The year 2012 is a celebration of all related to 007 as it’s the 50th anniversary since the first onscreen incarnation of James Bond in 1962’s Dr. No. So, specially for this occasion, the most comprehensive collection of James Bond posters will hitting the auction block on December 15 and 16 in Los Angeles. Noted Hollywood auctioneer Profiles in History has come up with rare posters from every Bond movie along with stills, lobby cards, scripts, pressbooks and other notable memorabilia, estimated to bring in more than $200,000 for the movie poster collection alone.
“This is truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for any fan of James Bond to acquire rare Bond movie posters that may never reach the market again,” said Joe Maddalena, the auction house’s president.
Leading at the upcoming auction will be a rare “From Russia With Love” special advance Leicester Square world-premiere poster from 1963, one of a handful believed still in existence that is expected to fetch $10,000 to $15,000. “It’s such a rare thing when you get every title like this,” Maddalena commented.
Also notable rare posters include a ‘Dr No’ special advance silkscreen UK double crown poster from 1962, arguably the very first James Bond film poster to appear in public, estimated to fetch $3,000 to $5,000; a ‘Goldfinger’ UK advance double crown poster (style A) from 1964, considered one of the great rarities of James Bond poster collecting and a British “Thunderball” poster from 1965, each estimated to sell for $4,000 to $6,000.
According to Maddalena, the posters and other items were assembled over some 25 years by a private British collector, who wanted to build the most comprehensive James Bond movie poster collection. And, he obviously did it.
