There is often a preoccupation with “value” in mainstream media coverage of the original prop collecting hobby. Today there has been a lot of little news bytes with regards to a company called “Marquee Capital” and the announcement of an exhibition of “film and stage costumes and artefacts” from Madonna. [Read more…]
eBay announced earlier this year that they would be dropping their eBay Live Auctions business on December 31, 2008 (see eBay Live Auction Format Being Retired at End of 2008). The “Live Auction” format differs from eBay’s traditional business model of scheduled, “online-only” auctions, and typically (as it relates to original props, wardrobe, and memorabilia auctions from movies and television) provides collectors the ability to bid on items auctioned “live” over the Internet, in real time, in lieu of being present at the actual auction event with people bidding in person, with the auctioneer recognizing “floor” bids, telephone bids, absentee bids, and online bids. It appears that LiveAuctioneers.com is positioning itself to absorb this business and compete in the live online auction space. [Read more…]
The latest edition of AntiqueWeek includes a front page feature by Eric C. Rodenberg on the Global Antiques props sold on eBay by Auction Depot LA, Auction Shop USA, and Historic Souvenirs. Per their website, AntiqueWeek has “the largest paid circulation of any antiques and collectibles newspaper in the United States”. The full story can be read online at antiqueweek.com – “Sales of bogus movie props lead to suspensions on eBay” – also archived below: [Read more…]
David Colker of the Los Angeles Times has written a follow-up story to Harriet Ryan’s piece published on the front page Wednesday (see Los Angeles Times Feature on Global Antiques, Thoughts on Los Angeles Times “Global Antiques” Feature). The new article, “Scammers exploit online trust factor“, opens quoting the core value that eBay was founded on – “people are basically good” – and laments the “good old days”. [Read more…]
I wanted to share some thoughts and reactions to this week’s feature in the Los Angeles Times about the “Global Antiques” auctions on eBay. Overall, I am very pleased to see the issue presented to a huge audience, and I think the reporter, Ms. Ryan, did an excellent job of giving voice and perspective to a wide array of principals and relevant third parties. My interest is to look at each of those contributions and responses (or lack thereof) to determine outstanding questions. [Read more…]
Tomorrow’s edition of the Los Angeles Times includes a feature by Harriet Ryan on the Global Antiques props sold on eBay by Auction Depot LA, Auction Shop USA, and Historic Souvenirs. The full story can be read online at latimes.com – “Internet citizen posses investigate some sellers” – also archived below: [Read more…]
In late June, Star Wares (starwarescollectibles on eBay, StarWares.com on the web) listed a collection of Star Trek props for sale on eBay – a chair and two LCARS panels – characterized as “original”. There were several concurrent discussions in the original prop, replica prop, and Star Trek prop collecting communities about the cited source of these pieces – Greg Stone. [Read more…]
There is a nice little video on BBC News providing good coverage of the props and costumes on display at the Royal Armouries (see “The Wonderful World of Weta” Exhibition in UK). [Read more…]