Tonight the auction for the Superman costume offered for sale at public auction by “ComicLink.com” with the Letter of Authenticity from Jim Hambrick of the Super Museum ended with 33 bids for a price realized of $3,600, though the unstated reserve was not met. [Read more…]
Sotheby’s Refuses to Return Consignment Following Ownership Dispute
There is an article at Maine Antique Digest about a dispute over a Thomas Jefferson letter consigned to the Sotheby’s auction house – the Attorney General of the state of New Jersey sent a letter to Sotheby’s prior to the auction event, claiming ownership of the document. [Read more…]
ABC7 News Video Feature on “Collectors Book Store” Auction in December
ABC7 News has a short video broadcast available online with details about the “Collectors Book Store” 5-day auction coming this December from Profiles in History. This will be one of three auctions held by Profiles that month (the other two being the Hollywood Wax Museum auction and their traditional Hollywood Auction). [Read more…]
Tools of Authentication: Categorizing & Classifying COAs
This is the first in a series of articles intended to discuss and build upon the tools of authentication: concepts, terminology, definitions, analysis, and more. While Certificates of Authenticity, or “COAs”, have been the topic of a number of previous articles, the scope of this feature is to define and categorize COAs by 1) their source and 2) their function. [Read more…]
Jack Markowitz, The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: Movie Props are Silly Junk
There is an interesting article in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review by “retired business editor” and columnist Jack Markowitz – “Pop Culture Collectors Really Need to Take Stock” – which essentially denigrates the entire pursuit of collecting and preserving original movie and television props and costumes, as well as those who participate in the hobby. This is my first exposure to this journalist’s work, but his premise seems to be that if something is not a Rembrandt or otherwise predate the invention of automobiles, film, and television, it is of no value – though value and money seem to be the focus of his feature. [Read more…]
Superman Costume Matrix: Auction House/Dealer Website Public Offerings, Version 1.3
This work product is part of the ongoing series of articles about Superman costumes in the marketplace, tracking public auction house sales of costume items attributed to use by Christopher Reeve in the Superman films of the 70s and 80s (see “Questions About Superman Costumes in the Marketplace: Authenticity, Sources, Quantity“). [Read more…]
Profiles in History 32 Held Yesterday, Today
Profiles in History 32 was held yesterday and today, with the vintage photos and related material making up Day 1 and posters, one sheets, props, costumes, and related material making up Day 2. The auction was held on site at Profiles in Calabasas Hills, with off-site bidding available over the Internet via eBay Live Auctions, by fax, and by phone. [Read more…]
Star Wars “Prototype” Stormtrooper Helmets Update: High Court Ruling Excerpts on LFL v. SDS Case
Given the British High Court ruling on the case of Lucasfilm vs. Andrew Ainsworth (see Lucasfilm vs. Ainsworth High Court Ruling: Full Document from Royal Courts of Justice), and the additional information available from the court documents, I thought it would be a good opportunity to build on the prior OPB article exploring the “prototype” Stormtrooper helmets (see Star Wars “Prototype” Stormtrooper Helmets) trading in the marketplace as original and authentic precursors to the helmets used on set and filmed in Star Wars: A New Hope. [Read more…]