Classic Bond posters to make up to £37k at auction

A SET of classic James Bond film posters is expected to fetch up to £37,000 at auction later this month.

Thunderball, Goldfinger and Dr No posters, which feature Sir Sean Connery, go up for sale in London on 23 May. Picture: Christie's Images

Featuring iconic scenes from Thunderball, Goldfinger and Dr No, the 15 early 007 posters starring Sir Sean Connery are to go under the hammer at Christie’s auction house in London on 23 May.

The most valuable of the collection is likely to be the 1962 Dr No poster, which is estimated to fetch between £5,000 and £7,000.

The 30in by 40in poster is particularly rare, and its near mint condition makes it the best example the auction house has seen, according to popular culture and entertainment specialist Caitlin Graham.

“The popularity of James Bond has only grown over the past 50 years and the appeal of the British spy spans generations,” she said. “It is not surprising, therefore, that we are seeing a growing market for original Bond film posters.

“The early 1960s Bond posters are the most sought after among collectors.

“Some examples are particularly rare, for example, the British quad posters for Dr No and From Russia With Love, and as a result can make thousands at auction.”

Dr No was the first film in the spy franchise, taking nearly $60 million (£39m) at the box office and catapulting Sir Sean to super stardom.

Its poster immortalised many of the themes and visual aspects that came to be associated with the James Bond films, including the image of Bond as a suave womaniser.

Another of the series, a 1965 Thunderball poster by artist Robert McGinnis, is expected to raise between £3,000 to £5,000.