LONDON, EGLAND.- An exciting collection of drawings and design concepts from the popular Gerry Anderson TV series - Thunderbirds, produced by Derek Meddings, the special effects supervisor of the series during the 1960’s will be sold in a sale of Rock n Roll & Film Memorabilia at Bonhams in Knightsbridge on Wednesday 22 November 2006. Meddings was highly revered in the entertainment industry and was nominated for several Oscars for his work, he also worked on Captain Scarlet, Joe 90, Stingray James Bond, Batman and Superman.

Meddings worked with Anderson on his first puppet series – the Battery Boy, produced in 1957. He worked with Anderson for the next six years on other supermarionation series before being promoted to special-effects supervisor on Thunderbirds in 1964. Meddings was behind the design of the dynamic Thunderbird crafts and lady Penelope’s shocking pink six wheeled Rolls-Royce, FAB1.

Stephanie Connell in the Rock n Roll & Film Department at Bonhams says “ We are delighted to be selling such an important collection of TV memorabilia. Rarely can one have an insight into the designs of such an iconic series.”

Highlights in this collection include: An original design concept drawing for Thunderbird 2 from 1965-6 produced in ink drawing which details the original colour, engine configuration and shape of the vehicle, signed by Derek Meddings. Estimated at £6,000-8,000

An original concept painting of Thunderbird 3 from 1965-6 Produced with original titling of Rescue 3 on the rocket fuselage, being heightened with white gouache on paper, mounted on black art board, signed by Derek Meddings. Estimated at £7,000-10,000

An original design concept for the for the SPV from Captain Scarlet, 1967, the pencil drawing inscribed "Design for Spectrum Pursuit Vehicle" signed by Derek Meddings, the design is for the most important vehicle in the Gerry Anderson TV series of Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons. Estimated at £6,000-8,000

An original design drawings of Joe 90's special land, sea and air car,Joe 90, 1968, the two pencil and charcoal drawings mounted side by side on art board, both inscribed "Design for Joe 90" and signed by Derek Meddings. 9 x 20 inches £7,000-10,000

Also in the sale is an original drawings by Meddings of the Batplane from the first of Tim Burton’s ‘caped crusader’ film and the designs of the Cox Gun used in the 1977 Bond film, The Spy Who Loved Me.

Captain Scarlet head and shoulders sculpted and painted modelling plaster will also be sold. A letter of authenticity signed by Gerry Anderson stating, "This head was "work" in progress and was not used in any of the episodes we are making. It is therefore totally unique and will remain that way as we will not allow anyone else to have a copy". This lot is estimated at £18,000-24,000.

A portrait of Mick Jagger by Cecil Beaton (1904-1980) produced in oil on canvas is estimated to fetch £10,000-15,000. Titled ‘The Singer,’ the portrait was purchased directly from the artist by the Le gallery, it is recorded as sold on 9th February 1966.

Beaton's friendship and fascination with Jagger is well documented. Bill Wyman, in 'Rolling With The Stones' (Dorling Kindersley Ltd., 2002), recounts that in March 1967, Brian, Keith, Mick and their entourage were staying at the Hotel Es Saadi in Marrakesh and there, met Beaton. He photographed Mick and Keith and said of Mick, '...He is sexy, yet completely sexless. He could nearly be a eunuch. As a model he is a natural...'

A hat worn by John Lennon for the last official Beatles photo shoot in 1969 made in black felt and six metal discs with an arrow and dot motif is estimated at £8,000-10,000.

The statement confirms that this hat was borrowed by John from Mal Evans and was worn on various occasions, including the photo-shoot and sequences for the later 'Imagine' film. Mal's widow, Lily added the purple band which is seen in numerous photographs from the period. This is now missing but the outer band still bears the pinholes where it was attached.

The last official photo shoot for the Beatles took place at Tittenhurst Park on Friday 22nd August 1969, two days after their final recording session. Photographers present were Ethan Russell, Monty Fresco (from the Daily Mail) and Mal Evans. Several of Ethan Russell's pictures were later used for the cover of the compilation album 'Hey Jude', issued in early 1970. The shoot is described in detail in 'The Beatles London', Piet Schreuders, Mark Lewisohn, Adam Smith, Publ. Hamlyn, 1994, pps.100-102.

Unpublished photographs of the Beatles, taken during filming for the BBC TV documentary, 'The Mersey Sound', during August 1963. The black and white photographs were taken on 27th August, at the Little Theatre, Southport, where the group performed several songs without an audience. The colour pictures were taken on and around the Mersey ferry on 29th August. These images were shot by the assistant sound recordist on the production, the negatives no longer exist. Comprising seven colour prints (9cm, 3½in square) and thirty black and white prints, to be sold with copyright, the photographs are estimated at £2,000-3,000.

Also in the sale is a mink coat given to Richard Burton by Elizabeth Taylor (£5,000-8,000).

The coat is double-breasted with crimson lining. It will be sold with a photocopy of a Daily Mirror newspaper article, 25th November 1968, recording the gift to Burton.

A collection of approximately two-thousand stills and transparencies relating to Marylin Monroe and James Dean will also be sold (£1,500-2,000). The selection of stills spanning both stars careers including candid and publicity stills together with scenes from their films. The pantaloons worn by Marilyn Monroe in the film, River of No Return also features. Made of cream cotton, laceworks to the legs, a drawstring waist and four popper fastening, the pantaloons are estimated at £2,000-3,000. A letter of provenance accompanies this lot. They were a gift to the vendor, June Hudson, from costumier Monty Berman in the 1960s. June Hudson is a costume designer whose credits include the BBC TV series 'Till Death Us Do Part', 'Blake's 7' and 'Dr. Who'.

A large, signed photographic portrait of Madonna autographed in gold pen is estimated at £1,000-2,000. Donated by Madonna to raise money for Jack Brown, a child suffering from a very rare form of cancer – info on:www.jackbrownappeal.org.

A Spiderman vinyl 'teaser' promotional banner, portraying an image of the World Trade Centre, 'Twin Towers' also features (£450-500). The Spiderman movie ran a teaser campaign in the Summer of 2001 showing the image of the World Trade Centre Twin Towers reflected in Spiderman's eye. This particular campaign ran into trouble when Sony had not acquired permission to use the image of the Chrysler Building which is copyrighted. After the World Trade Centre disaster on September 11th 2001, as a mark of respect Sony immediately removed this promotional campaign. Therefore, very few of these banners, which were to promote the movie in larger cinemas were used.