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HMSS: First off, why hasn't your wife killed you yet? DOUG REDENIUS: From the very beginning I can truly say collecting Bond was something we enjoyed doing together. Never has collecting been an issue. Since the Ian Fleming Foundation was formed, there have been many times my wife has wanted to kill me. Since it's inception 17 years ago, I've landed in the hospital on more than one occasion suffering from exhaustion and mental stress. HMSS: What is your earliest recollection of James Bond, in print or film? DOUG: On film. I was taken to a local cinema back in 1964 to see a double bill... Goodbye Charlie and Goldfinger. When the naked woman was seen in the bathtub at the beginning of the film, the babysitter grabbed me by the hair and dragged both me and my little buddy out of the theater. It wasn't too much after that, when I started to read all the 007 paperbacks. HMSS: How and when did you acquire the collecting bug? DOUG: I've always been a collector. As far back as I can remember, I've always had something with me as a collection. I had sports cards as a youngster, books, model kits, toys, etc. It's just in my blood I guess. HMSS: Why did you decide to collect James Bond memorabilia? DOUG: There really was no particular reason I started collecting all things Bond. For many HMSS: Do you stay in touch with other major Bond collectors? Do you know of any other Bond collection in private hands that is larger than yours? DOUG: Not really. I've been collecting Bond items now for 28 years, so many of the original people I made contact with years ago, have moved on. There were two fellows I knew at one point, who had very large collections but they have now sold them and as I said - moved on. I've been told by several people abroad that there are a couple of guys who have very large James Bond collections, but I have no way of knowing how it compares to mine. If I had to guess, I'd say overall, and bearing in mind the many different categories my collection covers, it would be hard to top. HMSS: What category of memorabilia do you enjoy collecting the most and why? DOUG: Old toys...the ones from the 60's, because that's when I was a young boy and doing so really brings that part of my life back home. I'm very fortunate that I started collecting Bond when I did, because all of that memorabilia from the 60's is very, very expensive now - but back when I started it had only been around for 15 years. I would also put certain props and costumes I have, in that category also, because of how I came to acquire some of them. HMSS: Are you a completist? In other words do you find yourself collecting items that you don't really care for, simply because of a Bond connection? If so, what items? DOUG: I guess I'd answer that question by saying yes, I must be a completist because if it has a 007 or James Bond on it, or is in any way associated to Bond of Fleming, then yes, I collect it. I particularly like the old unlicensed Japanese and foreign toys from the 60's that tried to rip off the licensed Bond merchandise. It's silly I know, but I get a kick out of some of that stuff. HMSS: Do you have any guilty pleasures in your collection? DOUG: I've been trying to think of things that I enjoy collecting that might be a bit embarrassing or goofy and truly, I can't think of any. Maybe the fact I'm over 50 and still collecting dolls is a bit weird. Sometimes that enters my mind, but it never deters me from doing it. I guess when I hear people who visit, say things like James Bond underwear? That makes me lower my head now and then! HMSS: Have you found that your collection has begun to grow by itself? In other words, do unsolicited items just show up on your doorstep at this point? I know that to a certain degree, that has started to happen with me! Friends and fellow collectors just send me stuff! DOUG: It doesn't happen now as much as it use too. For many years I consulted on hundreds of different official Bond licensed products, so I'd come home and there would be something new that I hadn't expected waiting on the front porch. HMSS: It looks like you try to display your entire collection, however, I know you have items that are not in your Bond room. What are you hiding and why? DOUG: You're right, I don't have everything out on display. Some things are just too valuable to display, and the other reason is simply because I've run out of room. My posters are also tucked away to protect them from damage and fading. HMSS: As a fellow collector I've got to ask you how you keep your collection so damned clean, since the majority of it is displayed out in the open? DOUG: Oh how I wish that were true!!! My collection is housed in a room with no windows, one door, lights that are very rarely turned on and only two floor vents that have heavy duty filters on them and STILL, my collection is dusty beyond words. (You'll have to take a closer look next time you come visit.) A few years back, my family along with several volunteers spent two full days cleaning and dusting, after which I kept the door to that room closed all the time... until one very cold winter day when I went into the room to get something and discovered ice hanging from part of the 18 foot high ceiling. The door has never been shut after that. HMSS: You have already parted with at least a portion of your collection, what, when and why? DOUG: I've given Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan and Daniel Craig all three of my rare copies of [real-life ornithologist James Bond's] Birds of The West Indies books, as gifts. I sold the shark homing device from Never Say Never Again years ago, simply because back then I didn't have as much of a connection to the film as I do now. (Big mistake on my part!) The most recent item was the From Russia with Love SD Studios attaché case, complete with a vintage AR7 rifle. This last item was sold simply for the money. Also, about 10 years ago we needed money due to overwhelming medical bills, so I decided to sell all my 007 movie posters. I had a lot of specialty posters, featuring product connections to the films - they all went. I had special event related posters for various functions that had taken place around the world - they all went, too. When the time came to ship them off, I just couldn't part with everything, so I kept one version (U.S. and U.K) from each of the Bond films.
HMSS: Knowing you for as long as I have, I know that you have amassed your collection one piece at a time, as opposed to purchasing someone else's collection and building from there. How did you obtain most of your pieces? 
HMSS: What is your favorite line of toys and why? DOUG: Hands down....GILBERT. The Gilbert line of Bond toys from the 1960's were fantastic. There have been many, many other Bond related toy lines over the four decades since, but Gilbert made and marketed a lot of very cool items. The James Bond Road Race set is one of my all time favorites. HMSS: Ok, regardless of category (not including props), what is your most prized possession? DOUG: Without a doubt, this is the hardest question I'm asked when I do interviews. I love so many things for different reasons, it's very hard to pick just one. I'll name three things, that when the time comes and I sell my collection (within the next three years), I'll most likely keep. HMSS: Now, what would you say is the coolest Bond memorabilia in your collection? DOUG: The props for sure. The Ericsson cell phone that was used in Tomorrow Never Dies, one of the throwing stars from You Only Live Twice, the Omega electrified wrist watch that lights up the snow cave in The World Is Not Enough, the original gold ink pen portion of the original The Man With The Golden Gun weapon, not to mention all the costumes and pinball machines / slot machines and least we forget, all the
HMSS: Props are very pricey and you really have to know what your doing when collecting them. How do you determine what is a fair price for a prop and how do you personally go about checking it's provenance? DOUG: If I can help it, I try never to buy any props from the Internet through people I don't know. I realize for most people, that means they cannot acquire props for their collections because they know of no other way of obtaining them. For the most part, all of the props in my collection were either given to me, or I obtained them from sources who worked directly on the films. Even when some sellers on eBay state they can provide provenance paperwork - who's to say that hasn't been falsified as well. It's a hard call and one I try to avoid if I can. HMSS: After you've established a prop's provenance, how do you determine a fair price for it? DOUG: The way I do it is simple. There have been a number of high profile auctions, consisting of Bond related items over the past 15 years or so. What I do, is go back and see what certain things brought during those sales. I then review several factors that play into my decision. First, what role did the item play in the film? Second, did Bond ever use the item himself. Third, were there many of that certain kind of prop in the films production? Fourth, how old is the piece? Fifth, what kind of shape is it in? And lastly, can you see the item on screen? After all this, I make my determination and set what I feel would be a fair price to pay. Also, determining whether the item is irreplaceable or not, should be factored into the decision as well. HMSS: Promotional pieces such as press kits, movie posters, lobby card sets, cast and crew jackets, etc., from the studio, or movie tie-in advertising pieces are another great area to collect - if only because they are not generally available to the public. Tell us about some of your rarer pieces and how you got your hands on them. DOUG: Once my collection had become well known, it was much easier to obtain a lot of the items you mentioned. The companies that produce this stuff, do so just to give it all away. Aside from the crew jackets and items that are for production employees only....I have several pieces that were produced as one off's and given as gifts to prominent people at the Royal Premieres. I have several wristwatches that are extremely rare. I also have a couple of posters that are original art variations, these were obtained from the film poster artists directly. HMSS: Many of the interesting pieces in your collection are promotional items that were sent out by EON, the studio or the films distribution company to help promote the films to movie critics. This is something else that rarely see's the light of day for the common collector. How did you acquire these items and tell us about some of the more interesting items you have in this category. DOUG: You're right, some of these items are very nice. One in particular, stands out in my mind. Back when For Your Eyes Only premiered, there was a company doing a line of 007 wristwatches - "Zeon" I believe was the name. They did a VERY limited gold version of the watch which was given to some of the executives connected to the film. I have one of those in my collection. Another item that stands out, was a limited edition 007 martini glass set that Smirnoff produced to give to their clients - I have one of those limited sets. I was given the watch by a gentleman who used to work with Cubby Broccoli and the martini set was given to me by a Smirnoff distributor. HMSS: Bond author John Gardner gave you a couple of rare items right before he moved back to the U.K. Can you tell us what they are and how it came about? DOUG: I had become friends with John through Peter Janson-Smith (Ian's literary agent). HMSS: Getting back to the retail items that were available to purchase outright, which piece in your collection was the hardest to track down? 
DOUG: I worked my butt off back in the early 80's trying to track down a James Bond Road Race set in mint condition. It took me over two years to finally find a couple in good shape, where I could combine the two to make a perfect set. (This may not sound all that hard today with eBay at your fingertips, but back then - trust me.....it was murder!) HMSS: That said, what item has still eluded you through the years? DOUG: The French You Only Live Twice volcano toy set and the U.K. Thunderball Underwater Battle Game from Triang. HMSS: What are the strangest licensed and unlicensed items in your collection? DOUG: James Bond hairspray and James Bond rubber bands. Go figure. HMSS: You also have quite a comprehensive collection of autographs related to the world of Bond. I know most of them you've received in person. I collect Bond related autographs as well, but have to primarily go with dealers that I know and trust or to collectors shows where the celebrities are in attendance. You however, run with a completely different crowd than most of us. How many in person autographed Bond pieces do you have in your collection? Also, please tell us who you have met in the past and still stay in touch with today. DOUG: Ed, I don't have nearly as many Bond related autographs as you have in your collection! You have a first class collection that has been amassed over the years! I do have many items in my collection, that have been signed by various stars from the Bond films. One part of the collection that is interesting is a set of Moonraker Mego figures, that have all been signed by the actors... including Michael Lonsdale as Drax. My toy attaché case is signed by Desmond Llewelyn - Q. I do have many 8 x 10 photos that have been signed for me over the years. I still keep in touch with Maud Adams and Richard Kiel (they both have become good friends). I've met over 50 actors who have appeared in various Bond films... too many to list I'm afraid. I've met all the actors who have played Bond, except Sean Connery. I hope to rectify that one of these days. HMSS: In collecting, condition is everything. Do you find yourself continually upgrading the quality of your pieces or are you content with just owning a representative piece and leave it at that? DOUG: The latter. Once I have it, I move on. Only once did I ever upgrade something I already had and that was an old James Bond electric drawing set from the 60's. HMSS: What about variations? For example, the Gilbert Road Race set was initially available in North American, only through Sears. There was the more collectible original Sears version box with Connery on it, then Gilbert released it in a generic box to other outlets. Gilbert also released their James Bond action figure with different colored accessories. Do you strive to collect them all? DOUG: Yes, when it comes to things like these, I do. One hopes to find every variation, but it's difficult. I say that, because it's harder now that the prices on everything are much higher... you have to choose what you're going to buy and hope it comes along when you can afford it. HMSS: Speaking of Gilbert, there is the question of whether or not they actually produced a Sear's exclusive DOUG: You're right, I have an exact reproduction of the box (I've also seen and held the real thing), as for the rarer version of the Bond doll - I have that doll in my collection also. Yes, there were a very few of these that made it out of the factory before it went bankrupt. HMSS: The large battery-operated Disco Volante is actually shown in the Gilbert catalog, as well as the Emilio Largo hand puppet that went with the Bond and Odd Job versions. Do you know if either of these pieces ever made it past the prototype stage and were available (however limited) to the general public?
HMSS: The price of vintage 60's James Bond memorabilia has really escalated in the last few years. In your estimation, which vintage items can still be picked up fairly reasonably, but have the potential to really rise in value? In other words, speculate on the future Bond market! DOUG: Because vintage 60's items are so expensive today, I don't see the opportunity to buy, as speculation for future price. They are high today and will only continue to rise, so I'd say buy ANYTHING 60's Bond related you can get your hands on. What I would say however, is I think the best chance for investment in the 007 market would be to concentrate on 70's stuff. Believe it or not, the 70's stuff is about to skyrocket because of those individuals who've grown up with Roger Moore as their favorite Bond. That stuff will certainly rise in price soon, however, it can still be picked up today at a reasonable price. Think 70's !! HMSS: Probably the most sought after and costly of the Bond movie posters are the British pieces from the 60's. Do you have all the quads, double crowns, FOH (Front Of House) still sets, etc. DOUG: No, I have very little of that stuff. I didn't get into the posters and such until well into my collecting. I started my Bond collection in early 1980 and it wasn't until the early 90's that I really started to pick up some of that stuff. I do have some U.K. posters and things from some of the newer pictures starting around the early 80's forward, but nothing really from the 1960's. I do have one nice early 60's poster from Dr. No that comes from the U.K... a quad. HMSS: In your opinion, what categories of Bond collecting would you suggest a beginner to jump into at this time? What items do you feel will escalate in value faster than others? DOUG: Wow, that's a good question. One can only assume money is an issue and the really old stuff is out of reach. If that's the case, then I'd suggest one could start by collecting some of the current ORIGINAL movie posters. Then I would have to say, move into anything that's being sold over the counter. If you search hard enough you can still find some reasonably priced things being sold in the stores. HMSS: Some Bond memorabilia items on eBay command top dollar as soon as they are released, but a few months later, after the feeding frenzy has died down, you can pick up the same item for half of it's previous price. The value of other items just keeps going up? How do you decide when it's time to pounce? DOUG: If you're referring to the Dupont line of Bond items... I don't - pounce that is, because I personally feel their stuff is too high priced for the common man - or woman. Don't get me wrong, their stuff is very high quality and will hold it's value for a long time, it's just too darn expensive right out of the gate. HMSS: Items such as the Sideshow Collectibles Bond figures sometimes command much more than the suggested retail price on eBay initially, only to see the selling price drastically fall after they have been on the market for a while. While others, like the Danbury Mint Aston Martin DB-5 has consistently held or increased in value. How do you determine when the time is right to buy? DOUG: The Danbury Mint DB-5 continues to increase in value because the number which was initially produced is significantly less than the Sideshow figures. However, I also believe one factor that plays heavily into why some things sell for more upon their release is because some collectors can't wait to get their hands on a new item and are willing to pay more to be the first on their block to have one. If you wait to buy some of these items, you'll still be able to add it to your collection and not have to pay premium prices. The best time to buy? After things cool down and the novelty wears off. HMSS: In retrospect what should you have pounced on, but didn't? DOUG: Posters! I could have gotten into the poster side of Bond when that stuff was being thrown away. Boy oh boy, did I miss the boat on that one. HMSS: I've noticed that many manufactured collectibles (limited editions) also tend to stagnate or drop in value after they have been out in the market for a while. Do you think that this is a backlash effect from the collectors? DOUG: No, I think it's part of the equation when manufacturers are calculating what something can be sold for right out of the gate, before they realize a smaller profit nearer the end of the run. Everything they sell, even at a lower price, makes money for them. If a "limited edition" item is up for sale at a lower price once it's been on the market for a while, it's because the person selling it got if for a lesser amount initially. HMSS: We have all run into a situation where we have made some big mistakes in our purchases, whether it's drastically over paying for an item or buying something we thought was an original piece only to find out that it's a reproduction or an unlicensed product. Do you have any horror stories or big blunders you have made, that you would be willing to share with us from your years of collecting? DOUG: One that comes to mind right off the top of my head, is when I got sucked into buying what I thought was an original Moneypenny doll from Japan, only to find out when it arrived, it was junk. I think I paid $150 for a doll that was only worth $2.00. HMSS: Getting back to your collection, what are your future plans for it? DOUG: If all goes as planned, I hope to be able to sell all of it before the end of 2011. I really want it to stay intact - complete - together as one - whatever you want to call it. I'd rather not sell it off piece by piece simply because it's taken nearly 30 years to put it together. HMSS: You are currently in the process of doing a computerized inventory of your collection, complete with the serial numbers, dimensions, as well as a description and photo of everything. How many items do you currently have (assuming you count your Die Another Day trading cards as one piece, as opposed to say 100 different pieces)? Also, I know you've begun to run out of space in your Bond room. Can you tell us what the dimensions of that room are? DOUG: I say off the top of my head well over 8,000 items. As far as the Bond room measurements are concerned....the room is 19'3'' long by 15'3'' deep by 16' high ceiling. And still not enough room!! HMSS: Now please tell us about your Bond library. Go into a little detail of some of the collectibles you have in print form. DOUG: Like posters, I didn't get into collecting the books until the early 90's. I had some of the Bond paperbacks and a few magazines, but nothing really solid when it came to hard covers or other publications. I've made up for that short coming by having several thousand print related HMSS: If you had to put a number on it, how much do you think your collection is currently worth at auction and do you have it insured? I doubt your regular homeowners policy would cover it! DOUG: It's been appraised by several high profile auction houses from around the world and the figures don't vary as much as one might think. The most would be gained if it were sold piece by piece - bringing possibly $1.7 million (U.S.). As a whole collection being sold as one - closer to $1.3 or $1.4 million (U.S.). HMSS: Have you ever looked into insurance for your collection? What did you find out once you started making inquires? DOUG: I found it was very expensive. Too expensive to do it properly. There are other ways one can cover items in their collections. You can add a certain rider clause to your home owners policy, that will list separately everything you have related in a certain category. No matter how you do it, unless you have a lot of money, it's very hard to cover everything for it's true value. HMSS: How could you part with a collection like this? It's got to feel almost like a part of you at this point! DOUG: It's not just a part of me, it makes up who I am. I really try not to think about what it will be like when it's all gone. HMSS: Which items will you hold back from auction, either because it just too damned cool or has some sentimental attachment to you? DOUG: I touched upon this earlier, but I would also hang on to the items that were personally signed to me. HMSS: What item (apart from props) do you think is probably worth the most? DOUG: Some of the early Japanese toys from the 60's, along with any of the prototypes I mentioned before. The road race set is worth a lot of money now. Some of the rare dolls can fetch a pretty penny also. I have some gold plated Johnny Lightning cars that are one of a kind which are valuable also. HMSS: In the past you have told me that Desmond Llewelyn came to your place for a visit and to check out your collection. Can you share this experience with us? DOUG: Desmond and I were both national spokesmen for Ericsson when Tomorrow Never Dies came out. At one point, Desmond's tour brought him through Chicago, so my wife and I arranged to pick him up and bring him here for dinner and a much needed rest. Upon his arrival, HMSS: Once you part with your collection, what's next? Will you start collecting something else? DOUG: Once it's gone, my plan is to retire from my government job and enjoy the rest of my life. As far as whether or not I'd ever start collecting again... I'm sure I will. Maybe next time they'll have four tires and I can actually get inside of them and drive away, as apposed to pushing them across the kitchen floor! HMSS: Thanks for your time Doug, maybe we can talk about your involvement with the Ian Fleming Foundation in a future issue of HMSS. DOUG: You're very welcome. I really enjoyed the interview. I would love to talk about my involvement in the Ian Fleming Foundation - anytime my friend, any time.
© 2008 Her Majesty's Secret Servant |
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 Doug Redenius has previously been a contributor to HMSS. He's covered Christie's auction for us, and written a fascinating article about locating, acquiring, and restoring James Bond's Lotus Esprit from The Spy Who Loved Me.
He's also a terrific guy, and a dear and valued friend.
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