I wanted to share some thoughts and reactions to this week’s feature in the Los Angeles Times about the “Global Antiques” auctions on eBay. Overall, I am very pleased to see the issue presented to a huge audience, and I think the reporter, Ms. Ryan, did an excellent job of giving voice and perspective to a wide array of principals and relevant third parties. My interest is to look at each of those contributions and responses (or lack thereof) to determine outstanding questions. [Read more…]
Tomorrow’s edition of the Los Angeles Times includes a feature by Harriet Ryan on the Global Antiques props sold on eBay by Auction Depot LA, Auction Shop USA, and Historic Souvenirs. The full story can be read online at latimes.com – “Internet citizen posses investigate some sellers” – also archived below: [Read more…]
Below is the latest updated list of upcoming original prop auction events. Please contact me if you are aware of any coming events of interest to original prop collectors. [Read more…]
The annual Comic-Con International: San Diego is this week, July 24-27, 2008, at the San Diego Convention Center. This is widely viewed as “the” pop culture (comics, film, television, etc.) event of the year. However, with compounded growth year after year, there will be no admission tickets sold on site, and all advance tickets have been sold out. [Read more…]
In late June, Star Wares (starwarescollectibles on eBay, StarWares.com on the web) listed a collection of Star Trek props for sale on eBay – a chair and two LCARS panels – characterized as “original”. There were several concurrent discussions in the original prop, replica prop, and Star Trek prop collecting communities about the cited source of these pieces – Greg Stone. [Read more…]
There is a great article in the latest issue of WIRED magazine (16.08), featuring a roundtable interview of the principals behind the classic 1983 film, WarGames. Participants include John Badham (Director), Walter Parkes (Screenwriter), Lawrence Lasker (Screenwriter), Peter Schwartz (Futurist, Creative Consultant), William Lord (Commander, Air Force Cyberspace Command), David Scott Lewis (Solar-Tech Entrepeneur, Model for David Lightman), John “Captain Crunch” Draper (Early Hacker), Kevin “The Condor” Mitnick (Early Hacker), Eddie Deezen (Actor). [Read more…]
One of the most frequent topics that original prop collectors bring up with me is with regard to fraud on eBay. This is often coupled with expressions of frustration by collectors who have found that they do not understand how to report fraud and violations of eBay policy with eBay directly, when they are not party to any transaction. Though eBay has a number of appropriate policies in place, it is challenging for eBay members to find the appropriate method by which these experts in the field can share material information directly with eBay in an effort to help them to enforce their own policies. [Read more…]
The upcoming Profiles in History “Auction 32” event is set for July 31 & August 1 at the Profiles offices in Calabassas Hills. This sale features a complete Superman costume attributed to use by Christopher Reeve in Superman: The Movie and Superman II. [Read more…]
