The Star Trek Prop, Costume & Auction Forum hit 500 members a couple weeks ago. This after only 15 months on the net! The forum is the # 1 spot for collectors of original, screen used and production made props and costumes. If you read this blog and you aren't a member of the forum, you really should be. Why?
1) The biggest Star Trek prop & costume collectors are all members here. Forum members have dominated the It's A Wrap auctions. Most of the best Star Trek collections in the world are represented on the forum. The members don't just talk about props & costumes, we actually collect and treasure the stuff!
2) The best discussions happen on the forum. There are always active discussions about everything from prices to authentication to preservation. Have a question about something you own, or are thinking of buying? Forum members will help! Share your collection, get help with displaying costumes, find out which lighting is best. We discuss it all in a friendly, non-threatening manner.
3) No flame wars or get-a-lifers. Unlike other forums which we all have had to deal with, our forum doesn't have flame wars. We don't have members who feel it is necessary to insult you when they don't like your opinion, or feel that hiding behind a computer allows them to say whatever they want.
Why? Well, first of all, we are mature adults and this is a hobby. We are here to have fun. Second, we get together as a forum every year in Las Vegas at the Creation Star Trek Convention and host the Star Trek Prop & Costume Display that dozens of members take part in. We all try and meet up as often as we can at Star Trek events and conventions and actively promote the hobby in the real world, not just online. So there is a fellowship you won't find elsewhere. (Two members are even getting married on the Bridge this year).
4) Real props, not replicas. We deal in real, production-made and screen used props and costumes. While we may buy replica comm badges, rank pips or the occasional phaser when we need to finish a costume, you won't find many discussions about replicas on our forum. The Replica Prop Forum, The Trek Prop Zone and ASAP are all good places to talk about replicas.
5) Fraud Prevention and assistance. While other forums will talk about what is real and what is fake, we go out of our way to help collectors resolve their problems as well as not get into bad deals in the first place. We are continually looking out for our members, and then help them resolve issues. While other forums talked about the sale of a fake phaser on eBay a few months ago, our forum helped the buyer get his money back, and then even helped the seller get HIS money back when he found out the he had been taken too. We actively help the collecting community with DEEDS not just words. We also maintain a section of our site with reviews of sellers as well so collectors can find out about the reputation of sellers.
6) Expertise. STPC&A Forum members not only have more original Star Trek props and costumes than any other forum membership, but we have members who do significant research and know about the subject. Even IAW is now using forum member Jorg to help identify props. He has been doing it for forum members since last year. Give him ANY prop and he will not only tell you where it was used, but supply screen caps! Aaron Carlson is one of the top collectors of Maroon Officer's uniforms (and Star Trek V, but we don't bring that up much) and he can help you with questions on that subject. Jordino and Katie are Vulcan specialists. Even Star Trek production crew use the forum to help them with the sale of their own props and items from the show.
So if you aren't a member, you should be! We would love to have you. And thanks to everyone who has made the Star Trek Prop, Costume & Auction Forum the best!
Alec
73rd week of IAW auctions (auctions ending June 22nd)
While this is the 73rd week of auctions, It is titled Week 79 to be consistent with the Star Trek Auctions Archive.
So I am writing this blog entry in a Starbuck's in Issaquah, WA (just outside Seattle). I spent some time with a good buddy here before heading to Vancouver this week. Why am I heading to Vancouver? Well as they say in Battlestar Galactica...All will be revealed! (Well, if you are a member of the Star Trek Prop, Costume & Auction Forum, you already know)
I am still looking for other collectors to write blog articles! Come on folks! We need more content!!
The awesome T'Pol Desert Uniform went for a reasonable $ 4,100. My good buddy Dana won this and I think he paid about right. After the early insane prices on T'Pol costumes, due in large part to the now disappeared "maharanidiva" and suspicious shill bidders, these costumes have come down to reasonable levels. This costume was in Vegas for $ 5,000 last summer and Dana had his eye on it. Glad to see patience saved him money!
The 24th Century Klingon Warrior costume at $ 2,335 was a bit incomplete I think, as the square shoulder piece had no edging. But IAW is running out of these and so my buddy Willie from the UK (World's Greatest PADD Collector), got a decent deal on this, though sans boots. When you have one of these costumes on display, it really is the most impressive costume to behold. They are iconic and well made. They dominate any costume near them. Kind of like Klingons I guess!
The Odo costume from "Broken Link" was fascinating and went for a healthy $ 2,025. This costume reprsents when Odo has the disease affecting all Founders, implanted in him by Section 31. OK, I thought that was totally cool when you have been attacked and invaded by shapeshifters from another part of the galaxy. Don't give me any sappy WMD rationalization you liberal peaceniks! This was war, a war the Federation didn't start. You want a piece of us? Come and get it you sentient goo-creatures!
OK, sorry, I am calm now. So I thought the costume was very cool and I almost went for it, but I recently wone Solme Jens costume from teh final episode of DS9, so I thought I was done with DS9. Still, this costume really impressed me.
The Warlord's wife's costume from the Voyager episode "Muse" was really beautiful and went very high for a non-character costume at $ 1,653. A lot of us thought this costume was a beauty and I am not surprised at the price. If you take the time to look at all the photos (and you should) you will see the amazing detail and workmanship that went into this costume.
A Two Piece Command Red Starfleet Uniform went for a strong $ 1,635, showing that there is still a market for these at a high price. With every other background costume going well under $ 900, these continue to hover around $ 1,500. The reason? Well, they are closely 
associated with Picard, and everyone fancies themselves a Captain when they where a costume, so these are going to be in demand. Plus, they represent TNG and I think are almost iconic now.
The Surak-Father of Vulcan Logic costume went for a very cheap $ 1,525. I would have loved to have this, but knew forum member Jordino was a huge Vulcan fan. Missing for a few months, Jordino popped his head back up to snatch this awesome piece of Vulcan history at a bargain price. Pieces like this could easily go on the Star Trek Tour or a Star Trek museum.
The ISS Enterprise Terran Enterprise Starfleet Uniform Jumpsuit went for a very fair $ 1,185. With Terran Empire and Empire NX-01 patches, and attached black epaulets, these are really cool variants. I have an Avenger style in my collection and love it.
As far as props go:
The Borg Alcove went for $ 4,049, the week after being listed at a starting bid of $ 4,000 and not selling! Just shows you why you start the bidding out low and let the item find its natural price. Now I think this is worth the price, and if you have the room, very cool to display. They really make a centerpiece to any Star Trek home!
Captain Picard's Ready Room Fossilized Ammonite went for a healthy $ 2,550. Correctly identified by Jorg the identification master, this was a mainstay of Picard's ready room and so not surprising that it went so high.
Eline's Probe Shaped Necklace from "The Inner Light" was a STEAL at $ 870 and went to forum member Philip Gordon. This is the closest thing you folk are ever getting to a damn flute, so I expected this to go at twice this price!!! I really thing this was an awesome buy.
THIS WEEK'S AWARDS:
Best Costume of the Week: Clearly the T'Pol Desert Uniform at $ 4,100 was the class of the week.
Best Prop of the Week: The Borg Alcove at $ 4,049 was just way cool.Best Buy of the week: Eline's Probe Shaped Necklace from "The Inner Light" was a STEAL at $ 870
Worst Buy of the week: None! Keep up the good work and bid wisely!
Sleeper of the Week: The Surak-Father of Vulcan Logic costume at $ 1,525 was an awesome deal!
HIGHEST PRICED ITEM THAT SOLD
Star Trek: Enterprise T'Pol Desert Uniform at $ 4,100.
Star Trek: Voyager Borg Alcove at$ 4,049,
Star Trek: TNG Captain Picard's Ready Room Fossilized Ammonite at $ 2,550.
Star Trek: 24th Century Klingon Warrior costume at $ 2,335
Star Trek:DS9 Odo costume from "Broken Link" at $ 2,025.
Alec
