Bid on King Kong model and more at Christie's auction tomorrow

The armature was used during the legendary climax of King Kong, enabling the giant ape to seemingly climb to the top of the Empire State Building. And if the iconic status of the movie or the steep price tag weren’t enough to convince you of its worth, the Christie’s press release drives the point.

It reads: “Accounts vary as to how many armatures were made for the film’s leading character Kong… It is believed that two 18-inch models were used largely for the filming of the Skull Island sequences, however when it came
to the dramatic New York City scenes Cooper [Merian C., the visionary documentary maker who dreamt up the plot] demanded more impact and so a larger 22-inch armature was created to impose itself upon the city sky line.”

“Only one armature of this size is believed to have been made to meet the dramatic demands of the film’s climax, rendering this relic arguably one of the most exceptional historic artifacts of the 1933 production, and it is this artifact Christie’s South Kensington is proud to present for sale on 24 November 2009.”

Like his grand unveiling in New York, Kong is most definitely the centrepiece of the auction, but there are a number of other treasures to be found. There is a whole glut of retro Bond posters (we especially like the yellow Dr No one with an estimated price tag of £2,000 to £3,000), a Rebecca one for £3,000 to £5,000 and an unusual Breakfast at Tiffany’s landscape that’s hoping for bids between £1,500 and £2,500.

The entire catalogue is available to view at the Christie’s site here, so if you’re feeling in the mood to splash the cash before Christmas, head to the South Kensington branch of Christie’s for 12pm tomorrow or log onto their online bidding page and get ready to do some damage to your bank balance.