Auction Houses and Dealers

November 7, 2014 By Jason DeBord

Profiles in History’s “Easy Rider” Movie Prop Captain America Motorcycle at Auction: Sold for $1.35 Million… or Not Sold?

There was a tremendous amount of pre-auction mainstream media coverage about the motorcycle put on the auction block by Profiles in History last month, a lot of it generated from an AP story picked up by many news outlets that was titled “‘Easy Rider’ chopper at auction might be phony” (as of this time, that keyword search is resulting in 22,500 hits on Google). The day of the auction, and for a few days following, the most used headline was a variation on proclamations that it sold for $1.35 million. But, as a matter of public record, did it really sell? And if not, why has no media outlet (to my knowledge) reported on the sale falling through? [Read more…]

November 6, 2014 By Jason DeBord

Bonhams ‘Turner Classic Movies (TCM) Presents… There’s No Place Like Hollywood’ Auction to be Held in New York on November 25th

Later this month, Bonhams will be holding their follow-up to last years, “What Dreams Are Made Of: A Century of Movie Magic at Auction as Curated by Turner Classic Movies”. On November 24th, again in conjunction with Turner Classic Movies, they will host the “TCM Presents… There’s No Place Like Hollywood” live auction New York (and simulcast in Los Angeles) on November 25th. TCM will “make a contribution to support The Film Foundation, an organization dedicated to protecting and preserving motion picture history”. [Read more…]

October 23, 2014 By Jason DeBord

Review of First Prop Store Live Auction and Profiles in History’s Hollywood Auction 65, 67, 68, The Expendables

The past week has been a significant one for the original television and movie prop, wardrobe, and asset art market, with two of the biggest dealers in the business having their own live auction events. This marked the first big live auction for Prop Store, which held it’s “Auction of Film & Television Artefacts” on the 16th, and Profiles in History had a multi-day event for their “Hollywood Auction 65” and their Expendables Auction (“Hollywood Auction 67 & 68” – yes, the naming/numbering is confusing… see prior article). With over 2,600 lots offered for sale collectively, it provides an opportunity for some analysis of each sale on its own merits as well as comparing and contrasting the different companies and their approach with the marketplace. [Read more…]

October 23, 2014 By Jason DeBord

Trying to Make Sense of Profiles in History’s “Hollywood Auction” Event Naming/Numbering Conventions

Maybe most don’t pay enough attention to notice or care, but I’ve had an increasingly challenging time trying to make sense of the numbering convention employed by Profiles in History in naming their auction events. It reminds me a little bit of Microsoft and how they name their gaming consoles (Xbox to Xbox 360 to Xbox One) or even their PC operating systems (Windows 95 to 98 to ME to 2000 to XP to Vista to 7 to 8 to 10)…. In the early days, it was pretty straight forward with Profiles, with their “Collector’s Ransom” (and later, “Hollywood Auction”) events going from 1 to 2 to 3, etc. At some point, they started folding in non-Hollywood auctions (Animation, Historical Documents, Rare Books and Manuscripts) and special one off events into the same numbering sequence… In any event, I’ve taken the time to try to make sense of it for my own records, and I thought I would share the results below in the event it would be helpful to others, or for others to suggest corrections… [Read more…]

October 21, 2014 By Jason DeBord

Premiere Props ‘Fangoria Horror Movie Prop Live Auction’ Catalog Online, Television & Movie Prop and Costume Sale Event October 25th

The catalog is now online for the Premiere Props “Fangoria Annual Horror Movie Prop Live Auction”, scheduled for October 25th. The sale promises “over 500 lots” are now listed with online bidding partners iCollector, LiveAuctioneers, and Invaluable.

[Read more…]

October 14, 2014 By Jason DeBord

ScreenUsed’s Movie Prop, Costume, and Memorabilia Online Auction to be Held on November 8th, Catalog Available Online

ScreenUsed will be concluding their next live online auction on November 8th. The auction catalog is now available online via a PDF download via their official website and collectors can bid on iCollector. Featuring an assortment of original props, costumes, and other production material and memorabilia from film and television, this auction includes 475 lots. Highlights include an Imperial Stormtrooper blaster from Star Wars: A New Hope, and a variety of costumes from Breaking Bad, Hunger Games, and the Star Trek franchise. Per their tradition and unique to their events, ScreenUsed have lower starting prices than many competing auctions and no reserves. [Read more…]

October 2, 2014 By Jason DeBord

Prop Store Produces Quality Videos Showcasing Material from Their Upcoming “Live Auction of Film & Television Artefacts” on October 16th

In support of their upcoming live auction event, Prop Store has produced a number of high quality videos showcasing some of the props, costumes, vehicles, and other production items that comprise their “Live Auction of Film & Television Artefacts” sale, which will conclude on October 16th. I’ve often lamented the poor quality photos used by some of the auction houses in their respective auctions for television and movie memorabilia, so I thought the fact that Prop Store has gone to the other extreme – with extensive high definition videos – that it warranted a mention herein, as it is a positive step forward for this particular art market. [Read more…]

September 25, 2014 By Jason DeBord

Profiles in History ‘The Expendables Auction” (+ More “Hollywood Auction 65”) Movie Prop Catalog Available Online for Sale Event October 20

Profiles in History’s catalog for “The Expendables Auction”, which follows their “Hollywood Auction 65”, is now available in print as well as online, via their official site. This sale is scheduled for 20th at their Calabasas Hills facility. Interestingly, though it is “The Expendables Auction”, lots 1 – 165 are from Expendables 3, and 166 -252 are from other films. The Catalog then transitions back into “Hollywood Auction 68”, with lots 253 – 440 from the Narnia franchise… so 37% of “The Expendables Auction” is material related to The Expendables, though the name of the auction and cover of the catalog would lead one to believe it is entirely dedicated to The Expendables. [Read more…]

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