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James Bond Memorabilia Owned by Possible Inspiration Auctioned
4-Sep-2008
Written by: Justin Zaremba
A collection of early James Bond novels and other papers owned by the possible inspiration for the character, the late Sir Fitzroy Maclean, have been sold at auction for more than £31,000.
A collection of James Bond memorabilia owned by a man believed to be the inspiration for the fictional spy has been bought for more than £31,000 ($55,000) in Edinburgh, the BBC reports.
The collection, which was sold at auctioneers Lyon and Turnbull, was owned by the late Sir Fitzroy Maclean, a former diplomat, soldier and MP.
Prior to World War II, Maclean became friends with Ian Fleming, the author of the James Bond novels.
Sir Fitzroys collection of novels, other personal papers and pictures were expected to sell for up to £20,000. The novels included in the sale were early editions of Casino Royale, Moonraker, Dr. No, and From Russia with Love.
The collection closed at £26,000 but auction house commission made the price rise to £31,200.
Sir Fitzroy was based at embassies in Moscow and Paris and parachuted into Nazi-occupied Yugoslavia on a secret wartime mission to help Tito.
During the war, Sir Fitzroy volunteered for and distinguished himself in the newly established SAS in North Africa.
In describing the collection, the Lyon and Turnbull catalogue stated, "Various models have been suggested as the prototype for modern fiction's most famous hero, and of them all Sir Fitzroy Maclean - diplomat, war hero, traveller, clan chieftain and outstanding public servant - is one of the most plausible."
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