Rare Sean Connery James Bond cinema cards up for sale

Rare surviving cards that gave cinema-goers the first tantalising glimpse of Sir Sean Connery as James Bond, are expected to fetch thousands of pounds at auction this week.

A still from Thunderball, one of the James Bond films featured in the colletion of rare cinema cards

The 8x10in “front of house” cards were displayed in cinemas in the 1960s to advertise the films and introduce the world’s most famous spy played by Connery to fans of the silver screen.

The earliest ones feature classic stills from Dr No, the movie that launched Edinburgh-born Connery to global stardom in 1962, and the blockbusters that rapidly capitalised on its success – From Russia With Love, Goldfinger, Thunderball and You Only Live Twice.

As well as 007, they include villains Ernst Stavro Blofeld, Auric Goldfinger and Oddjob and iconic Bond girls like Honey Ryder, played by Ursula Andress, and Honor Blackman’s Pussy Galore.

Sir Sean Connery. Picture: Getty Images

The cards will go under the hammer at Bonhams’ sale of entertainment memorabilia in London on Thursday, when they are expected to attract four-figure bids from Bond fans all over the world.

Natalie Downing, Bonhams’ entertainment memorabilia specialist, said: “Bond is probably the most successful film franchise of all time, and memorabilia from the earliest films starring Sean Connery is particularly sought after. These front of house cards were displayed to promote the films in the cinemas. They gave people a snapshot of the major scenes.”