Buying Bond

Along with Thunderbirds, Batman and Star Wars, James Bond memorabilia is one of the most popular TV and film-themed genres of collecting. Since 007 first hit cinema screens in 1962, the suave super spy has inspired a whole host of toys, including diecast cars, replica guns, outfits and lots more. Recently this breadth of collectables was displayed by Aston’s Toy Auctions as it sold off a range of Bond memorabilia.

Leading the pack was a Lone Star James Bond 007 Thunderball Automatic Ricochet Gun in good plus condition in a good box. Typically Lone Star is best known for its pistols but this was a much larger rifle-style gun that made a machine gun noise when fired. Also, the Ricochet Gun has a detachable pistol at the front that can be removed and is also capable of firing the plastic missiles included with the set. In Japan the same gun was released by TADA where it also included a special agent wallet. Anyway, back at Aston’s now and this particular example sold for £440, well above the £240 to £300 estimate. Another interesting gun from Lone Star was a Moonraker Space Gun, released for the 1979 film in which Roger Moore travels to the moon. This suitably futuristic gun was diecast metal with a white body and red plastic stock. Complete with its original box, showing a suitably stern Roger Moore, the gun blasted off to £100, which was slightly under the £120 top estimate.

Moving away from the guns now and, as we all know, Bond is rather a snappy dresser so it seems rather apt that one of the lots was a change of clothes for the superspy. Cecil Coleman produced an Action Man-style action figure (*cough* doll *cough*) measuring 11.5 inches tall. Along with the figure Cecil Coleman produced a series of accessories and outfits, including a Trench Coat Outfit, as sold at Aston’s. Originally made in 1967 the set included a trench coat, hat, clothes hanger, shoes, umbrella and pistol with holster. It sold for £280; just over the £240 top estimate. Talking of dolls – sorry, we mean action figures – one of the final Bond-themed lots was a Gilbert James Bond 007 Odd Job wearing a white karate suit and bowler hat. The figure had a special karate chopping action when operated. Luckily there was no need to ‘chop’ around for the bidders and it sold for £60… probably slightly less than normal due to the reproduction box.