LONDON, October 20, 2015 /PRNewswire/ --

Original 1965 Spectre artwork and Casino Royale first edition under the hammer.

     (Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20151020/278545 )

James Bond makes his much anticipated return to cinema screens on Monday 26 October, fighting the sinister Spectre.  

And his return is driving an explosive interest in Bond memorabilia, says the-saleroom.com, the leading portal for art and antiques auctions in the UK.

Two sales of James Bond memorabilia are scheduled just days before the film's premiere, with a first edition of Ian Fleming's Casino Royale and an original pen and ink sketch of Spectre's HQ from the 1965 film Thunderball expected to keep collectors on the edge of their seats.

Bond fans can follow and bid on both auctions exclusively on the-saleroom.com.

On Wednesday 21 October a collection of James Bond artwork and posters will go under the hammer with lots including:

• A much sought after Ken Adams original pen and ink sketch of Spectre's HQ from the 1965 film Thunderball, with an estimated sale price of between £1,000 and £1,500.  Ken Adams OBE was the production designer on James Bond films Dr. No in 1962 through to Moonraker in 1979;
• A framed pre-teaser poster for The Living Daylights, with an estimated sale price of between £250 and £350; and
• A set of all six James Bond promotional photographs signed by the actors, Sean Connery, George Lazenby, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan and Daniel Craig, with an estimated sale price of between £500 and £1,000.

On Thursday 22 October a sale of rare Ian Fleming books will go under the hammer, with lots including:

• A first edition of Casino Royale, with first issue dust jacket and estimated sale price of between £10,000-£15,000;
• A first edition of Moonraker with dust jacket and an estimated sale price of between £2,000 and £3,000;
• An uncorrected proof copy with original wrapper of The Man with the Golden Gun with an estimated sale price of between £600 and £800.

Dave McCall, Managing Director of the-saleroom.com said: "The release of a new Bond film is one of the big cinema events, and it is not surprising that there is enormous interest in Bond memorabilia at this time. Some of the lots that are available through the-saleroom.com are highly prized. First editions of Casino Royale in near perfect condition rarely come on to the market and will attract a premium."

To view the lots for sale on 21 October visit http://www.the-saleroom.com/en-gb/auction-catalogues/woolley-and-wallis.

To view the lots for sale on 22 October, visit http://www.the-saleroom.com/en-gb/auction-catalogues/bloomsbury-auctions/catalogue-id-blooms10067.

The-saleroom.com 

The-saleroom.com is wholly owned and operated by ATG Media, a global pioneer of auction portals and live and timed online auctions.  The-saleroom.com works with over 600 of Europe's leading auction houses, and in the 12 months to end of September 2015, has sold more than 600,000 lots totaling £90m and hosted more than 4,000 auctions.

SOURCE The-saleroom.com