Tag Archives: memorabilia

Elisabetta Sirani

The Legacy of Elisabetta Sirani: Art, Fame, and Mystery

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This week’s female artist is the fascinating Elisabetta Sirani (1638-1665).

She was born in Bologna on January 8th 1638 to Margherita and Giovanni Andrea Sirani. Fortunately for her, her father Gian’Andrea Sirani was a favourite pupil of Guido Reni and took over his practice as teacher and master in the first Life School in Bologna. Naturally, Elisabetta studied under her father and, therefore, absorbed the technique of Guido. She also studied the paintings of other great Bolognese baroque painters such as Annibale Carracci, Simone Cantarini and Carlo Cignani. She was well educated, liked music and was familiar with the Bible, lives of the Saints and classical mythology, all of which provided subject matter for her paintings.

By 1654, when she was only 16, she took over the running of her father’s workshop, as Giovanni Andrea had become incapacitated by Gout. I am not sure why Gout was so prevalent in previous centuries and caused so much trouble. Joseph Banks in the late 18th Century, for example, would take to a wheelchair for several months at a time. Enough on Gout!

Elisabetta Sirani Timoclea killing the Captain of Alexander the Great
Elisabetta Sirani – Self Portrait

From this moment on, Elisabetta, the eldest of four children became the family’s main breadwinner by a combination of income from her portraits and other commissions and tuition fees. She had more than a dozen pupils and set up the first lay, as opposed to convent, school for women artists. She was also a prolific painter, as well as celebrated teacher. She produced over 200 paintings, 13 altarpieces, 15 etchings and hundreds of drawings. In fact, she was so prolific that many people accused her of using pupils to paint the pictures, which was, after all, standard studio practice. However, Elisabetta tended to sign her pictures and in order to rebuke the accusations that she did not paint them herself, invited her accusers on May 13th 1664 to her studio to watch her paint a portrait in a single sitting!

She became a celebrity and anyone of status visiting Bologna would ask to be invited to her studio to watch her at work. Her clientele was made up of Kings, Princes, Dukes, Cardinals, rich merchants and the church, not only from Bologna but across Europe. All of this is surprising, as she was dead by the age of 27. The cause of her death is the subject of mystery and speculation. Some say she was poisoned by a jealous maid, others that she developed ulcers because of her excessive workload.

Elisabetta Sirani – Madonna and Child
Portia wounding her thigh

In any event, the city of Bologna went into mourning at her death and she was given a most elaborate funeral. A massive catafalque was created with a life size sculpture of Elisabetta inside it. There was music composed in her honour by the most famous musicians in Bologna and orations and poems written in honour of the “Lamented Paintbrush”. She was buried in the Basilica of San Domenico in Bologna, in the same tomb as Guido Reni, who had been her father’s tutor.

A word on the Catafalque (temple of honour)

What we are looking at is a design for the catafalque by Matteo Borboni (c.1610-1667) who oversaw the decorations for her funeral. The finished monument was made of wood painted to look like marble and the life-size statue of Elisabetta at her easel was made of wax. This gives you some idea of the scale of the temple and the high regard in which Elisabetta “Gem of Italy” was held.

If you are lucky enough to own one of her paintings, make sure it is properly insured. An average Madonna and Child is worth between £50,000 and £80,000. The top price at auction is $505,000 for “Portia wounding her thigh”, sold at Sotheby’s New York in 2008.

A drawing of Elisabetta’s Catafalque by Matteo Barboni (1610-1667)
Sothebys Pop Culture Auction September 2024

Sotheby’s Pop Culture Sale: A Star-Studded Auction from Music to Film

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During September, Sotheby’s London held their inaugural ‘Popular Culture’ sale.

The market for memorabilia has been a focus for international auction houses in recent years. Sotheby’s historically was one of the first major players in memorabilia but chose to move away from the field in the early 2000s. Recently, with several highly successful sales internationally and after the unprecedented interest generated by last year’s Freddie Mercury auction, Sotheby’s announced in early 2024 the introduction of their European Popular Culture department.

This first online auction contained 65 lots from across the spectrum of music, television, and film memorabilia. The exhibition preview drew over 1,000 visitors making it clear the appeal of Pop Culture for potential buyers.

The earliest pieces were early 1960s Beatles related memorabilia – while the most modern was a costume from the yet to be release Gladiator II.

One of the most eye-catching pieces was a CyberMaster helmet worn in the 2022 series of Doctor Who! (Lot 61). The CyberMaster’s are villainous characters with a design reminiscent of the iconic Cybermen – instantly recognisable to Sci-Fi fans. The lot had been donated by the BBC to the auction and was one of several items sold to benefit the Film + Television Charity, who support those who working behind the scenes in the industry. The combination of a charitable cause and striking headwear led to the lot exceeding its estimate of £4,000 – 6,000 – fetching £9,600 (inc. BP).

Sotheby’s London, Popular Culture, August/September 2024, Lot 62, Gladiator II: A Screen-used Hero Costume for the Rhino-Riding Gladiator ‘Glyceo’, Paramount Pictures, 2024, £9,600
Sotheby’s London, Popular Culture, August/September 2024, Lot 61, Doctor Who: A CyberMaster Helmet, BBC Studios, 2022, £9,600

Other lots sold on behalf of the Film + Television Charity were the (aforementioned) complete costume used in the highly anticipated Gladiator II (Lot 62). The movie is due for release in November 2024 – the costume providing a sneak preview into production quality and characters. It is rare for a complete outfit to appear at auction prior to the film’s premiere. The costume has been visible in the trailer and will feature as uniform of a gladiator ‘Glyceo’ who can be seen riding a rhinoceros into an arena prior to battle. This lot was an opportunity to acquire a piece from a future classic. Against the estimate of £5,000 – 8,000 it achieved a total of £9,600 (inc. BP).

Vinyl proved popular with collectors during sale – and indicated the ongoing strength of this market.

Lot 28 was an example of a collectable sought by Beatles and vinyl aficionados alike – a sealed 1st state copy of the controversial ‘Yesterday And Today’ LP.  This version of the album has a sleeve dubbed the ‘Butcher Cover’. It was one of the most shocking images of The Beatles and the era. Released by Capitol Records in Canada and the USA in 1966 the cover photograph for ‘Yesterday and Today’ was taken by Robert Whitaker (1939-2011).

Lot 33 was a Steinway grand piano, manufactured in 1972 and purchased by EMI for use at their Abbey Road Studios in 1973. The piano, which was installed in Studio 3, was in constant use from 1973 to 2016. The quality of the piano, appreciate by those recording on it.

The Steinway Model A was used on recordings of notable artists including Pink Floyd, Radiohead, Amy Winehouse, Paul McCartney, Kanye West and Lady Gaga amongst others. Pieces used at Abbey Road seldom appear at auction and garner high prices. The estimate of £150,000 – 200,000 proved accurate with the eventual total cost being £192,000.

Queen collectables have been a growth area over the past decade. Lot 39 was a Jean Paul Gautier designed leather jacket. The garment was worn by Freddie Mercury during his final stage singing performance, in April 1988. This jacket had been gifted by Freddie to a close friend, she had subsequently donated it to charity and the provenance stated it had benefited the Angles Aids Orphanage in 2001. Here against the estimate of £20,000 – 30,000 it sold for £72,000.

Lot 37 was a good set of four autographed promotional photographs of the band. Despite the estimate of £6,000 – 8,000 they sold for £22,800. Meanwhile, lot 34 was a varied collection 325 polaroid photographs of stars, obtained during the 1970s – 1980s. The collection not only included the members of Queen, but also The Rolling Stones, The Eurythmics, Status Quo, Bee Gees, Run D.M.C but actors and sports stars such as Muhammed Ali, Michael Caine, and Ben Kingsley. This unique archive sold for £108,000 (*est. £20,000 – 30,000).

Two important musical instruments achieved the highest prices of the auction.

Lot 33, Abbey Road Studios, A Steinway Model A Grand Piano Housed And Used In Studio 3, 1973-2016, £192,000

The image, depicts The Beatles in white lab coats, surrounded by decapitated dolls and butchered meat. It was created as a black humoured, surrealist breakaway from the usual images of the group and apparently inspired by Whitaker’s own reflections on Beatlemania.

So shocking was the image to audiences it was swiftly withdrawn and recalled. To save costs, many of the ‘Butcher Cover’ sleeves were overlayed with a new photograph of the band, known by collectors as the ‘Trunk Cover’ – a rather vanilla image of The Beatles surrounding a steamer trunk.

Sotheby’s London, Popular Culture, August/September 2024, Lot 28, The Beatles: A Rare ‘Yesterday And Today’, First State Sealed Mono Alan Livingston Copy, 1966, £48,000

Lot 36 was a rare, limited edition 7” blue vinyl copy of Queen’s ‘Bohemian Rhapsody / I’m In Love With My Car’. Only two hundred pressings of this blue vinyl were produced by EMI. They were created as gifts for the attendees of a dinner held at Selfridges in July 1978. Despite Queen not attending the event, they were presented with framed copies – Freddie’s own (numbered 2) appearing in last year’s Freddie Mercury auction and selling for £69,850.

The copy for offered here, numbered 108, was presented to a typist secretary who worked at EMI’s Hayes offices. Included with the lot, were a further gift from the dinner two ‘EMI Records’ branded wine glasses – the lot far exceeded the pre-sale estimate of £5,000 – 7,000 eventually reaching £18,000.

Lot 36, Queen: A Rare Blue Vinyl Pressing Of The Single ‘Bohemian Rhapsody / I’m In Love With My Car’, 1978, £18,000

The version of the LP available here was a rare unopened and sealed copy of the ‘Butcher Cover’ record. The lot had been part of the collection of the former President of Capitol Records. This piece had been intended to be returned to the factory and pasted over, with the ‘Trunk Cover’ image. Instead, it was taken home by the record companies President, and subsequently forgotten – only to be discovered years later, alongside thirteen other LP’s (four stereo and ten mono).

The pre-sale guide of £40,000 – 60,000 reflected the scarcity of the piece, eventually selling for £48,000 (inc. BP).

Timing can be everything with auctions – three guitars contained within the sale had important Oasis provenance. Their sale was announced coincidentally as Oasis revealed their reformation and 2025 reunion tour.

Sotheby’s London, Popular Culture, August/September 2024, Lot 43, Oasis: An Epiphone Les Paul Standard Electric Guitar, Owned & Used By Noel Gallagher, £132,000
Sotheby’s London, Popular Culture, August/September 2024, Lot 44, Oasis: An Epiphone EA-250 Electric Guitar, Owned & Stage-Played By Noel Gallagher, £48,000
Sotheby’s London, Popular Culture, August/September 2024, Lot 45, Oasis/Johnny Marr: A Gibson Flying V Electric Guitar Formerly Owned By Johnny Marr, Used By Noel Gallagher, £36,000

All these instruments had previously belonged to or been used by Oasis’s, legendary founder, songwriter, and guitarist Noel Gallagher. The most important of these was lot 43 an Epiphone Les Paul Standard – immediately recognisable to fans and a seminal instrument for the group. The guitar was key in the band’s early history (1993/4) when Noel Gallagher owned only a small number of guitars (just two guitars and a bass being available the group). Noel played it on stage, on television, as well as during the recording of the music video for the record breaking single ‘Supersonic’.

With a pre-sale estimate of £60,000 – 80,000 it achieved the second highest price of the auction at £132,000.

The other two instruments offered by Sotheby’s included Lot 44 an Epiphone EA-250, previously owned by Noel Gallagher and again featured on the sleeve of the ‘Supersonic’ single. It was notably played during an early television performance in July 1994. Here, the cherry redburst finished guitar sold for £48,000 (est. £20,000 – £30,000).

Lot 45 had a dual Smiths / Oasis provenance. The 1980 Gibson Flying V was acquired by The Smith’s iconic guitarist and songwriter, Johnny Marr in 1989. Marr loaned it to Noel Gallagher – who subsequently used it on the 1994 recording of Oasis’s debut album ‘Definitely Maybe’. This guitar, a baton in British and Manchester music history sold for £36,000 (est. £20,000 – 30,000).

Overall, the sale achieved a total of just under £1 million.

John Lennon’s Patek Philippe

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The most iconic and elusive watch of all time?

Set to eclipse the hammer price of Paul Newman’s Daytona if this wonderful piece ever comes to auction, John Lennon’s Patek Philippe has been at the forefront of watch news for the past six months. Famously missing for thirty-four years, this iconic and elusive timepiece is currently embroiled in a near-decade long court battle in Geneva between Yoko Ono and an Italian collector, who purchased the piece via private treaty from former German auctioneers Auctionata. Set to resolve by the end of 2024, the outcome of this lawsuit is eagerly awaited by collectors and watch enthusiasts alike.

John Lennon’s ref. 2499 Patek Philippe watch was purchased just months before his death, as a gift for his 40th birthday from wife Yoko Ono. She purchased the 4th series 2499 from Tiffany & Co. in New York – cased in yellow gold, with the retailer’s signature on the dial, and possessing a single personalised engraving to the case back, which rather eerily reads, considering that Lennon was murdered just three months later:

(JUST LIKE)
STARTING OVER
LOVE YOKO
10 • 9 • 1980
N. Y. C.

The reference 2499 by Patek Philippe on its own is an incredibly rare and highly sought-after timepiece. Only 349 examples of this reference were ever made within a 35-year production run. This reference is largely considered amongst collectors to be the ultimate Patek Philippe – combining singularity and exceptional craftsmanship. Replacing the 1518, this perpetual calendar chronograph features the triple subsidiary dial, day and date aperture and pushers to 2 and 4, all within a 37mm yellow gold, rose gold and the rarest of all platinum case (only two platinum 2499s were ever made).

Following Lennon’s untimely death in December 1980, the watch was recorded and placed into storage. It is purported that from here the watch was stolen by Yoko Ono’s former private driver, Koral Karsan who was later charged in 2017. In 2014 however, the watch was sold through private treaty by Auctionata for €600,000 to an Italian collector.

The watch was subsequently taken to Christie’s Geneva, who contacted Yoko Ono’s solicitor to enquire about the watch and its provenance. It was at this point, nearly 35 years later that Ono discovered the watch had been stolen. In 2015 a contest was raised, and the watch was placed in a ‘consignment-escrow agreement,’ with each claimant declaring their rightful ownership of the watch. Now, nine years later the case has reached its final appeal at the Tribunal Fédéral, Switzerland, against a verdict that Ono is the owner of the watch. The case is expected to be settled within the year.

As the watch and pop culture worlds wait with bated breath to see the outcome of this court case and the eventual trajectory of the piece, it is natural that the market is reactionary, meaning that regular valuations are essential for any watch collection.

Prices for Patek Philippe ref 2499 are amongst the highest for the brand and continue to grow – a combination of their rarity, exceptional complication and place in the zeitgeist. Whether Lennon’s watch does make it to auction or not, the infamy and journey of this exceptional timepiece will surely continue to bolster and uplift the value of these rare timepieces.

Wimbledon & Tennis – The History and Memorabilia

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British Summer is here – time for strawberries and cream as sports fans head to the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club for the most historic tournament in the tennis calendar – the 2024 Wimbledon Championships have arrived.

With Wimbledon and tennis in mind we will be looking at the sports history, and some of the most interesting pieces relating to tennis on the open market in recent years.

Tennis has a fascinating and long history dating back over 800 years. The sport can be traced back to 12th century France, and the game jeu de paume. Players of this earliest form of the game used their hands to hit the ball.

European Monarchs took to the sport and courts could be found throughout the continent with courtiers and Royalty competing. Louis X enjoyed it and is one of the earliest known players the game of the palm. During the 15th century, tennis courts could be found in the Burgundian court and several of the Italian courts.

The sport we would today describe as ‘Real tennis’ (or ‘court tennis’ and ‘royal tennis’) – can be seen as the closer precursor to the modern sport of Lawn Tennis. The racquet become a key component of the game, having been introduced from the 16th century.

British monarch, Henry VII and later Henry VIII both played Real Tennis. In 1530 Henry VIII had a court built at Hampton Court, and enjoyed playing at a number of his other palaces. French monarchs Francois I and Henry II were also notable early players.

A series of Old Master paintings illustrate the growth of tennis in Royal palaces. During the 16th century Flemish painter Lucas Gassel (c.1485 – 1568/9) produced a number of works on the Biblical theme ‘Episodes from the story of David and Bathsheba’. These works are unusual for their inclusion of then modern sporting pastimes within the landscape. One such example was sold at auction by Bonhams in July 2011 (Lot 114, Old Masters, 6th July 2011) – The grounds of a Renaissance palace with episodes from the story of David and Bathsheba. The work features one of the earliest depictions of a tennis court – with a rope for a net and tiled floor. Coincidentally the painting also includes another game in progress – an early form of croquet! The work eventually achieved £624,000 (including BP) no doubt due to the important sporting history.

The earliest known book relating to the tennis, Trattato del giuoco della palla, was written by Italian Antonio Scaino Da Salo (1524-1616) and first published in 1555. The text, written in three parts, occasionally appears on the open market. In November 2013, Christies London sold a copy bound in a single volume for £11,875.

Despite tennis’s reputation as the ‘Sport of Kings’, by the early 19th century it had fallen out of fashion – and had been declining in Britain since the days of Puritan rule during the Interregnum.

The later games of rackets, fives and badminton all helped form the creation of tennis today.

The modern game of Lawn Tennis, or simply ‘tennis’ as we called it was developed in the mid 19th century. Its invention is often credited to Major Walter Clopton Wingfield, who from 1874, sold sets that included all the equipment needed to play the sport.

More recently friends Major Thomas Henry Gem (known as Harry Gem) a solicitor, writer and soldier from Birmingham and Juan Bautista Luis Augurio Perera Orfila (known as Augurio Perera) a Spanish born merchant who had lived in the West Midlands since the age of four, have been credited as forerunners to Wingfield.

The pair played the game of ‘rackets’ locally and having become frustrated by the cost and complexity decided to make some alterations. Modern research suggest they began experimenting in 1859.

The pair chose to play their game outdoors on Perara’s croquet lawn, with rules developed from similar games. They founded (alongside two local doctors) the Leamington Club in 1874 (renamed the Leamington Lawn Tennis Club) – the first lawn tennis club.

Major Walter Clopton Wingfield was a Welsh army officer and inventor – importing bouncing rubber balls from Germany as part of his sets was a notable development. His game – originally called Sphairstike, was ideal for those who owned a croquet lawn. The sets he created included all the equipment required to play tennis and directly led to the popularity of lawn tennis.

Wingfield’s very early sets were retailed by French and Co. and have occasionally appeared at auction. In October 2019 ‘Sphairistike or Lawn Tennis’ set was sold at Shropshire auctioneers Trevanion and Dean. The remaining contents included three rackets manufactured in 1874 and was estimated at £3,000 – 5,000, eventually selling for a hammer price of £17,000.

The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club opened in Wimbledon during July 1868 simply called All England Croquet Club. Lawn tennis was introduced in 1875 with the first gentlemen’s competition being held in July 1877 – resulting the following year in a name change to included lawn tennis.

Memorabilia relating to these early days of Wimbledon is rare and pieces highly sought by collectors. In September 2021 a programme for the tournament held at All England Croquet and Lawn Tennis Club Wimbledon on 5th to 12th July 1880 was sold at Graham Budd Auctioneers. Carefully inscribed on the back page with the winners of each match it sold for a hammer price of £6,500.

This year marks 140 years since the first Wimbledon Ladies Singles and Gentlemen’s doubles tournaments held in 1884.

By the late 19th century Lawn Tennis had become popular internationally and tournaments were being held in globally. A poster recently sold by Swann Auction Galleries in New York was described as the “first American tennis poster promoting a tournament”.

Dating from 1896, the poster advertised The Western Lawn Tennis Tournament, held at the Kenwood Country Club in mid July. This stylish lithograph designed by Edward Penfield (1866-1925) fetched $11,250 (inc. BP).

The early 20th century brought tennis notable international players, who could be defined as ‘Sports Stars’. French multi-grand slam winning sportswoman Suzanne Lenglen (1889-1938) was such a player. Lenglen, arguably redefined what it was to be female sports person. She changed tennis fashion, wearing clothes practical for playing tennis rather than meeting the conventions of the day (such as corsets). The decision allowed her more freedom of movement.

Photographer Jacques-Henri Lartigue (1894-1986), famed for capturing of sporting events, took a series of photographs of Lenglen training.

These images, extremely evocative of the period, capture Lenglen’s playing style. In October 2017 Phillips Auctioneers, New York, sold an example of this series, a gelatin silver print signed by the photographer for a total of $13,750.

By the 1930s Wimbledon had become a hugely important event in the British sporting year. Tennis and its style fit perfectly with the Art Deco age. This is reflected in pieces produced for the modern home during this period. Designers such as ceramic artist Clarice Cliff expressed this in their work. In March 2024, West Midlands auctioneers Fielding’s sold a Clarice Cliff twoperson early morning breakfast set in the ‘Tennis’ pattern design for £7,200 (hammer price + BP over £9k).

On the open market pieces from key players of the 1930s intermittently emerge. In 2013, auctioneers Heritage (USA) sold the Wimbledon Gentlemen’s Singles trophy given to American tennis champion Ellsworth Vines. It sold for $47,800 (inc. BP) (Lot 80052, Sports Auction, Heritage Auctioneers, 1-2 August 2013).

Today, some of the most famous sporting figures of the 1920s and 1930s, are recognised by the wider general public due to fashion labels carrying their names. Two legends are French player Rene Lacoste and British player Fred Perry.

Frederick John Perry (1909-1995) had a prolific tennis career winning eight grand slams including three consecutive Wimbledon Singles titles. Prior to Andy Murray’s win in 2013, Fred Perry’s was the last British player to win a Gentlemen’s singles title in 1936. His gold winners medal awarded for this victory over Gotfried von Cramm in that tournament was offered at auction in June 2021 by Graham Budd. The piece sold for a hammer price £20,000. (Lot 205, Sporting Memorabilia, Graham Budd Auctioneers, 7th June 2021).

By the late 20th century tennis was able to hold an influence more broadly. In September 1973, tennis icon Billie Jean King played an exhibition match against male player and former Wimbledon Champion, Bobby Riggs – the game has since dubbed ‘Battle of the Sexes’. The competition was adapted into the 2017 movie of the same title starring Emma Stone and Steve Carell. The two-player competed in Houston for $100,000 in prize money. Billie Jean King won the match in straight sets. A notable piece of memorabilia from the contest was sold by Bonhams New York in December 2017 – the racquet used by Billie Jean King during the match. With a portion of the proceeds being donated to the Women’s Sports Foundation, the lot sold for $125,000 (inc BP).

As the influence of the sport has continued to expand, objects have been given names to capture their tennis connection. This is true of the ‘eternity’ bracelet or ‘line’ bracelet often referred to as a “tennis bracelet”. It is believed that the term tennis bracelet was coined after an incident during a US Open tennis match in 1987. Chris Evert, winner of 18 women’s grand slam titles, stopped her match to retrieve a missing diamond line bracelet – the new name was commonplace soon after.

The 21st century has produced some of the greatest players in tennis (and therefore Wimbledon) history. Serena Williams, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal for example have all proved to have influence far beyond tennis.

In 2021 Roger Federer held two auctions from his career at Christies, in aid of his foundation. Among the notable lots during the online and live auctions were three rackets, used during the fourth round, quarter final and finals of the Wimbledon Championships in 2019. The set were estimated at £7,000 – 10,000 but achieved an estimate smashing £162,500. (Lot 234, Roger Federer Collection, Christies, 14th July 2021).

Similarly, Rafael Nadal’s racket used during the French Open Final in 2018 and again during the Wimbledon Semi-finals in the same year sold earlier this year at Sotheby’s. The piece, which was signed by the player, achieved a total of just over $33,000 (Lot 8, Zenith Sports Artifacts, Sothebys NY, 11th April 2024). While the tennis racket used by Novak Djokovic to win the 2011 Wimbledon Championship sold in September 2023 at Graham Budd auctioneers for £36,000 (hammer price total over £45k) (Lot 425, Sporting Memorabilia, Graham Budd Auctioneers, 5th September 2023).

Fashion and accessories continue to be one of the areas in which tennis is hugely influential. Watch maker Richard Mille approached Rafael Nadal in 2008 about working on a watch for the player. Nadal, who did not wear a watch was initially unconvinced about the idea. Richard Mille went on to design the RM27, a lightweight watch, perfected to the players specification. In May 2024 Bonhams Hong Kong offered a rare limited edition prototype Richard Mille/Rafael Nadal RM27-01 produced circa 2014.

It achieved HKD$9.1 million (equivalent to just over £900,000).

The Wimbledon tournament has been connected to the Rolex brand for over 40 years and since they first sponsored the competition in 1978. The popular Rolex’s Oyster Perpetual Datejust is recognised by collectors as the ‘Wimbledon’ design due to its close association with the championships. These watches appear at auction regularly – in November 2023 Dreweatts sold a stainlesssteel bracelet example produced circa 2022 for a hammer price of £7,000. (Lot 302, Fine Jewellery, Dreweatts, 16th November 2023).

Now on to this year – memorabilia from future sporting icons is something to look out for. Pieces relating to younger players, competing in this year’s Wimbledon Championships are pursued by collectors. In April 2024 a tennis ball signed by the 2023 Wimbledon Men’s Singles Champion – Carlos Alcaraz – was offered at Sotheby’s. Used during the US Open tennis in 2022, the ball achieved a total selling price of $1,524 (lot 33, Zenith | Sports Artifacts, Sotheby’s – NY, April 11th 2024).

Wishing all those visiting the Wimbledon Championships this year a fantastic fortnight.

 

Read more articles by Stephanie Connell

The Crown auction at Bonhams

Bonhams: The Crown Auction

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We are in the era of prestige television.

Historically, T.V. programmes have been looked upon as the lesser relation to cinematic releases – movies traditionally viewed as pinnacle of film making. Today, television shows are often highly respected productions. As series run over weeks or even years, they can capture the public imagination with scores of fans and followers alike. These shows are essential to the success of streaming
platforms – with large budgets and famous casts the quality of productions has improved enormously.

As such the field of Entertainment Memorabilia collecting has expanded with those objects featured in major television series, being broader and highly sort. Production companies have apparently become more aware of the value of these assets. Once filming ceases and series end, auctions of costumes and props are becoming more of a common occurrence.

It is with this backdrop, and several months of planning that Bonhams, London announced they would be holding an auction of costumes, props and designs used during production of the Netflix series ‘The Crown’.

The Crown has done a tremendous job of creating fictionalised accounts of historic events – capturing World Affairs and global politics from the 1930s to early 2000s. The series managed to recreate the costumes and settings enjoyed by the Royal family.

The Bonhams auction was arranged as two separate sales – a one day Live Auction including 161 lots and many of the most valuable pieces, held at their New Bond Street headquarters. The second being an Online Auction of the more affordable and decorative objects, closing the following day. Proceeds from the Live Auction are to be donated to the National Film and Television School for a scholarship programme.

The pre-sale viewing for the auction was very popular with over 30,000 people attending – it is not very often that one can be photographed standing in the doorway to Number 10 Downing Street (be it a prop or otherwise – which eventually sold for £10,800 plus BP) or next to so many recognisable costumes.

The skill of the prop makers and set designers for the series was clear throughout the sale. One of the most impressive lots of the live auction was lot 80 – a reproduction of the Golden State Coach.

This is a highly accurate facsimile of the famous original, which has been used at every Coronation ceremony since 1831. The coach is a magnificent achievement in prop making. The replica was
designed and manufactured by specialist team including film horsemasters The Devil’s Horsemen and prop design company Anarchy. To achieve an accurate copy the coach was constructed in part from fibreglass, clay and 3-D printed elements. This stunning lot was sold for £56,280 (inc. BP).

A similarly important prop relating to the Coronation was lot 20 – a reproduction of Saint Edward’s Chair, otherwise known as the Coronation Chair. The chair – central to British history and the Coronation ceremony was predominantly manufactured out of fibreglass and had featured in the 5th episode of series one of the show. This precise replica of the 14th century original, such an important symbol of Royal authority, sold for £25,660 (inc. BP).

Another feat of prop making was lot 158 – a replica model of the funeral procession of Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. According to the catalogue the model had taken between six and eight weeks to produce, being over 12 meters wides, including over 500 Britains soldiers, two hundred 3-D printed models (all having been designed and produced by The Crown team and hand-painted with accurate costume) devised by a group of experts. The selling price here was £53,740 (inc. BP).

As with the props, costume was an important element of the sale with detailed reproductions of famous regalia, evening wear and everyday outfits being included. The highest price achieved for costume in the Live Auction was for lot 21 – a replica of Queen Elizabeth II’s ceremonial Coronation garments. The original was in part designed by Norman Hartnell – the multi element costume worn by Claire Foy sold for £19,200. Also from the Coronation ceremony was lot 22 – a replica of Princess Margaret’s Coronation gown and robe. This time the lot sold for £6,144 (inc. BP).

Lot 238 was a cornelian jewellery suite designed for Vanessa Kirby as Princess Margaret and featuring in season 2. The set was specially commissioned by costume designer Jane Petrie and made by jewellery designer Katy Hackney. The catalogue detailed the inspiration behind the suite, conceived to act as a direct contrast to Her Majesty’s pearls. The lot included ear clips, triple strand
choker, together with original design. This fashionable suite sold for £5,376 (inc. BP).

For the fashion savvy lot 125 – a Christian Dior ‘Lady Dior’ handbag. This example, in black lambskin had been worn by Elizabeth Debicki during Season 5. The bag is closely associated with the late Princess Diana and was named ‘Lady Dior’ after Lady Diana. It is believed she owned the bag in every colour and was regularly seen carrying it, after she first received one as a gift from the First Lady of France in 1995. This bag sold for £10,880 (inc. BP).

Arguably one of the most iconic costumes in the auction was lot 134 – a replica of the black silk and chiffon cocktail dress worn by Princess Diana in November 1994. Dubbed the ‘Revenge’ dress, it had featured in Season 5, Episode 5 ‘The Way Ahead’. Unsurprisingly, one of the most sought after outfits in the sale (the lot additionally included bag and shoes) it sold for £12,800 (inc. BP).

In direct contrast one of the more affordable lots of the sale was 314 – A blouse and dungarees worn by Emma Corrin portraying the young Lady Diana Spencer. This lot costume achieved £435.20 (inc. BP).

Costume designs themselves were also popular with a number being offered for sale. Lot 170 was a collection of three watercolour and pencil designs executed by Michele Clapton for the character
of the Queen. The illustrations, which included fabric swatches and detailed annotations gave an insight into the Emmy Award winning costume designers work. They sold for £5,376 (inc. BP).

Interestingly, many of the pieces featured in the sale were not modern replicas but fine antique furniture and decorative objects. To reproduce the interiors afforded to a Royal household, pieces
had been carefully selected by the set designers. Chimney pieces, toys, ceramics and glass were all available.

Within the Online Auction lot 168 was a William IV rosewood breakfast table used as part of the Buckingham Palace set. This traditional antique sold for £8,320 (inc. BP).

Lot 200 was a typical lot one might expect to see in a sale of Fine Furniture – a George II chest on chest. This 18th century and later piece of crossbanded walnut had been used as part of the set
for the Queen’s bedroom. With strong bidding it eventually sold for £21,760.

Lot 322 was a French 19th century kingwood, parquetry and cross banded brass mounted liqueur set. The set which is visible in the Audience Room scenes included glasses and decanters. It fetched £5,632 (inc. BP).

The most expensive piece of furniture included in the two auctions was lot 237 – A parquetry and gilt metal mounted cylinder bureau in the Louis XVI style. The bureau, having only been estimated at £2,000 – 3,000 was used by all three of the actresses playing the Queen (Claire Foy, Olivia Colman and Imelda Staunton). The lot was offered with set dressing, including framed
photographs and desk accessories. The piece was important to the history of the show, having served as a prop during the London stage production of ‘The Audience’ in 2013 – the inspiration
for The Crown series. The eventual online selling price was £46,080 (inc. BP).

On a different note, was lot 58 – two Beswick porcelain models of corgis. A common sight in Antique Centres across the UK, they had been chosen by the Set Decorating Department due to their similarity to pieces found in Windsor Castle. Offered together with an Edwardian silver photo frame containing a picture of a corgi – against a pre-sale estimate of £200 – 300 the charming lot sold for £3,328 (inc. BP).

The highest price paid during the Live Auction was for lot 102 – a 1987 Jaguar XJ-SC car – the vehicle had been used as a double for the late Princess Diana’s Jaguar, driven from 1987 – 1991.
The original, now part of the collection of Jaguar Heritage Trust, was adapted from a two-seater to allow Princes William and Harry to be passengers. Elizabeth Debicki as the Princess can be
seen driving it in the show. The car eventually achieved £70,250 (inc. BP).

The Crown auction highlighted the research and detail required when staging a production such as The Crown. This was evident during the online auction, where seven lots from The Crown’s reference library were on offer. Lot 498 included 90 volumes on the Royal Family – the books were no doubt invaluable to the team involved. The footnote detailed how the production used five full time researchers and other full-time staff to achieve historical accuracy – this lot sold for £2,816 (inc. premium).

This white glove sale of over 470 lots eventually realised over £1.6 million.

RM Sotheby’s Nigel Mansell’s legacy collection auction

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A Review by Stephanie Connell

In Britain we have a long association with motor racing, dating back over 120 years. Since those early days, memorabilia connected with motorsport has been a popular area for collectors. Motor racing collectables combine the glamour of the automobile with the excitement of high-octane sport. Today, Formula One memorabilia is perhaps the most desirable field in automobilia collecting.

When RM Sotheby’s announced they would be selling the archive of legendary racing driver Nigel Mansell, collectors were prepared for prices to ‘hurtle’ away.

Nigel Mansell began his career as a Formula One driver in 1980 and continued to race in F1 until 1995. During this period, Mansell won over 30 Grand Prix races and was the 1992 Formula One World Champion. These achievements made him the most successful British racing driver (a record only broken by Sir Lewis Hamilton).

Mansell’s skill as a racing driver went beyond Formula One. Immediately after his 1992 Formula One World Title win, he moved to CART IndyCar for their 1993 the season. Remarkably he won his debut IndyCar World Series. Therefore in 1993 he held both the Formula One World Title and the IndyCar World Series – Mansell is the only driver to have held both titles at the same time.

Nigel Mansell’s extensive collection had previously been on display as part of his museum in Jersey, which closed in 2019.

The collection included over 320 pieces capturing Mansell’s entire career. The sale was held during the early part of October as a week-long online auction, with all lots being offered without reserve.

Prior to the auction RM Sotheby’s had focused publicity on the trophies, racing suits and racing helmets. These pieces, which are the closest associated with racing are typically the most desirable.

Demand was high throughout the sale. The highest prices of the sale were indeed achieved for racing helmets. Lot 142 the 1985 Canon Williams-Honda European Grand Prix racing helmet being the most expensive lot. The European Grand Prix was held at the British racing circuit Brands Hatch in October 1985. The action-packed race saw Nigel Mansell winning his first Grand Prix, beating Ayrton Senna in second place by a margin of over 21 seconds. The important racing helmet which is clearly visible in images for the race sold for £68,400.

The second highest price was achieved by Lot 200 the 1992 Canon Williams-Renault Arai Formula One helmet. This example was worn by Nigel Mansell during his record-breaking World Title winning season for Williams, it reached £61,200. 1992

Like the helmet, pieces connected to the 1992 Formula One title were expectedly the most valuable.

The sale included several significant trophies earned during this F1 World Title winning season for Williams.

The 1992 San Marino Grand Prix 1st place trophy was the most expensive of the collection. The trophy marked Mansell’s fifth win of that competition, making him the first driver to win the first five races of a season. The Automobile Club Bologna trophy was engraved with the names of other former prominent winners including Jim Clark, Niki Lauder, Alain Prost, and Ayrton Senna. The impressive and large gilt trophy sold for £28,800.

One of the most coveted of the trophies was in fact for a second-place finish. Lot 212 was the 1992 Monaco Grand Prix 2nd place trophy. The race is known as a classic of the sport, with Mansell starting the race from pole position, battling for first place against the eventual race winner Ayrton Senna. This lot eventually sold for £24,000. Nigel Mansell’s pole position trophy from the same event, was also on offer and achieved £16,800.

One of Nigel Mansell’s most remarkable achievements of the 1992 season was the British Grand Prix. Held at Silverstone in July, it was here that he became the most successful British racing driver. Mansell started the race from pole position, going on to win every lap, set the fastest lap and break the track record!

Lot 386 was the trophy awarded for this fantastic first-place finish – bidding was strong, with the virtual gavel falling at £26,400. Lot 223 was a piece commemorating the race – an unusual time-chart captioned “The Ultimate Lap”. To quote Mansell himself “On the last but one lap we smashed the track record”. This piece had been signed and dedicate to Mansell by Williams Racing’s Chief Technical Officer, Paddy Lowe. The final price here was £8,400. While lot 208 the baseball cap worn by Nigel Mansell on the winner’s podium sold for £6,800.

Similarly, the highest price racing suits of the sale were those worn during Nigel Mansell’s 1992 winning season. Lot 199 and 222 were two such examples. Lot 199 was the more complete of the outfits including suit, gloves, and boots. This lot achieved £21,600 whilst lot 222 which included a suit alone sold for £19,200.

Ferrari memorabilia is a strong collecting field within its own right. Therefore, those pieces relating to Mansell’s 1989-1990 seasons driving for Ferrari were of interest. Notably, Mansell was the last racing driver to be selected by Enzo Ferrari himself.

Racing helmets were again the top lots here. Lots 174 and 182 were Scuderia Ferrari helmets worn during the 1989 racing season. They fetched £43,200 and £46,800 respectively. Lot 350 was a trophy awarded to Nigel Mansell by Ferrari. The sculptural trophy was in the form of their iconic prancing horse logo. This award fetched £28,800. A vintage red leather Ferrari briefcase was a stylish addition (lot 103) reaching £3,720. Mansell had a difficult 1990 season with the team and chose to retire afterwards. It was after his return with Williams in 1991 that he achieved his greatest success.

During 1993 to 1994 he moved away from Formula One. Mansell signed with Newman/ Haas to drive in the CART IndyCar World series. As mentioned previously, he was immediately very successful, winning his first ever IndyCar race! He went on to win the World Series, winning five races out of sixteen. Helmets, suits, and trophies were again the most valuable lots, with four of the helmets achieving over £25,000 each. One of the more curious lots was lot 250 a podium wreath decorated with beer cans given as part of the 1993 IndyCar Miller Genuine Draft 200 race. This lot sold for £3,000.

Now to some of the more unusual lots. Lot 106 was a personalised number plate ‘5 NM’. The plate made reference to Nigel Mansell’s initials and his association with red number 5 during his career. Red Number 5 was the name given to his winning Williams Formula 1 racing car. The number plate offered with a presale estimate of £30,000 – 60,000 and sold for £50,400.

On a similar theme was lot 205 a petrol pump designed with Nigel Mansell livery and the red number 5, commemorating his 1992 World Title win. This decorative piece of automabilia sold for £15,600.

Champagne is a drink closely associated with motorsport and several bottles were available. The highest price for a bottle was lot 198, an unopened magnum of Moet & Chandon given to the 1991 British Grand Prix ‘Driver of the Day’. The label was signed in silver ink by several celebrities apparently including Sean Connery. This impressive bottle fetched £3,240.

Also of note were two letters from Prime Minister John Major offered together as lot 202. The typed letters congratulate Nigel Mansell on his wins in Formula One and IndyCar. They were each signed and inscribed ‘Dear Nigel’ and on Downing Street headed paper. The pair eventually achieved £6,900.

The successful auction achieved total selling price of over £2 million.

Formula One collectors will now be looking ahead to the RM Sotheby’s auction scheduled for early November. This sale will include the collection of the late racing driver and two-time World Champion Graham Hill.

Sir Roger Moore

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The Personal Collection – Auction Review

For the art world, autumn brings a new season of exciting and ‘must view’ auctions. Last week Bonhams, London held one of the most electrifying – ‘Sir Roger Moore – The Personal Collection’.

Sir Roger Moore (1927 – 2017), was one of the most recognisable and treasured actors of his generation. He was widely adored by fans for his appearances as James Bond, as well as Simon Templar in The Saint and Lord Brett Sinclair in The Persuaders! to name a few.

The James Bond film ‘Octopussy’ (1983) starring Sir Roger Moore captures a fictional auction, with competitive bidding in a crowded saleroom (on that occasion for a “Faberge egg”). This scene could almost have been replicated on the sale day at Bonhams busy New Bond Street galleries.

The ‘white glove’ sale included over 220 lots, which took over nine hours to sell. The collection, which was being offered on behalf of the late star’s family, unsurprisingly garnered widespread presale interest from the media, enthusiasts, and collectors alike.

Much of the sale focused on Sir Roger Moore’s acting career, with scripts, awards and costumes all going under the hammer. Many lots related directly to James Bond, which is one of the strongest areas in film memorabilia collecting. Fittingly, this year marks 50 years since the actor’s first appearance in the role. Sir Roger was enormously influential as a taste maker in gentlemen’s fashion. Therefore, clothing, accessories and timepieces were some of the lots ‘to watch’. Antiques and art from the stars collection indicated his taste as a collector.

Early in the auction, various desk accessories, pens and stationery were offered produced by the likes of Montblanc, Cartier, and Gucci. Lot 3 was one such lot, an ‘RM’ monogrammed Gucci address and notebook – despite the original pages having been replaced with facsimiles (and the numbers having been removed) it offered a glimpse into Sir Roger’s showbusiness circle, including details for figures such as Michael Caine, Sean Connery, Kirk Douglas, HRH Princess Margaret, Paul McCartney, and Sidney Poitier. Estimated at £1,000 – 1,500 it achieved £6,400 (inc BP). Perhaps more surprising was the price achieved for Lot 6 a Morocco leather monogrammed stationery rack. The lot which included Sir Roger Moore letterheaded notepaper was estimated at £80 – 120. The final total sales price was £8,960 ( inc BP).

Sir Roger was an avid backgammon player and as James Bond notably competed on screen against villain Kamal Khan in a key scene of the movie Octopussy. The market for backgammon is currently particularly strong – the buzz during the viewing indicated the two lots of cased backgammon sets (Lot 10 and Lot 11) would far exceed their estimates.

Lot 10 was a personalised set embossed with the actor’s name. The footnote for the lot credited this example as having been used on the set of James Bond by Sir Roger to play against producer ‘Cubby’ Broccoli. The pre-sale estimate of £300 – 500 indicated the value of the set rather than the interesting provenance, it eventually sold for £15,360 (inc. B.P). The second of the sets Lot 11 was a more modest travelling willow basket example, estimated at £100 – 150, despite the estimate it fetched £10,880 (inc. BP).

In the world of James Bond poster collecting, examples printed in Australia are amongst the most affordable. However, for those included in such a collection this trend, would be tested. Four of the Lots (36, 42, 64 and 164) were Australian daybill posters for the films The Spy Who Loved Me, Moonraker, For You Eyes Only and A View To A Kill. Having each been signed by Sir Roger, they were offered with the same estimate of £500 – 700 each, a combined total presale low estimate of £2,000. Their eventual combined total was £46,720 inc BP. Having achieved individually £8,960; £10,240; £14,080 and £13,440 inc BP.

The James Bond franchise provided many modern-day collectors with their first glimpse into the world of luxury watches. Therefore, some of the most sought pieces in the collection were James Bond related watches. The highest price of the entire auction was achieved by Lot 92 a cased presentation set of twenty 007 watches produced by Swatch. Manufactured in 2002 to celebrate the James Bond film anniversary these sets typically fetch at auction between £4,000 – 6,000. This example however had been personally dedicated to Mr. Roger Moore. It had been estimated at £10,000 – 15,000 and sold for £76,660 (inc. BP).

Omega is a brand with a strong connection with James Bond. Lot 158 was an Omega Seamaster bracelet watch, produced in 2012 as a Limited Edition to celebrate ’50 Years of 007’. The clasp bore the inscription ‘To Roger love from Michael and Barbara’, which although not mentioned in the catalogue, may have indicated that the piece was a gift from Bond producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson. Sold with the accompany box, card and instructions it achieved £57,550 (inc BP, estimate £20,000 – 30,000). The following item Lot 159 was also an Omega wristwatch this time a Speedmaster Automatic MK40 triple calendar chronograph, inscribed ‘Roger Moore’ and dated November 1996. It was offered with presentation box and original warranty – despite an estimate of £5,000 – 7,000 it sold for a total of £61,360.

Sir Roger Moore was known particularly for his impeccable sartorial choices. For the style aficionados the auction included many of his suits, jackets, ties, and cufflinks. Highlights from the sale had even been previewed on Saville Row, with Gieves & Hawkes. Sir Roger had a close association with the designer and tailor Doug Hayward and several pieces designed by him went under the hammer. Foremost amongst them was Lot 170, a double-breasted dinner suit made for Sir Roger’s role in A View To A Kill and worn at the Royal premiere of the film in 1985. The fully labelled costume, the ultimate in James Bond style, sold within estimate at £25,600 (estimate £20,000 – 30,000). To compliment this outfit Lot 178 estimated at £400 – 600 was two black silk bow ties, including one by Turnbull & Asser. They sold for £6,144 (inc BP).

Lot 80 was a collection of twelve ties including five designed by Hayward, with others by Louis Vuitton and Ralph Lauren. The collection sold for a little over a thousand pounds each, with a selling price of £12,160 (estimate £400 – 600).

Roger Moore was well-known for his association with skiing, emphasised by his stunning downhill scenes featured in the James Bond films. However, many of these snowbound acrobatics were performed by a stunt double. According to an interview given by his son Geoffrey Moore prior to the auction, Roger Moore’s film contract did not allow him to ski. In fact, Sir Roger apparently did not take up skiing until preparing for filming of A View To A Kill in 1985. Afterwards Sir Roger was passionate about the sport.

One of the most desirable pieces in the auction was Lot 166 a white ski suit by Bogner purchased for, and identical to that, worn by Sir Roger in the pre-title sequence of A View To A Kill. Such instantly recognisable film costume is rare on the open market. It was sold within the estimate of £15,000 – 25,000, with the total sales price £28,160.

Towards the latter portion of the sale six lots of personally owned skis were included. The top Lot here was 219 a pair of Kästle skis bearing Roger Moore’s printed signature, offered together with a pair of Interport poles. Against an estimate of £800 – 1,200 they sold for £4,864 (inc. BP).

Amongst the awards the ‘star’ lot was saved until last. Lot 224 being the presentation plaque given to Sir Roger Moore to commemorate the placement of his Star on the iconic Hollywood Walk of Fame. His ‘Star’ was unveiled three days prior to his 80th birthday on the 11th of October 2007. The commemorative piece was estimated at £10,000 – 15,000 and was offered almost 9.5 hours after the sale had commenced at almost 10:30pm. The final lot was eventually sold to a room bidder for a hammer price of £19,000 (£24,430 inc BP).

The final sale total reached just over £1.1 million against a pre-sale high estimate of around £415,000.

Posters, Film Ephemera and Comics

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For those of you that have read my previous article on collectible comics you may ask the question, Why combine an article on posters, film ephemera and include comics as well?

Well, the simple answer is that comics now are just as much a part of film ephemera as posters, as one can see when Marvel release a new film from their vast range of available titles, the value of the comic that it is based on soars through the roof!

Look at titles such as Captain America – in April of 2022 the first of the series in a CGC graded 9.4 condition sold for $3.1 million, which even five years ago would have been unthinkable.

What is key to a comic book though, as well as a good title is of course the condition. If there are any marks, stains, tiny rips or even folds, it can wipe tens of thousands of dollars from the books value. Even since my last article on comic books, this has become even more paramount to achieving the ultra-high prices we have seen in the past few years. The way that collectors are now amassing their collections is that it has to be the very best, and if something better comes along – then they need to own it. This has fuelled the market in the last few years with some comics coming out of the woodwork, along with some well known examples.

The film poster market is something that anyone can get excited about – if you have a favourite film, it is very likely that they promoted it with a campaign of posters and as such, it is just as likely that you can source one in 2023. There are a few guidelines for poster that generally include only buying originals and for films that have attained either classic or cult status. So when looking to purchase be sure of authenticity and origin – for example posters in different languages can prove to be worth a lot less money than the native tongue, as seen in items from James Bond films. But in rarer forms, it can be worth even more, seen in the illustrated example of Casablanca from 1942. The film poster market is a tightrope so advice should always be sought out.

Film ephemera has again rocketed, with specific auction houses now specialising on huge sales from major Hollywood studios and collectors. That means you can buy anything from Harrison Ford’s infamous fedora hat (if you have the $300,000 that it recently achieved) to a helmet from a Stormtrooper, from the iconic Star Wars film series.

What has recently come to my attention after looking at quite a few collections over the last few years is actually…Pokemon cards.

This global phenomenon started back in 1996, when Pokemon was released as a trading card game, Pokemon – actually an abbreviated phrase meaning “Pocket monsters”. It quickly became a massive success with over 50 billion cards in circulation, which is a monumental figure. In recent years due to major celebrity endorsement, these items have sold on the secondary market for figures that could never have ever been imagined, as some of the rarest cards trading for over $1,000,000. With mythical collections being kept quiet and never discussed, it’s certainly going to be one of the hobbies and collectible items that stays with us for a long time.

So, should you wish to either buy up some old memories, or maybe invest in some new ones, the market for comic books, film ephemera and even Pokemon cards are clearly satisfying on many levels within the industry!

Film Posters

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With the Sotheby’s James Bond Poster sale on 5th of November this year, and a huge collection going under the hammer on the same day at Prop Store the market for movie posters has never been stronger, but is it the artwork, the iconic characters, or in fact the memories surrounding the time of their release that fans are buying into?

Dr No movie poster

Dr No movie poster, 1962

One of the highlights at the Sotheby’s sale is of course the original Bond film; “Dr No”- it’s 1962 production created one of the most valuable and recognisable franchises of all time and is still referred to as one of the best of the films ever released – the much delayed latest offering may give it a run for its money, but it’s doubtful. With a top estimate of £25,000 the UK issued poster outshines its American counterpart not only in value, but in style – these posters were designed to bring attention to the masses and of course the ever suave Connery holding a smoking pistol surrounded by scantily clad young ladies certainly did just that.

Away from the Bond sale, Prop Store has some iconic moments in film history all through the sale – “Jaws” from 1975 must be one of the most recognised film posters of all time, with the lone swimmer in the targets of the elusive shark ready to pounce, it instantly brings the legendary theme by John Williams to mind and probably helped to terrify a generation of beach swimmers for years to come, surprisingly with a low estimate of only a few hundred pounds, it seems good value to me.

Jaws movie poster

Jaws movie poster, 1975

So why has the humble poster become so valuable? The truth is that it’s simplicity and infinitely researched creation is designed to appeal to so many people that having the images of a promotional studio item is very appealing – one could argue (and many probably will) that an original film poster could be as important a piece of art socially as many of the wonderful pieces of top tier art that we see every year, just less exclusive.

So what poster would I have on my walls? Well, unfortunately for my wallet – Prop Store happens to have an original poster from “Raiders of The Lost Ark” the first in the fantastic trio of 1980s adventure classics (note purposeful non inclusion of the 2008 effort) and with a lead character so important to the era, one forgets that Indiana Jones wasn’t even part of the title for the first film.

Raiders of the Lost Ark Movie Poster

Raiders of the Lost Ark movie poster

An antiquity searching, Nazi killing, mid 20th century archaeologist with a battle cry of “It belongs in a museum!” Seems an unlikely hero, but for a young history obsessed schoolboy in Gloucestershire “Indie” quickly became my idol, and whilst my searches have never quite matched his, I would like to think there is still time….