James Bond Loot Heads For The Gavel As 007 Turns 50

The time is ripe for a James Bond auction. The latest in the franchise, Skyfall, heads to North American theaters in early November and the 50th anniversary of 007 is a key slot for a memorabilia sale. Posters from every Bond pic, stills, lobby cards, scripts and other memorables will hit the auction block and in December and is expected to take in over $200K. But the loot may pail in comparison to an earlier sale of Bond tidbits, including a bathing suit worn by 007's latest incarnation, Daniel Craig.

One of the centerpieces of the planned sale of Bond memorabilia is a rare From Russia With Love special advance Leicester Square world-premiere poster from 1963, according to Reuters. It is one of only a handful known to exist and it's expected to nab $10,000 - $15,000. Certainly not bad, though not quite the tidy sum swimming trunks worn by Daniel Craig in Casino Royale fetched at a separate London auction. Judi Dench presented the swimming costume (as the Brits call it) and joked they were "unwashed," selling for a cool $72,000.

The latest items going under the hammer were assembled by a private British collector over 25 years, noted the auction house's head Joe Maddalena.

"He wanted to build the most comprehensive James Bond movie poster collection," he said. "It's really a mind-boggling collection." Maddalena pointed out a yellow Dr. No silkscreen on linen poster from 1962 that is thought to be the very first 007 film poster ever to appear to the public.

Other highlights going on sale is a rare U.K. advance for Goldfinger and a 1964 British Thunderball poster from 1965. They're expected to sell for $4,000 - $6,000, though Maddalena noted that he tries to keep estimates "conservative."

The auction will take place n Los Angeles December 15 and 16 and will include hundreds of other Hollywood-themed memorabilia aside from Bond.

Auctions have reaped huge sums in past sales. Marilyn Monroe's "subway" dress from The Seven Year Itch sold for a whopping $5.5 million, while Audrey Hepburn's Ascot dress from My Fair Lady grabbed $4.4 million.

[Source: Reuters]