James Bond photos star in sale

Never-seen-before photos of filming onset for the 1964 James Bond film Goldfinger will go under the hammer in a dedicated James Bond auction on June 7 at Ewbank’s in Surrey.

Taken by the Station Photographer at RAF Northolt during location filming, the ten photos, presented in an album, feature Sean Connery, Honor Blackman, who played Pussy Galore, and Harold Sakata, who played Goldfinger’s manservant and bodyguard Oddjob.

These unique candid shots, which include behind the scenes views of the filming as well as the stars off set, are accompanied by the signatures of Connery, Sakata and Blackman.

Also pictured are Honor Blackman with the ‘Pussy Galore’s Flying Circus’ female aviator team from the film on set, a photograph of Hanger 311 at RAF Northolt, with the Pussy Galore Flying Circus Banner, a photograph of Guy Hamilton (Director) and Honor Blackman on set, and a photograph on set of the Ford Car with crew and Director Guy Hamilton.

The consignor, Daphne Walker, appears in the photos too, standing with Sekaka and Blackman.

Daphne Walker (nee Wincomb) was stationed at RAF Northolt during the filming and a letter of provenance from her, a copy of which is sold with this lot, reads as follows:

“I joined the WRAF in September 1961 aged 17 and was stationed at RAF Northolt in 1964 when a film crew arrived at the airport to film excerpts for the James Bond film, Goldfinger.

The main purpose was to film sequences concerning Pussy Galore’s Flying Circus. Myself and some of my colleagues went and watched some of the filming during our lunch breaks or off duty hours. 

“Stephen was the Station Photographer and took some general pictures of the action and some of me with the actors. After developing them he gave me a few copies. I was lucky enough to take the prints to the set the next day where Honor Blackman very kindly autographed her photo for me, also Harold Sakata aka Oddjob, spoke to me (and asked me if I was a pilot). I was very impressed! 

“I was also lucky enough to get Sean Connery and Harold Sakata to sign the photo of them in the car that was later destroyed as part of the film’s plot.”

Daphne Walker (nee Wincomb)

15th April 2024.

“Goldfinger is regularly cited as the best Bond film ever to be made, with Connery being the favourite actor to have played Bond. This is certainly true among aficionados of 007 material,” said Ewbank’s Senior Partner Andrew Ewbank.

“We have held dedicated James Bond auctions for some years now and have recently been dispersing the memorabilia of the top Bond collector Steve Oxenrider. Because they are photographs rather than props or costumes from the films, the monetary value is lower, but even so, their unique nature and the fact that they capture the stars of the top Bond film of all – and are signed by them – means they are right up there with the most sought-after 007 material and we expect a great deal of interest.”

The estimate is £500-800.