Movie Prop Collecting with Jason DeBord's Original Prop Blog Film & TV Prop, Costume, Hollywood Memorablia Pop Culture Resource

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Premiere Props Does Soft Launch of New “MovieProps DNA (MPDNA)” Authentication System with DNA Ink and “Panel of Industry Experts”

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As is their usual procedure, Premiere Props has put up a portion of the lots for their upcoming sale (Hollywood Extravaganza XI on September 28-29) with online bidding partner iCollector, though with these lots each includes boilerplate information about authentication that has not been part of past auctions.  Back in May, I made a public and literal plea for Premiere Props to put a real and substantive effort into authentication of their consignor-based auction material, and whether or not it is merely coincidental, it appears that they are doing just that starting with this upcoming auction, with “a panel of industry experts not affiliated with Premiere Props” called MovieProps DNA (MPDNA).  While the “soft launch” of these changes raises many questions (which I will outline below), it is certain a significant step in the right direction. [Read more…]

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Nate D. Sanders ‘Fine Autographs & Memorabilia′ Auction Catalog Available for Online Sale Ending August 29th

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Nate D. Sanders will be concluding their next online auction on August 29th and the catalog for this event is available on their official site. Over 300 of more than 1,100 lots is material under the banner of “Hollywood”.  A highlight of the auction is a jacket from Western Costume worn by Dick Van Dyke in Mary Poppins as well as a variety of Hollywood and historical memorabilia, including props, costumes, set pieces, awards, and other material. [Read more…]

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Nate D. Sanders ‘Fine Autographs & Memorabilia′ Auction Catalog Available for Online Sale Ending June 27th

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Nate D. Sanders will be concluding their next online auction on July 23rd and the catalog for this event is available on their official site. Over 600 of more than 2,400 lots is material under the banner of “Hollywood”. The auction includes a lot of material previously owned by Milton Berle and a variety of Hollywood and historical memorabilia, including props, costumes, set pieces, awards, and other material.  Highlights include a blouse owned by Marilyn Monroe and a costume worn by Arnold Schwarzenegger in Terminator 2: Judgement Day. [Read more…]

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Premiere Props ‘Hollywood VIP Auction IV’ Catalog Online, Television & Movie Prop and Costume Sale Event July 27th

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Lots for Premiere Props’ July auction have been listed online with online bidding partner iCollector, as part of their “Hollywood VIP Auction IV”. The one-day auction is scheduled for July 27th, currently featuring over 300 lots. As with past auctions, the sale includes general memorabilia, along with some out of left lots like used Wizard magazines, Alf comic books, Star Trek talking lunchboxes, and other strangeness, that in my opinion undercuts their reputation as a dealer in this art market.  Thankfully, it appears that a bulk of the material in the first few hundred lots are lots obtained from direct sources. [Read more…]

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Premiere Props Offers Authenticated Fake Prop for Public Auction and the Hobby Says…

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As reported a few weeks ago (see “Premiere Props Now In Business Of Selling “Authenticated” Forgery, Along With Premiere Props COA? (Star Trek Mark English Communicator)“), the entertainment memorabilia dealer tried to make lemons out of lemonade after being informed by third party observers that one of the pieces listed for public auction in their latest sale was a forgery.  They changed the title and description for the lot in question, recasting the offering as an authenticated fake prop.  I have just gotten around to looking up the results of the June 15th sale, and found that the item is marked “WAS NOT SOLD” (though there was a bid of $200 – the start price).  I had characterized the sale as “a first in this art market – the open and notorious public sale offering of “authenticated” fake props, along with a COA certifying it… fake?”  Well, the hobby has apparently spoken…  I guess? [Read more…]

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Premiere Props Now In Business Of Selling “Authenticated” Forgery, Along With Premiere Props COA? (Star Trek Mark English Communicator)

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“Crew members and independent collectors have verified the authenticity of this item as a Mark English Forgery. Comes with a COA from Premiere Props”.  Wow.  I guess this is a new direction of this art market, filed under Sell At Any Cost: The Authenticated Fake Prop?  As noted in my wordy titled preview of Premiere Props upcoming regularly scheduled auction (see “Premiere Props ‘Hollywood Auction Extravaganza X’ Catalog Online, Television & Movie Prop and Costume Sale Event June 15 (Plus An OPB Editorial Plea For Authentication)“, their authentication and lot descriptions, in my personal opinion, left a lot to be desired.  I have no idea if anyone at Premiere Props reads the Original Prop Blog, but if “authenticating” a fake prop as fake and still offering it for sale is what they thought I had in mind with my public “plea for authentication”, they could not have been more wrong.  There is zero benefit to selling forgeries back into the marketplace, in my opinion, and the idea of including a COA “authenticating” a fake as a fake makes my head spin.  If the fake fooled Premiere Props, is it responsible for them to continue to facilitate the sale of a piece that is widely regarded as problematic for those of us who make efforts to keep such pieces out of the marketplace?  How about someone takes a hammer to it instead? [Read more…]

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‘Raiders of the Lost Ark’ Fertility Idols In The Marketplace Update 2013

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With their latest “Entertainment Memorabilia” sale event in Knightsbridge on July 3rd, Bonhams is offering for public sale a second fertility idol attributed to use in Raiders of the Lost Ark with paperwork from industry veteran Kit West.  Due to public interest in discussing iconic props from the Indiana Jones films, and confusion in the marketplace with regards to the provenance and authentication of such pieces, I thought it appropriate to update my ongoing series of articles on the topic with the new information and photos (see: Raiders of the Lost Ark Fertility Idols In The Marketplace). [Read more…]

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Nate D. Sanders ‘Fine Autographs & Memorabilia′ Auction Catalog Available for Online Sale Ending June 27th

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Nate D. Sanders will be concluding their next online auction on June 27th and the catalog for this event is available on their official site. Over 500 of more than 1,400 lots is material under the banner of “Hollywood”.  The auction dealer had a landmark sale with memorabilia from the television program, Captain Kangaroo, last month, selling a “Dancing Bear Costume” for over $200,000 with buyer premium.  This sale includes a lot of material previously owned by Milton Berle and a variety of Hollywood and historical memorabilia, including props, costumes, set pieces, awards, and other material. [Read more…]