Holy Grail of Bond collecting leads the way for Ewbank’s 007 auction

An S.D. Studios Attaché case inspired by From Russia With Love comes to the Ewbanks James Bond Auction on May 29, which also features some extremely rare Bond toys.

The auction features rare toys, props and other memorabilia from the James Bond franchise.

Leading the way is what is thought to be one of fewer than 100 Complete Official Attaché Case Replicas produced by S.D. Studios in tribute to the second Bond film, From Russia With Love (1963). 

Numbered 24 of 100, it boasts every imaginable spy kit tool for the Bond fan. 

These include: two hidden daggers with working ejection mechanism (one on each side); magnetic talcum powder container; concealed Gold Sovereigns (10 on each strap); an AR-7 Replica BB Rifle; Walther PPK; rounds of ammunition (plastic replica and deactivated) concealed in hidden brass tubes: a replica of a bug detector in its leather case issued by TV Models; an MI6 Secret Service pass; a folder containing mission paperwork and operating instructions; and a service repair document, all in leather briefcase.

This Attaché Briefcase is seen as the Holy Grail in Bond collecting, and the designers took all the measurements from the original film prop to create it. No surprise then, that the estimate is £18,000-25,000.

This is the fourth S.D. Studios case offered by Ewbanks with number 8/100 selling in 2021 for £21,710 and number 25/100 sold in 2023 for the only £3,640 but that one was incomplete and not in great condition. Number 65/100 sold in 2024 for £5,720.

A replica of Francisco Scaramanga’s golden gun from the Bond film The Man With The Golden Gun (1974) is another highlight. The 24-karat gold-plated replica was also made by S.D. Studios Ltd in a limited edition, and this one is number 314 of 5000.

Assembled from a dummy Colibri lighter, a dummy pen for the barrel, a dummy cigarette case for the handle, and a dummy cufflink trigger, it comes with a replica bullet engraved 007, in a presentation case with a combination lock and a descriptive plaque. The estimate is £2,000-4,000.

Another replica gun produced by S.D. Studios Ltd is the highly polished, machined aluminium Wrist Dartgun inspired by the 1979 film Moonraker. 

It has an adjustable wrist band and comes with 10 darts in a cassette carrying case, dart gun. Created in a limited edition of 5,000, this is number 167 and comes in a presentation case with a combination lock and descriptive plaque. It is pitched at £800-1,200.

Toys inspired by TV programmes and films of the 1960s and ’70s put together by businessman Doug Blair over the past 50 years formed much of the catalogue for Ewbank’s May 16 Toys auction, but the auctioneers kept back three of the best for the James Bond sale.

They included a boxed harpoon gun dating to 1965 and inspired by Thunderball, which fires a dart. It has a guide of £1,000-1,500.

Japanese manufacturer Tada, distributed by Lone Star, were responsible for a c.1965 boxed Thunderball, Special Agent Ricochet gun (estimate £800-1,200), and a boxed ‘Multi-Buster’ lacking its scope (£800-1,200).

“This is one of the strongest James Bond catalogues we have been able to present since we launched the dedicated 007 sales several years ago,” said Senior Partner Andrew Ewbank. “This is not the first time we have been able to offer a much sought-after attaché case, but the contents and condition of the one in this sale is very hard to beat.

For all lots and online bidding, visit the Ewbanks Auctions website.