Kirk Tunic at Julien's Auction

Julien's Auctions is having another one of its high-end auctions and this time, they are selling some prime TOS items.

Sadly, their signature Star Trek item is a TOS Kirk tunic with an autograph marring the front.  Everyone I know was horrified when they saw this.  Obviously someone had no clue that having a star sign a valuable prop or costume actually DEVALUES that item.

This is a Season 3 Double Knit tunic.  Less desirable than the Season 1/2 velour.  The Velour Kirk tunic in last year's Profiles auction went for $ 80,000 before buyer's premium ($ 98,400 with BP).  This one?  I think it is worth HALF that at best, and more like $30,000.

The auction description:

A pale green Starfleet uniform tunic made for Captain James T. Kirk, played by William Shatner, for use in the third season of Star Trek (Desilu Productions, 1966-1969). While appearing gold onscreen, the actual color was described as "avocado" by costume designer William Ware Theiss. The tunic is made of a double knit stretch nylon with attached black spring weave collar. The tunic is closed by a hidden zipper, which runs from the waist to the top of the collar and finished with a hook closure. The tunic also has a double gusset design on both sides, a construction technique exclusive to the tunics made for Shatner. The Command delta shield insignia is zig-zag stitched to the left breast of the tunic and the sleeves are finished with the command braid made of multiple colors of thread embroidered over gold Mylar. The braid configuration signifies the rank of captain, and the size, hemline placement and age of the materials and components is consistent with a tunic made for Shatner. The tunic has been hand signed by Shatner across the chest with black marker. A photo of Shatner with the signed tunic is included. Also included is a pair of custom knee high black leather boots made originally for Shatner. The boots, size 9, are hand inscribed “Shatner #2,” “W. Shatner” and “W.S.” The boots were used by Shatner, then moved to background player costuming when they became too worn for principal actor wear. Shatner’s name is crossed out and the word “Stock” is hand inscribed above. The original leather sole and heel have been replaced as well. The boot zippers do not match, which may indicate that the pair was put together from two different pairs or a zipper was damaged and replaced.

You can see the complete auction ad here.

This video bothers me.  Why would you PROMOTE a costume so marred by an autograph?  All you do is make people think that is OK.

 

So boys and girls, remember, don't EVER get a costume signed!  It detracts from the value.

Alec

The Holy Grail - Kirk's Phaser Rifle at Julien's

I was just saying to a friend recently, that the Holy Grail of Star Trek props is Kirk's Phaser Rifle from "Where No Man Has Gone Before".  And all of a sudden it appears!  The rifle will be at Julien's Hollywood auction April 5th, 2013.

The Description:

STAR TREK WILLIAM SHATNER PILOT PHASER RIFLE

A Phaser Rifle from the William Shatner-starring second pilot for Star Trek (Desilu Productions, Norway Corporation, 1966-1969). This one-of-a-kind weapon was created by toy inventor Reuben Klamer at the behest of Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry. When the original pilot presented to NBC was asked to be retooled for a more action-packed adventure, Roddenberry asked for a really big gun. Klamer designed and created the weapon at no charge to the production in exchange for potential licensing rights to the weapon. When production was wrapped, the piece was returned to Klamer and replaced with the now familiar pistol design used throughout the remaining three seasons of the original series. While this weapon was never seen again in the series, it was used in a number of studio-commissioned publicity photos and even represented on an early lunch box for the series. The weapon is constructed out of wood and finished with a blue/green metallic paint. There is additional detailing, including the hand-tooled aluminum barrel and spring-loaded trigger, a sliding switch to adjust the force setting, three plastic non-functional domed indicator lights and inset plastic panels as well as a telescoping antenna mounted to the top. Moveable pieces on the weapon include three acrylic “Turret Tubes” cylinders with what appears to be copper painted metal conduit with ends painted to match the three force settings. The entire turret unit turns on a center axis. The black shoulder butt also rotates to be used as a handle or shoulder stock. The weapon comes in the original custom-made case made to deliver the rifle to the studio.

Also included in the lot are copies of Inter-Department Communications from Roddenberry to Bob Justman, Bernie Weitzman and Ed Perlstein regarding the weapon as well as an original, signed letter from Roddenberry to Klamer, dated March 16, 1966. The letter informs Klamer that the series was picked up and they would continue discussions regarding Klamer’s possible involvement in creating more props for the show. Seven black and white Polaroid photographs accompany the lot showing the finished weapon from various angles with a letter to Klamer from employee AB Kander, discussing Roddenberry’s visit to the shop to inspect the rifle and approving the final product. Finally, the design plan for the rifle, signed by Roddenberry for approval on June 28, 1965. There is an additional pen sketch on the plan with some minor revisions to the weapon.

34 by 14 by 4 1/2 inches

 

 More to follow.   

Alec

Profiles in History Admiral Kirk Star Trek IV Jacket not what it is claimed?

Profiles in History's new auction has a number of great costumes, but the Kirk Admiral jacket, supposedly from Star Trek IV is clearly not. As we have seen in the past, there is just insufficient research.



PROVENANCE

The provenance is noted as Sotheby's, NY 12/18/98, sale 7244, lot 134.  The fact that it was previously sold in an auction is NOT provenance. Being sold by an auction house does not  creates any legitimacy in the item.  We need real provenance.  Where did this come from?  Who got it and how?  Was it stolen from Paramount out the back door as so much was?  Was it sold legitimately by Paramount?  So we have no clue how this got out, who has owned it and what was done to it.  (Note:  The Christie's Star Trek auction, or IAW auctions would be provenance as those were studio-sanctioned).

LABELING

Profiles notes:  Internal label is handwritten, “Wm S. / 4” for William Shatner. 

What kind of label?  Not a Western Costume label, because Profiles always notes it when it is a Western Costume Label as they do in the OTHER Kirk costume.  So this is just a random label?  Anyone could have put that label in.  This does not inspire confidence.

THE PROBLEMS

There are a ton of problems with this Maroon.. 

1)  The inner color of the chest flap (lapel if you will) is wrong.  Kirk always had a white inside.  It is possible that for a scene he wasn't to open his jacket in he would have a different interior, but why?

2) The lapel strap is wrong.  This is CLEARLY not the lapel strap of the Star Trek IV Admiral costume.  Look at the details around the clasp.  The gold striping doesn't match.

Compare the close up of the lapel strap from the Profiles catalog...

...with this screencap.

3)  There is no gold striping around the lapel.  This is standard for Admirals and clearly shown in the screencaps.  The jacket does not have this gold ribbon.

 Admiral jackets have a gold ribbon next to the black edge of the lapel.

4)  The Admiral braid on the left sleeve is wrong.  In Star Trek II Kirk's Admiral ribbon was the black and gold checked type that was like what was used in the original Battlestar Galactica.  Starting with Star Trek IV they used a thicker, multi-colored and patterned ribbon which also showed the rank by the number of black and gold ribbons stripes crossing the ribbon. 

Star Trek II: TWOK  Note the braid on the left sleeve.  Same as the Profiles offering.

The correct braid, as seen in the screencap above from Star Trek IV

 And as seen on this picture of the Kirk sold at Heritage in 2010

The correct Rear Admiral braid for Star Trek IV-VI

It's a Wrap sold a number of Rear Admiral Rank sets such as the above one.  It is clear that Kirk has the updated Admiral braid in the screencaps from Star Trek IV and so the Profiles Kirk is wrong.

SUMMARY

First, there are three seperate scenes in Star Trek IV where Kirk wears a maroon.

1.  The Federation Council Chamber

2.  The transport pod.
3.  The Enterprise bridge.

Kirk wears the same maroon in 1 & 2.  The only difference is a different shoulder strap rank (In 1 he is an Admiral, in 2 he is a Captain). The strap indicates it is otherwise the same Maroon.  The gold striping is still intact even.  It appears this is the same Maroon in 3.  I need to do a bit more research, but it would be logical as well.

So what is this Maroon?  Could it be from Star Trek II?  This might explain the left arm BSG braid, but it would not explain the interior flap color.  That is CLEARLY wrong.  Being that Kirk needed some blood-distressed Maroons for the scene with Scotty's nephew and after, It would be logical there were 4-6 Maroons set aside for Kirk.  None would have a different interior.

The only thing pointing to this being a Kirk is an interior label that we don't even have a photo of.  And a label can be easily swapped out. 

The interior flap color makes this a non-starter for me.  I was initially interested, but won't touch this.

Alec

The Prop Store of London Star Trek sales.

The Prop Store of London has been releasing items all week from the big collection of Star Trek props and costumes it bought recently.  I should have been keeping track of prices as the items were listed, as PSOL hides the prices once the sale is made.  I hate that practice, as having a record of prices is so useful as so many of us know from using the Star Trek Auction Archive.  So I have compiled a list.  If you know the prices of any of the items not listed below, please let me know!

Also, PSOL has been posting items at 10am GMT and 10am PST.  That means those of us on the West Coast have to wake up at 2am in order to get a shot at the items, which basically sucks!  But the things we do for props and costumes. 

I will review a couple of the key pieces in coming blogs.  A bunch of people have commented on the fact that PSOL will post items that have already been sold.  Collectors would like to know they always have a shot at buying something.  But PSOL is well known for first offering key items to its best customers before posting them for the public.  And there is nothing wrong with this, but collectors feel cheated sometimes.  Collectors need to understand that a lot of times it is just better to set a price and sell it to a well off collector and not have to worry about if an item will sell online or at auction.  

There are more items coming Monday I am told, but I also hear that we have seen the best of the collection already.  So it will be interesting to see what comes our way!

 

ST II: TWOK Tunic $ 35,000

Captain Kirk Class A $ 24,995

Captain Harriman Maroon $ 6,495

Romulan Warbird Khazara Translight $ 745

Voyager Vidian Model $ 12,459

DS9 Pistol $ 699

TOS Cadet Costume $

AzetBur Klingon Costume $ 7,995

DS9 Blue Jumpsuit $ 1,245

TOS Radiation Suit $ 8,995

TNG Data Tunic top $ 3,750

Generations Mark VI Torpedo $ 1,995

First Contact EVA Rifle $ 5,659 Hero

Yesterday's Enterprise Phaser $ 2,745

Star Trek VI Klingon Mask $ 1,495

TMP Male Engineer Uniform $ 1,245

ST III Vulcan Robe $ 995

Star Trek First Contact Phaser Rifle $ 2,499

Star Trek IV Spock headband $

Star Trek VI Klingon Mask $ 995

Enterprise Soval's ears $ 745

TNG Dustbuster Phaser $ 3,995

Star Trek VI Rura Penthe Mask $ 1,295

Kirk hits $ 37,500 at Heritage auction!

Well, I have to say, I am not taking my buddy Jack Morrissey to any more Star Trek auctions with me as he is a VERY bad influence. My top bid on the Maroon Star Trek 2: The Wrath of Khan costume was supposed to be $ 25,000. But Jack convinced me, moments before the auction started, that I should bid even higher because of various financial reasons that would work to my benefit. I mean, what are friends for? And what is sad, is that my high bid of $ 35,000 was a LOSER!

Yes, I am the guy who kept bidding on the Kirk after my $ 25,000 max was reached. The eventual winner and I were the only two bidders from $ 25-37,500. And he won. And thank God, because if I had won at my max bid on $ 35,000 I would have HATED myself!

This is also a good lesson in auction market dynamics. Now remember, the Christie's Kirk Maroon went for $ 25,000 ($ 30,000 after Buyer's premium I believe). Does this mean the market price for a Kirk is now $ 37,500 ( or $ 45,000, the price with Buyer's Premium)? Well, no, because there are only two people who thought it was worth $ 35,000 or more, and one now has it in his collection. If another goes up for auction, the loser (me) will probably have his heads screwed on tighter (and leave his enabling friend at home) and won't go above $ 25,000. So unless a third person decided to go higher, the price will come down. But it all depends. How bad does someone want one?

After I lost, I went over and shook the winner's hand. I didn't know who he was. He later came over and introduced himself. He knew me from my blog, and turned out to be one of the oldest prop & costume collectors around. A very nice guy, we chatted for over 30 minutes and exchanged info so we can see each other's collections. He even admitted that if he had known me before the auction he would have backed off as his max was only $ 15,000! It is funny how emotion can affect one's bidding.

Below are the photos and description from Heritage so we can preserve it for posterity.

Alec

Star Trek Film Series Starfleet Officer's Uniform with Jacket and Shirt Worn by William Shatner as Admiral James T. Kirk.

One of the most accomplished and popular feature films to come out of the Star Trek franchise, The Wrath of Khan (1982) was also the first to feature the distinctive scarlet and black duty uniforms that subsequently appeared throughout the original film series as well as several episodes of the various TV spin-offs.
When Gene Roddenberry created the original series in the '60s, he gave Starfleet a basic military structure but avoided what he called "excessive militarism," keeping such details to a minimum. During production on The Wrath of Khan, director Nicholas Meyer (The Seven-Per-Cent Solution, Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country) decided to expand this part of the Trek mythos by writing the dialogue to be more accurate to actual naval protocol and adding such flourishes as a ship's bell and boatswain's whistle, and by introducing redesigned uniforms by costume designer Robert Fletcher.
This particular costume Starfleet duty uniform features a jacket and undershirt worn by none other than William Shatner in his role as Admiral James T. Kirk, and later modified and worn by Leon Russom, along with the included trousers, as the Starfleet Commander-in-Chief in Star Trek VI.
The uniform consists of the distinctive maroon jacket, sleeveless white undershirt, black trousers, and black leather belt with metal Starfleet insignia buckle included. The jacket features a Western Costume Co. tag with Shatner's name typed onto it and Russom's name handwritten on it in black felt tip; the slacks have a Paramount Studios tag bearing Russom's name in felt tip sewn into the waistband. The uniform is in overall Excellent condition with the exception of a small hole on the front of the jacket where an insignia pin was attached. Accompanied by a COA from The Hollywood Studio Collection. Photo-match for reference purposes only. For authenticity guaranty see Terms and Conditions.