Live and Let Buy: Roger Moore’s ‘James Bond’ Collection Heads to Auction on the 50th Anniversary of His Debut as 007

Moore, Roger Moore, was the third actor to portray the beloved secret agent James Bond on film. The British lead played the impossibly stylish and charismatic spy in seven feature films, more than any other actor. For many, his roles in Live and Let Die (1973), For Your Eyes Only (1981), and A View to a Kill (1985) made him the quintessential 007.

Even before playing the character of a lifetime, Sir Roger Moore was a dashing symbol of style and icon of British cool, whose credits included the TV shows The Saint (1962–69) and The Persuaders (1971).

Now, Moore’s legions of fans have a rare opportunity to own a piece of Bond history. The memorabilia he amassed before his death in 2017 will go up for auction at Bonhams London on October 4, 2023—the 50th anniversary of his first appearance as 007.

A ’50 Years of 007′ limited-edition Seamaster watch from Omega. Courtesy of Bonhams.

The 180 lots in the accessibly priced sale include several notable items. One highlight is a limited-edition Omega Seamaster dive watch, expected to fetch £20,000–£30,000 ($25,000–$37,000). Over the years, the watchmaker has launched several iterations of the Seamaster Diver to commemorate various Bond milestones; this particular example was released in 2012 to celebrate 50 years of the franchise.

Several of Moore’s more memorable costumes are featured. One of them is the double-breasted mohair dinner suit that he wore in the Eiffel Tower fight scene and subsequent car chase in A View to a Kill, which could pull in £20,000–£30,000 ($25,000–$37,000). Another is an identical version of the white ski suit he wore in the opening sequence of the same film, which could rake in as much as £25,000 ($32,000).

A Douglas Hayward double-breasted mohair dinner suit made for Sir Roger Moore in A View To A Kill, 1985. Courtesy of Bonhams.

In addition, a large collection of photographs and film stills of Roger Moore playing James Bond will also be available. A portion of the proceeds will go to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), which appointed Moore as a goodwill ambassador in 1991.

The sale is the wish of Moore’s children Deborah, Geoffrey, and Christian Moore. “We know how much our father meant to so many people across the globe,” they said in a statement. “For many he was James Bond as well as The Saint, but he was also a kind and generous individual, as understandably proud of his charitable work as his acting career. We are delighted to be able to share his legacy with his many fans.”

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