Rare James Bond Posters and Memorabilia at Ewbanks 007 Auction

Ewbank's once again offers rare posters and memorabilia at their 007-dedicated auction on May 27th 2022.

Update: auction results added.

The James Bond 007 auction features a rare alternate design to replace bikini-clad, gold-coated Shirley Eaton original poster.

James Bond Goldfinger (1964) British Quad film poster, Style A, art by Robert Brownjohn, starring Sean Connery, United Artists, linen backed, 30 x 40 inches. Estimate: £3,000-5,000.
Final price: £3,000

When Sean Connery embarked on his third outing as 007 in 1964, the film was Goldfinger. One of its most famous scenes was the discovery of Bond girl Jill Masterson, her dead body sprayed entirely gold.
Such was the outrage among censors in Ireland, however, that the original design for the film’s promotional poster, prominently showing the bikini-clad Masterson, as played by Shirley Eaton, had to be scrapped there in favour of a gold sprayed hand.

Rare alternative poster design for James Bond Goldfinger (1964) British Quad film poster by Robert Brownjohn. This was produced exclusively for promoting the film in Ireland whereas the English poster included the gold-coated Jill Masterson (Shirley Eaton). At the time, Irish censors were scandalised by the image of the bikini-clad Bond girl, resulting in this scarce yet similarly iconic 'hand' design. Linen-backed, 30 x 40 inches. Estimate £7,000-10,000.
Final Price: £6,500

The result is that while the Style A bikini design can command up to £5,000 at auction, rarer survivors from the Irish distribution of the Style B hand poster can reach double that sum at £10,000.

Examples of both designs are among the highlights in Ewbank’s Auctions’ James Bond 007 sale on May 27.

It is the latest in a series of dedicated Bond auctions that have netted hundreds of thousands of pounds at Ewbank’s over the past five years.

“007 remains one the most iconic and sought-after of all film franchises,” says Ewbank’s specialist Alastair McCrea. “Props, costumes, collectables and posters will all attract interest online from all over the world. Auctions can bring in bids from more than fifty countries at any one time.”

It is the early Connery classics that usually command the best prices, and the top-estimated lot in this sale is an original British Quad film poster for the first film in the franchise, Dr No, released almost sixty years ago in 1962. That carries an estimate of £8,000-12,000.

James Bond Dr No (1962) British Quad film poster for the first James Bond film, illustration by Mitchell Hooks, starring Sean Connery as 007, folded, 30 x 40 inches. Estimate £8,000-12,000.
Final sale price: £12,000

A limited edition 24 karat gold plated replica Golden Gun from The Man With The Golden Gun is expected to fetch £6,000-9,000.

James Bond The Man With The Golden Gun - A replica golden gun, 24 karat gold-plated replica manufactured by S.D. Studios Ltd., 1994. Complete with replica bullet engraved 007, in presentation case with combination lock and descriptive plaque. Gun length 9.5 inches.
Includes certificate and paperwork. Estimate £6,000-9,000.
(final result: unsold)

Another Golden Gun from Factory Entertainment, signed by the film’s stars, Roger Moore and Christopher Lee, should sell for £3,000-5,000.

James Bond The Man With The Golden Gun - Factory Entertainment Dual signed Limited Edition Replica Golden Gun from 2010, officially licensed by Danjaq LLC and EON and plated in 18 carat gold, this a rare version signed by both Sir Roger Moore (James Bond) and Sir Christopher Lee (Scaramanga), is a limited edition of only 400 that were made. This one is number 191. Estimate £3,000-5,000.
Final sale price: £3,400

Posters for Thunderball (£3,000-5,000), From Russia With Love (£3,000-5,000) and You Only Live Twice (£1,500-2,500) also feature among the highlights, as do a series of replica weapons.

James Bond Thunderball (1965) British Quad film poster, artwork by Robert McGinnis, United Artists, linen backed, 30 x 40 inches. Estimate £3,000-5,000.
Final sale price: £3,600

James Bond You Only Live Twice (1967) British Quad film poster, Style C (Bath Tub) starring Sean Connery, folded, 31 x 41 inches. Estimate £1,500-2,500.
Final sale price: £3,700

“One of my favourite lots is a selection of casino chips associated with Dr No,” says McCrea. “These were real chips loaned by the Le Cercle Casino at Les Ambassadeurs.” They carry hopes of £4,000-6,000.

James Bond Dr No (1962) Nine Le Cercle gaming plaques / chips from Terence Young's Dr No. The production used original plaques loaned by Le Cercle casino at Les Ambassadeurs Club. The lot includes a £500, £100, £50, £10 and £5. Estimate £4,000-6,000. 
(Unsold)

Replica, airsoft Glock 17 KPOS PDW with Custom Laser Mic and Suppressor - made to look similar to the weapon used by James Bond in the Day of the Dead pre-title scene in SPECTRE. Estimate £2,000-4,000.
Final price: £2,000

Replica of a Piton gun, similar to the one seen in the movie GoldenEye starring Pierce Brosnan. In the film the piton gun was equipped with a steel cutting laser, perfect for infiltration missions. The replica is estimated at £2,500-3,500.
Final sale price: £4,600

James Bond The Living Daylights (1987) Custom made replica of a Walther WA2000 Sniper Rifle 7.62mm x 51 NATO AN/PVS-4 Starlight Scope & Laser Designator, with ammo, two plaques, one signed by Jeroen Krabbé (General Georgi Koskov KGB), Maryam d'Abo (Kara Milovy) and Thomas Wheatley (Saunders), all case, overall case size 140 x 40 cm. Estimate: £2,500-3,500
Final price: unsold

Many more James Bond lots and live online bidding is available via Ewbank’s website: www.ewbankauctions.co.uk

All images courtesy of Ewbank’s Auctions