300: Did They Reuse Props/Designs from Other Films? – Update 5

This is an additional update to these articles:

300: Did They Reuse Props/Designs from Other Films? – Update 1 – Update 2 – Update 3 – Update 4

Steve Knight of RareProps sent me a photo with the following information, with permission to post here: Read more

Ingmar Bergman Passes at 89

Ingmar Bergman passed today. Read more

Premiere Props, Hollywood Roadshow, Auction Outcome Manipulation – Update 3

Premiere Props Files False “Unpaid Item” Report to eBay Read more

Premiere Props, Hollywood Roadshow, Auction Outcome Manipulation – Update 2

Premiere Props Posts Retaliatory Negative Feedback Following eBay Ruling Read more

Premiere Props, Hollywood Roadshow, Auction Outcome Manipulation – Update 1

eBay Finds Premiere Props In Violation of “Seller Non-Performance” Policy Read more

300: Did They Reuse Props/Designs from Other Films? – Update 4

This is an additional update to these articles:

300: Did They Reuse Props/Designs from Other Films? – Update 1 – Update 2 – Update 3

Here are some comments from David of Back Lot Props, reposted from his reader comment posted in Update 2: Read more

Stembridge Auction Report, Part 8: Hero Pistol – True Lies

This is the eighth in a series of articles reporting on the Stembridge Armory Collection Auction in Los Angeles, hosted by Little John’s Auction Service. Read more

Premiere Props, Hollywood Roadshow, Auction Outcome Manipulation

Summary: Premiere Props Fails To Perform, Defaults On “Legally Binding Contract”

I bid on many items during Premiere Props live auction event via eBay on July 14th.

Of the six items I won, I was shown as the winner at the end of bidding and received e-mail confirmation from eBay and Premiere Props confirming each of my six wins with the heading: “Congratulations, the item is yours”. Read more

Stembridge Auction Report, Part 7: Hero Pistol – Point of No Return

When I was originally researching the Stembridge catalog, for Little John’s Stembridge Collection Auction, one of the few pieces on my “short list”, which I considered secondary to my two top wants (the T2 and True Lies pistol) was one of the pair of Hammerli pistols offered, which were “sort of” attributed to Point of No Return starring Bridget Fonda. Read more

300: Did They Reuse Props/Designs from Other Films? – Update 3

I have received some correspondence from Steve Knight of RareProps.com, and I offered to post any comments he would like to make in regards to these articles: Read more

Auction House Buying Considerations, Part III: Bonhams

This is the third in a series of articles looking at auction house policies, terms, and conditions of sale. Read more

Comic Con International, July 26-29

Comic Con International will be held, as always, in San Diego later this week, July 26-29. Read more

300: Did They Reuse Props/Designs from Other Films? – Update 2

I received an e-mail from Steve Knight of RareProps today in regards to my article inquiring as to the possibility of props from other WB productions being reused in the film, 300: Read more

Book Review: Grindhouse: The Sleaze-filled Saga of an Exploitation Double Feature

This is a review of Grindhouse: The Sleaze-filled Saga of an Exploitation Double Feature (published April 6, 2007). It is a great combination of equal parts photography/art/images and content. Highly recommended to fans of the film(s). Read more

Walking Prescott – The Arms of Hollywood (Stembridge Auction Touring Preview)

This is the seventh in a series of articles reporting on the Stembridge Armory Collection Auction in Los Angeles, hosted by Little John’s Auction Service.

There’s an interesting blog article on the Walking Prescott (All about the flavor of a small Arizona city and the surrounding outback…) showing the Stembridge gun auction preview by Little John’s Auction Service. Read more

Notable Studio Auctions: Sunshine (The Prop Store of London)

The Prop Store of London has begun a second wave of their studio auctions for the film, Sunshine, under the eBay User ID propstore_auction. With the film opening in the states (following the UK debut), it appears that some pieces were held back for promotion here in the U.S. Read more

Notable Studio Auctions: Hairspray & The Return of New Line Auctions

Unfortunately, New Line Auctions shut down their internal prop auction service at the start of the year. I only made two purchases through their service, but they were top quality across the board – communication, shipping, packing, customer service, and their COA was better than most. I was sad to see them close down operations.

It appears they are back, only now on eBay (they used to host their own auctions on the New Line website and do it all in house). Read more

Notable Studio Auctions: Transformers (Premiere Props) – Key Results

As noted in a previous article, “Notable Studio Auctions: Transformers (Premiere Props)“, Premiere Props has managed studio auctions for the film, Transformers, under the eBay User ID premiereprops7.

Two of the pieces of the most interest ended tonight… Read more

Profiles in History 28 Print Catalog Out, Live on eBay

I received my print catalog for Profiles in History Hollywood Auction 28 in the mail yesterday: Read more

Market Watch: T2 “Original” Miniature Update 3

This is an update to the articles, “Market Watch: Terminator 2 “Original” Miniature Prototype (Elstree Props)“, “Market Watch: T2 “Original” Miniature Update“, and “Market Watch: T2 “Original” Miniature Update 2“.

This appears to be the same item offered by Elstree Props that was originally marketed as an original piece in the eBay category for Original Props, though it resembled a finished retail model kit original offered by Horizon. It did sell on eBay for $620. Read more

Tom Spina Featured in Latest Issue of Star Wars Insider

The incredible Snaggletooth costume display Tom Spina and I discussed in his interview (see article “Featured Interview: Tom Spina, Tom Spina Designs“) is featured in the latest issue of Star Wars Insider (issue 95, on newsstands now). Read more

Auction House Buying Considerations, Part II: Chandelier Bid (“Sham Bidding”) Legislation

Rick Spector of Stairway to the Stars forwarded a link to an interesting article, given the discussion initiated in Part I of this series.

This is an interesting development in how it relates to certain auction house policies (see Odyssey Auctions Terms and Conditions in prior article). Read more

Hollywood Roadshow Live Auction in L.A. – Held Today

As reported last month (HERE): Read more

eBay Auction: Missing Big Lebowski Costume – Update

As an update to the article, “eBay Auction: Missing Big Lebowski Costume“, the eBay member who posted the auction, offering a reward for the “stolen” wardrobe piece, is no longer a registered user of eBay – hollywoodrarities. Read more

Stembridge Auction Report, Part 6: Hero Pistol – Terminator 2: Judgment Day

This is the sixth in a series of articles reporting on the Stembridge Armory Collection Auction in Los Angeles, hosted by Little John’s Auction Service. Read more

Research & Dialogue About Importing Firearms to the UK

I’ve always been interested in the laws, rules, customs, and perspectives revolving around the importation and/or ownership of “live fire” (i.e. “real”) firearms into the UK.

Because this is a varied, multi-faceted topic with many different opinions and areas of expertise, I thought it would be interesting to open a dialogue of sorts, though a blog doesn’t lend itself to such. In any event, I’ve been corresponding with Adam Bosman (sharpsticks on the Movie Prop Forum) about these issues. As a UK citizen, he has done some research, which he has given me permission to share here: Read more

Auction House Buying Considerations, Part I: Overview

I have had very limited experiences in buying direct from auction houses, but there are terms and conditions of sale, unique to each company/event, that can differ from other buying experiences. I would highly recommend that any collector, before participating in such an auction, carefully review the terms and conditions of the sale, typically outlined in the catalog. Even with the same company, these are prone to change catalog to catalog, sale to sale. Read more

Pioneer Press News Story: Bruce Hubbard & “Potter Magic”

From TwinCities.com: Read more

Notable Studio Auctions: Transformers (Premiere Props)

Premiere Props has begun a second, more substantive waves of their studio auctions for the film, Transformers, under the eBay User ID premiereprops7. Read more

“Original” Spider-Man 3 Costume – Update 3

This is an update to these articles: Read more

eBay Auction: Missing Big Lebowski Costume

Another collector pointed out this auction, claiming that a costume worn by Jeff Bridges in the Big Lebowski has been stolen – eBay auction # 270142946771, “Please Help Me& Jeff Bridges Reward Stolen Item!“: Read more

Profiles in History Auction 28 Catalog Available Online

You can download the catalog (PDF) for Profiles in History Auction 28 HERE Read more

300: Did They Reuse Props/Designs from Other Films? – Update 1

This is an update to yesterday’s article, “300: Did They Reuse Props/Designs from Other Films?“.

I opened a new discussion topic about this on the Movie Prop Forum yesterday to see if I could find out any additional information from the membership there – 300 Props, Swords – and received some interesting information – an answer to the question posed in the title of the article (Answer: “Yes”). Read more

300: Did They Reuse Props/Designs from Other Films?

There is a current eBay auction in which a sword is being marketed as “the Hero Bronze sword used by Ephialtes in the film 300″.

The auction (Item # 300126771921), “FRANK MILLER 300 original film prop Hero sword Ephialte“, from eBay seller “www.rareprops.com” (RareProps, also selling on the website www.RareProps.net), shows a photo of a sword that appears to be of the same style of swords also used in the film, Troy. Read more

Godfather III Al Pacino Cardigan – Update

The eBay auction (Item # 300126853530) for the “GODFATHER III Movie Cardigan Costum Al Pacino Prop“, used as an example in yesterday’s article, “Navigating the Marketplace: Sellers Selling What They Don’t Own…“, has been ended early by the seller: Read more

“Original” Spider-Man 3 Costume – Update 2

This is an update to the following two articles:

“Original” Spider-Man Costume

“Original” Spider-Man Costum – Update Read more

Navigating the Marketplace: Sellers Selling What They Don’t Own…

One caveat to original prop collectors, as if there aren’t enough considerations in regards to authenticity, is to research a prop to determine ownership. It may seem to be a silly concern or question to ask a seller, but “do you actually own this?” can, at times, be an appropriate question to ask. Read more

“Original” Spider-Man 3 Costume – Update

The eBay auction offering an “ORIGINAL SPIDER MAN STUNT SUIT FROM PART 3″ yesterday, as reported on HERE, has been pulled. Read more

“Original” Spider-Man 3 Costume

A new item appeared on eBay today (Item # 200125383380), ORIGINAL SPIDER MAN STUNT SUIT FROM PART 3: Read more

Trends: Original Prop Pricing & Values, Selling Options

One interesting element of the Original Prop Hobby is that of “value”.

What determines the value of a prop?

How are prices determined?

What is the best place to sell original props?

For the purpose of this article, I will not go into issues of authenticity and provenance in any depth. Read more