The Moonraker laser rifle was created especially for the futuristic 1979 James Bond film and was offered at Aston’s Entertainment & Memorabilia auction on January 17.
It was consigned by the son of the late Brian Bailey, as were 16 other lots in the sale.
Bailey was a British accountant who worked in Hollywood with stars such as Roger Moore on Bond films such as Moonraker, The Spy Who Loved Me, Live and Let Die and The Man with the Golden Gun.”
He was the production accountant on Moonraker and is named in the end credits. Estimated at £4000-6000, the gun was hammered down at £22,000.
Auctioneer Chris Aston said: “This is one of only a few surviving examples of these props.”
The auction included correspondents between Bailey and Moore such as a framed letter from Moore to Bailey which simply reads ‘Bollocks!’
Aston explained: “We can only imagine that this must be in response to Brian rejecting one of Roger's expense claims…”
The letter was estimated at £300-500 and sold at £950.
Separate from the Bailey lots was a From Russia with Love (1964) original British Quad first release poster that sold at £6000 against a £600-1000 estimate.
'From Russia with Love' (1964) original British Quad first release poster sold at £6000.
Bond and Beyond
Surrey saleroom Ewbank’s February 7 Bond and Beyond auction will include a signed replica golden gun from James Bond’s The Man With The Golden Gun valued at £7000-10,000.
James Bond’s The Man With The Golden Gun replica golden gun, autographed by Christopher Lee and valued at £7000-10,000 at Ewbank's.
The sale will feature 200 lots of collectables across costumes and rare toys to posters and ephemera from a variety of series including Bond, The Man From Uncle, The Saint and The Avengers.
Alastair McCrea, Ewbank’s entertainment and memorabilia specialist, said: “The Bond sale was put on due to demand. We always have a great interest in any Bond items we auction and sellers know it is a great time to sell.”
View the star lot, the golden gun, and the rest of the sale at thesaleroom.com.
