London, 28 May 2026 - From real stories of World War Two codebreaking to the allure of James Bond, the world of spies and espionage never fails to intrigue and captivate. Now Bonhams is exploring all things spycraft in a new sale Espionage: Fact and Fiction, which will run from 18-28 May on bonhams.com.
Rebecca Anthony, Head of Sale, commented: "We are thrilled to present this new concept sale exploring all things espionage, from the fact to the fiction. Featuring props and gadgets from the James Bond film series to a real Second World War enigma machine, the sale celebrates innovation and imagination. Blurring the lines of fact and fiction, a highlight of the sale is the Scubacraft SC3 prototype from the Bond film Spectre. Far from just a prop, the Scubacraft was a fully engineered prototype vehicle, and still operates today."
Highlights of the sale include:
• A Rare 3-rotor Heimsoeth & Rinke Enigma I Cipher Machine, German, circa 1941. Estimate: £120,000 - 160,000.
This example of the standard three rotor enigma machine was used principally by the army (Wehrmacht) and was their favoured cipher device. British attempts to break the Enigma cipher were fruitless for years. The breakthrough eventually came after the creation of the famous British codebreaking center Bletchley Park in 1937. Using the technology transferred to them from the brilliant Polish codebreaking team in 1939, as well as documents supplied by the French Intelligence from a German spy, Alan Turing, along with Knox, Foss and many others were able to break the Enigma code, shortening the war by an estimated two years, and saving countless lives.
• James Bond: The Original Scubacraft from Q's Workshop in the film Spectre, circa 2015. Estimate: £50,000 - 70,000.
The Scubacraft SC3 is a three-person amphibious diving craft developed as the original prototype of the Scubacraft concept and believed to be the only surviving example of the SC3 prototype in existence. The craft was conceived to operate both as a high-performance surface vessel and as a submersible diving platform.
Conceived and engineered through the late 2000s following several years of design, development and testing, the project resulted in the construction of this full-scale experimental prototype.
From an early stage, the project attracted international attention from both commercial and government sectors, including interest from organisations such as the UK Special Boat Service and the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), alongside coverage in the international diving and marine technology press. Despite significant interest and development activity, only a single SC3 prototype was ultimately constructed.
Today this SC3 prototype is believed to be the only surviving example of the Scubacraft concept, representing a unique experimental marine platform that combines genuine engineering innovation with striking design, which in turn attracted the attention of Eon and James Bond.
In 2015, Robin Harris, Engineering Director on the Scubacraft development program, was contacted by the James Bond production team having encountered an article describing the Scubacraft and recognized its potential. The presence of the craft attracted considerable interest from members of the production crew, many of whom were intrigued by the idea of a vehicle capable of operating both as a high-speed surface craft and as a submersible diving platform. According to the Harris, Daniel Craig himself expressed particular interest in the vehicle, taking time between filming to learn more about its design and capabilities, a level of genuine technological innovation that felt particularly fitting for James Bond himself.
The Scubacraft was on set for the scenes filmed in Q's workshop at Pinewood Studios, where it occupied its own dedicated space within the laboratory environment. Eon Productions also invited Harris to play a supporting role in Spectre as a technician in Q's workshop.
• Two Konski & Kruger cipher rotors in original pine case, German, circa 1938. 10,000-15,000.
Additional rotors IV and V were introduced for Enigma machines in December 1938. This increased the number of combinations for rotor order by 10 times (from 6 to 60), an improvement for cipher security.
• James Bond: Day Of The Dead Parade Mexican Bicycle Float, from the film Spectre, Eon Productions, 2015. Estimate: £6,000-8,000.
The film opens with a spectacular, action-packed sequence centred on Mexico City's Day of the Dead celebration. Oscar-winning production designer, Dennis Gassner, created his own version of the festival which was shot over several days in and around Zócalo Square, Plaza Tolsa and the Centro Historico neighbourhood in March 2015 with over 1,500 extras. Several of these three-wheel bikes festooned with hand-made papier-mâché skeletons, toy guitars, tin and paper decorations added atmosphere to the parade.
• James Bond 'You Only Live Twice': A Production-Made Gyrojet Rifle Prop, 1967. Estimate: £1,500-2,500.
• 'Diamonds are Forever', 1971, British quad poster, linen backed, artwork by Robert E. Mc Ginnis (1926-2025), 30in x 40in (76cm x 102cm). Estimate: £800-1,200.
• Thunderball artwork, 1965, Italian, comprising; an original photo montage artwork, photographs on card, framed; together with corresponding poster for the 1971 re-release, linen backed. Estimate: £1,200-1,800.
This is a unique piece of Bond artwork. There is a Perspex window on the back of the frame showing the original instructions from the Italian printers.
(Press Release)
