ON HER MAJESTY'S SECRET SERVICE, 1969

Details

ON HER MAJESTY'S SECRET SERVICE, 1969
A BRASS WALL PLAQUE ENGRAVED UNIVERSAL EXPORTS (LONDON) LTD -- 7½X17½IN. (19X44.5CM.) MOUNTED ON WOOD -- USED IN THE OPENING SEQUENCE OF THE 1969 UNIVERSAL ARTISTS/EON FILM ON HER MAJESTY'S SECRET SERVICE

Literature

BENSON, RAYMOND THE JAMES BOND BEDSIDE COMPANION, LONDON: BOXTREE, 1988, P.72

Sale room notice

THIS LOT IS FROM THE PROPERTY OF A PRIVATE BRITISH COLLECTOR AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN LISTED AS SUCH IN THE FOREWORD.

CLOSE INSPECTION OF THE SIGN SUGGESTS A SLIGHT DIFFERENCE IN THE FORMATION OF THE LETTER R TO THAT ON THE SIGN SEEN IN THE FILM. WE NOW BELIEVE THAT THIS SIGN WAS MADE FOR THE PRODUCTION AND THAT ANOTHER WAS USED IN THE CLOSE-UP SHOT IN THE FILM.

Lot Essay

IN THE OPENING FRAME OF THE PRE-TITLE SEQUENCE OF ON HER MAJESTY'S SECRET SERVICE, THE SCENE IS SET IN LONDON WHEN THE CAMERA ZOOMS IN ON THE UNIVERSAL EXPORTS PLAQUE WHICH HAS THE IMAGE OF BIG BEN AND LONDON TRAFFIC REFLECTED IN THE GLEAM OF THE BRASS.

UNIVERSAL EXPORTS WAS USED AS THE COVER NAME FOR M'S OPERATION, THE BRITISH SECRET SERVICE. ACCORDING TO RAYMOND BENSON ...'UNIVERSAL EXPORTS' WAS THE STANDING COVER NAME FOR THE BRITISH SECRET SERVICE UNTIL CIRCA 1963. BY THEN ALMOST ALL ENEMY OPERATIVES KNEW ABOUT IT, SO THE NAME [WAS] CHANGED TO 'TRANSWORLD CONSORTIUM' AROUND THE TIME OF 'THE MAN WITH THE GOLDEN GUN'.. [FLEMING'S NOVEL OF THAT NAME, 1965].

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