I’ve been in communications with Marcia Tysseling, founder of Star Wares Collectibles, and Kevin Martin of Piece of the Past, Inc. about Mr. Martin’s majority acquisition of Star Wares, Ms. Tysseling’s role, and the future of the company. I have received a few questions and heard various rumors recently, so I thought I would seek clarification to share with hobbyists in this report.
Marcia Tysseling has sold controlling interest of Star Wares Collectibles to Kevin Martin and his company, Piece of the Past, Inc.
Who is Kevin Martin and what is Piece of the Past? The following is from the About Us page on their website:
Kevin Martin is one of, if not the most, respected autograph and memorabilia dealers in the world. He is also one of the leading celibrity autograph authenticators in our industry. Besides his over twenty years of experience, he has published dozens of features in “Collecting” magazine, “Autograph Collector” magazine including the long running column “Fakes, Frauds and Forgeries” and many other publications like “Movie Collector World”, “Big Reel”, “The Robb Report”, “Antiques and Collecting” and more. Kevin Martin is also the the author of several books including the standard yearly price guide in the field The Official Autograph Collector Price Guide as well as The Autograph Collector Guide to Authentication and Signatures of the Stars to name a few that are in bookstores now… Plus… you may have seen him on the longest running autograph show in TV history called “Showbiz Collectibles” on the Video Catalog Channel.
Piece of the Past, Inc. is a major entertainment memorabilia supplier to such companies as Planet Hollywood, Hard Rock Cafe, Field of Dreams and Disney to name a few. Our beautiful framed memorabilia pieces are prominently displayed in many entertainment venues.
We invite you to view our listings taken from our large inventory of over 10,000 signed celebrity items including Photos and Signatures, Books and Documents, Magazine and LP Album Covers, TV and Movie Scripts along with certified Movie Props and Costumes. All Items come with a Lifetime Guaranteed COA or Certificate Of Authenticity. Our unique COA ia also lifetime transferable to any new owner.
Signed celebrity items are available for purchase at GREAT fixed prices here on our website with easy item search and shopping cart features. Many items are also available at our famous NO MINIMUM BID auction catalog mailed out monthly and via our online eBay auction with eBay username: piecepast2.
We are certain that you will be quite pleased with your autograph treasures from Piece of the Past, Inc. and it is our hope that you will soon join our family of satisfied loyal customers.
Per Ms. Tysseling and Mr. Martin, they hope to leverage the resources of Piece of the Past with the long-established industry relationships of Star Wares to make Star Wares the “pre-eminent place for props and costumes once again”.
Ms. Tysseling will remain the Star Wares President and act as a creative force to “better develop her impressive list of contacts within the industry”. As such, the Star Wares brand will remain a separate entity from Piece of the Past.
In time, the plan is to split Star Wares into two companies – with one entity continuing as an original prop and wardrobe memorabilia dealer and the other selling celebrity-consigned memorabilia sold for charitable organizations.
The company will be moving to new offices and warehouses in Lake Elsinore, CA.
Other plans include more frequent eBay sales under the “starwarescollectibles” and “streisand-starwares” accounts as well as an intent to offer memorabilia in the future via catalog auctions, live auctions, and a fixed price catalog.
Lastly, the Star Wares website will be redesigned and updated, with online ordering planned as well (the existing site has not had this capability).
I do wish Ms. Tysseling and Mr. Martin success with their new endeavor.
Jason De Bord