Auction of classic 007 quad movie posters to be held in Dallas, USA

05-Feb-2008 • Event

One of the most successful franchises in film history, the James Bond series of movies has been thrilling audiences worldwide since 1962. Now, collectors will have a chance to acquire several very rare, country-of-origin British Quad movie posters to the earliest of these incredible films in Dallas-based Heritage Auction Galleries' upcoming Vintage Movie Poster Auction, to be held March 11 & 12, 2008.

Author Ian Fleming introduced British superspy James Bond, Agent 007 with a license to kill, in his 1953 novel, Casino Royale. Although the books were popular from their initial publication - President John F. Kennedy listed From Russia with Love as one of his ten favorite novels of all time, in a list published in Life Magazine - it was the film series that made the character an icon. Eon Productions bought the rights in the late 1950s, and inaugurated the series in 1962 with the release of Dr. No, starring Sean Connery as Bond and Joseph Wiseman as his first nemesis, the deadly Dr. Julius No, who schemes to conquer the world by hijacking America's space program.

"With their thrilling action, outlandish plots, and gorgeous girls, the films were a massive hit from the beginning," said Grey Smith, Director of Vintage Movie Poster auctions for Heritage. "Dr. No , which cost approximately $1 million to make, ended up grossing nearly $60 million on its initial release, and made an instant star out of Connery. It also, in many ways, established the template for all the films to follow, up to and including Quantum of Solace, the newest movie starring current Bond Daniel Craig, set for release this fall."

"As popular as the movies have been," said Smith, "it's no surprise that the posters associated with them have been avidly collected almost since the beginning of the franchise. The American one sheets, for example, are perennially popular, with more unusual pieces, like the Esquire posters produced for Thunderball and You Only Live Twice , bringing exceptionally strong prices on the rare occasions that they're offered, due to their scarcity."

"Among the rarest posters in the Bond universe are the country-of-origin British Quads," said Smith. "Produced in Great Britain in far smaller quantities than their American counterparts, these attractive posters, which measure 30" x 40" and display horizontally, are seldom seen, creating a massive hole in most serious Bond collections. On occasion, Quads from the later films in the series will surface, but even these are few and far between."

"In our upcoming auction, we're pleased to offer beautiful Quads from all the Connery Bond films," Smith continued, "including Dr. No, From Russia with Love, Goldfinger, Thunderball, You Only Live Twice, and Diamonds are Forever . Paper from these trendsetting movies is the most desirable of all, and I'm confident that Bond collectors from around the world will bid aggressively for the chance to own these rare beauties."

To see full-color, enlargeable images of these posters, along with every other lot in the auction, complete with thorough catalog description, and to place bids online, please visit www.HA.com/MoviePosters

Dr. No (United Artists, 1962). British Quad (30" X 40")
ESTIMATE: $3,000 - $5,000

From Russia with Love (United Artists, 1964). British Quad (30" X 40")
ESTIMATE: $4,000 - $6,000

Goldfinger (United Artists, 1964). British Quad (30" X 40")
ESTIMATE: $2,000 - $4,000

Thunderball (United Artists, 1965). British Quad (30" X 40")
ESTIMATE: $1,200 - $2,400

You Only Live Twice (United Artists, 1967). British Quad (30" X 40")
ESTIMATE: $1,000 - $2,000

Diamonds Are Forever (United Artists, 1971). British Quad (30" X 40")
ESTIMATE: $400 - $800