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 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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Premiere Props ‘Hollywood Auction Extravaganza X’ Catalog Online, Television & Movie Prop and Costume Sale Event June 15 (Plus An OPB Editorial Plea For Authentication)

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Lots for Premiere Props’ sale in mid-June have been listed online with online bidding partner iCollector, as part of their “Hollywood Extravaganza X”. The one-day auction is scheduled for June 15th. As with past auctions, the sale includes general memorabilia, though, as with their last sale, there is more interesting material with this event than they’ve had in some time, although much of it does not include any substantive information (or even vague information) about history and provenance in the lot descriptions (though to their credit, some do).  Premiere Props is such a frustrating company, on so many levels, but some of their auction descriptions (if you can even call them that) are beyond unacceptable.  I can’t imagine someone wanting a piece so badly as to take such a massive leap of faith in bidding on something in which no information whatsoever is provided about *why* it is authentic. [Read more…]

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Movie Prop Thief Caught On Tape UPDATE – Stolen John Wayne & William Holden Movie Prop Guns Returned, Reward For Thief Still At Large

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KATU.com today reports that the movie prop guns that were on display at Movie Madness (a Winchester rifle used by John Wayne in The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962) and a shotgun used by William Holden in The Wild Bunch (1969)) and stolen last Summer were returned to the store by a third party this past weekend.  In July 2012, the Hollywood memorabilia was stolen from the store and captured on video in the Portland, Oregon store.  Law enforcement are still asking for the public’s help finding Erick Duanne Johnson, 47, based on the evidence in the video tape recording of the theft, and Crime Stoppers is offering a $1,000 reward for information that leads to Johnson’s arrest. [Read more…]

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Premiere Props ‘Hollywood Auction Extravaganza IX’ Catalog Online, Television & Movie Prop and Costume Sale Event March 2-3

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About 350 lots of the promised “over 1,000 movie props and costumes” that will comprise the online catalog for the Premiere Props “Hollywood Auction Extravaganza IX” is now listed with online bidding partners iCollector and LiveAuctioneers. The two-day auction is scheduled for March 2nd and 3rd.  As with past auctions, the sale includes general memorabilia, though there is more interesting material with this event than they’ve had in some time, although much of it does not include any substantive information about history and provenance in the lot descriptions (though to their credit, some do). [Read more…]

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Air Gun Movie Prop Used for Publicity Photography By Sean Connery as James Bond Disappoints in Sotheby’s Resale

A little over two years ago, an air gun /pistol used by Sean Connery for some iconic James Bond publicity photos stunned the hobby when it sold at the traditional late November Christie’s South Kensington Pop Culture auction far in excess of its estimate, realizing a staggering £277,250 (US$438,609) including buyer’s premium.  In a resale by Sotheby’s this past weekend, it sold for less than half that amount. [Read more…]

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Movie Prop Thief Caught On Tape UPDATE – Police Seek Help Finding Erick Duane Johnson

Law enforcement is seeking help finding a suspect in Portland, Oregon who they believe stole movie prop guns that were on display at Movie Madness (a Winchester rifle used by John Wayne in The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962) and a shotgun used by William Holden in The Wild Bunch (1969)).  As reported last week, the theft was captured on video tape.  Based on tips from the public, the police detectives are asking for the public’s help finding Erick Duanne Johnson, 47. [Read more…]

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Movie Prop Thief Caught On Tape – Police Seek Man Who Stole John Wayne & William Holden Prop Guns

Law enforcement is seeking help identifying and finding a man in Portland, Oregon who stole movie prop guns that were on display at Movie Madness – a Winchester rifle used by John Wayne in The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962) and a shotgun used by William Holden in The Wild Bunch (1969).  The theft was captured on video tape. [Read more…]