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A new exhibition has unveiled more than 200 ingenious, and sometimes bonkers spy gadgets used in covert operations across the world.

SPY: The Secret World of Espionage, held in Seattle, is the first-ever public exhibition of treasures from the collections of CIA, KGB and British Secret Service agents.

Ingenious adaptations which 007 and Q would have been proud include a hollowed out tooth used to transport messages, a pigeon mounted camera used to collect aerial images and an extensive set of lock picking tools.

The exhibition, which runs until September at the Pacific Science Centre also contains items from the collection of H. Keith Melton, the author, historian and international authority on spy technology who has acquired more than 10,000 real gadgets and artifacts from spies and spy catchers.

We bring you the best here below:

Mini recorder (1950s)

(Image: Rex)

The saying bigger is better couldn't be further from the truth when it comes to secret recording devices.

Luckily governments were able to listen in to all kinds of secret conversations using this Swiss built mini-recorder.

It was used by both the USA and MI6 for covert recording of meetings making it a perfect tool for the Cold War.

Hollow tooth (1960s)



(Image: Rex)

When spies started to be thoroughly body searched, government boffins were tasked with coming up with an ingenious data smuggling device.

In a 'crowning' achievement, hard bitten spies in post-war East Germany used this type of false tooth.

Instead of secret scrolls it contained microdots and soft film.

Flaps and seals (1970s)

(Image: Rex)

In the days when emails and hacking weren't invented the world ran on what is now known as snail mail.

The basic security method of a thinly glued piece of paper was a flawed one at best though.

Secret service bosses invented “Flaps and seals”, the way you can open mail secretly by steaming open an envelope, separating the glue or using water to break the seal.

Surveillance pipe (1960s)

(Image: Rex)

Every traditional British spy had one - the secret smoking pipe.

Only instead of puffing on tobacco, this hi-tech device was used for recording people's conversations.

Bugging technology was incorporated into this surveillance pipe, used in the 1960s.

Pigeon camera (WWI)

(Image: Rex)

Before modern drones existed, pigeon mounted cameras were first used in World War I to photograph enemy troops and fortifications.

Homing birds fitted with tiny cameras were released over military sites.

As the birds flew, the cameras continuously clicked away, snapping pictures to be developed and interpreted when the pigeons reached their destination.

Set of locking picking tools (World War II)



(Image: Rex)

A full set of of lock-picking tools was devised by the OSS (Office of Strategic Services), America's World War Two spy organisation.

The tiny picks were thought to unlock even the toughest padlocks and door locks requiring only a basic skill set.