Local mainstream media outlets in Youngstown, Ohio are reporting on “what investigators say is the biggest case of domestic fraud in the history of the online auction site eBay“. Of course, sports memorabilia is the fraud that was targeted, not entertainment memorabilia… the story by WFMJ states that the “alleged enterprise involving phony autographs on sports memorabilia… cheated 25,000 people out of more than $2-million dollars”. Hopefully, someday, law enforcement will investigate the long term eBay dealers that have been selling common antiques like plates and telephones and ashtrays attributed to classic television shows and movies (which, like the fake sports memorabilia with forged autographs, include worthless COAs from companies with the worst reputations in this art market). [Read more…]
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…]
‘Raiders of the Lost Ark’ Movie Prop Fertility Idols In The Marketplace Update 2014
This is an update to the 2013 version of this same article. As with that 2013 feature, this one is prompted by another Bonhams auction offering for a fertility idol attributed to use in Raiders of the Lost Ark , this one referencing back to one of their older auctions in 2005. Due to public interest in discussing iconic props from the Indiana Jones films, and confusion in the marketplace with regards to the provenance and authentication of such pieces, I thought it appropriate to update my ongoing series of articles on the topic with the new information and photos (see: Raiders of the Lost Ark Fertility Idols In The Marketplace). [Read more…]
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.
Premiere Props ‘Hollywood VIP Auction III’ Auction Catalog Online, Television & Movie Prop and Costume Sale Event August 23
Premiere Props have listed their next auction with online bidding partners iCollector, Invaluable (formerly ArtFact), and proxibid (replacing LiveAuctioneers) as part of their “Hollywood VIP Auction III”. The two-day auction is scheduled for August 23rd. As with past auctions, the sale includes a mix of original props, costumes, and other film and television artifacts, as well as general Hollywood Memorabilia, all in no order or rhyme or reason apparent as to sequence or grouping. “Movie Props DNA (MPDNA)”, which seems to come and go with these sale events, is no where to be found in the lot descriptions this time around save for two lots (Lot #183 and Lot #224) out of more than 500. [Read more…]
Premiere Props ‘Hollywood Extravaganza XIV’ Auction Catalog Online, Television & Movie Prop and Costume Sale Event June 21-22
Premiere Props have listed their next auction with online bidding partners iCollector, LiveAuctioneers, and Invaluable (formerly ArtFact) as part of their “Hollywood Extravaganza XIV”. The two-day auction is scheduled for June 21-22. As per usual, with less than a month before the sale, presumably a fraction of the full list of items have been put online as part of these auction catalogs. As with past auctions, the sale includes a mix of original props, costumes, and other film and television artifacts, as well as general Hollywood Memorabilia. “Movie Props DNA (MPDNA)”, which appeared absent in recent sales, is back and noted within some of the lot descriptions. [Read more…]
Premiere Props ‘Hollywood Extravaganza XIII’ Auction Catalog Online, Television & Movie Prop and Costume Sale Event March 22-23
Premiere Props have listed their next auction with online bidding partners iCollector, LiveAuctioneers, and Invaluable (formerly ArtFact) as part of their “Hollywood Extravaganza XIII”. The two-day auction is scheduled for this weekend, March 22-23. The sale advertises over 1,000 lots (which includes a lot of autographed, posters, baseballs, and other memorabilia). As with past auctions, the sale includes a mix of original props, costumes, and other film and television artifacts, as well as general Hollywood Memorabilia. There are many vintage off the shelf antiques attributed to film and television productions with no explanation as to how and why such claims are made (like an ice cream scooper attributed to Back to the Future, a starfish from Jaws 2, or a Happy Days wooden box). Can someone produce a screencap of this helmet used in Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers? [Read more…]
Premiere Props ‘Hollywood VIP Auction V’ Catalog Available Online for January 18th Sale Event
Lots for Premiere Props’ July auction have been listed online with online bidding partner iCollector, as part of their “Hollywood VIP Auction V”. The one-day auction is scheduled for January 18th, currently featuring “over 300 lots”. As with past auctions, the sale features a mix of studio-sourced material and consignor-sourced material, the latter of which includes some attributions that are not compelling with regards to provenance, such as swords attributed to Lord of the Rings, as well as material that has nothing to do with original assets from film and television productions, like Bambie and Michael Jackson Colorform sets and other lots that would fall under the broad heading of “memorabilia”. [Read more…]