A pair of cufflinks owned by James Bond author Ian Fleming which feature a spy-like secret code have sold at auction for more than £4,000.
In 1962, the Dr No post film screening party was attended by the creator of 007 and he wore the set with cultured pearls.
The backs of the cufflinks are inscribed with the letters ‘WUS’, ‘SIL’, ‘UDH’ and ‘NUF’ – believed to represent a so-far unsolved secret message.
They were set to fetch £800 at auction but sold for £4,400 to an unknown bidder at Mallams auctioneers in Oxford.
Ian Fleming (pictured, left) wore the Dr No post film screening party cultured pearl set in 1962
The backs of the cufflinks are inscribed with the letters ‘WUS’, ‘SIL’, ‘UDH’ and ‘NUF’ – believed to represent a so-far unsolved secret message
They were set to fetch £800 at auction but sold for £4,400 to an unknown bidder at Mallams auctioneers in Oxford
Its listing read: ‘Surely a perfect code-breaking mission for any aspiring spies out there.’
Bond was introduced in the 1952 novel Casino Royale and so captured the public’s imagination.
These circular cufflinks, which come to Mallams by family descent, are sure to prove popular with James Bond enthusiasts and carry an estimate of £800-£1,200.’
According to an article in Literary James Bond Magazine, Fleming devised a plan for capturing a German Enigma codebook through hijacking a Nazi rescue ship during his time in Naval Intelligence Division.
He devised the plan in a memo to Director of Naval Intelligence, September 12, 1940. It involved the crash of a German aircraft into the Channel. This would attract a Nazi recueboat to the scene. Fleming wanted to have on board a book with the key to unlocking Enigma codes.
Fleming’s code-breaking plan, called ‘Operation Ruthless,’ was never implemented due to logistical problems. For example, Fleming’s fake German bomber Fleming intended to crash into Channel would have floated. This placed the Trojan horse crew at risk of being caught before they could take over the German rescue boat.
Fleming was the author of 14 Bond books, which were sold in excess of 100 millions copies all over the globe. His death occurred in 1964.