While not about original props and costumes from movies or television, this story is of interest in that it involves a public auction and public challenges over the authenticity of a high value item offered for sale – an ambulance said to have carried the body of President John F. Kennedy following his assassination in 1963 (Barrett-Jackson Lot: 1277 – 1963 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE AMBULANCE). [Read more…]
As reported over recent weeks, Antique Helper offered a collection of mostly Superman-related costumes and memorabilia yesterday, the descriptions of which included caveats and disclaimers as to provenance and authenticity. Generally, the auction results for the costumes highlighted in the prior articles were lackluster, in terms of comparable confirmed authentic examples of the same style and type of wardrobe pieces. [Read more…]
As reported last week, Antique Helper is offering for public auction a number of Superman-related costumes as part of their “Super Hero Museum Collection” auction this weekend. The catalog is now published online, with carefully worded lot descriptions. [Read more…]
This morning I received a press release from the press contact for Antique Helper in Indianapolis, Indiana with regards to their “Museum Collection of Superhero Memorabilia”, part of their larger “Art and Antiques Auction”. Included in the sale are pieces attributed to the American Superheroes Museum. [Read more…]
As was the case in previous years (see 2007 Year in Review, 2008 Year in Review, 2009 Year in Review), what follows is an editorial featuring my personal observations with regards to the hobby – looking back at the top trends, developments, and news stories of 2010. As is always the case, this is a completely subjective exercise, and merely touches on the developments and events that relate to the hobby. [Read more…]
Last week, an Original Prop Blog article revisited a 2008 feature (see …Questions, Observations) which archived marketing collateral regarding a George Reeves Superman wardrobe piece with a Western Costume Company letter. The new article (see Signature Comparison…) compared the letter and signature to a similar letter attached to a Superman cape offered for public sale on eBay . I’ve since received photos of three additional Western Costume letters bearing the signature of Robert Niewoehner with the same date: December 29, 1975.
In 2008, an article was published on the Original Prop Blog with regards to certain props and costumes consigned to a Signature House auction (see Signature House Entertainment Memorabilia Auctions – Questions, Observations). Included were questions raised about the remarkable coincidence of two letters of authentication included with two different capes (attributed to use by George Reeves in the Superman television series produced in the 1950s) from two different dealers; both letters shared the same date: December 29, 1975. A third such letter – with the same date – has now been introduced into the marketplace. This third example bears a signature that appears to differ from the example featured in the 2008 article. [Read more…]
Memorabilia dealer Hake’s Americana & Collectibles is holding their 200th auction, with lots ending in late May. While the selection of original prop-related material is quite small compared with the general popular culture memorabilia comprising the auction, I thought it would be prudent to make note of an old article published by the Los Angeles Times that may prompt interested bidders to do proper due diligence on the provenance of a handful of lots. [Read more…]
