Bond is back
The new James Bond film comes out in April so a couple of vintage 007 posters coming up at Bonhams’ next Entertainment Memorabilia auction on June 17 are well timed. It’s not as if they need that much promotion, however – early Bond film posters regularly make high four- and five-figure sums at auction.
Two of the most popular films for collectors feature in lots coming up at Bonhams. A 1964 British quad poster for From Russia With Love, 2ft 6in x 3ft 4in (76cm x 1.02m), shown above, is estimated at £4000-6000. Guided at £3500-4500 is another British quad example of the same dimensions, for 1963’s Goldfinger.
Fab Four 50 years on
American auction house Julien’s is marking the 50th year since the Beatles broke up with a New York sale dedicated to the band, including Paul McCartney’s studio used handwritten lyrics to Hey Jude, 1968, guided at $160,000-180,000.
American auction house Julien’s is marking the 50th year since the Beatles broke up with a sale dedicated to the band which is taking place at the Hard Rock cafe in New York.
On offer in this April 10 auction will be “hundreds of items of rare memorabilia exclusively related to the Fab Four from throughout their career, including guitars and instruments, autographed items, rare vinyl, obscure licensed material and other rare and collectable artefacts”.
An original 1967 filming notes for the Hello Goodbye music video, comprising a shooting page with drawings, notes and ideas handwritten, is estimated at $70,000-90,000.
Paul McCartney’s studio used handwritten lyrics to Hey Jude, 1968, are guided at $160,000-180,000 (shown above).
Casablanca photobusta
Casablance photobusta estimated at $10,000-20,000 in the March 21-22 Heritage auction.
The terminology of poster sizes and types can be mind-boggling. Have you heard of a photobusta for example?
These film promotions measuring around 14 x 20in (35.5 x 51cm) were around until the 1960s when they generally changed to 18in x 2ft 2in (45.5 x 66cm) in size. They came in series of six, eight, 10 or 12 depicting scenes from the movie in question.
A fine first release image from 1946 is one of 11 coming up in the March 21-22 Movie Posters Signature Auction held by Heritage in Dallas. They promote Casablanca, the Oscar-winning classic film – for which the original posters now sell for huge amounts. The photobusta example shown above is estimated at $10,000-20,000.
Signal the Summer of Love
The auction at Poster Auctions International in New York on February 23 features this Monterey International Pop Festival poster estimated at $4000-5000.
The 80th auction at Poster Auctions International on February 23 features this design typical of the experimental imagery of the late 1960s – and the new phenomenon of rock ‘n’ roll festivals. Tom Wilkes’ Monterey International Pop Festival poster is estimated at $4000-5000 in the New York sale.
The Californian event ran from June 17-19, 1967, heralding the Summer of Love and the Woodstock festival two years later. Notable first major American appearances included The Who and Jimi Hendrix, who was famous in the UK but not as yet in the US.
Wilkes (1939-2009) later designed album covers for performers such as the Rolling Stones, Janis Joplin, Joe Cocker and George Harrison.
Wyngarde wonders
Peter Wyngarde’s personally owned copy of his self-titled 1970 album on vinyl is estimated at £100-200 at East Bristol Auctions on March 26.
‘Flamboyant’ is a good word to describe the style of actor Peter Wyngarde (1927-2018), who appeared in most 1960s-’70s ‘cult’ programmes including Doctor Who and The Avengers and took leading roles in his own shows Jason King and Department S.
On March 26 East Bristol Auctions is offering more than 350 lots from his estate, comprised of items from his private residence in Kensington, as well as props and costumes from a long career.
Highlights include a guitar signed by his good friend Freddie Mercury (of Queen), several of his trademark sunglasses and silk handkerchiefs, as well as items he collected and displayed in his apartment. These items include several autographs from people he admired – most notably Clark Gable and Tony Hancock – as well as his collection of taxidermy and artwork.
Pictured here, estimated at £100-200, is Wyngarde’s personally owned copy of his self-titled 1970 album on vinyl. The centrefold features a message from Jason King (Wyngarde’s character from the 1970s television series of the same name).
Golden moment
A collection of hand-painted theatre posters from the 1960s to mid-’70s for front of house display in the foyer of The Golden Garter Theatre Restaurant, Manchester, is for sale on March 25 at Capes Dunn.
A collection of hand-painted theatre posters from the 1960s to mid-’70s for front of house display in the foyer of The Golden Garter Theatre Restaurant, Manchester, is for sale on March 25 at Capes Dunn.
They were designed and painted in watercolour by Norman Adrian, scenic artist for Belle Vue Zoological Gardens, Manchester, for various artistes of the era including Tommy Cooper (shown above), Freddie Starr, The Four Tops, The Drifters, Showaddywaddy, Ken Dodd, Val Doonican, Bob Monkhouse and many more.
The posters will be in 48 lots, with over 100 individual posters in total. Estimates range from £25-35 to £40-60.
The Golden Garter opened in 1968 and the star on opening night was Bruce Forsyth.
Hendrix pipe
This two-part wooden pipe which was owned and used by Jimi Hendrix is estimated at £2000-3000 at memorabilia specialist Omega Auctions on February 25-26.
This two-part wooden pipe was owned and used by Jimi Hendrix, including at Woodstock.
It comes with a provenance to ‘roadie to the stars’ and member of the Hendrix management team Tappy Wright, who wrote a letter in 2014 letter detailing how the pipe came into his possession after the Anim management office on Gerrard Street was cleared of Hendrix’s belongings.
The estimate is £2000-3000 at memorabilia specialist Omega Auctions in Newton- Le-Willows, Merseyside, on February 25-26.
Omega is also holding a Beatles Collection sale on March 24.
