A Happy Birthday card from Diana, Princess of Wales, to British actor Terence Stamp, known for his role in the original Superman films, has sold for £9,600 at auction. The card was part of a personal collection of items belonging to the late Academy Award-nominated actor, auctioned by Bonhams.
Details of the Card and Auction
The card, dated July 22 but with no year indicated, features an illustration of a girl sticking out her tongue and singing “Na na na na na” on the front. Inside, Diana wrote: “Terence, you’re a lot older than I am!! A very Happy Birthday from one cancerian to another. Lots of luv, Diana.” The card fetched £9,600, contributing to a total of £240,755 for the entire collection, which included personal correspondence, scripts, costumes, photographs, furniture, and fashion pieces.
Other Highlights from the Collection
The top lot was a bound script and production stills from the 1965 horror film The Collector, in which Stamp starred as the lead, selling for £25,600. A fall-front cabinet made of ivory and bone inlaid rosewood and ebony fetched £19,200. A script for the 1967 film Far From The Madding Crowd, along with a large quantity of stills, sold for £15,360. A grey Prince of Wales check suit worn by Stamp for his role as Sir Larry Wildman in the 1987 film Wall Street sold for £7,040.
Reaction from Bonhams
Claire Tole-Moir, head of popular culture at Bonhams, said: “We are delighted with the results of the sale. Terence Stamp was an extraordinary actor, and his long and varied career gave us so many celebrated performances. From Stepney to Mayfair, Stamp was a defining figure of London in the swinging 60s. He was emblematic of a certain style and charm, and that clearly came through in his wonderful collection.”
Terence Stamp's Career and Life
Born in the East End of London in 1938, Stamp rose to fame in the 1960s after winning a drama school scholarship. He made his film debut in Peter Ustinov’s 1962 adaptation of Herman Melville’s Billy Budd, earning an Oscar nomination for his portrayal of the title character. Known for his stylish clothes, Stamp famously dated actress Julie Christie, whom he performed alongside in Far From The Madding Crowd, and was also in a relationship with model Jean Shrimpton. After missing out on the role of James Bond, he fell out of the limelight for a while, but returned to prominence in 1978 with his most famous role as General Zod in Superman and its 1980 sequel. Stamp was widely praised for his lead in Steven Soderbergh’s 1999 crime drama The Limey. His film career spanned six decades, ending with Wright’s 2021 psychological thriller starring Anya Taylor-Joy. Stamp died on August 18 last year at the age of 87.
