Movie Prop Collecting with Jason DeBord's Original Prop Blog Film & TV Prop, Costume, Hollywood Memorablia Pop Culture Resource

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Nate D. Sanders Withdraws “Prototype” Star Wars Stormtrooper Prop Helmet with Andrew Ainsworth Provenance from Upcoming Auction

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Four days ago, Original Prop Blog published an article (LINK) noting the Daily Mail wrote a piece promoting a Stormtrooper helmet auction in the Nate D. Sanders auction concluding this coming Thursday.  The helmet had been described as a “prototype” from the original 1977 Star Wars film, with provenance from Andrew Ainsworth.  Original Prop Blog has published a number of articles about these “prototype” helmets sold into the marketplace over the years, and reported in June that Christie’s withdrew one of these from their auctions at the time.  Now, Nate D. Sanders has withdrawn this one from it’s own auction (though, as reported, it failed to sell in their March auction and in subsequent eBay auctions). [Read more…]

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San Diego Comic-Con 2014: Prop Store Exhibitor Booth (#SDCC)

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This is part of my ongoing coverage of San Diego Comic-Con 2014.  This is most definitely the most important Comic-Con appearance for Prop Store since their first exhibit back in 2008.  They have managed to get a sizable upgrade in space from The Powers That Be at Comic-Con for 2014, and they have put all of that additional square footage to brilliant use, with a more open design and really elegant work in displaying their rare props and costumes with beautiful lighting.  With the added visibility, Prop Store is using the opportunity to get the word out about their first live auction even later this year, to be held in London in October.

[Read more…]

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San Diego Comic-Con 2014: Profiles in History Exhibitor Booth (#SDCC)

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This is part of my ongoing coverage of San Diego Comic-Con 2014.  As per tradition, Hollywood memorabilia auction house Profiles in History are exhibiting at their usual space, Booth #1605.  I’ve been attending Comic-Con since 1987, and have been covering it on the Original Prop Blog since 2008, and if I’m honest, I would say this is their most disappointing showing to date.  The entire back wall are costumes for the Expendables franchise (which, if you haven’t seen the film(s), isn’t too exciting).  With what little space is left, there is not too much to impress… and I think that this is maybe the second or third year running where the big promo is a signing from Sean Astin. [Read more…]

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Daily Mail Piece on Nate D. Sanders “Super-Rare Prototype” Stormtrooper Helmet from Andrew Ainsworth’s Work on Star Wars

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The Daily Mail must be an easy get for a puff piece on movie prop memorabilia, going by their latest article on the “prototype” stormtrooper helmet being put up for auction (again) by Nate D Sanders this month.  It reads as though it was repurposed from the auction house material, without the benefit of any third party analysis or questions about the provenance of the item.  A similar helmet was pulled from auction by Christie’s last month, and their have been questions raised about the background of these “prototype” stormtrooper helmets attributed to Andrew Ainsworth’s work on Star Wars: A New Hope going back for years now. [Read more…]

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Prop Store Officially Announces Their First “Live Auction of Film & Television Artefacts”; To Take Place at Vue Westfield in London on October 16th

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After 16 years in the business of selling original TV and movie props, costumes, and other Hollywood memorabilia, Prop Store will be holding it’s first live auction on October 16th, at Vue Westfield in London following a two week exhibition at Vue’s flagship cinema in Westfield, London.  With 375 items set to hit the auction block, highlights include material from some of the top sci-fi and action film franchises including James Bond, Star Wars, Back to the Future, Terminator, Batman, and more.  Prop Store has made the hardcover catalog available for pre-order on their site today. [Read more…]

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Prop Store to Launch Online Auction for Movie Props and Costumes from Ron Howard’s “Rush” Starting July 23rd

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Prop Store will be launching their exclusive auction of material from Ron Howard’s Rush on Monday, July 23rd.  The sale event, in partnership with Exclusive Media, will feature 250 lots of props, costumes, vehicles, and other items used during the production of the highly acclaimed 2013 film. [Read more…]

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Update: Additional Images of Christie’s Withdrawn “Prototype” Star Wars Stormtrooper Helmet

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This is an update to the article published on Monday (see “Christie’s Withdraws “Prototype” Star Wars Stormtrooper Prop Helmet with Andrew Ainsworth Provenance from Upcoming Auction“).  As mentioned in that prior article, unfortunately, no images were provided of the sides and back of the helmet.  A friend in the UK previewed the upcoming Christie’s auction, and took photos of the “prototype” Storwtrooper prop helmet, which has since been withdrawn from their sale (#5446).  These additional images are important, in that the single image provided in the online lot description/catalog only included one “straight on” style image which did not show whether the lower, back side of the helmet had the “ribbed” decoration (a detail that most other “prototypes” have shared). [Read more…]

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Christie’s Withdraws “Prototype” Star Wars Stormtrooper Prop Helmet with Andrew Ainsworth Provenance from Upcoming Auction

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Today Christie’s has withdrawn Lot 136 from their upcoming Sale #5446, a prop attributed to Star Wars: A New Hope (1977) and described as a “prototype Imperial Stormtrooper’s helmet“.   There has been ongoing public debate and controversy over movie prop Stormtrooper helmets trading for sale in the marketplace for years, and some of this debate and discussion intersected the legal battles between Lucasfilm and Andrew Ainsworth.  In the auction description, Andrew Ainsworth was named as the source of provenance for the prop withdrawn from the current Christie’s sale. [Read more…]