Fleming for Casino Royale (Est. $3,000-$5,000)
- Lot 97: Ian Fleming sgd British ed. of For Your Eyes Only (Est. $20,000-$30,000)
- Lot 98: Ian Fleming sgd 1st British Edition of Thunderball (Est. $25,000-$35,000)
- Lot 99: Poster ad for Ian Fleming James Bond Thunderball (Est. $4,000-$6,000)
- Lot 101: Ian Fleming handwritten letter regarding Dr. No (Est. 8,000-$12,000)
- Lot 102: Ian Fleming 1st British ed of The Spy Who Loved Me (Est. $40,000-$60,000)
- Lot 103: Ian Fleming sgd 1st British ed You Only Live Twice (Est. $60,000-$80,000)
- Lot 110: James Bond Moonraker one-sheet poster artwork (Est. $15,000-$18,000)
- Lot 111: James Bond A View to a Kill poster artwork (Est. $12,000-$15,000)
- Lot 112: Pierce Brosnan’s rubber stunt pistol from Tomorrow Never Dies (Est. $6,000-$8,000)
I will highlight the prices realized for these pieces in my review of the auction event next week.
James Bond memorabilia has done very well with Profiles in History, with high prices realized in their Hollywood Auction 32 over the summer. As reported in August (see Profiles in History 32 Held Yesterday, Today), an Ian Fleming manuscript for From Russia With Love sold for $65,000, the original screenplay for You Only Live Twice realized $42,500, signed copies of Octopussy and The Living Daylights along with an original drawing and seashell related to the dust jacket illustration for Octopussy fetched $32,500, and the screenplay, treatment, and outline for Dr. No sold for $15,000 (all prices noted do not reflect the 18-20% Buyer’s Premium).
Earlier this year, Duke’s Auctioneers sold a collection of letters from James Bond author-creator Ian Fleming for a significant sum (see Ian Fleming’s “James Bond” Letters Fetch Nearly $30,000 at Auction).
Obviously, this has been a big year for original 007 memorabilia.
Jason De Bord