Auction has license to thrill

West Midlands auction house Cuttlestones’ recent Specialist Collectors’ Auction had something of a Hollywood theme, with items relating to two of the most famous movie franchises in history coming under the hammer.

Moonraker by Ian FlemingThe auction featured an extenstive collection of first edition Bond novels by Sir Ian Fleming; including a number of famous titles such as Goldfinger, Thunderball, The Man with the Golden Gun, You Only Live Twice, Diamonds are Forever, From Russia with Love, Moonraker, For Your Eyes Only and many others. The books attracted bidders from around the world and the collection was eventually sold to a phone bidder for £3550.

Books in the auction achieved an average price range of £350-£420, with the star lot a 1955 copy of Moonraker, and lacking a dust jacket, fetching £1350. Elsewhere, a box of Penguin crime books achieved £220; two boxes of vintage Ladybird books sold for £150; a holy bible fetched £380, and nineteen volumes of the London magazine made £550 at the hammer fall.

Collection of Star Wars toysAnother behemoth of the big screen – the Star Wars franchise – was well represented in the sale by a collection of toys dating from date from the period of the original trilogy’s release in the 1970s and 80s. With popularity bolstered following the recent release of the seventh film in the long-running series, the lots generated strong interest in the room and among those bidding online, by telephone and commission. The highlight was a collection of approximately 80 figures – loose but many with original backing cards – with characters including R2D2, Princess Leia, Luke Skywalker, Boba Fett and Barada represented. The hammer fell at £950 to an internet bidder. Overall, the 139-lot toy section realised £8,000.

The auction also included silver, gold, watches, militaria, books, toys, maps, cameras, photographs, records, stamps, sporting memorabilia, musical instruments, coins and more.

A Victorian photograph albumvintage one piece-backed violinStandout lots from among these sections included an attractive 19th century photograph album mainly containing portraits of famous Victorians, including Queen Victoria and Viscount Palmerston, which sold for £1,600; a Vertexion reel-to-reel tape recorder and tapes, which achieved £650; and a vintage one piece-backed violin, which went for £500.

Other highlights included a collection of cameras in 12 lots that made a combined £1,500 and a Mamod live steam Loco that went for £500.

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