A number of Star Trek auctions have been held during the history of the franchise.
During the years of production, thousands and thousands of set pieces, props, wardrobe items, and other production materials have been acquired, as well as thousands of dedicated fans who will pay a hefty price to add parts of this historic series to their personal collections. In the past, franchise owner Paramount Pictures chose to keep the production inventory, to be used again in future episodes; but after the cancellation of Star Trek: Enterprise, when there were no more Trek productions planned for the foreseeable future, Paramount's successor, new franchise owner CBS Broadcasting, decided to liquidate these assets in 2006 (though previous auctions liquidating smaller amounts of assets were held). This precipitated a number of high-profile auctions.
Butterfield & Butterfield Auction Galleries[]
- Note: for all applicable listings only Star Trek-themed catalog covers are depicted
Butterfield & Butterfield has been a San Francisco-based auction house, founded in 1865. The auction house ended its independent existence in 1999 when it was bought by Internet auctioneer eBay. In 1993 the auction house was commissioned to sell off the estate of William Ware Theiss.
The William Ware Theiss Estate Auction[]
Held on 12 December 1993, this auction was the largest ever held in regard to garments Theiss had designed for Star Trek: The Original Series, most of which he apparently retained possession of after the series wrapped. Proceeds of the auction were to go, according to his will, to "Project Angel Food", a LA-based non-profit agency that served hundreds of meals on a daily basis to those challenged by HIV-AIDS, cancer and other diseases. Though most of the 144 lots, of which #805 – #918 were Star Trek related, have since then attained legendary status, some of the more remarkable were:
- Lot 810: William Shatner's Tunic from several Star Trek episodes
Estimate: $3,000 – $5,000; Highest bid: $18,400 - Lot 834: Leonard Nimoy's Tunic from TOS: "Mirror, Mirror"
Estimate: $5,000 – $7,000; Highest bid: $8,625 - Lot 835: Nichelle Nichols' Costume from the Star Trek episode "Mirror, Mirror"
Estimate: $2,000 – $4,000; Highest bid: $6,325 - Lot 850: William Shatner's Tunic from TOS: "Court Martial"
Estimate: $3,000 – $5,000; Highest bid: $10,925 - Lot 852: DeForest Kelley's Tunic from Star Trek episode "Court Martial"
Estimate: $2,000 – $4200; Highest bid: $9,200 - Lot 858: Mark Lenard's Ensemble from TOS: "Journey to Babel"
Estimate: $1,000 $; Highest bid: $6,325 - Lot 883: Mark Lenard's Tunic from TOS: "Balance of Terror"
Estimate: $1,000 – $2,000; Highest bid: $4,887 - Lot 918: Leslie Parrish's Costume from TOS: "Who Mourns for Adonais?"
Estimate: $700 – $900; Highest bid: $9,200
It is remarkable that some of the more titillating designs of Theiss, for which he has become renowned since, did not do well in this auction. For example lot #866, Diana Ewing's garments featured in TOS: "The Cloud Minders", sold for a mere $173,00 (originally estimated at $300 – $500), whereas the garments worn by the Dohlman by France Nuyen in TOS: "Elaan of Troyius" as lot #843, merely sold for $1,150, having been originally valued at $800 – $1,200
Christie's[]
Christie's is a renowned worldwide operating auction house, its headquarters based in New York City, with an outstanding reputation. It is currently the world's leading auction house by revenues. Over time, it has held some auctions in which Star Trek items were represented, the 2006 auction, the most remarkable.
Christie's East Entertainment Memorabilia Auction[]
Held on 20 June 1996 and 25 June 1996 in New York City, it featured a small amount of Star Trek related lots (lots 726-730) sold in the second part of the auction. [1] Lots 727-730 were notable as it constituted a complete away mission prop set from The Original Series, with lot 726 as an additional item. [2]
- Lot 726: Star Trek V: The Final Frontier, autographed cast picture (1699 out of 2500)
Estimate: $600 – $800; Highest bid: $1,265 - Lot 727: Hand phaser
Estimate: $2,000 – $2,500; Highest bid: $3,680 - Lot 728: Pistol phaser
Estimate: $3,500 – $4,500; Highest bid: $5,750 - Lot 729: Communicator
Estimate: $4,000 – $6,000; Highest bid: $7,475 - Lot 730: Tricorder
Estimate: $5,000 – $7,000; Highest bid: $8,050
Film and Television[]
Held on 18 June 1998 as Sale 8115 in New York City, this was a specialized Hollywood memorabilia auction, consisting of originally 290 listed lots, including several stemming from science fiction franchises, of which 222 were eventually auctioned off. The vast majority of these were commercial period memorabilia, though a portion also stemmed from production sources. Lots 57-71 were Star Trek related. Some lots were interesting as they contained among others collections of negatives and slides of behind-the-scenes imagery, that was usually discarded during the production of the series, but most of the items consisted of said commercial period memorabilia, though three stood out:
- Lot 61: An original twenty-six page typewritten proposal by Gene Roddenberry for the original "Star Trek" television series
Estimate: $12,000 – $15,000; Highest bid: $19,550 (including buyer's premium) - Lot 70: An original "tribble" prop from the popular episode "The Trouble with Tribbles"
Estimate: $1,500 – $2,000; Highest bid: $1,150 (including buyer's premium) - Lot 71: The original model of the "Klingon" "Bird of Prey" [sic.] warship used in the "Star Trek" television series
Estimate: $15,000 – $20,000; Highest bid: $11,500 (including buyer's premium); The D7 class model not only misidentified, it was also misrepresented as a screen-used model, the actual one being in the possession of the National Air and Space Museum. It was rather AMT's second master tooling model. This model came from the possession of Stephen Edward Poe, to whom the model was given by Gene Roddenberry after the production of The Original Series had wrapped. Though slated as such, it has never been used as an on-screen production asset.
Fred Phillips collection[]
During the "Film, Pop and Posters" auction of 15 November 2000 as Sale 9442, Christie's auctioned a selection of items, lots 17-26(a), consigned to its Los Angeles auction house from the estate of Fred Phillips. Items that were sold included the original mold for Spock's Vulcan ears (estimate: $20,000) (Star Trek Monthly issue 74), as well as a number of other molds and makeup pieces, along with scripts, autographs and other memorabilia. [3]
40 Years of Star Trek: The Collection[]
- Main article: 40 Years of Star Trek: The Collection
From October 3 through 5, 2006, Christie's held a very high-profile auction titled 40 Years of Star Trek: The Collection, in the process becoming one of the most, if not the most, publicized Star Trek auction. The auction of 1,000 lots, all of which were Trek studio models, props, wardrobe, or other memorabilia, took in more than seven million dollars. As it does for most of its auctions, Christie's offered a very collectible print catalog, with photographs and descriptions for every item in the sale.
Film and Entertainment Memorabilia[]
On May 30, 2007, Christie's held another auction, this one titled Film and Entertainment Memorabilia, Sale 1854, in New York. The sale of 288 lots included a wide variety of items from film and entertainment history, including 26 lots (Lots 262-288) containing items from Star Trek, a few of which were re-listed from October 2006's auction. On the date of the sale, exchange rates were approximately as follows: US$1 = £0.51, SFr 1.23, ¥121.52, €0.75. The buyer's premium was changed between the 40 Years auction in October 2006 and May 2007. It was changed to 20% up to 500 thousand dollars, but none of the items in this sale went above that amount. Some selected items:
- Lot 272: Spock's headband from Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home
Estimate: $500 – $700; Highest bid: $4,500; Price: $5,400 - Lot 273: Data's boots
Estimate: $200 – $300; Highest bid: $750; Price: $900 - Lot 279: Six TOS-style men's Starfleet uniforms
Estimate: $2,500 – $3,500; Highest bid: $7,000; Price: $8,400 - Lot 282: Klingon space station model
Estimate: $2,000 – $3,000; Highest bid: $5,500; Price: $6,600 (previously featured in the 2006 auction) - Lot 283: Replica of Captain Kirk's chair
Estimate: $8,000 – $12,000; Highest bid: $18,000; Price: $21,600
Heritage Auctions[]
Dallas, Texas-based Heritage Auctions has been in business since 1976 (maintaining additional offices in the US, EU and Hong Kong), but had until fairly recently rarely been involved with Star Trek production-used memorabilia, if at all. It was only after Alec Peter's below-mentioned Propworx went defunct that former Star Trek production staff, or their next-of-kin, began to find their way to the auction house in order to liquidate their holdings, starting with the April 2018 "Entertainment & Music Memorabilia" auction where it was former former VFX Producer Dan Curry in particular, who put much of his private collection up for auction. In this, these former production staff continued the trend set by predecessors who had previously chosen Peter's auction house over the traditional Hollywood memorabilia Profile in History auction house, because of the increasing controversy surrounding the latter's accuracy of provenance (see: hereafter), feeling their interests would be better served by smaller, more dedicated auction houses.
It's A Wrap![]
- Main article: It's A Wrap! sale and auction
It's A Wrap! is another Hollywood memorabilia seller. In November 2006 CBS announced that It's A Wrap! would conduct a major sale of thousands of Trek items, most of them in eBay auctions. Essentially the follow-up to the earlier October auction, it effectively cleared CBS' inventory of all pre-2009 Star Trek-related items, save for a relatively small collection of choice items retained for exhibition purposes, which are currently under the custody of Paramount Consumer Products when not on tour.
Julien's Auctions[]
Julien's Auctions is an auction house, located in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, California, that was established in the early 2000s, and which has vied to become a competitor of Profiles in History, selling Hollywood memorabilia. In 2010 it held a specialized Star Trek auction.
Star Trek []
Julien's first specialized Star Trek auction was held at the Planet Hollywood resort in Las Vegas on 27 June 2010. The first part of the auction originated from the personal belongings, not production-related material, of William Shatner, though Lots 1385-1406 were mostly uniforms from the various Star Trek productions. However, the vast majority of the lots were non-production related items (with the exception of the gowns Majel Barrett Roddenberry wore as Lwaxana Troi, Lots 1564-1568), that constituted the second part of the auction, the estate of Majel and Gene Roddenberry. It was however the third part, Lots 1569-1593, that was the more interesting for collectors, as it, for the first time, officially offered up for auction items originating from the 2009 film Star Trek. Bidders were charged a 25% buyer's premium plus an additional 3% when bidding on-line. Some results of the auction were: [4]
- Lot 1388: Star Trek Nemesis Display Panel
Estimate US$700 – $900; Highest bid: US$1,700. - Lot 1564: Majel Barret Roddenberry Star Trek:The Next Generation Costume ("Cost Of Living")
Estimate US$700 – $900; Highest bid: US$1,300 - Lot 1565: Majel Barret Roddenberry Star Trek:Deep Space Nine ("The Forsaken")
Estimate US$700 – $900; Highest bid: US$1,400 - Lot 1566: Majel Barret Roddenberry Star Trek:The Next Generation Costume ("Manhunt")
Estimate US$700 – $900; Highest bid: US$1,900 - Lot 1567: Majel Barret Roddenberry Star Trek:The Next Generation Costume ("Dark Page")
Estimate US$800 – $1,200; Highest bid: US$1,100 - Lot 1568: Majel Barret Roddenberry Star Trek:The Next Generation Costume ("Half a Life")
Estimate US$800 – $1,200; Highest bid: US$1,700
The following are the Star Trek 2009 movie items:
- Lot 1577: USS Kelvin Crew Member Costume
Estimate US$500 – $1,000; Highest bid: US$2,750 - Lot 1578: Kelvin Phaser
Estimate US$1,000 – $2,000; Highest bid: US$7,000 - Lot 1579: Hero Kelvin Bridge Chair
Estimate US$500 – $700; Highest bid: US$1,500 - Lot 1580: Klingon Rifle
Estimate US$1,000 – $2,000; Highest bid: US$1,100 - Lot 1581: Romulan Pistol
Estimate US$2,000 – $2,500; Highest bid: US$1,750 - Lot 1582: Romulan Rifle
Estimate US$2,000 – $2,500; Highest bid: US$2,250 - Lot 1583: Romulan Crew Member Costume
Estimate US$1,000 – $2,000; Highest bid: US$2,000 - Lot 1584: Starfleet Female Cadet Costume
Estimate US$500 – $1,000; Highest bid: US$1,700 - Lot 1585: Enterprise Insignia Badges
Estimate US$1,500 – $2,500; Highest bid: US$1,700 - Lot 1586: Starfleet Male Cadet Costume
Estimate US$500 – $1,000; Highest bid: US$2,000 - Lot 1587: Starfleet Council Chair
Highest bid: US$500 - Lot 1588: Enterprise Data Tablet
Estimate US$2,000 – $3,000; Highest bid: US$1,100 - Lot 1589: Medical Tricorder
Estimate US$1,500 – $1,750; Highest bid:US $2,250 - Lot 1590: Enterprise Crew Member Costume
Estimate US$2,000 – $2,500; Highest bid: US$2,000 - Lot 1591: Enterprise Communicator
Estimate US$1,000 – $2,000; Highest bid: US$6,000 - Lot 1592: Spock Torch
Estimate US$800 – $1,200; Highest bid: US$750 - Lot 1593: Spock Parka
Estimate US$5,000 – $7,500; Highest bid: US$7,000
Hollywood Legends Auction[]
A large Hollywood memorabilia auction, in format akin to those held by "Profiles in History", it featured 369 lots originating from a myriad of Hollywood productions, auctioned off in four sessions over a two day period, 5 and 6 April 2013. Only four lots, 117-120, were Star Trek-related, though the last one, Lot 120, was quite the remarkable one, as it concerned the original phaser rifle used in "Where No Man Has Gone Before". Considered an iconic piece by the fan community, the rifle was sold at three times the high estimate. Aware of its status and in order to dispel any doubt about its provenance, Julien's had a documentary short commissioned, Julien's Auctions presents: Star Trek, featuring its creator, Reuben Klamer, that was posted on their website and on YouTube in the run-up to the auction. [5]
- Lot 117: STAR WARS AND STAR TREK IMAGE ARCHIVE, An archive of approximately 241 images from eight films in the Star Wars and Star Trek franchises.
Estimate US$300 – $500; Highest bid: US$832 (with buyer's premium) - Lot 118: Star Trek: Voyager LOT, A collection of ephemera from Star Trek: Voyager (UPN, 1995-2001). The lot included a foam core study model of the sickbay from the starship Prometheus from the fourth season episode "Message in a Bottle," which featured the holographic Doctor, played by Robert Picardo, and a Mark II version of the Emergency Medical Hologram, played by Andy Dick.
Estimate US$200 – $300; Highest bid: US$512 (with buyer's premium) - Lot 119: STAR TREK ORIGINAL SERIES EPISODE OUTLINES, A set of detailed outlines for five original series episodes of Star Trek (Desilu Productions, Norway Corporation, 1966-1969).
Estimate US$1,000-$2,000; Highest bid: US$1,152 (with buyer's premium) - Lot 120: STAR TREK WILLIAM SHATNER PILOT LASER RIFLE, A Phaser Rifle from the William Shatner-starring 2nd pilot for Star Trek (Desilu Productions, Norway Corporation, 1966-1969).
Estimate US$50,000-$70,000; Highest bid: US$231,000 (with buyer's premium)
Hollywood Legends (2018)[]
On June 23, 2018, another "Hollywood Legends" auction by Julien's was held at the Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas where only one item related to Star Trek was offered for sale: [6]
- Lot 896: Duty uniform costume prototype made for Patrick Stewart to wear as Captain Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek: Generations, though ultimately went unused
Estimate US$4,000-$6,000; The officially licensed action figure of Picard made by Playmates for their Star Trek: Generations toyline features an outfit similar to the prototype. [7]
Bid Long and Prosper[]
Profiles in History[]
Profiles in History is a Hollywood memorabilia seller that often includes several rare or unique Star Trek items in its auctions. Profiles prides itself for thoroughly researching their lots and, like Christie's, offers very professional catalogs of all its auctions. Printed copies can be purchased on-line, or PDF versions can be downloaded for free at their official website. The vast majority of their auctions are held under the title "Hollywood Memorabilia Auction", soon shortened to "Hollywood Auction", plus a follow number, as well as on occasion a sub title. Digressions occur when the auction in question is themed, such as an estate sale. Over the years Profile's Hollywood memorabilia auctions have tended to become quite large, typically held over a two-day period. In recent years, the number of lots offered up rarely drop below the one thousand mark.
On 27 October 2010, Syfy channel began airing a tie-in television series, Hollywood Treasure, which showed "Profiles" employees tracking down, appraising and helping auction off film, television and pop culture memorabilia, though the series was cancelled in 2011 after a mere two seasons.
In recent years "Profiles" has come under increasing scrutiny by noted collector Alec Peters, whose blog, "The Star Trek Prop, Costume & Auction Blog" has since its inception rapidly become a focal point for collectors of Sci-Fi, and in particular Star Trek memorabilia. Main issues Peters had with "Profiles" concerned misrepresentations, accuracy of descriptions and provenance – or rather their lack thereof – , though "Profiles" in their Conditions of Sale (article 10) explicitly distances themselves from responsibility for accuracy of descriptions, which is a blatant contradiction of their own trumped-up reputation. Items with a Star Trek pedigree are among those regularly misrepresented as "the real deal". One of the more recent examples concerned the offering of a Jem'Hadar battle cruiser model, supposedly used as production asset, in "Profiles"s Hollywood Auction #40 of 12 June 2010. The item was pulled from the auction just prior to the start of the auction without the auction house even bothering to provide a formal explanation, further undermining their credibility. [10] [11] More examples of unsubstantiated assumptions in the auction descriptions has since then come to light, but in Profile's defense, the sheer volume of offered memorabilia make a thorough provenance research a truly herculean, if not nigh impossible, task, hence their "caveat emptor" provisional clause in their Terms of Sale.
As already mentioned above, the growing measure of controversy surrounding the auction house became one of the reasons for former production staff to circumvent Profiles in favor of firstly Propworx, Inc. (actually founded by Peters himself and who facilitated several major Star Trek auctions in the 2010s, starting with the 2010 one) and subsequently Heritage Auctions for the liquidation of their holdings, but that became also true for private collectors and even the Star Trek franchise itself, who started to favor the hereafter mentioned British Prop Store auction house over Profiles as well, causing it to loose its reputation and long-held position as the primary venue for selling Hollywood memorabilia.
Hollywood: A Collector's Ransom II[]
Held on 1 and 2 June 1996, at the Pacific Design Center in Los Angeles, CA, this larger auction consisted of 951 lots of movie and television memorabilia. Of these lots 748-778, auctioned off in the second part of the auction, were Star Trek related. Noteworthy was that a relative large proportion originated from Star Trek: The Original Series. [12] Some of the more remarkable lots were:
- Lot 748: Star Trek hand laser from the original pilot episode "The Cage"
Estimate: $6,500-$7,500; Highest bid: $3,998.40 - Lot 751: Star Trek tricorder
Estimate: $6,500-$7,500; Highest bid: $7,280 - Lot 758: Romulan uniform
Estimate: $4,000-$5,000; Reserve not met - Lot 760: Star Trek tunic worn by William Shatner in the "Mirror, Mirror" episode
Estimate: $10,000-$15,000: Highest bid: $15,680
Hollywood Auction 10: The Star Trek Auction[]
On 12 December 2001, Profiles held an auction at the Hollywood Entertainment Museum, featuring many items from the personal collections of Matt Jefferies, including his complete collection of original design sketches he produced for Star Trek: The Original Series, his brother John, Herb Solow, and Robert H. Justman. The proceeds from the Jefferies brothers items sale went to the charitable organization "Motion Picture & Television Fund". All the handheld props came with certificates of authenticity from former set decorator John Dwyer.
The auction featured in total 337 lots, the vast majority Star Trek related, constituting the very first specialized Star Trek auction, even though lots 307-335 originated from various other science fiction franchises. Of the Star Trek lots, most were The Original Series related with lots 258-306 related to various later Star Trek productions. Noteworthy is, that interest in collecting Star Trek memorabilia had jumped considerably by that time as many items sold well beyond their high estimates. Some results:
- Lot 221(X): "Star Trek" prop Tri-corder
Estimate: US$12,000-$15,000; Highest bid: US$45,000 - Lot 224: "Star Trek" Type-1 Phaser
Estimate: US$3,000-$5,000; Highest bid: US$15,000 - Lot 225: "Star Trek" Type-1 Phaser
Estimate: US$3,000-$5,000; Highest bid: US$13,000 - Lot 234: Original screen-used "USS Enterprise" scale model
Estimate: US$30,000-$50,000; Highest bid: US$42,500 - Lot 251: William Shatner "Capt. Kirk" tunic from the 2nd season
Estimate: US$12,000-$15,000; Highest bid: US$40,000 - Lot 285: Star Trek: First Contact screen-used Phaser Rifle
Estimate: US$3,000-$5,000; Highest bid: US$45,000
The catalog also came in a limited edition of 100 numbered copies signed by Matt Jefferies, Bob Justman, and Herb Solow. Noteworthy was, that the auction was also open to Internet bidders through eBay, one of the very first Profiles auctions to do so, for a few days prior to the final auction. Many lots of this auction, including the small, screen-used Enterprise model, were acquired by Microsoft's co-founder and "Trekkie" Paul Allen for his Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame in Seattle, now known as the Museum of Pop Culture (MoPop). [13] [14]
The Bob Justman Star Trek Auction[]
On June 27, 2002, Profiles held an auction held at The Marriott Hotel at LAX, Los Angeles, featuring many items from the collection of Robert H. Justman, [15] the eye catcher being:
- Lot 175(X): Command Chair and platform from the USS Enterprise
Estimate: $100,000-$150,000; Highest bid: $265,000 [16] and acquired by the aforementioned Paul Allen. [17] [18]
Hollywood Auction 14: "The Ultimate Sci-Fi Auction"[]
An auction featuring in total 341 items from several genre productions such as Aliens, Battlestar Galactica, the original Batman television series, of which 225 items were from the Star Trek franchise (many from the personal collections of Rick Sternbach and John Eaves), was held by Profiles on April 26, 2003 as The Ultimate Sci-Fi Auction. [19] Some of the more notable items were:
- Lot 128(X): Command Module/Helm of the USS Enterprise from the original Star Trek series
Estimate: $80,000 – $100,000; Highest bid: $80,000 [20], also acquired by Paul Allen. [21] [22] - Lot 134(X): Complete Gorn costume from TOS: "Arena"
Estimate: $10,000 – $12,000; Highest bid: $11,000 - Lot 139(X): Uhura's "Alternate universe" costume from TOS: "Mirror, Mirror"
Estimate: $20,000 – $30,000; Highest bid: $20,000 - Lot 307(X): USS Enterprise-D special effects four-foot filming model for Star Trek: The Next Generation
Estimate: $20,000 – $30,000; Highest bid: $20,000 (Note: this was a misrepresentation; it was not the actual filming model, but rather a display piece for a Far Eastern "Planet Hollywood" restaurant)
Hollywood Auction 18[]
Held on 31 March 2004 in Beverly Hills, California, this large auction constituted of 538 lots of memorabilia from Hollywood television and motion picture productions, many of them from the science fiction genre. Lots 200-264 were Star Trek related. Noteworthy was that a significant number of those originated from the personal collection of Rick Sternbach and from previous auctions, notably the "The Star Trek Auction" of 2001. Some of the more interesting items were:
- Lot 201: Spearhead from She, later used in the Star trek episode "The Cage"
Estimate $500 – $700 - Lot 202: Leonard Nimoy "Mr. Spock" tunic from Star Trek
Estimate $10,000 – $15,000 - Lot 208: Screen-used Tholian ship model from the Star Trek original series "The Tholian Web"
Estimate $12,000 – $15,000 (from the 2001 "The Star Trek Auction") - Lot 211: The Klingon D-7 Battle Cruiser filming miniature from the original Star Trek series
Estimate: $60,000 – $80,000; Highest bid: $55,000 ($64,900 including buyer's premium) This was a misrepresentation; it was not the actual screen-used model, which was and is in the possession of the National Air and Space Museum, but rather AMT's second master tooling model. Though slated as such, it has never been used as an on-screen production asset. This is the same model as auctioned off in the aforementioned Christie's Film and Television auction. - Lot 212: Gorn mask, tunic, and gloves from the Star Trek episode "Arena"
Estimate: $60,000 – $80,000 (from the 2003 "The Ultimate Sci-Fi Auction")
Hollywood Auction 22[]
Held on 29 July 2005 in Beverly Hills, California, this outing in the Hollywood Auction series consisted of 645 lots, stemming from various productions, including several science fiction franchises such as Star Wars and Battlestar Galactica. Of these items, lots 444-484, 41 in total, were Star Trek related. Though there were a few props present, the majority were garment related, the garments themselves or designs thereof, mostly Robert Fletcher designs for the movies. The cover items, the garments of Amanda Grayson and Sarek, were previously offered up in action, twelve years earlier in The William Ware Theiss Estate Auction. A selection:
- Lot 448(X): Mark Lenard and Jane Wyatt Vulcan costumes worn as Sarek and Amanda from the Star Trek episode "Journey to Babel"
Estimate: $30,000 – $40,000; Highest bid: $25,000 (in 1993, the combined take was $7,245) - Lot 464(X): Starfleet uniform from Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country
Estimate: $2,000 – $3,000; Highest bid: $2,250 - Lot 476(X): Kate Mulgrew hero duty uniform worn as Capt. Kathryn Janeway in Star Trek: Voyager
Estimate: $4,000 – $5,000; Highest bid: $6,000 - Lot 477(X): Jennifer Lien costume worn as Kes in the Star Trek: Voyager episode "Warlord"
Estimate: $1,300 – $1,500; Highest bid: unknown - Lot 479(X): Borg Head and body parts from Star Trek: First Contact
Estimate: $1,000 – $1,500; Highest bid: $1,000
Hollywood Auction 24[]
This auction contained many items from the collection of the late Frederick Clarke, publisher of the science fiction magazine Cinefantastique. The auction was held on 31 March, 2006, and Lots 240–472 were Star Trek related. There were, aside from the original Star Trek cover art for the magazine by Roger Stine and David Voight, many notable items in this collection including:
- Lot 306(X): Original laser pistol from TOS: "The Cage"
Estimate: $2,000 – $3,000; Highest bid: $3,250 - Lot 307(X): James T. Kirk's hero tunic and sash from TOS: "Mirror, Mirror"
Estimate: $30,000 – $40,000; Highest bid: $37,500 - Lot 311: The Klingon D-7 Battle Cruiser filming miniature from the original Star Trek series
Estimate: $65,000 – $85,000; Highest bid: $65,000. The same model as was offered up for auction in the Hollywood Auction 18. This time around, the model was acquired by Microsoft's co-founder Paul Allen for his Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame in Seattle, where it currently resides. The deal was closed before auction start, and was therefore not featured in the auction itself. - Lot 319(X): A complete Gorn head mask
Estimate: $20,000 – $30,000; Highest bid: $27,500. In the 2014 Christmas episode of The Graham Norton Show, famed comedy actor Ben Stiller was a guest, and it was there that he outed himself as a huge Original Series Trekkie, disclosing it was he who had bought the Gorn mask, among others.
Hollywood Auction 28[]
Held August 2-3, 2007, this auction included two very notable lots.
- Lot 816(X): An original TOS Klingon disruptor prop. The prop had been in the personal collection of Matt Jefferies, who designed it as well as many other original series icons. It had been on loan to the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum from June 1993 to March 1994
Estimate: $20,000 – $25,000; Highest bid: $35,500; Price: $40,250 - Lot 834(X): A collection of 139 final scripts and guides from the personal collection of Marina Sirtis. Each item is signed by Sirtis.
Estimate: $6,000 – $8,000; Highest bid: $8,000
Hollywood Auction 30[]
This was a very large sale of lots from many varied science fiction series, plus some non-SF items. It was held December 13 and 14, 2007, and included 34 Star Trek-related items, the notable ones including:
- Lot 1212(X): Nichelle Nichols Lt. Uhura duty uniform from Star Trek: The Original Series
Estimate: $8,000 – $12,000; Highest bid: $19,000 - Lot 1218(X): Geordi La Forge's VISOR from Star Trek Generations
Estimate: $3,000 – $5,000; Highest bid: $15,000 - Lot 1217(X): Commander William T. Riker's backlit control panel from Star Trek: The Next Generation
Estimate: $3,000 – $5,000; Highest bid: $8,500 - Lot 1222(X): Jean-Luc Picard's USS Enterprise-E command chair from the Star Trek films
Estimate: $45,000 – $60,000; Highest bid: $45,500 - Lot 1224(X): Worf's hero metal bat'leth from Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
Estimate: $3,500 – $4,500; Highest bid: $8,500
Hollywood Auction 37[]
This auction ran 8-9 October 2009 and 35 Star Trek items were listed, including a number from Star Trek: Enterprise.
Hollywood Auction 40[]
This auction was held June 10 – 12, 2010 and boasted an impressive 1,533 lots from various movie and television productions covering several genres. Lots 1241–1533, the majority of them smaller hand held props, were Star Trek related and were auctioned off on the last day under a separate heading, "Star Trek: The Auction". Notable items were:
- Lot 1241: Original Balok Puppet Head from Star Trek: The Original Series
Estimate $20,000 – $30,000; Highest bid $70,000 - Lot 1247: Original Botany Bay crewman sleep suit from Star Trek: The Original Series episode "Space Seed"
Estimate $600 – $800; Highest bid $2,000 - Lot 1251: Walter Koenig Pavel Chekov Starfleet tunic and pants from Star Trek: The Original Series
Estimate $8,000 – $10,000; Highest bid $8,000 - Lot 1409: Screen-used Hero Illuminating Starfleet XSL Medical tricorder from Star Trek: Voyager
Estimate $3,000 – $5,000: Highest bid $10,000 - Lot 1487: Jem'Hadar Warship Model from Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
Noteworthy for its removal from auction due to internet scrutiny by Alec Peters on his blog (see above).
Hollywood Auction 43[]
Held on 17 and 18 December 2010, this auction was the second large memorabilia auction held that year, boasting 1,345 lots from again various genres produced for television and movies. Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror genres were particularly well represented in this auction as a large number of items from several franchises like the Alien, Stargate, Terminator, and other franchises were auctioned off. Star Trek was this time less well represented as only Lots 992–1037 were related to the franchise. Some items of note were:
- Lot 996: Terri Garr's Roberta Lincoln Sixties-pop costume from the Star Trek: The Original Series episode #55, "Assignment: Earth"
Estimate $20,000 – $25,000; Unsold - Lot 997: Barbara Anderson's Lenore Karidian costume from the Star Trek: The Original Series episode #13, "The Conscience of the King"
Estimate $20,000 – $25,000; Unsold
Other items included were hand-held props and set dressing pieces as well as several lots of production art work for Star Trek: The Motion Picture. [23] [24]
Hollywood Auction 44[]
Held on 14 and 15 May 2011, this was yet another large memorabilia auction with 1,637 lots covering several movie and television genres of which Lots 1448–1550 were Star Trek related. The majority of them were costumes and hand held props. Notable items were:
- Lot 1457: Leonard Nimoy Mr. Spock Kohlinar Vulcan robe from Star Trek: The Motion Picture
Estimate $30,000 – $40,000; Unsold - Lot 1460: Ricardo Montalban Khan desert protective helmet and shoulder wrap from Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan
Estimate $30,000 – $50,000; Highest bid $32,500 - Lot 1483: Shuttlebay Operations gel panel from Star Trek: The Next Generation
Estimate $1,000 – $1,500; Highest bid $3,000 - Lot 1516: Original command chair and railing from the bridge of the USS Enterprise-1701 in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episode "Trials and Tribble-ations"
Estimate $10,000 – $15,000; Unsold - Lot 1535: Star Trek: Voyager main bridge gel panel
Estimate $3,000 – $5,000; Highest bid $3,750 - Lot 1542: Original miniature nose section of Zefram Cochrane's warp ship Phoenix from Star Trek: First Contact
Estimate $1,500 – $2,000; Highest bid $15,000 (the most undervalued lot) - Lot 1549: Full scale Shuttlepod 1 from Star Trek: Enterprise
Estimate $40,000 – $60,000; Unsold - Lot 1550: Set of six gold-plated display models from Star Trek Nemesis
Estimate $6,000 – $8,000; Highest bid $11,000
Noteworthy was that several lots were previously sold in earlier auctions and that a relatively large number of lots went unsold. [25] Memory Alpha administrator Jörg Hillebrand was credited as Star Trek Researcher on the first page of the catalog.
Icons of Hollywood Auction[]
Held on 15 and 16 December 2011 at The Paley Center for Media in Beverly Hills, CA, this auction featured eighteen Star Trek-related items (Lots 1075–1094), including wardrobes, production art, and props that were auctioned off in the second part of the auction. Two lots, 1085 and 1086, purportedly being screen-used admiral tunics worn by William Shatner, were pulled from the auction as provenance and authenticity proved inaccurate, [26] again through scrutiny by Alec Peters. [27] Noteworthy was that some of The Original Series items demanded and fetched very high prices, whereas other items went unsold. [28] The more notable items were:
- Lot 1075: The Birth of Star Trek: Gene Roddenberry-typed letter signed
Estimate $3,000 – $5,000; Highest bid $9,000 ($11,070 including buyers premium) - Lot 1076: Gene Roddenberry-typed letter signed
Estimate $3,000 – $5,000; Highest bid $17,000 ($20,910 including buyers premium) - Lot 1077: Rare science officer tunic from Star Trek: The Original Series first episode "The Cage"
Estimate $2,500 – $3,500; Highest bid $7,500 ($9,225 including buyers premium) - Lot 1077: Walking Tribble from Star Trek: The Original Series (with provenance)
Estimate $3,000 – $5,000; Highest bid $14,000 ($17,220 including buyers premium) - Lot 1079: Original Tribble from Star Trek: The Original Series episode, "The Trouble with Tribbles" (non moving)
Estimate $800 – $1,200; Highest bid $5,500 ($6,765 including buyers premium) - Lot 1082: Star Trek: The Original Series mid-grade type-1 hand phaser
Estimate $30,000 – $50,000; Highest bid $65,000 ($79,950 including buyers premium) - Lot 1094: Articulated whale puppet from Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home
Estimate $5,000 – $7,000; Highest bid $5,000 ($6,150 including buyers premium)
Hollywood Auction 49[]
Held on 30 and 31 July 2012 in Calabasas Hills, CA, this auction featured 1,045 lots originating from a multitude of Hollywood productions, a substantial number from various science fiction franchises, of which the Alien, and Terminator franchises were particularly well represented (the Drop Ship studio model from Aliens being the showpiece of the auction). Star Trek was, in this outing, only represented on a limited scale with only fifteen lots, 650 and 903-914, present in the auction. Apart from the usual props and studio documentation, some items of note were:
- Lot 650: Wax master molds of Spock ears and unused latex ears (vintage) for Star Trek: The Original Series
Estimate $1,000 – $1,500; Highest bid $3,750 ($4,613 including buyers premium) - Lot 907: Four (4) sheets containing (250+) Vintage USS Enterprise NCC-1701 decals for filming miniatures from Star Trek: The Original Series
Estimate $4,000 – $6,000; unsold. These were original sheets made by Richard C. Datin, Jr. that ended up in the possession of Craig Thompson in 1972. - Lot 909: William Shatner Capt. Kirk tunic from Star Trek: The Original Series
Estimate $80,000 – $100,000; Highest bid $80,000 ($98,400 including buyers premium). This item was discovered and thoroughly scrutinized by Alec Peters on his blog and authenticated. - Lot 914: Original screen-used USS Enterprise bridge panel from Star Trek: The Original Series
Estimate $20,000 – $30,000; Highest bid $20,000 ($24,600 including buyers premium). This item was previously sold in 2010 in the Propworx's "The official STAR TREK prop and costume auction" as lot 03 for $14,000.
Hollywood Auction 53: Drama, Action, Romance[]
Held on 15 and 16 December 2012 in Calabasis Hills, CA, this auction featured 902 lots originating from a variety of productions including 64 Star Trek lots in the range of 616 through 679. There were also two one-sheet posters included in lot 255.
Icons and Legends of Hollywood (2018)[]
Held from June 5 to 8, 2018, in Los Angeles, this auction featured at least 20 items used in several Star Trek productions. Many of the props in this megasale were identified to have come from the Planet Hollywood collection and at least a few of them have been displayed in their restaurant/establishments before: [29]
- Lot 825: Klingon tunic from Star Trek: The Original Series
Estimate $2,000 – $3,000 - Lot 826: Metallic jumpsuit worn by Leonard Nimoy as Spock in the TOS episode " The Tholian Web"
Estimate $12,000 – $15,000; Was formerly displayed in the Star Trek themed suite of the Planet Hollywood Las Vegas suite and is now located in the Costa Rica resort. [30] - Lot 827: Right-footed radiation suit boot worn by Leonard Nimoy as Spock in Star Trek: The Motion Picture
Estimate $1,000 – $1,500 - Lot 828: Wrist communicator from Star Trek: The Motion Picture
Estimate $1,500 – $2,500 - Lot 829: Orange emergency radiation helmet with yellow visor from Star Trek: The Motion Picture
Estimate $2,000 – 3,000; This version was formerly displayed in Planet Hollywood Myrtle Beach and was sold through their Amazon store. [31] - Lot 830: Orange emergency radiation helmet from Star Trek: The Motion Picture
Estimate $2,000 – 3,000 - Lot 831: Starfleet engineering bay helmet from Star Trek: The Motion Picture
Estimate $2,000 – 3,000 - Lot 832: Electrical panel from Star Trek: The Motion Picture
Estimate $1,000 – $1,500 - Lot 833: Medical device prop from Star Trek: The Motion Picture
Estimate $1,500 – $2,500 - Lot 834: Starship U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701-B background filming miniature from Star Trek: Generations
Estimate $10,000 – $15,000 - Lot 835: Starship U.S.S. Excelsior NX-2000 background filming miniature from Star Trek III: The Search for Spock
Estimate $8,000 – $12,000 - Lot 836: Computer chip panel from Star Trek: Generations
Estimate $600 – $800; Was later sold through Collectibles by Planet Hollywood on Amazon - Lot 837: Klingon mining laser rifle from Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country
Estimate $800 – $1,200; Was formerly displayed in the Star Trek suite of the Planet Hollywood Las Vegas resort. [32] - Lot 838: Facial appliances worn by Michael Dorn as Lt. Worf on Star Trek: The Next Generation
Estimate $2,000 – $3,000 Was later sold through Collectibles by Planet Hollywood on Amazon - Lot 839: Life-size Klingon corpse from Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country
Estimate $2,000 – $3,000; Was formerly displayed in the Star Trek suite of the Planet Hollywood Las Vegas resort. [33] - Lot 840: Klingon warrior knife from Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country
Estimate $600 – $800 - Lot 841: Klingon spear from Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country
Estimate $1,000 – $1,500 - Lot 842: Foam alien mask from Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country
Estimate $1,000 – $1,500; Was later sold through Collectibles by Planet Hollywood on Amazon - Lot 843: Klingon background mask from Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country
Estimate $1,000 – $1,500; Was later sold through Collectibles by Planet Hollywood on Amazon - Lot 844: Engineering tool from Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
Estimate $1,000 – $1,500 - Lot 845: Klingon "mek'leth" sword from Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
Estimate $600 – $800 - Lot 846: Doorbell panel from Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
Estimate $400 – $600 - Lot 1965: TV series and films (90+) photographs including those from Star Trek: The Original Series, Star Trek: The Next Generation, and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.
Estimate $200 – $300 - Lot 2062: Six blue line schematics from Star Trek: The Original Series that depict the U.S.S. Enterprise interiors and alien planet exteriors from episodes including "The Deadly Years," "Balance of Terror," "Journey to Babel," "Charlie X," and "Conscious of a King"
Estimate $200 – $200 - Lot 2063: Vintage lenticular game board from 1968 that features the U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701
Estimate $200 – $300 - Lot 2086: Gargantuan archive of vintage 35mm film frames and coming attraction trailers incuding one for Star Trek
Estimate $2,000 – $3,000 - Lot 2088: Massive archive of (20,000++) negatives, transparencies, and slides including those from Star Trek film series and "virtually all TV series"
Estimate $6,000 – $8,000
Icons and Legends of Hollywood (2019)[]
Held from September 25 to 29, 2019, in Los Angeles, this auction featured even more movie memorabilia from the collection of Planet Hollywood and a total of three Star Trek items went for sale during Day 1: [34]
- Lot 293: Olive green Starfleet "wraparound" tunic worn by William Shatner as Captain Kirk in the TOS episode "The Doomsday Machine"
Estimate $80,000 – $12,000 - Lot 294: Romulan boat-neck tunic from Star Trek: The Original Series
Estimate $800 – $1,200 - Lot 295: Original Type-2 phaser pistol from the TOS episode "Plato's Stepchildren," best known for containing the "first scripted international kiss on U.S. television"
Estimate $80,000 – $12,000; Sold from the collection of Nichelle Nichols who was gifted to it by NBC producer Fred Freiberger in 1972.
Icons and Legends of Hollywood (2020)[]
Held from November 12 to 13, 2020, in Los Angeles which featured yet even more props from the Planet Hollywood warehouse and at least 14 Star Trek items were sold on the first day: [35]
- Lot 63: Vast archive of (2000+) movie posters and promotional ephemera from the historic Luna Theater in Lowell, Massachusetts; including lobby cards for Star Trek: The Motion Picture and Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan
Estimate $6,000 – $8,000 - Lot 375: U.S.S. Enterprise large-scale illuminating display model crafted by WonderWorks from the studio production molds from Star Trek: The Motion Picture
Estimate $20,000 – $30,000; This item is the one that is on display in the Planet Hollywood restaurant of Las Vegas as noted by the "this item is located in the state of Nevada" disclaimer in the catalog. [36] - Lot 376: Klingon Battle Cruise miniature that was built for Star Trek Phase II and tested for Star Trek: The Motion Picture
Estimate $8,000 – $12,000 - Lot 377: Original artwork of Spock and Kirk made by Bob Peak for a 1967 issue of TV Guide
Estimate $8,000 – $12,000 - Lot 378: Hero working Kelvan belt device worn by Barbara Bouchet as Kelinda and Warren Stevens as Rojan in the TOS episode " By Any Other Name"
Estimate $6,000 – $8,000 - Lot 379: Production used clapperboard from the set of Star Trek: The Motion Picture with the names of Robert Wise and Richard H. Kline, the date 11/28/1978, and take number 10858
Estimate $1,000 – $1,500 - Lot 380: Vintage original artwork of the U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701-A made by Keith Birdsong for a sries of limited edition Hamilton collector's plates titled "The Voyagers"
Estimate $2,500 – $3,000 - Lot 381: Prop Phaser pistol used in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan
Estimate $2,000 – $3,000; This item is the one that is on display in the Planet Hollywood restaurant of Las Vegas as noted by the "this item is located in the state of Nevada" disclaimer in the catalog. [37] - Lot 382: Klingon spear from Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country
Estimate $800 – $1,200 - Lot 383: Starfleet duty uniform tunic worn by Brent Spiner as Data on Star Trek: The Next Generation
Estimate $8,000 – $12,000; This item is the one that is on display in the Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino Las Vegas as noted by the "this item is located in the state of Nevada" disclaimer in the catalog. [38] - Lot 384: Prop gold pressed Latinum ingot from Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
Estimate $200 – $300 - Lot 385: Tribble food in specimen jar from the DS9 episode " Trials and Tribble-ations"
Estimate $300 – $500 - Lot 386: Starfleet "Operations division uniform worn by John Alex Tampoya as Kashimuro Nozawa on Star Trek: Voyager
Estimate $1,000 – $1,500 - Lot 387: Starfleet Communicator used in Star Trek (2009)
Estimate $1,500 – $2,500
Prop Store[]
Prop Store is a British film and TV prop collection and sales company, operating out of London, UK, and maintaining a subsidiary branch in Los Angeles, California. Established as "The Propstore of London" in 1998 by founder Stephen Lane, the auction house is conceived along similar lines of its US Profiles in History counterpart.
A difference was that the auction house, as its name already implied, operates an online store where consigners of items that went unsold at their initial auctions could offer up these unsold items for sale if they so desired. This service is still being offered as of late. [39]
Alec Peters has noted though, that the surcharges the auction house employed for it services were steep, ranging from nearly 50% for EU customers to 25% for US customers on top of the hammer price, but the latter were also charged 20% VAT on top of the total price, shipping included, for those items that were auctioned off in UK venues. [40] This made participating in the Prop Store auctions a very expensive proposition for auction winners in comparison to the US counterparts.
From the mid-2010s onward, the auction house attracted the attention of former MythBusters host, Adam Savage, who became a regular visitor of the auctioneer's warehouse. A former professional propmaker himself, Savage filmed pre-auction videos of selected props and studio models on these occasions (including some of the Star Trek franchise), usually accompanied by explanatory comments from founder Lane or a staff member, and had them posted on his "Tested" YouTube channel. [41]
Prop Store became notable, as it has from 2017 onward been chosen by the franchise itself as their preferred auction house to liquidate their surplus Star Trek production assets, after having experimented with Julien's Auctions in 2010. But other third-party asset owners started to increasingly find their way to the auction house as well, helped by the favorable contemporary media coverage by such luminaries as Adam Savage in particular, causing Prop Store to rapidly surpass the traditional Profiles in History auction house in scope where Hollywood memorabilia are concerned, for the same reasons former production staff began preferring Heritage Auctions over Profiles – which does not receive any media coverage at all anymore.
Star Trek Live Auction – Star Trek and Star Trek Into Darkness (2017)[]
Announced on 26 October 2017, this auction was held in Valencia, California on 2 December 2017, featuring 400 lots, including props and costumes, all originating from the production of the first two alternate reality Star Trek films, Star Trek and Star Trek Into Darkness, and constituted the auction house's first specialized Star Trek auction.
- Lot 14: SFX Electronic Starfleet Phaser from Star Trek Into Darkness
Estimate: $5,000-$10,000 - Lot 43: Lieutenant Uhura's Enterprise Operations Uniform from Star Trek Into Darkness
Estimate: $4,000 – $6,000 - Lot 75: Captain Kirk's Enterprise Command Uniform from Star Trek Into Darkness
Estimate: $5,000 – $10,000 - Lot 373: Mr. Spock's Light-Up Cold fusion device and accessories
Estimate: $4,000 – $6,000
Star Trek: Discovery Seasons 1 & 2 Online Auction (2021)[]
Prop Store held this online auction between 2 September 2021 and 16 September 2021, where 241 lots were put up for auction, consisting of original costumes, props, and set decorations from the first and second seasons of Star Trek: Discovery and the companion series, Star Trek: Short Treks. Lot #2 of the auction featured a pair of latex prosthetic Vulcan ears worn by Leonard Nimoy as Spock in Star Trek Into Darkness. [42]
Star Trek: Picard Seasons 1 & 2 Online Auction (2022)[]
Between 15 November 2022 and 29 November 2022 Prop Store held another Star Trek specific online auction, where 303 lots were put up for auction, consisting of original costumes, props, and set decorations from the first and second seasons of Star Trek: Picard. Each item came with a Certificate of Authenticity signed by series Executive Producer, Alex Kurtzman. Some items of note with results were, [43]
- Lot #022: Data (Brent Spiner) "Daughter" with Back Turned Hand-Painted Framed Painting from Season 1, Est. US$6,000-8,000; Highest bid US$68,750 (most undervalued lot)
- Lot #025: Dahj and Soji Asha (Isa Briones) Omega Necklace from Season 1, Est. US$3,000-5,000; Highest bid US$2,125
- Lot #068: Romulan Black Ops Sneak Attack Open Dual Disruptor from Season 1, Est. $3,000-$5,000; Highest bid US$1,625
- Lot #073: Elnor Stunt Romulan Warrior Costume with Stunt Tan Qalankh Sheathed Sword and Leather Harness from Season 1, Est. US$3,000-5,000; Highest bid US$3,438
- Lot #102: Seven of Nine (Jeri Ryan) Light-up Phaser Rifle from Season 1, Est. US$8,000-12,000; Highest bid US$20,000
- Lot #110: Narek (Harry Treadaway) Open Impossible Box from Season 1, Est. $3,000-$5,000; Highest bid US$2,250
- Lot #160: Romulan Mother of All Disruptors from Season 2, Est. US$6,000-8,000; Highest bid US$1,500
- Lot #165: Jean-Luc Picard Stunt Coppelius Costume with La Sirena Combadge from Season 1, Est. $3,000-$5,000; Highest bid US$1,125
- Lot #188: Guinan (Whoopi Goldberg) Meeting with Jean-Luc Picard Costume from Season 2, Est. US$2,500-3,500; Highest bid US$8,750
- Lot #198: Admiral Jean-Luc Picard Stunt Starfleet Uniform with Production-Quality Replica Combadge from Season 2, Est. US$5,000-7,000; Highest bid US$55,000 (second most undervalued lot)
- Lot #201: Chateau Picard Oval Bourgogne Wine Cask from Season 1, Est. US2,500-3,500; Highest bid US$1,750
- Lot #204: General Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) Confederation Combadgefrom Season 2, Est. US$6,000-8,000; Highest bid US$6,250
- Lot #211: Confederation StarCorps Static Phaser with Belt and Holster from Season 2, Est. US$4,000-6,000; Highest bid US$1,375
- Lot #244: Agnes Jurati "Borgati" Stunt Borg Queen Costume from Season 2, Est. US$6,000-8,000; Highest bid US$6,875
- Lot #274: Young Jean-Luc Picard (Dylan Von Halle) Skeleton Key from Season 2, Est. $3,000-$5,000; Highest bid US$6,250
Propworx, Inc.[]
Propworx, Inc.(X) was an auction house specializing in the sale of Hollywood science fiction memorabilia, run by Alec Peters, a noted American memorabilia collector of the genre. Peters founded his company in 2008 when he was given the exclusive rights to facilitate the sale of the production assets of the Battlestar Galactica franchise. The two auctions held in 2009 were well received and Propworx was commissioned to facilitate the sales of other genre franchises such as the Galactica spin-off Caprica , Iron Man, and Stargate. Apart from these, Propworx, also handled the sale of the larger set pieces of the defunct Las Vegas Star Trek: The Experience exhibition in the "STAR TREK: THE EXPERIENCE Warehouse Sale" on 10 April 2010. [44] This was a prelude to Propworx's first specialized Star Trek auction.
On 22 August 2012 Peters announced the closure of his auction house, [45] though he kept the official site "live" for the time being until it too went dark around 2018. Nonetheless, Peters continued to organize subsequent memorabilia auctions through online internet auctioneer Live Auctioneers afterwards, while concurrently maintaining a dedicated Facebook page under the original name. [46] [47]
The official STAR TREK prop and costume auction[]
Held in Las Vegas on 8 August 2010, this auction featured 450 lots, given in consignment to Propworx from the personal collections of, among others, Doug Drexler, Rick Sternbach, and Mike and Denise Okuda, as well as some leftover items from the "Experience" sale. The auction was accompanied by a deluxe hardcover auction catalog embellished with interviews with the consignors and artwork by Drexler. Some items of note were:
- Lot 02(X): Spock's Prosthetic Vulcan Ear Appliances
Estimate: $4,000 – $6,000; Highest bid: $3,600 (with buyer's premium) - Lot 11(X): Kirk Space Suit Model
Estimate: $8,000 – $10,000; Highest bid: $8,000 (with buyer's premium) - Lot 12(X): Starship Enterprise Study model
Estimate: $1,000 – $2,000; Highest bid: $3,500 (with buyer's premium) - Lot 22(X): Observation lounge Model of TOS Enterprise
Estimate: $400 – $800; Highest bid: $8,400 (with buyer's premium, the most undervalued item of the auction) - Lot 37(X): Klingon Warrior Costume
Estimate: $3,000 – $4,000; Highest bid: $7,200 (with buyer's premium) - Lot 73(X): Shuttlecraft Nenebek Model
Estimate: $1,000 – $2,000; Highest bid: $4,800 (with buyer's premium)
STAR TREK auction[]
The second specialized Star Trek auction facilitated by Propworx was held on 4 June 2011. The auction followed the same pattern as the previous one, featuring lots given in consignment by many of the same people as before. The format, however, differed in that instead of holding a live auction, internet auctioneer Live Auctioneers was subcontracted to auction off the lots on line, providing potential buyers the possibility to submit bids from 12 May 2011 until closure on 4 June 2011. The volume offered in this auction was about half of the previous one, 257 lots, not surprisingly perhaps as the consignors were mostly the same. The majority of them were costumes, hand-held props, and smaller production material items. As with the earlier that year held Profile's "Hollywood Auction #44", it was remarkable that a larger portion than usual went unsold and that virtually all items sold within their estimates, indicating that for the time being the largest Star Trek collecting frenzy had passed. Lots of some note were:
- Lot 1: Star Trek TOS matte painting
Estimate: US$8,000 – $12,000; Highest bid: US$12,000 ($14,760 with buyer's premium) - Lot 45: Star Trek Starship USS Excelsior Study Model
Estimate: US$1,000 – $2,000; Highest bid: US$1,400 ($1,722 with buyer's premium) - Lot 52: Star Trek: First Contact Phaser Rifle
Estimate: US$3,000 – $4,000; Highest bid US$4,000 ($4,920 with buyer's premium) - Lot 99: Star Trek: The Next Generation Egg Probe
Estimate: US$800 – $1,200; Highest bid: US$1,600 ($1,968 with buyer's premium) - Lot 104: Star Trek: The Next Generation Orbital Graphic Translight
Estimate: US$300 – $400; Highest bid: US$1,400 ($1,722 with buyer's premium, the most undervalued lot)
STAR TREK auction III[]
The third specialized Star Trek auction facilitated by Propworx was held on 24 March 2012. As with the previous edition, it was an Internet-only auction, again facilitated by Live Auctioneers. It was also the smallest one to date, featuring 91 lots, whereby it was noteworthy that the larger items such as the majority of the costumes and "set" pieces were not production-used items, but rather leftovers from "The Experience" exhibition. The ones that were production-used consisted mainly of props and production art. Virtually all lots sold within their estimates. Some items of note were:
- Lot 5: Star Trek: TMP Class-B Starfleet Uniform
Estimate: $1,000 – $2,000; Highest bid: $950 ($1,169 with buyer's premium) - Lot 19: Star Trek: TOS Small Baby Tribble
Estimate: $1,000 – $2,000; Highest bid: $750 ($923 with buyer's premium) - Lot 36: Star Trek: Deep Space Nine T'Lani Bunker
Estimate: $1,000 – $2,000; Highest bid: $1,000 ($1,230 with buyer's premium) - Lot 59: Star Trek Velara III Matte Painting
Estimate: $1,500 – $2,000; Highest bid: $1,800 ($2,214 with buyer's premium)
External links[]
- The Star Trek Auction Listings Archive – an archive of past Star Trek auction items with results
- Star Trek Prop, Costume & Auction Authority – Noted collector Gerald Gurian's blog and archive of past Star Trek auction items with results as well as entries about the history of props, studio models, exhibitions et al.
- The Star Trek Prop, Costume and Auction Blog(X) – Alec Peter's defunct blog about collecting Star Trek props and costumes, which has frequent updates on the current It's a Wrap auctions on eBay; there was also a collecting and auction forum here(X)