Last week The Original Prop Blog published an article about the “A Luke Skywalker Lightsaber used in Return of the Jedi” prop up for public auction in their current “TCM Presents … Out of This World!” event scheduled to conclude on November 21st. The description in the online catalog had been edited to remove the (vague) details about the provenance, and the piece in question seems to match a “Return of the Jedi” lightsaber prop that I wrote about in 2013 that was offered for sale on eBay and seemed to have a connection with Elstree Props. Today, the lot is marked as “WITHDRAWN” on the item page. [Read more…]
“A Luke Skywalker Lightsaber used in Return of the Jedi” in Current Bonhams Auction Raises Questions
Bonhams has put up a piece for public auction in their current “TCM Presents … Out of This World!” event scheduled to conclude on November 21st – a prop which they describe as “A Luke Skywalker Lightsaber used in Return of the Jedi”. The description in the online catalog has been edited to remove the (vague) details about the provenance, and the piece in question seems to match a “Return of the Jedi” lightsaber prop that I wrote about in 2013 that was offered for sale on eBay and seemed to have a connection with Elstree Props (and went unsold with a high bid of $5,101 not reaching the reserve). The 2013 article about that “Return of the Jedi” lightsaber was one of a series of features published on the Original Prop Blog specifically about Elstree Props and lightsaber props attributed to Return of the Jedi (I even had an opportunity to ask Mark Hamill himself about one of these props at San Diego Comic Con in 2009). [Read more…]
Yet Another Luke Skywalker “Screen Used” Return of the Jedi Lightsaber Movie Prop with Elstree Studios/Elstree Props/Danziger Collection Connections Surfaces on eBay
Continuing a long line of “screen used” Luke Skywalker prop lightsabers attributed to Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi with connections to Elstree Studios/Elstree Props/The Danziger Collection, yet another one has surfaced for sale on eBay. Although there are photos of the prop and related documents and certificates of authenticity (COAs) from “Piece of the Stars Memorabilia” (a company I have never heard of before), of course the resolution of these images are limited to 500px × 375px (do cameras still exist today that shoot at such a low resolution?), rendering examination challenging, to say the least. In the interests of public debate and discussion, Original Prop Blog has long documented the public sale offerings of other prop lightsabers attributed to Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker in Return of the Jedi that have similar origins and associations, which can be found HERE. [Read more…]
Original Nightmare on Elm Street Part 5 “Freddy” Gloves Update
Back in June 2007, I published an article about Nightmare on Elm Street Part 5 “Freddy” gloves in the marketplace, and highlighted that reproductions (marketed as replicas) were being crafted by Mr. David B. Miller (see Original Nightmare on Elm Street Part 5 Freddy Gloves). Mr. Miller was kind enough to share supplemental information in his Reader Comment to the original article (see Update). I stumbled across a relevant discussion this week on a forum called Springwood Slasher with members raising concerns about a “Freddy” glove listed for public sale on eBay (see Is this really the screen used glove?). In discussing with other hobbyists and horror prop expert Mario Kirner, Mario shared an interesting observation based on a review of his archive of images of past examples of this specific prop offered for sale in the public marketplace. [Read more…]
Bonhams to Auction Prop Ferrari 250GT Spyder California Used in “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off”
Last year, the house owned by the father of fictional character of Cameron from Ferris Bueller’s Day Off was put up for sale (see “Cameron’s House from “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” For Sale at $2.3 Million Dollars”); now, Bonhams will offer his dad’s Ferrari for sale in their April auction. [Read more…]
Revisting the Elstree Props “Return of the Jedi” Star Wars Lightsabers: The $50,000 Question (Original or Replica?)
This is an update to a series of articles about two prop lightsabers marketed by Paul Harrison, at the time owner of Elstree Props, which were described as original pieces made for the film, Star Wars: Return of the Jedi. No such lightsabers appear in the finished film. Though it has been some time since the last update, published in late 2007, I have obtained new information. Included in this feature are photos of one of the props that I’ve been told were taken in late 2005, of a newly made custom replica lightsaber, prior to delivery to Paul Harrison. The prop in these photos clearly matches one of the two Elstree Props lightsabers. Was a newly made replica prop listed for sale to the public for $50,000.00? [Read more…]
Cameron’s House from “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” For Sale at $2.3 Million Dollars
Cameron Frye’s house from John Hughes 80s classic “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” is available for sale in Highland Park, Illinois for $2.3 million. The most memorable scenes in the house features the 1961 Ferrari 250 GT California. [Read more…]
Superman Costume Tracking Matrices [Version 2.0]
This work product is part of the ongoing series of articles about Superman costumes in the marketplace, tracking public auction house, dealer and dealer websites, and public eBay listings of costume items attributed to use by Christopher Reeve in the Superman films of the 70s and 80s (see category Market Watch | Superman). [Read more…]