Roger Moore's personal humidor kept in his office at Pinewood Studios for sale

Dawsons is to offer for auction the personal humidor (or cigar box), of the late James Bond actor, Sir Roger Moore (1927-2017).

The humidor was kept in Moore’s office at Pinewood Studios from the 1970s until 2016, where the actor kept an office until his death.

Moore’s association with Pinewood Studios began in 1947 when, as a young lieutenant serving in the Combined Services Entertainment Unit, he screen-tested for the male lead in The Blue Lagoon (1949). In the early 1970s he took an office there, while working on the TV series, The Persuaders and became a permanent resident. In honour of his time at the studios, Pinewood created ‘The Roger Moore Stage’, with HRH The Countess of Wessex unveiling it on October 15, 2017.

Moore was the third actor to play Bond, stepping into the role from 1973-1985. He played the part in seven feature films by Eon Productions: Live and Let Die (1973), The Man with the Golden Gun (1974), The Spy Who Loved Me (1977), Moonraker (1979), For Your Eyes Only (1981), Octopussy (1983) and A View to a Kill (1985).

Roger Moore was the first James Bond to smoke a cigar in the role, which was in Live and Let Die in 1973 (with other Bonds having, until that point, only smoked cigarettes). A cigar aficionado in his personal life, Moore had a special clause written into his contract, that meant that he received an unlimited supply of Montecristos during filming. Seeing it as a sleek addition to his portrayal of the international spy, Moore also wanted to differentiate his particular Bond character from previous versions, by making him a cigar smoker.

Roger Moore gifted the humidor to Gareth Owen, his PA, Manager, Fixer and Biographer from 2002 until the actor’s death in 2017 and it comes via descent through Owen’s family to be offered at auction. It is beautifully crafted in American walnut with a brass lock, brass hinges and a key with a gold-coloured tassel.

Inside are three (unsmoked) Cuban Habana cigars, a slim line metal Habana cigar case and a loosely inserted metal plaque, which reads ‘Roger Moore 1967.’

It is accompanied by a typed letter signed by Gareth Owen, on a single sheet of Roger Moore’s headed notepaper, with a crest in the top centre.

To further verify it, is a ‘certificate of authenticity’ signed by Gareth Owen, printed on cream card with the same crest in the top centre, which reads: ‘This is to confirm that this cigar box belonged to Roger Moore, back in the days when he smoked! Gareth Owen PA to Sir Roger Moore 1st August 2017.’

Denise Kelly, Head of Dawsons Entertainment & Popular Cultured department, said: “We are delighted to be offering Sir Roger Moore’s personal humidor for sale at Dawsons Auctioneers. It comes with such excellent provenance and has such a direct link to Sir Roger and the time he spent at Pinewood Studios from the 1970s until 2016.  It is rather special knowing that Sir Roger kept this in his personal office at Pinewood and used it regularly, before gifting it to his personal assistant.”
 
The humidor will be offered in Dawsons Entertainment & Memorabilia sale on December 12, 2024 and carries an estimate of £8,000 - £10,000.