The following news article was posted in the UK’s The Independent today… (LINK)
Stand by for action: box-office hits come under the hammer
Demand remains high for props, posters and other items linked to blockbusters such as ‘Star Wars and ‘Star Trek’, writes Angelique Ruzicka
Published: 09 September 2007Collecting film memorabilia is just a hobby for most enthusiasts. But in rare cases, they could be sitting on a celluloid fortune.
Take Star Trek memorabilia. At an auction in New York in October, one wealthy Trekkie boldly went where no other collector had gone before and forked out $576,000 (£285,000) for a miniature of the starship Enterprise, which had been used as a prop in the hit movie series.
The auction house Christie’s defines movie memorabilia as anything from film props and costumes worn by Hollywood icons, to vintage guitars and handwritten lyrics by music legends, to animation art and film posters.
If you are unsure about what to buy, experts say a good starting point is to go for anything that appeals to you.
“Film memorabilia is not an investment market, it’s an enthusiasts’ market. But one-of-a-kind pieces that do come up for sale – if they were originally bought 10 years ago, for example – should have appreciated in value,” says Katherine Williams, specialist in popular culture and entertainment at Chris- tie’s in London.
You can buy film memorabilia from auctioneers or from dealers (for a list of the reputable ones, visit www.movieprops-association.org).
Items may also be offered for sale on websites such as eBay – the US version is best for this, but buying in this way can be risky.
David Farthing, owner of the Moviebits website and director of the Movie Props Association, cites several cases of fakes advertised online. He recommends that buyers go to www.profilesinhistory.com, which sells authenticated props used in films and television.
If you are unsure how much an item is worth, consult an auctioneer or dealer for an estimate. “I’d be happy to give a valuation on something,” adds Mr Farthing. “Don’t be scared to phone a dealer – it’s a very compassionate market.”
Not all items appreciate at the same rate. For something to have any substantial value, it must be demonstrably genuine, unique, in demand and in good condition. Occasionally, how-ever, flawed items become highly sought after and hence more valuable.
“In the past, the toy manufacturer Hasbro has put the wrong gun or light sabre with the wrong figure – it happens quite a lot,” says James Burns, an avid Star Wars collector who runs the website Jedinews.co.uk. “And people will collect the wrong package as well as the correct one.”
You don’t have to buy really old items to make a profit. Memorabilia can be 50 or more years old, or as recent as a poster for Transformers, one of this summer’s blockbuster movies.
Topical interest can make an item more collectable. Film memorabilia linked to Elvis Presley, who died in 1977, or from Star Wars, released in the same year, will have risen in value thanks to their respective 30th anniversaries.
For those thinking of building such a collection, however, financial experts urge caution.
“In practice, few small investors will have the expertise to make a significant return,” says Bob Perkins, technical manager at the independent financial adviser Origen. “Anyone starting to look at speculative investments of this kind should make sure they only speculate with that part of their wealth they can afford to risk.”
Jason De Bord