As per tradition, (see 2007 Year in Review, 2008 Year in Review, 2009 Year in Review, 2010 Year in Review, 2011 Year in Review, 2012 Year in Review, 2013 Year in Review, 2014 Year in Review, 2015 Year in Review, 2016 Year in Review), what follows is an editorial featuring my personal observations and opinions with regards to the business of buying, collecting, selling, and preserving original pop culture artifacts used in film and television productions. A look back at interesting trends, developments, and news stories from 2017. As is always the case, this is a completely subjective exercise, and merely touches on the developments and events that relate to the hobby and art market. [Read more…]
KTNV13 Call For Action “Digging Into The Murky World of Memorabilia” Video Report
KTNV13 Call For Action broadcast this report on autographed and collectible memorabilia on their local ABC affiliate station in Las Vegas, and has also made the video available on their official website. The story discusses autographs and collector Steve Comolli’s purchases of memorabilia from Antiquities International in the Forum Shops at Caesars Palace. The report claims he purchased $20,000 worth of autographed memorabilia – “most” of it from Antiquities – and then tried to sell through Julien’s Auctions and Heritage Auction Galleries and that they “could not authenticate” what he wanted to sell through them. [Read more…]
The 10th Annual Original Prop Blog “Year in Review” for 2016: News, Developments, and Trends in Collecting Original TV & Movie Props, Costumes and Pop Culture Memorabilia
As per tradition, (see 2007 Year in Review, 2008 Year in Review, 2009 Year in Review, 2010 Year in Review, 2011 Year in Review, 2012 Year in Review, 2013 Year in Review, 2014 Year in Review, 2015 Year in Review), what follows is an editorial featuring my personal observations and opinions with regards to the business of buying, collecting, selling, and preserving original pop culture artifacts. A look back at interesting trends, developments, and news stories from 2016. As is always the case, this is a completely subjective exercise, and merely touches on the developments and events that relate to the hobby. [Read more…]
Profiles in History “Peer Review” on George Reeves Superman Cape; More on 12/29/75 Western Costume Letters
As noted in recent articles (see Profiles in History Pledges More Transparency; Open Q&A On Website Regarding Provenance, Authenticity, Other Questions and Profiles in History Pledges More Transparency: Update & Response to “What We Are Currently Working On”), Profiles in History’s General Manager, Fong Sam, has written about embracing what they call “the concept of auctions as peer review” with regards to “verifying provenance” of material listed for public sale in their auction catalogs on his haxbee.com site. With their upcoming sale, The Dreier Collection, Part 1, a few principals in our art market have raised questions with me privately with regards to one of the items listed for auction, Lot 106 GEORGE REEVES “SUPERMAN” CAPE FROM THE ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN. Since the suggested resource on the Profiles in History website has yet to be created, I thought I would publish those questions raised with me in this article as part of the public “peer review” process with Profiles in History. [Read more…]
More Examples of ‘Western Costume’ Letters of Authentication Dated 12/29/75 for George Reeves Superman TV Series Wardrobe Pieces
Last week, an Original Prop Blog article revisited a 2008 feature (see …Questions, Observations) which archived marketing collateral regarding a George Reeves Superman wardrobe piece with a Western Costume Company letter. The new article (see Signature Comparison…) compared the letter and signature to a similar letter attached to a Superman cape offered for public sale on eBay . I’ve since received photos of three additional Western Costume letters bearing the signature of Robert Niewoehner with the same date: December 29, 1975.
Signature Comparison: ‘Western Costume’ Letters of Authentication for George Reeves Superman TV Series Capes Dated 12/29/75
In 2008, an article was published on the Original Prop Blog with regards to certain props and costumes consigned to a Signature House auction (see Signature House Entertainment Memorabilia Auctions – Questions, Observations). Included were questions raised about the remarkable coincidence of two letters of authentication included with two different capes (attributed to use by George Reeves in the Superman television series produced in the 1950s) from two different dealers; both letters shared the same date: December 29, 1975. A third such letter – with the same date – has now been introduced into the marketplace. This third example bears a signature that appears to differ from the example featured in the 2008 article. [Read more…]
Superman Costume Market Watch & Analysis: More On Antiquities of Las Vegas, Super Hollywood, Ana Mugia, MGM Studios
This article continues coverage of Superman costumes and costume components offered for sale publicly in the marketplace attributed to use in the Superman films of the 70s-80s starring Christopher Reeve and characterized as “original” and “authentic”. [Read more…]
Superman Costumes in the Marketplace: January 2009, Part 2
This article continues coverage of Superman costumes and costume components offered for sale publicly in the marketplace attributed to use in the Superman films of the 70s-80s starring Christopher Reeve and characterized as “original” and “authentic”.