Nice scans CPF. I can see Roddenberry having so many, he probably had a lot of signatures available and Star Trek has been a cornerstone for RA. Funny that Schwarzenegger's Batman cards should have been cut up as they were valuable in of themselves, but I guess it threw the authentication on Topps, so it was easy.

Serling was probably the most difficult. There was a time when there were a lot of celebrity checks on eBay. Most sold rather cheaply, depending on the name. Many of those cut up checks did wind up in cut signature cards from Razor and others exactly because they could be obtained cheaply and they had a certain assumption of being genuine.

The checks fit into the idea that an item that couldn't sell for much by itself could be converted into a highly sought after collectible just by destroying it and mounting a part on a "certified" card. Pretty brilliant idea really.

The Batman autos from the ill-fated George Clooney campfest "Batman & Robin" were actually from Fleer/skybox towards the end of their run.
By the time the series was rebooted with Christian Bale for "Batman Begins", Fleer/Skybox was gone and Topps had the license for Batman movie cards. While they couldn't get Bale for that first set (and no cards were made for the next two movies), they did get Gary Oldman, Liam Neeson, and Michael Caine, and they were on-card since Topps hadn't gone to stickers yet. Those are three of my favorite autographs, and as much as I'd rather have those autographs on different cards for different movies (still have to start that thread), I'd never want those cut up.
The Schwarzenegger card from Batman, though, I think Rittenhouse did every autograph they cut from those cards a favor, especially to put them on cards for "Conan", which was excellent. That awful performance as Mr. Freeze in that terrible movie has to be the lowest point in Arnie's career, and that includes his string of flops since returning to movies after his hiatus from films while he was California governor.

Thanks for the scans chesspieceface, I've never seen the Rodenberry cards all laid out like that, cool to see. Weren't there 25 more in TOS style so 55 cut Rodenberry's altogether (even if not all of them ended up in boxes)?

To help digress further, barring Katie Holmes, those Batman Begins autos are a nice little run. Coincidentally I picked up the Michael Caine card a couple of weeks ago for a fair price after looking for years. I would LOVE to add Liam Neeson to my collection but the prices are eye-watering. Truly great actors. I loved Nolan's Dark Knight trilogy so am more than happy to have them on Batman cardstock, even if the design is a bit unusual.

As for the lowest point in Arnie's career, I take it you haven't seen "Hercules in New York"? That is a stinker! I hated Batman & Robin (didn't we all) but as a big Arnie fan I enjoyed his OTT performance in that utter campfest. I don't mind the Conan cards but it doesn't sit entirely right with me that a desirable card was sliced and diced to make the Conan Arnie cards. Then again if they were 'in the Archive' and not in the public domain - why not utilise them I guess.

Big shame Coltrane has flat out refused to sign for Potter and Bond. He is a much loved actor. Disappointing that Jeffrey Wright and Eva Green have turned RA down as well. I find it odd that RA would confirm those particular 3 actors refusals rather than give us the traditional "we're working on it". When all is said and done, it took 10 years to get Halle Berry and Pierce Brosnan, the latter being the only Bond to ever get sacked from the role, so I think anything is possible with a little time and persuasion.
One that has always annoyed me was knowing Grace Jones was willing to sign but Steve said she wanted too much money. I would genuinely be fascinated to know how much is too much especially when RA could afford Brosnan and Craig. Maybe we should start a fundraiser to get her on board?!? A positive we can take from RA having to turn Grace Jones down is that, like I said earlier, RA maybe avoided being able to pay her to do a small handful of autos that would end up being be far too limited and far too expensive for the majority of collectors.

"Hercules in New York" with Arnold "Stang" is the stuff of legend, and not the good kind, for sure. And as for that being the lowest point, certainly, compared to "Hercules", the campy "Batman and Robin" looks like "Batman Begins", haha.
The only reason I didn't consider that is because you have to have to be up, before you can be down, and that was VERY early in his "acting" career, so he hadn't really been up yet.
Perhaps his most cringeworthy work (other than his activities during his free-time when he was Governor) was the direct to video gem "Party in Rio", something only the 1980's could've spawned. Here, Arnold (I believe post Conan, but pre-Terminator) hosts a travelogue to Rio de Janeiro to explore that exotic land during the non-stop party that is "Carnavale". Arnold suggestively feeding a dancer from a veggie-tray while giving her English(!) lessons has to be seen to be believed, as does his in depth discussion with the locals as to why the derriere ("ahhhss" as Arnie calls it) is considered sacred in Brazil.

I could not digress any further at this point, and not wanting to take away from the substance of what is surely THE James Bond all-in-one autograph list, I'm going to shortly move my ruminations regarding cut signature (and those pictures) to a new thread.

I'd like to picture as many of these "Cuts" as possible from the main manufacturers (Topps, Upper Deck, Rittenhouse, etc.), but not from the companies that make sets solely comprised of cuts, the origins and quantities of those cards being more difficult to trace.

quote:

Originally posted by Raven:

First of all there is the matter of obtaining the signature and what it is being cut from. It can't be anything too valuable or it wouldn't make any sense to destroy it in such a manner. Chances are the autograph would come from something that has little sale value on it's own, like an index card, slip of paper or even a personalized photo.

Then comes the question of authentication and who is actually making the certification. Because the original source is likely to be something of minor value, does it really have the necessary documentation to guarantee it or are we just asked to accept a nameless certification backed by the card's producer? Well yes, that what we got with Razor, and they really pushed the idea of cuts to make money on signatures that would have been cheap on there own if not for the certification and conversion to their own new product.

Wouldn't we all love signed Sean Connery trading cards. Would make my day/year/decade for sure!

Although I agree that for living actors, it seems priority should be on trying to get on-card autographs, if Connery really is impossible to get, maybe one way of getting a number of relatively cheap, truly authentic autographs, would be to recycle the bookplates he signed a few years back for his autobiography, Being a Scot. There are tonnes of those floating around and the signatures are 100% genuine and against a nice white background.

But if Connery is happy to sign bookplates, I still can't help feeling he might one day sign trading cards. I mean, it basically amounts to the same thing....

Oh man, seeing Arnie fighting with what was clearly a man in a bear suit in Central Park was hilarious. I know it was his first film but it was BAAAAAAD. I will have to look up his travelogue, it sounds equally 'brilliant'.

And for those whom it matters, I've added the variants I am aware of (or should I say that I can remember off the top of my head!) to the autograph lists.

quote:

Originally posted by RP01:

quote:

Originally posted by Raven:

First of all there is the matter of obtaining the signature and what it is being cut from. It can't be anything too valuable or it wouldn't make any sense to destroy it in such a manner. Chances are the autograph would come from something that has little sale value on it's own, like an index card, slip of paper or even a personalized photo.

Then comes the question of authentication and who is actually making the certification. Because the original source is likely to be something of minor value, does it really have the necessary documentation to guarantee it or are we just asked to accept a nameless certification backed by the card's producer? Well yes, that what we got with Razor, and they really pushed the idea of cuts to make money on signatures that would have been cheap on there own if not for the certification and conversion to their own new product.

Wouldn't we all love signed Sean Connery trading cards. Would make my day/year/decade for sure!

Although I agree that for living actors, it seems priority should be on trying to get on-card autographs, if Connery really is impossible to get, maybe one way of getting a number of relatively cheap, truly authentic autographs, would be to recycle the bookplates he signed a few years back for his autobiography, Being a Scot. There are tonnes of those floating around and the signatures are 100% genuine and against a nice white background.

But if Connery is happy to sign bookplates, I still can't help feeling he might one day sign trading cards. I mean, it basically amounts to the same thing....

Those plates are a good means of getting his auto but don't forget, Connery loves Scotland but hated the Bond producers and feels he wasn't paid his dues. I wish he'd get over it and sign some cards already!

Blasphemy I'm sure, but I'd rather have a Timothy Dalton autograph to be perfectly honest.

I've just always thought that if some of these holdouts (Carol Burnett, Robert Redford, Robert Duvall for Twilight Zone, for example) could actually see the incredible collection of these cards, see how nice they are, how many others have participated, be shown that no one was getting rich on them (meaning the limited production and collection of them is something of a labor of love, and not purely motivated by profit), that they might have a change of heart and sign. I like to think so, anyway.

I wonder what made Sarah Michelle Gellar finally change her mind? I know that Harrison Ford had charitable considerations in mind when he finally relented.

I've always wondered how these manufacturers persuade some of the tougher signers. I guess you have to respect that each celebrity has their own reasons for signing/not signing but maybe RA should tell the likes of Grace Jones/Robbie Coltrane etc that people like Dame Judi Dench grace their products so should maybe get over themselves.

I've just realised that in all this thread I don't think I have contributed any images myself so...

My favourite Bond Girl Famke Janssen. Hers was my most wanted Bond auto card along with Pierce Brosnan. Was VERY glad when RA issued the full bleed below (one of their very first full-bleed repeats) after collectors complained her first full bleed from Dangerous Liaisons was far too limited, and I actually prefer the picture on this one. I have since set the WOB card free from it's toplader!



I love the Women of Bond style and was really pleased at how many new cards we got in Archives 2014. Whilst Berry is not my favourite actress I was pleased to add a major Bond girl and I think I found a nice example of her stylised signature. Speaking of which... I really enjoyed Severine in Skyfall but I refused to buy a card of Berenice Marlohe until I found a signature of hers I was happy with. She is one of the sloppiest signers I have ever seen and frankly most of her autographs look appalling. This is the most legible I could find.



Still on the Bond girls, as time marches on I couldn't miss the opportunity to meet two of the classic Bond girls from one of my top 5 Bond films: Goldfinger at a recent UK show. Honor Blackman didn't want to "sign on her bosom" so squeezed her signature down the bottom and Shirley Eaton was desperately worried the gold pen would smudge but I had to have the golden girl sign in gold!



Random but why not. From RA's first, and arguably best relic card run in Complete Bond, the RC6 casino chip. I got this card when the set first came out and later sold it. Regretted it and recently bought it again. I think the casino related relics are very 'Bond' and Licence To Kill is one of my favourites although RA flipped the image on this to fit the card style. I'm sure nobody else notices or cares!



And finally, besides the Janssen cards, my Bond card "Holy Grails", or 3 out of 6 anyway. The cards I am proudest to own.
It is probably obvious I am quite fussy, or shall we say specific, and I really enjoyed the last Bond set in particular because along with all the great WOB cards, I was treated to a Skyfall Craig full bleed (favourite Craig Bond film) and a TMWTGG full bleed using my favourite pic of Roger Moore as Bond. I had to find a great example of Brosnan's flourish filled signature as he's my favourite Bond. Was tough to find a good Moore as his signature has gotten a lot more inconsistent and shakier in his older age/in recent sets. As for Craig.. another lazy signer. I gave up on anything that looked good so just went for a neat 'DC'.



Some people bemoan the repeats we get but RA have offered some amazing names on styles and with pictures to please a wide spectrum of fans. I think RA have served us Bond fans very well over the years.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: X,

Wow X, extremely jealous of your Famke Janssen FB auto.
I'm still trying to get one of them, and I haven't seen any listed for quite a while unfortunately.

The card collection shown is stunning. It brings a lot of things to mind just looking at the highlights.

Ian Fleming gave the film producers a dazzling selection of exotic characters they have thus far shepherded into a couple of dozen films (and counting), the stakes higher on each successive production, and all populated with a stunning array of fantastic actors and some incredibly attractive people (sometimes both at once!). Now, this ever growing list of Bond alumni stretching back 50 years has been gathered together into an smartly organized, limited (but not impossible) edition of easily authenticated autograph cards. Rittenhouse's achievement with the Bond license, much like what they've done with Star Trek and Twilight Zone sets, is monumental. Even when it's a subject I don't generally collect, it's easy to tell when something special is happening (as was the case with the Artbox Harry Potter collection).

I don't think it's possible to put something like this together without an abiding love for the subject at hand and an ability to work with large groups of talent which no doubt has its share of temperamental personalities. (Ah, if only someone like Uncle Allen or Steve Charendoff could write a tell-all book about life in the autograph card trade!).

Anyway, congrats on the Bond haul, "X", and hats of to Rittenhouse. It is fitting that they will shortly be the ones adding at last the Sarah Michelle Gellar card to the stellar Buffy autograph card collection issued by Inkworks, heretofore lacking that key signature, but very few others.

I remember laying all my bond autos out a while ago.. that was a few sets ago but the photos are still cool.. they are in this forum.

http://nonsportupdate.infopop....907078426#9907078426

Loving all the photos, these are some great collections you have.

Back in 2005, Connery voiced a new From Russia With Love video game. I wonder how they got him to do that ?

When I see such impressive collections as these of the Bond cards I start to regret my own non-completist attitude. I have always jumped around and collected many autograph cards of people I liked from any title that I could afford without trying to compile anything in particular. I love all my cards and it is a sizeable collection after all these years, but it has no central focus.

There is just something about seeing all these cards together, premiums and commons alike, that any true card collector has to admire.

In a very real sense, this IS your focus...

"cards of people I liked from any title that I could afford"

which I would argue is the best possible focus since, in doing so, you will never end up stuck with something that is "worthless" to you.

Some of the cards I have, I almost like HOW I got them as much as the actual cards themselves. Talk about value added....

quote:

Originally posted by X:

And for those whom it matters, I've added the variants I am aware of (or should I say that I can remember off the top of my head!) to the autograph lists.

Many thanks for the lists and the updates.


regards

John

This message has been edited. Last edited by: JOHN LEVITT,

X - that is fantastic work!

I too have put together the full list, but I kept the Full Bleeds sorted by production set (Mission Logs together, 50th Ann S1, 50th Ann S2, etc.).

While this may seem extravagant to many, I have loads of multiples of most of the autos. And, the time has come to streamline the collection (or so my wife says).

So - if anyone has a list of wants from the James Bond trading card canon, please let me know and I would be happy to sell them.

Cheers all

email sent Ben

On this card:

A24 – Patrick Macnee/Sir Godfrey Tibbett – A View To A Kill (Case Incentive, Approx. 834)

You can add these variants; Blue sharpie, Black sharpie and thick Blue sharpie. I have all three and will post a pic if asked.

I am still going through your fascinating list, but I'm a slow worker.