Movie Prop Collecting with Jason DeBord's Original Prop Blog Film & TV Prop, Costume, Hollywood Memorablia Pop Culture Resource

Archives for November 2012

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New York Daily News Update on Mastro Auctions Scandal: Bill Mastro To Plead Guilty To Fraud, Altering Memorabilia

As the latest significant update to this ongoing high profile memorabilia auction house fraud scandal, the lead journalists covering the story for the New York Daily News today reports that William Mastro of Mastro Auctions will be changing his plea to guilty on one fraud count, and will admit that he “altered the world’s most valuable trading card, a Honus Wagner T206 that has fetched millions of dollars in a series of high-profile transactions”.  It’s last sale was to Ken Kendrick, the owner of the Arizona Diamondbacks, who paid $2.8 million for the baseball card.  Mastro originally purchased the card for $25,000. [Read more…]

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Opinion/Editorial: Free Advice for Premiere Props – Seven Tips To Improve Live Auction Business

Premiere Props has been around since 2001…  about a year longer than I have been collecting.  So they’ve been a fixture in the hobby for my collecting “lifetime”.  In fact, one of the first original props I ever purchased I bought from Premiere Props on eBay (one of The Shoveler’s shovels from Mystery Men).  While they have demonstrated longevity, I’m actually kind of surprised at how little they have evolved over the years.  Today I find myself inspired to offer some third party tips, in the form of free advice, that would make a positive impact on their business and standing in this art market.  My intention is not to be snarky, but underline some issues that have been painfully obvious over the years (to me anyway).  Seven simple changes could vastly improve the company (it was originally going to be three, but as I started writing this, it grew; still, it is not intended to be comprehensive).  The following is my list, based on my personal observations and opinions. [Read more…]

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Gilt Groupe Offers Sale of Authentic Memorabilia from Ang Lee’s ‘Life of Pi’; Proceeds Benefit the Orangutan Foundation International

The Gilt Group has again opened a unique sale of original props for charity, this time offering material from Ang Lee’s Life of Pi, which opens in theaters in the United States tomorrow.  Per the website retailer, “Lee is donating the proceeds from the props to Orangutan Foundation International (orangutan.org), after having an inspiring experience when he visited the facility while doing research for the movie”.  Of the pieces offered is the lifeboat which represents an important part of the film. [Read more…]

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“Sound Off For Autism Speaks” Offers Custom Celebrity Voice Message Recordings for Charity

Sound Off For Autism Speaks is a new campaign launching December 3rd in which a limited number of celebrity voice recordings will be sold to benefit the charitable organization, Autism Speaks.  Fans who buy one of the 50 messages made available per celebrity, for a $299 donation, will be able to provide the celebrity with their own custom message to record.  Celebrities include William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, Patrick Stewart, Tom Hanks, Carrie Fisher, Morgan Freeman, Will Ferrell, Ed Asner, Betty White, and Derek Jeter. [Read more…]

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Profiles in History ‘Hollywood Auction 53′ TV & Movie Prop Catalog Available Online for Sale Event December 15th

Profiles in History’s Winter auction catalog, “Drama, Action, Romance: Hollywood Auction 53” is now available in print as well as online, via their official site. This sale is scheduled for December 15th at their Calabasas Hills facility. [Read more…]

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Heritage Auction Galleries ‘Entertainment & Music Memorabilia Signature Auction’ Catalog Online, Dallas Event December 14th

The Heritage Auction Galleries has published on their latest online catalog and listings for their upcoming event, “Entertainment & Music Memorabilia Signature Auction – Dallas #7064”, to be held December 14th at their Dallas, Texas location. [Read more…]

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Premiere Props ‘Hollywood Auction Extravaganza VIII’ Catalog Online, Television & Movie Prop and Costume Sale Event December 8th & 9th

The online catalog for the Premiere Props “Hollywood Auction Extravaganza VIII”, scheduled for December 8-9, is now listed via online bidding partners iCollector and LiveAuctioneers. The auction purports to include over 1,000 lots from various film and television productions, though as of this writing, only ten items are listed.  If past auctions are any indication, the sale will likely include are a substantial number of replica props and general memorabilia. [Read more…]

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Honda Motorcycle Movie Prop Used in “James Bond: Skyfall” in Charity Auction

Honda UK has donated to charity auction the modified Honda CRF250R motorcycle used by Daniel Craig as James Bond in the newest film in the 007 franchise.  The motorcycle was used in the opening chase sequence in the movie, and proceeds well benefit BBC Children as part of a larger fundraising auction event on eBay. [Read more…]