And even more on the Avery Brooks Comm badge

Star Trek Screen Used Sisko Comm Badge

Seems that this Avery autograph doesn't match either the ones I got directly from Avery, or the ones my good buddy Anthony got from Avery.

Still no one has ever heard of this type of document either.

Alec

More news on Avery Brooks Comm Badge

Star Trek Screen Used Sisko Comm Badge

Well, this seller sent me the photo you see here, claiming this is a COA signed by Avery Brooks. I don't know of any such type of document that Paramount would authorize, but that doesn't mean it is fake. So if anyone has any info on this, it would be greatly appreciated.

The Comm badge appears fake. I even got a phone call from prop maker Matt Cervantes, who used to work for HMS, who produced most of these comm badges. Matt said it looked fake to him, and he should know. We discussed the tells, and this badge just looks awful.

The back doesn't look like any comm badge I have or I have seen, and the depression where the Velcro sits looks totally wrong. Also, the Comm badges are usually not painted on back, and even when there is paint on the back, it isn't all over based on how they were held when painted.


Alec

Vegas Wrap Up

Well, just a couple of photos to wrap up the Vegas coverage. The first is of Katie and Steve's wedding. They had an awesome turnout, and I was bummed I had to miss it.


The Second photo shows the forum members who attended our Second Annual unofficial Star Trek Prop Forum dinner at Quark's Bar.

Back Row: Dana, Anthony, Austin, Daryl, Giles

Front Row: Steve, Francis, Susie, Katie (choking me), Willie, Susie, Matthew


Next year, we need even more of you to attend!

Alec

It's a Wrap eBay auctions - Week 86 Results

78th week of IAW auctions (auctions ending August 13th)

While this is the 78th week of auctions, It is titled Week 85 to be consistent with the Star Trek Auctions Archive.

BIG CHANGE THIS WEEK. I am now linking to Burt's Star Trek Auction Archive rather than eBay auctions ads since the eBay ads go away after 30 days, but Burt's Archive is forever! So every link below links not to the auction ad on eBay, but to the item on the archive. Frankly, I should have done this a long time ago.

There were 113 lots this week, but like Week 85, most of these lots are low-priced and not particularly interesting. We are seeing a lot of bits and pieces and smaller items. Set pieces seem to be a big part of each week (LCARS, button panels, etc.) Each week there are maybe 10 lots of any real interest, and this shows up on how few lots go for over $ 1,000.

Now I think this is simply the nature of the beast. IAW has been doing these auctions for about 20 months and they are running out of the great hero stuff.

The Worf Klingon Robe was a great item and won by Forum steamroller Donna. She has been racking up the wins lately. This is a great item and I think it will look great on display. You just need a good Worf Starfleet Uniform to display underneath it (the gold ops version would be best I think). At $ 2,437, this went for about where you might expect for such a cool and important item.

The Spock Whale Mind Meld Costume we have seen before, and obviously there were a bunch of these. What was cool was that IAW paired this with the Kirk version this week, so you could have bought both of them, which would make a pretty cool display. At $ 1,575 it was fairly priced and just $ 50 more than the Kirk!

Now the Admiral Kirk Whale Escape Costume sold for $ 1,525. We have seen a bunch of these before, both by themselves and with the Maroon costume Kirk wore in Star Trek III & IV. They are very recognizable and an important part of Star Trek history.

The Starfleet Flag Officer Uniform was a TNG era version and one I really liked. I suggest the winner talk to Brett Jones about a Comm Badge and rank pins. Brett did rank pins for my Admiral Janeway costume and they are amazing. This one went strong at $ 1,451. Not a bad deal, but more than we have seen. I am sure it wil llook awesome on display!

There was a nice Sulu Feature Film lot that even had a complete belt and it went CHEAP At $ 1,265.

Finally, I really liked the Vic Fontaine Tuxedo Lot from "Badda Bing, Badda Bang", one of the best Vic Fontaine DS9 episodes. At $ 1,136, Katie Harrison from the Star Trek Prop Forum won this right after she got married!


The Props:

The Ancient Klingon Bat'Leth was actually one of 3 Stunt "Sword of Kahless" built by Max Cervantes at HMS, the prop maker for much of Star Trek DS9 and Voyager, (the hero verson was built by Dragon Dronet out of metal). I spoke with Max on the phone the day before the auction ended and he pretty much confirmed what I knew after screen matching this black rubber over metal stunt version with the hero version from the DS9 episode. So I bid very high and won this at $3,450. I am pretty happy about this as it is one of my holy grails.


The Voyager Astrometrics Lab LCARS went for $ 1,125. This is interesting, but it isn't a traditional LCARS being mostly a big Hubble Telescope photo. I am not crazy about these (Unless it is the Eagle Nebula) but I think it will look impressive on someone's wall.

Another LCARS went for $995 and was about 3 1/2' wide. I actually liked this one better because it was bigger and had more cool LCARS graphics.

Finally, the Nemesis Argo Canon went for $851 which was pretty cheap for an awesome prop.


THIS WEEK'S AWARDS:

Best Costume of the Week: The Worf Klingon Robe at $ 2,437 was awesome!

Best Prop of the Week: The Ancient Klingon Bat'Leth at $ 3,450 was clearly the best prop.

Best Buy of the week: The B'Lanna Torres Forehead Mold at only $ 785 is a piece of Star Trek History!

Worst Buy of the week: None! Good job all!

Sleeper of the Week: The Borg Alcove Set Dressing for only $ 720!!


HIGHEST PRICED ITEM THAT SOLD

Star Trek: DS9 / Voyager Ancient Klingon Bat'Leth at $ 3,450

Star Trek: TNG Worf Klingon Robe at $ 2,437

Star Trek: IV Spock Whale Mind Meld Costume at $ 1,575

Star Trek: IV Admiral Kirk Whale Escape Costume at $ 1,525.

Star Trek: TNG Starfleet Flag Officer Uniform at $ 1,451

Alec

It's a Wrap eBay auctions - Week 85 Results

77th week of IAW auctions (auctions ending August 2nd)

While this is the 77th week of auctions, It is titled Week 85 to be consistent with the Star Trek Auctions Archive.

There were 97 auctions this week, and the total sales were about $ 32,000. There just weren't a lot of interesting items this week. Lots of parts of uniforms and other small stuff, and not very many interesting costumes. Seems like the quality of auctions is dipping significantly. We don't see a lot of unique stuff lately and we see a lot of "filler" auctions.

The TNG Command Red Starfleet Uniform went for a strong $ 2,036. It just goes to show how important this costume has become. There are way more of the collared versions, but these costumes hold a special place in our heart. And of course, everyone wants Command red.

Hoshi Sato's Starfleet Uniform went for a very reasonable $ 1,301. At this price you really can't go wrong. This is the type of item you all should be looking at; character costumes in the $ 1,000 - $ 1,500 range. You won't see those prices in 2 years.

The Dr. McCoy Feature Film Undershirt brought a strong $ 1,261. A lot for just a shirt, but not if you are trying to complete a McCoy uniform!

Chris from the Star Trek Prop Forum finally got a set of Nemesis Romulan Senator's Robes at a reasonable $ 911. These went over $ 1,500 for a short period of time, despite going in the $ 600 range 6 months ago. Still, a nice price as this included a wig and Romulan forehead.

Finally, the Guinan costume was an awesome buy at only $ 799. WOW! What a steal!

And that is about it for costumes!

The Props:

Captain Picard's Ready Room Desk went for a hefty, but well deserved $ 4,150. This will be an awesome prop for someone to have anchor their study! Congrats to MikeH2000 who has won some impressive items over the course of this auction.


The Star Trek VI Klingon Head Mask at $ 1,027 was about where these have been going. This one was a bit different, with a big beard.

The Enterprise E Bridge Chair at $ 899 was quite reasonable. Got to love these, but a bit harder to get excited about in my book. I want a desk chair!

The Andorian Console was actually a very good deal as it was almost 4' long. It went for only $ 660.

The Romulan Disruptor Rifle at $ 634 was a pretty good deal even though it was rubber.


Yeah, not a lot to look at prop wise. Lots of small stuff.

THIS WEEK'S AWARDS:

Best Costume of the Week: The TNG Command Red Starfleet Uniform at $ 2,036 wasn't particularly special, but we are seeing how in demand this style is.

Best Prop of the Week: Captain Picard's Ready Room Desk was a beauty!

Best Buy of the week: The Guinan costume at only $ 799 was a STEAL!

Worst Buy of the week: None! Good job all!

Sleeper of the Week: The Andorian Console at $ 660 was almost 4' long and pretty cool!


HIGHEST PRICED ITEM THAT SOLD

Star Trek: Captain Picard's Ready Room Desk at $ 4,150.

Star Trek: TNG Command Red Starfleet Uniform at $ 2,036

Star Trek: Enterprise Hoshi Sato's Starfleet Uniform at $ 1,301.

Star Trek: Feature Film Dr. McCoy Feature Film Undershirt at $ 1,261

Star Trek: VI Klingon Head Mask at $ 1,027


Alec

More IAW and Direct Sales

Well, a few people have said IAW has told them they are not doing Direct Sales anymore. I have left Colin a voice mail to confirm.

But to those of you who wonder, I first contacted IAW last summer about this direct sale I did my blog post on. IAW took their time (they were buried at the time, and hadn't trimmed down their staff at that point), and finally this past march I got to inspect the items I had wanted, and then they sat there while I waited for other things they owed me to show up before I finally paid for the direct sale. So it really was a year long sales cycle.

Also, I am told by two forum members that they wanted items that they asked Colin about in Vegas, and instead of selling them direct, Colin put the items up at auction this past week. Both members were perfectly happy with that solution.

And if you still want to bitch, about 1 in 5 people polled heard about the IAW auctions through my blog. I am their # 1 source of advertising. So maybe they wanted to do something nice for me (and thanks to Dom and Colin for doing the sale) as a way to show their appreciation.

More auction reviews this weekend.

Alec

IAW and Direct Sales

Everyone who knows me, and has been reading this blog or is a member of my forum knows I go out of my way to help other collectors. Well I had a few nasty comments on the blog from someone who wasn't happy that I did a direct sale deal with IAW. Of course he didn't bother to sign his name, just went off on a rant how I was cheating him out of the chance to buy the stuff on eBay.

Well, IAW has been doing direct sales deals with people since the earliest days of the auction. If you know what you want, you can contact IAW and ask them if they have it, and Colin usually gets back to you quickly. IAW did a huge direct sale deal with Back Lot Props and even sold Dave, the owner, a Captain Kirk Maroon! Yeah, go figure. Many of my buddies from the forum have gotten stuff direct for their collections. I always encourage people all the time to ask Colin if they have a special want. Plus, IAW is at Vegas every year selling direct. Should we feel bad we get an opportunity to buy stuff that others who don't go to Vegas have no shot at? Give me a break!

IAW does direct sales. They have made that clear. So some bozo feels I am a bad guy for taking them up on their offer? Get a life (to borrow a phrase).

Alec

My Direct Sale Order from IAW Arrives

When I was home in Atlanta about two weeks ago, just before the Vegas Con, I received my pretty large direct sale order form IAW. I had been working on this for months with Colin and Dom. I had a few very specific pieces I had wanted for some time. Colin bulldogged this for me for months and at the March Burbank Grand Slam Con, he brought the items so I could check them out. It was kind of like a drug deal, with my English buddy Willie Bath and dealer Ken Friedman and I checking out our items from the hatchback of Colin's car in the Marriot's parking lot.

Dom also agreed to sell me the last Captain costume I needed, Captain Archer's jumpsuit from "These Are the Voyages". It is the last regular jumpsuit he wears from the final episode of Enterprise, and has the signature double patch and epaulets on the shoulders. It came with rank pips and boots! This was a great costume, because each of my Captain's costumes is something special. My Kirk is from the Motion Picture, and acomplete jumpsuit with integral boots. My Picard is the one he wears in Generations on Veridian III when Kirk dies, my Sisko is a standard Black and Gray, but I love that style as many of you know! And my Janeway is her Admiral costume from "Nemesis". SO this Archer fits right in.

I also got my Nog Holy Grail. Yeah I have a Holy Grail for my World Class Nog collection :-) I already own Nog's caset, his black and gray officer costume and his very rare dress uniform from Worf and Jadzia's wedding scene in "You are Cordially Invited". So the one Nog costume I didn't have was when Nog is Captain of the Defiant in the future in the AWESOME DS9 episode "The Visitor". This is the future style Starfleet costume we see in TNG's final episode "All Good Things" and Voyager's final episode "End Game". Colin dug this out after he initially didn't think he had it. (I had been asking for about a year!). I am really fired up about this one as it not only completes my Nog collection, but I have a nice selection of this style, including Bashir's blue version from "The Visitor", Miral Paris and Janeway from "Endgame" and some background versions. Fair enough to say I like this style!

I also got the two Phaser Rifle's I really needed for my collection. The first is the "First Contact" style EVA Rifle which I have been after for almost a year. Dom finally cut me a great deal and so this hero version now sits with my other Phaser Rifles. It is a beauty and really worth the price I paid. Colin also hooked me up with a Great Type 3b, which was the standard Phaser Rifle from First Contact and Insurrection. I had a rubber stunt version I sold to a friend last year and Colin REALLy hooked me up (Thanks Colin!). Mine is a hero version that lights up all over.


I also got an Enterprise Starfleet Plasma Rifle. Now I only need a DS9 Type 3 Phaser Rifle and I have the entire Starfleet Rifle collection (with the exception of a TOS Rifle, which I will have to settle for a replica of!).

Finally, my buddy Willie Bath helped dig out a couple of Klingon Phaser Rifles from Colin's vaults! I had been after this forever and Willie got Colin to find not one, but two! I got one that didn't have the front section, but Willie is going to let me borrow his to have copies made to complete mine. I am really fired up about this VERY rare item!

Battlestar Galactica Prop & Costume Auction

I write this blog post from the Vancouver Film Studios, where I am working cataloging the props & costumes for Battlestar Galactica. I assume most of you are fans of this show, since it really is spectacular. Well, now, as the Star Trek auctions slow down and come to an end, we have another opportunity to dig into our home equity. So here is a brief update:

The first Live Auction will be in January, most likely at the Pasadena Convention Center. It will be a Thursday Preview Day with Friday-Saturday-Sunday being the auction days. The Live Auction will be webcast and you will be able to bid online.

There is some great stuff we will have including FULL SIZE ships (everyone needs a Viper in their Garage!), costumes, props and more. And yes, there are inexpensive props that will go around $ 100 as well as stuff that will be very hotly contested!

So check out the web site:

www.battlestarprops.com


Alec

Cool Item of the Week - Week 81

Each week, the members of the Star Trek Prop, Costume & Auction Forum nominate and vote on what is the coolest item of that week. The winner gets the world famous "Cool Item of the Week" award!

There was no Week 80.

Week 81:

In a tight race, the Guinan Costume won by a nose over the Generations Enterprise B Media Kit.


Alec

Cool Item of the Week - Week 79

Each week, the members of the Star Trek Prop, Costume & Auction Forum nominate and vote on what is the coolest item of that week. The winner gets the world famous "Cool Item of the Week" award!

Week 79:

In a week of amazing items, Eline's Probe Shaped Necklace from "The Inner Light" took the award!

Alec

Star Trek Props for your Final Voyage!

A company called "Enternal Image" is selling Star Trek products for your dearly departed (or your future planning). A Star Trek licensed urn and casket are two of the products of this company that claims to sell "Products that celebrate the passions of life". You can have your ashes buried in the Star Trek Urn for $ 799, or for those of us who want to be launched onto the Genesis Planet (or your local cemetery) there is the Photon Torpedo Casket complete with Starfleet insignia.

Boldly go into the afterlife!

Cool Item of the Week - Week 78

Each week, the members of the Star Trek Prop, Costume & Auction Forum nominate and vote on what is the coolest item of that week. The winner gets the world famous "Cool Item of the Week" award!

Week 78:

How can you argue with something as iconic as the Dr. David Marcus costume from Star Trek II: TWOK?




Alec

eBay Fraud Alert - Fake Comm Badge

Star Trek Screen Used Sisko Comm Badge

You know, I hate it when sellers try and defraud Star Trek fans, and this seller, depressed-donkey, has been suspicious for some time. This Comm badge he claims was used by Avery Brooks in "Trials and Tribulations", but he supplies no evidence for this. He doesn't say how he knows it was used by Avery, or how he came into possession of it. He claims it comes with a COA, but doesn't state whose COA (his is surely worthless).

Moreover, the Comm badge appears fake! Look at the back, it doesn't look like any comm badge I have, and the depression where the Velcro sits looks totally wrong. Also, the Comm badges are usually not painted on back, and even when there is paint on the back, it isn't all over based on how they were held when painted.



So, in summary:

1) There is no evidence supplied this was ever used by Avery

2) There is no provenance to show how he got it.

3) It doesn't look real because of the casting around the Velcro

4) The back is painted incorrectly


This seller has done this before selling allegedly screen used Data items. I urge you to BE SMART.

Remember, the burden of proof is on the SELLER to prove an item is real and this seller has failed miserably.

Alec

Forum Members dominante Vegas Con!

Well, for the second year in a row, the Star Trek Prop, Costume & Auction Forum, the best resource for Star Trek prop collectors, made its presence felt at the Star Trek Las Vegas Convention this past week.

Starting with Katie and Steve's wedding Wednesday, the Star Trek prop Forum members were everywhere from Quark's bar, to the costume contest, to the now famous Prop & Costume Booth! We all made new friends, connected names to faces, drank too much, ate too much, and had a blast.

What separates The Star Trek prop, Costume & Auction Forum from any other forum on the Internet is not just the quality of people, but the way we all get together whenever we can to have fun and share our hobby! You are all the best!

Alec

The newlyweds!

What a fun wedding!

Susie and Francis

Francis, the Cowgers, the Williams

Giles, Baaron, Susie, Francis, Jim and his wife Susan

Francis and Cardassian Katie

More Vegas....Susie takes home the gold!

Well, the Star Trek Prop Forum's very own Susie won the Vegas Star Trek Convention's Saturday night costume contest and took home a $ 1,000 first prize! Her costume, a TOPS Pilot Talosian, was AWESOME! As soon as I saw her I knew she would win. Congrats Susie!

For better pics and a photo guide to how Susie made the head, go here.

Susie with Forum member Darrin

Susie with Forum member Francis, in his Quark costume

Francis (without his Ferengi make-up) and Colin from IAW

Vegas Con kicks off...

Well, I couldn't make it to the first few days of this year's Las Vegas Star Trek Convention, but Forum stalwarts Daryl Christiansen, Dana Hammontree (along with his son Austin) and Anthony Sforza, picked up the slack and have set up the Startrekprops.com booth this year. It is a lot of hard work, and they have been busting their butts and sacrificing their convention time to share props and costumes with the Star Trek masses. They deserve a big round of thanks!

Anthony, Dana, Austin and Daryl

Katie gets made up as a Cardassian by make-up expert Tim Vittletoe

"Do you believe this crap IAW is selling?"

The Booth

Vegas attendees gawk at the props!

My next venture.....

NBC UNIVERSAL TELEVISION, DVD, MUSIC, AND CONSUMER PRODUCTS GROUP TEAMS WITH PROPWORX TO AUCTION OFF COSTUMES, PROPS AND SET PIECES FROM SCI FI CHANNEL’S HIT SERIES “BATTLESTAR GALACTICA”

More Than 3000 One-of-a-Kind Items Including “Admiral Adama’s” Uniform And “Starbuck’s” Flight Suit Will Be Offered In Two Live Auctions and Several Online Auctions To Coincide With The Final Episodes of the Series

Burbank, CA - July 24, 2008 — NBC Universal Television, DVD, Music and Consumer Products Group and Propworx are teaming to auction off props, costumes and key memorabilia from Sci Fi Channel’s hit series “Battlestar Galactica.” The award-winning drama, currently in its fourth and final season, will present its remaining 10 episodes early next year and as the series draws to a close, fans will have a chance to bid on more than 3,000 items including costumes, props and set pieces that range from the uniform worn by “Admiral William Adama” (Edward James Olmos) to a life-sized Centurion costume.

NBC Universal and Propworx will conduct two live auctions in Los Angeles, along with a series of Internet auctions at www.battlestarprops.com , in tandem with the airing of the final episodes. Items that will be available to purchase include a wide variety of costumes and props that fans have come to know and love, including the flight suits worn by “Starbuck” (Katee Sackhoff) and “Apollo” (Jamie Bamber), several life sized Vipers and Raptors and Cylon Raiders, as well as pieces of the Combat Information Center (CIC).

“‘Battlestar Galactica’ is an incredible series that has drawn critical praise as well as tremendous fan support,” said Stacey Ward, Director, NBC Universal Television, DVD, Music and Consumer Products Group. “We are really proud to be able to give fans a chance to bid on their favorite costume, prop or a piece of the set in this unique auction setting.”

“This is an amazing opportunity for the passionate and loyal fans of ‘Battlestar Galactica’ to own a piece of their favorite show,” said Alec Peters, chief executive officer of Propworx. “There will be something for everyone in every price range. If you saw it on the show, we will most likely be selling it!”

About “Battlestar Galactica”
Battlestar Galactica is the gripping saga of humanity’s last remnants and their struggle to find a new home while fleeing from their deadly Cylon enemies. Redefining the space opera with its gritty realism, Galactica’s intensity, issues-driven topicality, and command performances have garnered it numerous awards, including an Emmy® and the prestigious George Foster Peabody Award. The show was recognized by the American Film Institute (AFI) as one of the most outstanding programs of the year two years running. The series is produced by Universal Cable Productions and executive produced by Ronald D. Moore and David Eick, and the outstanding ensemble cast is led by Edward James Olmos, Mary McDonnell, Katee Sackhoff, Jamie Bamber, James Callis, Tricia Helfer and Grace Park.

About Propworx
Propworx, Inc. is serves the movie and television industry by selling production props, costumes and set pieces through special live and Internet auctions, while at the same time integrating these special events into a studio’s marketing campaigns. Propworx goal is not just to sell the assets of a production, but to leverage those sales into meaningful publicity and marketing to increase the overall awareness of a production. For more information about Propworx, and examples of what Propworx can do, please go to www.Propworx.com

About NBC Universal Television DVD, Music, and Consumer Products Group:
NBC Universal is a leader in providing entertainment programming to the domestic and international marketplaces. NBC Universal Television DVD, Music and Consumer Products Group manages all global ancillary television business endeavors for the NBC Universal Television Group, including third-party home entertainment distribution, consumer products, musical soundtracks, special market projects and the NBC Universal Online Store