WOKING.- While Daniel Craig’s successor as 007 remains a mystery, there’s no secret about just how popular James Bond collectables are, as the latest bonanza auction at Ewbank’s Auctions in Surrey has shown.

Having run dedicated Bond sales for some time now, Ewbank’s latest outing on April 9 saw 98% of the 370 lots sell for a massive, premium-inclusive £220,000 – almost £90,000 more than had been predicted.

The top five lots alone netted a combined price of nearly £60,000, led by a successful £20,000 premium-inclusive bid for an original Dr No British Quad film poster, promoting the debut movie in the longstanding franchise. The estimate had been £6,000-9,000.

Two original British Quad film posters made £10,000 each, both linked to the Sean Connery era – From Russia With Live and Thunderball – while the third was for a limited edition replica Golden Gun, made form the famous composite parts of cigarette case, lighter, pen and cufflink, and estimated at £3,000-5,000.

Another limited edition replica Golden Gun estimated at £2,000-4,000 went for £9,375.

In all, 35 lots went for £1,000 or more.

As an illustration of just how collectable Bond is, a folded 1965 poster for Thunderball with the top left section entirely missing went for £1,250. For most other film franchises, such damage would render a poster worthless.

Among the props on offer was a metal lightbox with the legend Albert R Broccoli 007 Stage. Measuring 100 x 65 x 12cm, the sign used to hang at Pinewood Studios and carried a guide of £1,500-2,500. Bidders competed it to £5,500.

A limited edition replica top hat of the one worn by Oddjob in Goldfinger took a top-estimate £5,000.

“The Bond phenomenon is as alive as ever,” said Ewbank’s partner and specialist Alastair McCrea. “It’s astonishing to think that we have been selling limited edition promotional posters for the launch of A Time To Die for a year now, and because of the pandemic the film has still not been released.

“It’s not just the selling rates and amazing prices that show how popular 007 remains, it’s also the number of specialist collecting websites, fan clubs and the general buzz around the franchise.

“There are not many film characters or franchises for whom you could set up an entire series of dedicated sales, but Bond is certainly one of them, as our experience shows.”

Such has been the demand that Ewbank’s have just announced another dedicated James Bond auction for July 1.