By Jason DeBord
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…]
By Jason DeBord
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…]
By Jason DeBord
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…]
By Jason DeBord
As discussed in the prior article, Authenticity & Burden of Proof, I’ve found the notion that a piece is authentic, unless proven otherwise, to be faulty (as a buyer and collector, anyway). [Read more…]
By Jason DeBord
One perspective I have adopted with my original prop collecting and collection is the notion of “Prop Equity”. I think this is a viewpoint and practice that crosses over into various hobbies, but I’ve found it especially pertinent to original prop collecting due to the high cost and rarity of the pieces.
What is “Prop Equity”, and how does it relate to building and maintaining a collection? [Read more…]
By Jason DeBord
One interesting phenomenon I’ve picked up on in the hobby is the vast differences of perspective in regards to the burden of proof and authenticity.
One viewpoint is that a piece is as the seller claims and that the burden to prove otherwise is on potential buyers and/or critics to prove otherwise. Though the seller/owner does not share any material facts to prove the piece authentic, he or she expects compelling evidence to debunk the piece.
Of course, the converse view (held by myself) is that the seller must come to the table with material facts and evidence that support his or her claims of authenticity and use in the property (film or television product). [Read more…]
By Jason DeBord
Article Summary: The rationale for and development of an “Original Prop Purchase Checklist & Questionnaire” for discerning prop collectors to use in contemplating the purchase of a prop or costume. [Read more…]
By Jason DeBord
Article Summary: An opinion piece and analysis of the “Made for Production” trends and classifications (Made for Production, Not Used in Production; Unfinished; Finished Post Production, etc.) in the hobby. [Read more…]