It's a Wrap eBay auctions - Week 62 Results

Week 62 Results

(58th week of IAW auctions)

While this is the 58th week of auctions, It is listed as Week 62 to be consistent with the Star Trek Auctions Archive.

Forum member Star Trek Prop, Costume & Auction Forum members dominated the top end of this week's auctions. If you aren't a member of the forum, you aren't in the know, so come and join!

The top costume of the week was the TNG Geordi LaForge Uniform and Visor Lot at $ 4,055. This was his costume from Generations and so I like it a lot because it was the only time was saw Geordi in this style uniform. The costume came with the VISOR as well as a comm badge, rank pips and boots, which makes it complete. A costume like this is very desirable and the resulting price is often more than the pieces due to a perceived higher value.

We saw a similar costume without the VISOR go for $ 1,582 in week 21, putting the VISOR/comm badge/pips premium at about $ 2,500. For a rubber stunt VISOR I guess that is about right, as I have to think a hero VISOR is well over $ 5,000 itself. Overall a decent buy (I must say).

At $ 2,180, the Ezri Dax First Contact Style Starfleet Uniform went about where previous versions have. Lyn from the Star Trek Prop, Costume & Auction Forum won this and I know she was happy with her catch! These are great looking costumes that look awesome on display.

The Dr. Crusher Naval Uniform at $ 1,726 was a good deal for a beautiful costume. This was about where the previous Data stunt version went for. These are pretty nice costumes and a good price for a costume with so much detail.

The T'Pol costume from "A Night in Sickbay" went for a very reasonable $ 1,300. T'Pol costumes are expensive in general, so this was a great deal, even though it wasn't one of her regular jumpsuits, which all go over $ 3,000 minimum.

The Garak Stunt Costume was from "The Way of the Warrior" and also the costume used as the model for the Action figures! At $ 1,247 I think it was a tad high for a stunt costume, but not unreasonable as I think it is an important (though a bit loud!) Garak costume. Heck, Dave from the Forum outbid me on this one! The hero version went earlier this year for $ 4,250 (I was underbidder on that one too!).

I really liked (and again was outbid on) the TNG Starfleet Flag Officer's costume at $ 1,135. This one was a beauty and came with rank pins and a comm badge (though broken). A great deal on a great looking costume that will look awesome on display.

The TNG Dr. Soong Costume from "Inheritance" was cool and wound up in another Forum member's collection. At $ 1,081 it was about right for a Data fan.

The sixth Kirk Rock Climbing Costume was sold for a very reasonable $ 1,050. These have gone in various conditions for upwards of $ 3,600. One was even shill bid up to $ 2,900 (I am not saying by whom!) and then relisted 4 weeks later and sold for $ 1,680. At the closing price for this one of $ 1,050, I think it was a very good deal and the buyer should be pleased.

Finally, my good friend Chrissy from Australia scored the deal of the week when she stole the Insurrection/Nemesis Dress Uniform for $ 710! This was a crazy cheap price on a great costume. Way to go Chrissy!


As far as props go:

The Starfleet Style Desktop Computer was way over priced at $ 4,400. The photos were awful, and I have no idea why IAW didn't have a decent phot of the entire prop. If this was Picard's, it might be worth $ 5,000. But just a random one, is a $ 2,500 prop. How it got such a high price with such crappy photos is frankly beyond me!

The Enterprise E Turbolift controls went a bit high at $ 1,527. These were nice, but small. One had a cool graphic of the bridge on it. I think these should have gone at half of what they did.

The Hero Reman Rifle went for a healthy $ 1,225, which I think is a good price for a hero light-up version. I own one of these and they are beautiful pieces.

Commander Tucker's Bulletin Board from his Quarters was a very nice piece with some great graphics. It came with more than was shown on the first photos, so if you spent the time reading through the description, you realized what a good lot this was.

The Voyager Briefing Room Chair went for a healthy $ 905, which I can;t argue with as these are nice chairs, and I would love to be able to use one for my desk at work!

THIS WEEK'S AWARDS:

Best Costume of the Week: The TNG Geordi LaForge Uniform and Visor Lot at $ 4,055.

Best Prop of the Week: Despite being way overpriced, the Starfleet Style Desktop Computer at $ 4,400 was the best prop.

Best Buy of the week: The Insurrection/Nemesis Dress Uniform for $ 710 was a STEAL!

Worst Buy of the week: The Starfleet Style Desktop Computer at $ 4,400 was WAY high.

Sleeper of the Week: The Star Trek: TMP Class B Security Uniform at $ 449 was a great deal.


HIGHEST PRICED ITEM THAT SOLD

Star Trek: TNG Starfleet Style Desktop Computer at $ 4,400

Star Trek: TNG Geordi LaForge Uniform and Visor Lot at $ 4,055

Star Trek: DS9 Ezri Dax First Contact Style Starfleet Uniform at $ 2,180

Star Trek: Generations Dr. Crusher Naval Uniform at $ 1,726

Star Trek: Enterprise E Turbolift controls at $ 1,527.


Join the live chat on the Star Trek Prop, Costume and Auction Forum during the auctions each week.


Alec

Alledged TOS Tricorder on ebay - Mark English replica?

Well, what is claimed to be an original TOS Tricorder is up for sale again on eBay. The item comes with no provenance and a questionable COA. The Tricorder appears to many who know TOS props to be a Mark English fake. Interestingly, the members over at The Trek Prop Zone, who are some of the most knowledgeable and scholarly TOS prop collectors, have unanimously stated that this is a Mark English fake.

For those of you who don't know, there was a chap in the 80's who made very good copies of TOS props, even went to the length of aging them to make them appear old, and sold them as real. His name was Mark English. Many Star Trek collectors were taken in, and still are. (The B&W Phaser in the Azarian Collection is most likely an ME fake).

Even the former owner of the current Tricorder claimed that the Tricorder is indeed a Mark English fake.

Now, it is not only that the vast majority of the Star Trek prop collecting population who are knowledgeable here state this is a replica, but most collectors' find the terms of sale questionable.

Jason DeBord, who authors the Original Prop Blog, stated the case against the way this item is being sold on the forum and on his blog:

1) A savvy original prop collector (which the seller clearly appears to be) would not likely list a five figure important and iconic prop such as this for sale on eBay - it makes no business sense. Such a piece would be consigned with a reputable auction house, and subsequently, be required to stand up to the further public scrutiny of the collecting world. A seasoned collector would take the time, energy, and expense to have it professionally authenticated by the top expert(s) in the field. The more solid provenance, the higher the market value. With a prop such as this, provenance is everything.

2) The marketing description in the auction is dense with text, information, and opinions, but when it comes down to it, all there seems to be in terms of provenance is a COA from a long defunct auctioneer. Most of the comments provided by the seller have no relevance to provenance and authenticity, and in many instances are distractions and misleading (namedropping other auction houses, talking about extensive research and reference materials, and references to other tools that are apparently not applicable or employed with regards to the prop actually offered).

3) No mention is made of the many fake TOS pieces in the marketplace, the unfortunate reality that an iconic piece such as a tricorder is more likely fake than authentic, and that such pieces have been falsely authenticated by prop dealers, experts, and even current and reputable auction houses.

4) The seller showcases the values realized for presumed authentic examples of such a piece at Profiles in History, yet the seller lists his on eBay for well below the true market value of a genuine piece - still a remarkable sum of money for any prop - yet it comes across as a sales tactic to induce a novice or casual collector into believing that they can buy this piece and consign it with Profiles and make a lot of money.

6) Citation of the Business Wire as well as the “Movie Poster Almanac” as authorities on the reputation of the seller’s source, Heather Holmberg Auctions, as an original prop expert, when those entities do not in my opinion have the capacity to do so.

7) The boilerplate, “As Is” sales policy borrowed in part directly from the Profiles in History catalog and amended gives a potential buyer no recourse in the event the piece is not authentic.

So my suggestion is to stay away from this Tricorder.

The Tricorder on eBay:

Note the buttons:


An Original TOS Tricorder recently sold at Profiles in History's auction and with solid provenance:

And the one bought by Paul Allen and at the Sci Fi museum in Seattle: