Costumes from the classic Christopher Reeve Superman films have long been one of the most “inherently problematic” wardrobe pieces for original prop collectors to acquire. One, the studio that owns the property and produced and distributed the films was Warner Bros. Warner Bros. is known to be very careful of keeping control of its assets and diligent in pursuing key pieces that have entered the collector’s market improperly. Two, there are many accounts from a number of collectors who have purchased Superman costumes marketed as “Original” that they claim are replica costumes.
There is an ongoing topic at the Movie Prop Forum touching on some of these issues titled: “Superman Wardrobe and Super38 Armando“.
Recent High Profile Sales of Original Superman Costumes – ScreenUsed
Extensively authenticated, “Original” Superman costumes are very rare. In the last year or so, there have been two high profile costumes publicly offered to collectors.
One such costume was offered for sale by the professional dealer ScreenUsed (ScreenUsed.com). This costume, archived HERE, was from Superman III. This costume was listed on the site for $80,000.00. This costume is described on the website, in part, as follows:
In the late 70’s, Christopher Reeve became the embodiment of the Man of Steel. Though he had predecessors, his name became synonymous for the Man from Krypton, sent to Metropolis to protect Earth. In 1995, with the tragic announcement of Chris Reeve’s spinal injury from a horse accident, rendering him paralyzed in a wheelchair, fans’ ongoing hope of Mr. Reeve once again donning the suit were shattered. As a result, Superman costumes again soared, now fetching up to six-figure prices in auction. As witnessed in the fine arts world, it did not take long for the forgers to see an opportunity and today, several fake suits, manufactured long after filming – yet copied from the real thing, therefore identical – are known to have ended up in private collections, sold as “originals”. Many of the die-hard collectors are aware of that fact, which naturally makes a purchase choice in today’s market a rather difficult one, especially since hardly any of the suits documented in public sales seemed to be accompanied by any meaningful provenance. In fact, the standard “COA” often reads that the suit was given to “x” person by an employee from the costume department with no direct link that would allow to trace it back to a credible or undisputable source.
This month, on the verge of the oncoming Super-Mania, ScreenUsed is proud to offer to the public a rare original Christopher Reeve Superman bodysuit with his trademark belt, accompanied by an actual Certificate of Authenticity by Warner Bros. Studios. To the best of our knowledge, this is the only original Superman costume ever to be released to the public with full Warner Brothers Archives sanctioning. The studio’s unique DNA encoding system allows for matching the suit with its corresponding COA at any given time, eliminating the risk of the valuable and authenticating paperwork ever being matched up with a replicated body-suit. To adequately display the suit, it was dressed on a custom muscular ‘heroic’ mannequin with custom sculpted Christopher Reeve head (painted in silky white to direct the emphasis towards the suit, not the sculpture) and completed with a replicated set of cape and boots.
As noted in the description, this is the only costume (that I am aware of) that has an official Warner Bros. COA. Also, it was priced at $80,000.00 and it did sell (though I don’t know the details of the actual amount realized), and this costume did not include the original cape nor boots.
Higher Resolution Archive: ScreenUsed Original Superman III Costume Listing
Recent High Profile Sales of Original Superman Costumes – Profiles in History
Another costume sold at the Profiles in History Hollywood Auction 27 on April 5, 2007. This costume was attributed to use in Superman: The Movie (the first and original Reeve film released in 1978). It sold to a collector for $100,000.00 (plus Buyer’s Premium, bringing the total to approximately $120,000.00).
Higher Resolution Archive: Profiles in History Hollywood Auction 27: Original Superman Costume Lot 537
Provenance for this piece was outlined as follows:
This costume was originally acquired by a sub-contractor who worked as a set decorator and a special effects flying/rigging technician on the first two Superman films at Pinewood studios in London. Its ownership was later transferred to a make-up artist in Nashville, TN, whose letter of provenance will accompany this fantastic costume.
Superman Costume on eBay Today – Costume Junkie
There is a new eBay auction listing as of today:
Christopher Reeves SUPERMAN III authentic costume (eBay Item #140199822634):
Higher Resolution Archive: costumejunkie eBay Listing – “Christopher Reeves SUPERMAN III authentic costume”
This costume is offered by eBay seller costumejunkie (also operates www.costumejunkie.com).
The item is listed in the eBay category “Entertainment Memorabilia > Movie Memorabilia > Props > Other“, which is odd, in that it is marketed as “authentic” (i.e. “Original”), yet is not in the “Wardrobe > Original” nor “Props > Original” category, and is being offered by a prop dealer.
This is also a “Private Auction”, which means that observers cannot determine the identity/validity of bidders or winner.
Of particular interest is the Starting Bid ($3,000.00) and Buy It Now Price ($5,499.99). Note that the two examples of sales of similar style authentic costumes last year were offered at $80,000.00 and the other sold at upwards of $120,000.00 (including premium).
Would a piece of important memorabilia that has realized such prices in the last year be offered for sale at a fraction of the value, if authentic?
Also important to note is the provenance of this piece:
“The costume will come with a COA from Superhollywood.”
As an aside, please note that the eBay seller, costumejunkie, is a member of both the Movie Prop Association and the United Movie Collectors Guild (see OPB articles, “Original Prop Marketplace Oversight“, “The “Production Protection Program” & The United Movie Collectors Guild“):
High Resolution Archive: costumejunkie – Movie Prop Association & United Movie Collectors Guild Statement
Who is “Super Hollywood”?
The COA included with the current costumejunkie eBay listing for the authentic Superman III costume described above is from “Superhollywood”, who sells on eBay under the username, “super38“.
High Resolution Archive: Super Hollywood eBay ME Page
Recent Superman Costume and Wardrobe Offerings from Super Hollywood – Superman III ‘Dirty’ Tunic
As a matter of fact, Super Hollywood/super38 has another “authentic and original” Superman costume on eBay today as well:
Superman III ‘Dirty’ tunic Reeve costume w trunks (eBay Item #260201325452)
High Resolution Archive: super38 eBay Listing – “Superman III ‘Dirty’ tunic Reeve costume w trunks”
Interestingly, this Superman III costume has the same relatively fractional Buy It Now pricing as the costumejunkie auction ($5,000.00 and $5,499.00 respectively) compared with the ScreenUsed (offered at $80,000.000) and Profiles in History (sold for approximately $120,000.00 with premium) costumes that sold last year.
In fact, this same “Dirty” Superman III costume was previously offered with a starting price as low as $1,800.00:
Superman III ‘Dirty’ tunic Reeve costume w trunks (eBay Item #260196298104)
High Resolution Archive: super38 eBay Listing – “Superman III ‘Dirty’ tunic Reeve costume w trunks”
And, as discussed in the Movie Prop Forum topic noted at the start of this article – “Superman Wardrobe and Super38 Armando” – similar such auctions, and the sheer quantity of costumes and related wardrobe material offered publicly in the marketplace raises a lot of questions and concerns with collectors.
If one reads the topic on the Movie Prop Forum, you will see I have been cataloging and archiving these Super Hollywood public offerings of late, as well as past and current auctions including COAs and paperwork originating with Super Hollywood.
Where did all of these “authentic and original” costumes and wardrobe pieces come from, and why are they offered for sums at a fraction of the true market value?
Recent Superman Costume and Wardrobe Offerings from Super Hollywood – Krypton Baby Blanket
This piece offered by super38/Super Hollywood was marketed as an original Krypton blanket from Superman: The Movie. Interestingly, it was listed and relisted several times on eBay, then sold on 12/13/07:
Superman Krypton Baby blanket Reeve costume (eBay Item #260190951231)
High Resolution Archive: super38 eBay Listing – “Superman Krypton Baby blanket Reeve costume Berman Tag”
The next day, 12/14/07, an item with the same description and photo was listed on eBay (though this one noted “with Berman and Nathan tag”):
Superman Krypton Baby blanket Reeve costume Berman Tag (eBay Item #260194069469)
High Resolution Archive: super38 eBay Listing – “Superman Krypton blanket Reeve costume Berman Tag
This pattern of an item being sold at auction, then an item listed immediately thereafter with the same photo(s) and description was not unique to the Krypton Baby blanket.
Recent Superman Costume and Wardrobe Offerings from Super Hollywood – Helen Slater Supergirl Costume
On 07/21/07, a super38 listing for an “authentic” and “original” Helen Slater costume from Supergirl sold for $2,325.00:
Helen Slater Supergirl original costume Superman (eBay Item #250142024393)
Higher Resolution Archive: super38 eBay Listing – “Helen Slater Supergirl original costume Superman” 07/21/07
On 07/21/07 – the same day – super38 posted a new eBay listing with the same description and photos, and this piece sold on 07/22/07 for the Buy It Now price of $1,555.00:
Helen Slater Supergirl original costume Superman (eBay Item #250145909839)
Higher Resolution Archive: super38 eBay Listing – “Helen Slater Supergirl original costume Superman” 07/22/07
These two sales are supported by the fact that both buyers left eBay feedback for super38, and super38 subsequently left feedback for both buyers:
Higher Resolution Archive: super38 eBay Supergirl Transactional Feedback
Also note that the costumejunkie.com website has had the following “COMING !!!!” promotion for at least two months, announcing both a Superman costume (the same one currently listed on eBay? from the same source?) as well as a Supergirl costume:
Recent Superman Costume and Wardrobe Offerings from Super Hollywood – Superman Tunic
This is another recent auction for a partial Superman costume, sold by super38 on eBay on 12/07/07 for a Buy It Now price of $3,990.00:
Superman tunic and trunks Reeve costume Original cape (eBay Item #260189285963)
Higher Resolution Archive: super38 eBay Listing – “Superman tunic and trunks Reeve costume Original cape” 12/07/07
Also of note is this comment in the marketing section of the eBay listing:
The price in the eBay listing remains $3,990.00, though the buyer has left eBay transaction feedback for super38.
Recent Superman Costume and Wardrobe Offerings from Super Hollywood – Various Superman Property Wardrobe Offerings
In addition to full and partial Superman costumes, super38 has listed a number of other pieces and partial pieces, marketed as “authentic” and “original”, which have also been archived.
These include:
- Jor-El “S” Emblem
- Superman Red Boots
- Full Jor-El Costume
- Superman Back of Cape, “S” Emblem
- Jor-El Unfinished Collar, “S” Emblem
AmericanMemorabilia.com Superman Costume Auctions and the Super Hollywood COA
I have spoken with collectors who have had transactions with Super Hollywood many, many years ago, before eBay (with advertisements in the Toy Shop periodical in the U.S.), who recall offerings of Superman, Supergirl, Superboy, and Greatest American Hero costumes.
In any event, one historical source that has archived their sales of Superman costumes is American Memorabilia. This auction service has offered and sold three Superman costumes, marketed as “screen worn” and “authentic”, with Super Hollywood cited as authenticator on two of the three and some mentioning and/or including Letters of Authenticity from Super Hollywood.
AmericanMemorabilia.com – 1978 “Superman” Christopher Reeve Screen Worn Costume – Sold in 2004
American Memorabilia
Lot 36: 1978 “Superman” Christopher Reeve Screen Worn Costume
Bids: 4
High Bid: $8,858
Auction Closed: 12/09/2004
Higher Resolution Archive: American Memorabilia Superman Costume 2004
AmericanMemorabilia.com – 1978 Superman Flying Costume Worn by Christopher Reeve – Sold in 2005
American Memorabilia
Lot 87: Superman Flying Costume Worn by Christopher Reeve
Bids: 8
High Bid: $3,897
Auction Closed: 06/23/2005
Higher Resolution Archive: American Memorabilia Superman Costume 2005
AmericanMemorabilia.com – 1978 Superman Costume Worn by Christopher Reeves in Superman Movies – Sold in 2007
American Memorabilia
Lot 65: Superman Costume Worn by Christopher Reeves in Superman Movies w/LOA
Bids: 15
High Bid: $3,421
Auction Closed: 07/19/2007
Higher Resolution Archive: American Memorabilia Superman Costume 2007
Super Hollywood Letter of Authenticity
The 2005 American Memorabilia auction listed above includes a scan of the Letter of Authenticity from Super Hollywood:
This letter reads as follows:
June 26, 2000
To Whom It May Concern:
This Chris Reeve costume is an authentic Superman costume created for Mr. Christopher Reeve for the Superman movies of the late 1970’s and early 1980’s. It is one of many created for the Superman movies. Superman was produced by Ilya and Alexander Salkind. The Movie Superman spawned various sequels. It was obtained from the head costumer who worked for the Salkinds and given to me as a gift. The above is true and correct.
Sincerely,
Armando Alvarez
President
Super Hollywood
_________________
Questions About Superman Costumes In The Marketplace
- How can sources/dealers for these costumes account for so many in the marketplace?
- Why are some sellers content to sell such important artifacts for $2,000 to $6,000, when prices have been realized anywhere from $60,000 to $120,000 or more?
- Why are there so many reports of recently manufactured “replica” costumes in the marketplace? What is the source of these costumes? Why do some feel that they are inconclusive or inauthentic in regards to provenance?
- Why would the head costumer from the films “gift” such valuable pieces to someone?
- If these Superman costumes marketed as “authentic” and “original” are legitimate, why do the $5,000 offerings go unsold, yet the same style pieces have sold for $60,000-$120,000 or more through venues such as ScreenUsed, Profiles in History, and other auction houses?
- What oversight do these original prop organizations (the Movie Prop Association, the United Movie Collectors Guild) provide over these pieces offered by their members?
- What is the Warner Bros. position on and viewpoint of both authentic and inauthentic Superman costumes trading in the public marketplace?
If anyone has first hand experience in purchasing authentic, inconclusive, or inauthentic Superman or related costume(s), I would be interested in learning any details you would like to share.
Jason De Bord
Additional Related Articles: Market Watch | Superman