Just got the official solicitation for this one.

I remember asking about the possibility of Rittenhouse doing a cut auto for someone who was unwilling to sign for a set after multiple requests and I was pretty much torn a new one by folks.
I believe even Steve from Rittenhouse said he would never do a cut auto for a person who was not deceased.

HOWEVER- the archive box contents reads this-
"And for every 18 cases, you will receive a 2017 James Bond Archives - Final Edition - Trading Cards ARCHIVE BOX, which includes an exclusive cut signature card of Sean Connery(James Bond)!"

That Connery is gonna be huuuuuuuge! I really hope this isn't the final Bond set ever, but with a Moore in each case and the depth of the autograph lineup. This feels like a final set.

I admire Connery. He doesn't need it, he said no and he meant it. You know how rare that it is? Nearly all celebrities turn to paid autograph signings eventually, no matter what they say when they are hot. I can't think of more than a couple others that probably will never do it.

As for the cuts, there is big money in it and whoever thought that RA wouldn't do it for a living signer just because they said so in the past must be disappointed with lots of things people say, until they change their mind.

One thing I will say, RA had better have rock solid authentication of the source of the cut signatures. Connery has not been signing for a long time, but I'm sure genuine autographs from earlier times and maybe even every day documents are out there. The cut signature cards themselves should attract big time Bond card collectors. I mean if some Star Trek fan needs Susan Oliver's cut at $7,500, who knows how much a Connery cut is worth to a Bond collector?

quote:

Originally posted by Raven:
As for the cuts, there is big money in it and whoever thought that RA wouldn't do it for a living signer just because they said so in the past must be disappointed with lots of things people say, until they change their mind.

I actually do get a little disappointed when people say something and then don't stand by it.
Like all these celebrities who threatened to leave the US if Trump was elected.
Every damn one of them is still here. They know no matter how good or bad Trump is, the US is still a great place to live.
With all the fake news reports these days and politicians spewing lie after lie, it would be a welcome occurrence of someone saying something and it turned out to be the truth and they stood by it.
These days, people have no concept of truth and being a person of their word.

quote:

Originally posted by cubby5454:

These days, people have no concept of truth and being a person of their word.

Well truth has become a fluid concept. A kind of "It was true when I said, but now it isn't" thing. I know many honest people, they're just not very important people.

This cut signature has not yet been posted on the RA website. The 18 case incentive card has not been named there. If the dealer solicitation has it announced, it should go public soon.

What he said was true.... From a certain point of view.

quote:

Originally posted by Raven:

This cut signature has not yet been posted on the RA website. The 18 case incentive card has not been named there. If the dealer solicitation has it announced, it should go public soon.

If you go to the product page and press the Buy it Now link, you will be able to see the full details- just hit the more info button for the case.

This set certainly does seem very appealing, on an autograph front. It's been a few years now since I last bought any Bond boxes but think I might pick some of this one up. Die Another Day isn't my favourite Bond film, but love the sound of everything else (and, another chance of picking up a Halle Berry autograph for my X-Men collection, as ever!) I have no hopes of ever owning the Sean Connery card, but will be fun to see what design they went with.

quote:

Originally posted by rwn410:
I have no hopes of ever owning the Sean Connery card, but will be fun to see what design they went with.

Each will look different depending on the source material. Generally speaking, cut signatures are not that pleasing to the eye.

What I like is another Michelle Yeoh FB. I think I might have to have it. How about it Cubby?

quote:

Originally posted by Raven:

What I like is another Michelle Yeoh FB. I think I might have to have it. How about it Cubby?

Michelle Yeoh is a nice one.
My favorite on the list is Berenice Marlohe.
Rittenhouse really loaded this one up.
That archive box will be EXPENSIVE.

Well, Sean Connery will be 87 years old later this year (Roger Moore will be 90 !) so who knows how much time either has left to sign autos.

Has it been clarified yet whether this will be the last Rittenhouse James Bond set of any kind or just the last "Archives" set?

quote:

Originally posted by Logan:
Has it been clarified yet whether this will be the last Rittenhouse James Bond set of any kind or just the last "Archives" set?

No, that is just speculation based on the title Final Edition.

I was initially inclined to dismiss it as just meaning that the James Bond Archives would end, but not other Bond sets with other titles. Now I'm not so sure because the question was posed to Steve on the RA website and there has been no response so far.

It would be a very easy rumor to squash by just saying it's not true, so why is RA silent about it? Why say you don't discuss future plans as a matter of policy? Either you have the license or you don't. Just answer the question. Maybe they think its good for collectors to be left in the dark and kept interested. I don't know, but the inclusion of a Connery cut card could be seen by some as a wrap up move also. TBD.

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

Moaner has arrived, most of the full bleed are repeat signers, then a break for up to two years? Jeffrey Wright (Quantum) Judi Dench (Skyfall) Tom Chadbon (Casino Royale)
Lawrence Makoare (Die Another Day) a nicer image of Lea Seydoux maybe(Spectre)and a 1/4 chance of having a Roger (for your eyes only) unless there are more to list, is it worth a case this time ?

quote:

Originally posted by Logan:
Has it been clarified yet whether this will be the last Rittenhouse James Bond set of any kind or just the last "Archives" set?

A dealer told me that he heard that the Bond card license was up for renewal this year. Maybe someone outbid RA ? Who knows

at least I will be getting a full bleed Yeoh on the picture I wanted from the start

Maybe I missed something, but I'm not sure I get where all this speculation about this being the last Bond set from Rittenhouse is coming from? Because the word 'final' has been used in the title? That's got to be because now all the Bond films have been covered by an Archives set?! Steve has never said anything about ending the run of Bond cards. They've always been a big seller for Rittenhouse. And besides, Rittenhouse have surely got a huge stash of WOB autographs just begging for a release.

Errrr, not sure I like the idea of a Connery cut autograph card, if that rumour proves to be true. I might feel tempted and end up paying a fortune for a cut which, if other cut autographs are anything to go by, will look ghastly and share no design similarities with existing autographs.

Well, an interesting looking release for sure.

- Of all the announced signers only ONE is new (Mark Dymond). Even though lots of duplicate signers, lots of popular names in Berry, Craig, Bianchi etc.
- Nice to see another card from the late Richard Kiel, collectors seem to lap up his older full-bleeds.
- At last, another Judi Dench full-bleed (8 years since the last one).
- Good to see what should be the first full-bleeds for Makoare and Chadbon even if they are smaller names.
- The 4th full-bleed for Lazenby, and still another pic I don't like.
- I thought I'd want to replace the old Yeoh FB but seeing as this new one is the same pic as her WOB card, I think I'll pass.
- Hurray(!) another new WOB card: Naomie Harris.
- Presumably Seymour and Marlohe will be full-bleeds, hoping for good pics on these. Wasn't so keen on Marlohe's FB in the last set and still need a Seymour.
- Being a big Moore fan, so great to see 4 cards from him in his 90th year, I was hoping he would have some focus and these are a nice accompaniment to the throwback sets. More choice and opportunity for collectors, and the full-bleed from For Your Eyes Only is one of his best looking cards to date IMO. I predict some very reasonable prices on these given how many cards he has now.
- Probably most excited to see another Christopher Lee card, I was hoping RA had more stashed away from him. The last card was just too dark for my liking.

As for this cut Connery business... arguably the the premier Bond trading card. Scary to think how much this will go for and a shame there won't be enough to go around. Nobody can't say it won't be a cool card but it's a bit sad that RA have pretty much admitted defeat in getting him to sign for them, but hardly surprising given how notoriously difficult he is.
Further to above comments, I see nothing admirable in the man. No he doesn't owe us autograph cards but he does owe his fans and the Bond producers, who made him the star he is, far more appreciation. He seems a miserable old git and that is not the same as having principles - even Roger Moore is on record saying Connery knows how to hold a grudge. I'd rather have an autograph card from Timothy Dalton.

Is this the very last Bond set from RA? It seems odd they would not confirm or deny on their message boards. That said, I think the writing is on the wall: there is more to come. The auto line up in this set does look like they are 'clearing decks' however logic tells us there are some missing pieces...

Despite all the Moore autos in this set we still do not have 40th Anniversary or full-bleed cards of him from Octopussy. Why would RA get him to sign card styles for all his films except this one?
Similarly, they have had Moore and Craig sign for each of their films, so where is Brosnan's missing Die Another Day full-bleed (which would have been perfect for this release)?
Not to mention, as RP01 says, all the Women of Bond cards that RA must have had the big names sign (like Kurylenko, Arterton and Seydoux). I could be wrong but I think RA have plenty more stashed away. Here's hoping anyway.

quote:

Originally posted by X:
....Probably most excited to see another Christopher Lee card, I was hoping RA had more stashed away from him.

It's a very nice looking card and quite a surprise, it would go well with Roger's (TMWTGG) card.

quote:

Originally posted by X:
Is this the very last Bond set from RA? It seems odd they would not confirm or deny on their message boards.....

They might not know themselves yet, it might make sense to rest the line until they have a new film to work with.

quote:

Originally posted by X:
.. That said, I think the writing is on the wall: there is more to come....

Ah, you mean a Sam Smith card.

quote:

Originally posted by WOMBLE:

quote:

Originally posted by X:
....Probably most excited to see another Christopher Lee card, I was hoping RA had more stashed away from him.

It's a very nice looking card and quite a surprise, it would go well with Roger's (TMWTGG) card.

Didn't even think of that, it does go perfectly with that Roger full-bleed (my favourite of ALL of his auto cards).

quote:

Originally posted by WOMBLE:

quote:

Originally posted by X:
Is this the very last Bond set from RA? It seems odd they would not confirm or deny on their message boards.....

They might not know themselves yet, it might make sense to rest the line until they have a new film to work with.

They way they milk Trek, I don't think they'll not make the most of their other flagship property if they still carry on with the licence. I still think there are too many unseen cards hanging in the wings that will have to go into future releases.

quote:

Originally posted by WOMBLE:

quote:

Originally posted by X:
.. That said, I think the writing is on the wall: there is more to come....

Ah, you mean a Sam Smith card.

Ha! I see what you did there
Can't say I'm a fan myself, although did like the song. If they made an auto card for him I'm sure many would enjoy it.