As inherently problematic buying “original” props and wardrobe on eBay may be, the risks are that much higher if the seller listing the item is a “drop-off” company. Such offerings introduce additional issues that collectors should be aware of and consider. [Read more…]
I’ve noticed more and more of late that eBay users will have their accounts converted to “NARU”, or “No Longer A Registered User” (also “Not a Registered User”) status by eBay, and then later the accounts appear reactivated. [Read more…]
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This is the first in a series of articles intended to discuss and build upon the tools of authentication: concepts, terminology, definitions, analysis, and more. While Certificates of Authenticity, or “COAs”, have been the topic of a number of previous articles, the scope of this feature is to define and categorize COAs by 1) their source and 2) their function. [Read more…]
I spent some time today talking with Alec Peters, CEO of newly created Propworx, about the upcoming events promoting the final Battlestar Galactica episodes and the auction of original prop and costume assets from the show, in conjunction with NBC Universal Television (see Press Release). In order to share a great deal of information about these topics, I conducted a taped interview which can be heard using the MP3 player below (Adobe Flash required): [Read more…]
As noted previously (see kellysheroesmilitaria Original Props: Update 4, eBay Third Party Reporting Case Study), I had used the eBay third party reporting systems (see eBay & Third Party Reporting (Fraud, Violations of Policy) to alert eBay to problematic listings while testing the effectiveness of sharing material information directly with eBay through their public systems in an effort to help them to enforce their own policies. This article serves as an update and conclusion, marked by the occasion of kellysheroesmilitaria relisting one of the primary auctions reported to eBay. [Read more…]
There is an interesting article in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review by “retired business editor” and columnist Jack Markowitz – “Pop Culture Collectors Really Need to Take Stock” – which essentially denigrates the entire pursuit of collecting and preserving original movie and television props and costumes, as well as those who participate in the hobby. This is my first exposure to this journalist’s work, but his premise seems to be that if something is not a Rembrandt or otherwise predate the invention of automobiles, film, and television, it is of no value – though value and money seem to be the focus of his feature. [Read more…]
Below are the latest traffic stats for Original Prop Blog, as of July 31, 2008: [Read more…]