Movie Prop Collecting with Jason DeBord's Original Prop Blog Film & TV Prop, Costume, Hollywood Memorablia Pop Culture Resource

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James Bond Lotus Esprit Movie Prop Car Submarine from “The Spy Who Loved Me” Sells for Nearly $1M in RM Auctions Sale

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One of the more interesting lots in the RM Auctions sale in London this week – the highly customized Lotus Esprit that was converted into a submarine in the James Bond film The Spy Who Loved Me (1977) – hammered for £550,000, which translates to about $968,000 with fees.  While it did not meet pre-sale estimate expectations that were set at £650,000-£950,000, it is a significant sale none the less, and certainly improves upon the price paid by the buyer who purchased the contents of a New York storage container for a mere $100 about 24 years ago. [Read more…]

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Air Gun Movie Prop Used for Publicity Photography By Sean Connery as James Bond Disappoints in Sotheby’s Resale

A little over two years ago, an air gun /pistol used by Sean Connery for some iconic James Bond publicity photos stunned the hobby when it sold at the traditional late November Christie’s South Kensington Pop Culture auction far in excess of its estimate, realizing a staggering £277,250 (US$438,609) including buyer’s premium.  In a resale by Sotheby’s this past weekend, it sold for less than half that amount. [Read more…]

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James Bond “Live and Let Die” Rolex Oyster Perpetual Submariner Movie Prop Sells for Quarter of a Million Dollars

Offered as part of Christie’s “Important Watches” auction in Geneva this week, the auction house sold a specially customized Rolex Oyster Perpetual Submariner wristwatch that was used by Roger Moore as James Bond in Live and Let Die. The piece sold for an impressive CHF219,000 (or about $243,959) with buyer’s premium. [Read more…]

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Christie’s “Pop Culture” Auction Held Today: James Bond Pistol Exceeds Expectations, Darth Vader Costume Goes Unsold

Christie’s “Pop Culture: Film and Entertainment” auction (Sale 5570) was held today at South Kensington, London.  Results from two of the highlight lots have been widely covered in Reuters and the AP, and picked up by mainstream media worldwide.  [Read more…]

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“The Life & Death of a Bond Film Prop” Short Film by PJV Productions About the Thunderball Bomb Sled

I came across a very interesting short film by PJV Productions on Vimeo this afternoon about “The Life & Death of a Bond Film Prop” by PJV Productions.  This video discusses the origins, use, and post-production life of  the “bomb sled” submarine featured in Thunderball, starring Sean Connery.  [Read more…]

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James Bond “Licence To Kill” Walther PPK

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I have started a series of more comprehensive profiles of the original props in my own collection, and the second piece to be showcased is a hero Walther PPK from the James Bond film “Licence To Kill” staring Timothy Dalton. [Read more…]

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James Bond Original Movie Memorabilia Values Continue To Soar

Two recent public auctions have featured original James Bond memorabilia, realizing prices that continue to mark the 007 franchise as one of the most sought out and valued by collectors. [Read more…]

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The Side Arms of James Bond, 007: Part 2 – 1962 Sports Illustrated Article By Ian Fleming

This is a little “off topic” from movie props, but thought this would make a nice companion article to the one published a few days ago, “The Side Arms of James Bond, 007: From The Walther PPK to the P99“.

I came across an interesting article from 1962 written by Ian Fleming about the guns used by James Bond in the novels (the first Bond film, Dr. No, was released that same year). The article is framed by the actual correspondence between Fleming and a fan of the novels (Geoffrey Boothroyd) with real world firearms expertise, showcasing his recommendations for the character and rationale for certain side arm choices, and other related exchanges and anecdotes.

The March 19, 1962 article – “The Guns of James Bond” By Ian Fleming – is available to read at the Sports Illustrated website, SI.com, with scans of the actual magazine available as well in the “SI Vault”. [Read more…]