Profiles in History had a tremendously heavy auction schedule at the end of July, holding no less than four auctions across five consecutive days (Property from the Estate of Milton H. Greene on 7/27, Hollywood Auction 56 on 7/28-7/29, The Dreier Collection Part 2 on 7/30, and their Animation Auction 58 on 7/31), though they also held their Rare Books and Manuscripts Auction 55 earlier in July, and had their huge San Diego Comic Con display in-between sale events. These were their first big sales of 2013 (apart from the awkwardly titled, adjective-heavy The Property of a Distinguished American Private Collector, Part 2). The last of their traditional Hollywood Auction events was in December of last year and, as written at the time, it seemed to indicate a collision of escalating reserves/estimates and some push back from the marketplace on the same. Taking a top down view of these latest sales, the same mixed bag would seem to now be a trend, rather than a one off occurrence. [Read more…]
Profiles in History ‘Hollywood Auction 56′ TV & Movie Prop Catalog Available Online for Sale Event July 28-29
Profiles in History’s Summer auction catalog, “Hollywood Auction 56” is now available in print as well as online, via their official site. This sale is scheduled for July 28th & 29th at their Calabasas Hills facility. [Read more…]
Bonhams ‘Entertainment Memorabilia including Animation Art’ Auction to be Held in Los Angeles on May 5th, Catalog Available Online
Bonhams will be holding their “Entertainment Memorabilia including Animation Art” (auction 20984) sale event in Los Angeles on May 5th. This sale includes a mix of film/television as well as music related memorabilia. [Read more…]
Profiles in History Files Fraud Lawsuit Against Non-Paying Auction Bidder on “Ten Commandments” Movie Prop Tablets
Auction house Profiles in History filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court last week against one of its customers, Albert Tapper, claiming that the buyer won two items in their “Hollywood Auction 53” sale event last month, but only agreed to pay for one (“Lot 197 | Clark Gable early signed, handwritten letter to his dad”) that sold for $8,000 plus buyer’s premium, and not the more expensive lot (“Lot 422 | Charlton Heston “Moses” prop Ten Commandments tablets from The Ten Commandments”) which realized $60,000 plus buyer’s premium. [Read more…]
Profiles in History ‘Hollywood Auction 53’ Results in Passed Lots, A Few Surprises; “Jackpot” Reserves/Estimates Finally Out of Control?
I have been traveling for the past week, so did not personally watch the latest Profiles in History sale (“Hollywood Auction 53”) live, but received a number of e-mails and texts from others in this art market commenting about the overall “lackluster” and “disappointing” results of the event, though there were a few surprises and stand out pieces (such as the Lord of the Rings Legolas bow going for $372,000 with Buyer’s Premium, Kate Winslet’s dress from Titanic selling for $330,000 with BP, and an X-Wing model from Star Wars realizing approximately $270,000 with BP). Based on a spreadsheet compiled by a friend, focusing on Lots 433-902 (the second half of the catalog, following classic Hollywood photos, etc.), about 40% of the items were not sold. [Read more…]
Profiles in History ‘Hollywood Auction 53′ TV & Movie Prop Catalog Available Online for Sale Event December 15th
Profiles in History’s Winter auction catalog, “Drama, Action, Romance: Hollywood Auction 53” is now available in print as well as online, via their official site. This sale is scheduled for December 15th at their Calabasas Hills facility. [Read more…]
Salt Lake Tribune Details Role of BYU in Cecil B. DeMille ‘Ten Commandments’ Film Archive, Contribution to Blu-Ray Release
An article published in today’s Salt Lake Tribune provides a history of Bringham Young University’s role in preserving an incredible archive of production material from Cecil B. DeMille’s The Ten Commandments (1956), as well as the role of Utahns who were involved with the film and the famed director’s respect for their reception of his classic film. [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…]