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Giant Paramount Auction of Star Trek Items 225

Posted by ScuttleMonkey from the scott-me-up-beamie dept.
Alien54 writes "The first official studio auction of memorabilia from all five 'Star Trek' television series and 10 movie spinoffs, to be held from October 5 to 7 in conjunction with the 40th anniversary of the original 'Star Trek' series, was announced by Christie's on Thursday. CBS Paramount Television Studios is cleaning out its vaults for the sale, comprising more than 1,000 lots totaling some 4,000 items. Items to hit the block include props, weapons, prosthetics and set dressings unearthed from five Paramount warehouses, as well as many special and spectacular items highlighted in the various shows." Update: 05/21/2006 14:57 GMT by SM Several users have provided us with the direct link to the auction site for easy viewing.
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Giant Paramount Auction of Star Trek Items

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  • The nicest prop (Score:4, Funny)

    by Rosco P. Coltrane ( 209368 ) on Sunday May 21, 2006 @02:42AM (#15374760)
    I want Shatner's toupee.

  • I want (Score:5, Interesting)

    by dasheiff ( 261577 ) on Sunday May 21, 2006 @02:46AM (#15374769)
    7 of 9's cat suit. :-)

    • Re:I want (Score:5, Funny)

      by AuMatar ( 183847 ) on Sunday May 21, 2006 @02:48AM (#15374778)
      I just want 7 of 9, sans suit. I haven't seen anything creative out of her in a while, she might go for it.
      • "I haven't seen anything creative out of her in a while, she might go for it."

        Well I don't know about 'creative', but Jeri Ryan was on the finale of Boston Legal. That must have been fun for Shatner. "Your motivation is that you're lusting after her. Just keep looking at her wantingly. Good. We got all we need. ... Cut! CUT!! I said CUT!"
    • On lighter another note, how many pairs of fake 7 of 9 panties will be put up on e-bay?
      On a much sadder note, how many geeks will actually fall for this and bid on them!

    • Your subject line should have been "I want into" (assuming you would have meant something other than wearing slinky, sexy girl clothes - not that there's anything inherently wrong with that predilection).
    • You're in luck! It's the 7th item (how appropriate) on the "Galaxy of Highlights" page. Christie's estimate is $2,000-$3,000. I think they underestimate the number of geeks with too much money and too few dating opportunities...

  • I want (Score:2, Funny)

    by yobjob ( 942868 )
    The big angry black thing that killed Tasha Yar.

  • Dibs! (Score:5, Funny)

    by payndz ( 589033 ) on Sunday May 21, 2006 @02:56AM (#15374800)
    I call dibs on the Enterprise!

  • I know what I'd buy (Score:5, Funny)

    by From A Far Away Land ( 930780 ) on Sunday May 21, 2006 @03:02AM (#15374820) Homepage Journal
    A warp core. No wait, a transporter. These things are in working condition right?

  • I want to go... (Score:5, Funny)

    by Bieeanda ( 961632 ) on Sunday May 21, 2006 @03:02AM (#15374821)
    Just to see the time-travelling aliens bid furiously on the tox'utat, or however it's spelled.

  • ahh the smell... (Score:5, Funny)

    by DilbertLand ( 863654 ) on Sunday May 21, 2006 @03:04AM (#15374828)
    Can anyone else imagine the smell in the auction room with lots of nervous Star Trek fans?

  • boneheads (Score:4, Interesting)

    by Anonymous Coward on Sunday May 21, 2006 @03:05AM (#15374830)
    There must be something about joining an **AA, lowers IQ or something. This is a pretty valuable collection. Sell it once,you get one pay day. Open a museum, add the props, have movie showings, interactive kiosks, etc, host conferences, what-ever, and have 365 paydays a year, for a *long* time.

    • Re:boneheads (Score:5, Insightful)

      by Detritus ( 11846 ) on Sunday May 21, 2006 @03:48AM (#15374927) Homepage
      I think you overestimate the general public's interest in Star Trek. Most museums are doing well if they can pay their bills. They aren't money machines.

    • Museum in Vegas (Score:3, Informative)

      by SonicSpike ( 242293 )
      This already sort of exists: http://www.startrekexp.com/ [startrekexp.com]
    • As someone mentioned, there is the one at the Vegas Hilton. I think there is a traveling version too, that moves between cities. Paramount has several warehouses of Star Trek artifacts.

      It is somewhat unfortunate that this auction probably means scattering from one central private collection to numerous private collections, but I am skeptical about the viability of a major museum or theme park.
    • Paramount's accountants and actuaries probably figure that the value of all this junk is only gonna go down. If they hold out 'til the 50th anniversary, the surviving hardcore Trekkies will be mostly drawing on their retirements and won't be spending on collectibles. So Paramount will reel 'em in now while their 401(k)'s are still fat.

      And, broadly speaking, there is no next generation to replace the old guard Trek fanatics. Sci-fi television was a nice Cold War/Space Age by-product, but today's public ca
  • Finally the time has come to sell the captains chair I... found.

  • Why Kirk is Better Than Picard (Score:5, Funny)

    by R3d M3rcury ( 871886 ) on Sunday May 21, 2006 @03:15AM (#15374860) Journal
    FTFA:
    Fans and collectors will have a chance to acquire "Star Trek" artifacts [...] Capt. James Kirk's uniform or Capt. Jean-Luc Picard's jumpsuit [...]
    See? Kirk wore a uniform. Picard wore a jumpsuit.

    'nuff said. :^)
    • At least Picard boldy went where no-one in pajama's has went before.
      When I'm in my pajamas, I don't want to step out my front door.
      Kirk had a spiffy uniform. If I had a spiffy uniform, I'd go places too.

  • Transparent Aluminum (Score:3, Funny)

    by hemanman ( 35302 ) on Sunday May 21, 2006 @03:22AM (#15374873)
    I sure could use some of that for a new garage door :-)

    -H
  • captains chair and a replicator... and a couple of phasers.. hmmmm, that would be enough... also the giant viewing screen, old STTNG epiosodes would look great on that!
    • I'll take a Transporter. As for the rest... I'll just "borrow" yours!
    • Screw that, I'll just take the replicator. Hell, I have a new business idea:

      1. Buy replicator
      2. Program it to produce Jeri Ryan replicants
      3. Buy ad space on slashdot
      4. $$$PROFIT$$$

      Ah hell, it'd be easier just to have Jeri Ryan blow-up dolls made and still profit plenty.

  • You can look at the catalog online (Score:3, Informative)

    by Beryllium Sphere(tm) ( 193358 ) on Sunday May 21, 2006 @04:06AM (#15374959) Journal
    http://www.christies.com/special_sites/startrek/ov erview.asp [christies.com]

    Tragically it is in Flash.

    I wonder if they have the dilithium crystals from "Mudd's Women"? If you ever need a dilithium crystal there's really no substitute.
    • Unfortunately, all you can do is pre-order a printed catalogue. And the "special limited edition boxed set" itself is being billed as a collector's item, for $500.

      The "regular" 2-volume set is $81.

    • I wonder if they have the dilithium crystals from "Mudd's Women"?

      They don't mention a single object from TOS. TFA says something about some costumes of guest stars. I doubt there's anything recognisable left after all these years. If you watch TOS episodes now the props seem rather unconvincing by current standards.

      I note also Christies are selling the catalogues for $90; or $500 for a "limited edition". Amazing.

      • There's a worker bee and the model of the NCC-1701-A (Enterprise A from the Undiscovered Countyr). I would qualify that as TOS(except it's the Movies not the TV show). They also have Kirk's outfit from the Search for Spock and the go climb a rock shirt he wore in Star Trek 5.

    • If you ever need a dilithium crystal there's really no substitute.

      "Here in the engine room of the starship Enterprise, we've secretly replaced the dilithium crystals with new Folger's Crystals. Let's see if anyone notices the difference."

  • Probably no real good stuff (Score:3, Interesting)

    by Mike Peel ( 885855 ) on Sunday May 21, 2006 @04:08AM (#15374964) Homepage
    Hopefully, this is a sale of all of the useless bits of junk accumulated over the years - no real good stuff. The equivalent of a garage sale, where you're selling odd bits you no longer want, but keeping the useful/valuable stuff in the house.

    I say this because Star Trek seems to have become an important heritage nowadays, and they seem to keep doing exhibitions etc. about it. Exhibitions would be rather difficult, and not very good, if all the interesting stuff was in the hands of a few thousand fans.

    Of course, if it is decent stuff, I guess a single person / group could try to buy as much as possible, and open up a mini Star Trek museum, or something. That could be interesting.
    • Useless bits of Junk?

      Picard's 1st season uniform
      Klingon Captain's chair
      Desktop Computer from Voyager

      Maybe useless bits, but still all good stuff....and the best piece:

      The Enterprise NCC-1701-A from Star Trek 5 and 6.

      I would love to have any of these.
      • The Enterprise NCC-1701-A from Star Trek 5 and 6.

        If you look closely at the auction, it's the mass-market Ertl model, it's just been studio-painted for use in shots where they didn't need the big hero model.

        Some of the other stuff is pretty cool, but obviously the prices will be too high for anyone except those who are both very rich *and* very dorky. I mean, even the Babylon 5 props on eBay awhile ago went for about ten times what I would have been willing to pay.

  • Ressikan Flute (Score:3, Interesting)

    by Anonymous Coward on Sunday May 21, 2006 @04:19AM (#15374996)
    I have a feeling that the Ressikan flute, estimated to sell for $300, will sell for much, much more. That particular episode struck a very large emotional chord from a lot of people, and that flute was the symbol representing the episode. If only I could go. :-(

  • Oh man... (Score:5, Funny)

    by Anonymous Coward on Sunday May 21, 2006 @04:29AM (#15375012)
    President Bush got word of this... It seems he now wants to purchase 20,000 shield generators to protect the mexican border, "some of those shuttle thingies" for NASA, and by presidential decree, NO ONE is to sell Dick a phaser.

    -JDS

  • What's better than an Aeron chair in your office? (Score:3, Funny)

    by Wiseleo ( 15092 ) on Sunday May 21, 2006 @05:00AM (#15375061) Homepage
    A Klingon Captain's chair.

    I think it'll work marvelously in my office. :-)
  • Darn; so close. Now it would have been very cool if this had happened sooner. I.e., if these nerdishly cool collectibles (NCC) had been auction sale 1701.
    Ya kno': NCC-1701

  • This can't be a good sign for future production. (Score:3, Interesting)

    by YaRness ( 237159 ) on Sunday May 21, 2006 @09:08AM (#15375515)
    Anyone who's watched all the documentaries, Trekkies 1 & 2, behind the scenes, etc., knows that Paramount's huge collection of props gets reused over and over again from movie to movie to show to movie ad infinitum.

    Are they offloading their entire collection, or only part of it? Does this signify any particular decision with regards to future movies or shows?

  • Boston Legal (Score:3, Funny)

    by Animus Howard ( 643891 ) on Sunday May 21, 2006 @09:43AM (#15375615)
    ...should have an episode where Denny Crane buys a phaser pistol from the auction, and starts carrying it instead of his handgun.

  • the little items (Score:3, Insightful)

    by v1 ( 525388 ) on Sunday May 21, 2006 @09:47AM (#15375632) Homepage Journal
    There are basically two variety of memorobilia collectors... those that want the big things, like the captain's chair or a wardrobe item etc, and the people that look for the little nicknacks. Probably the wisest collector would go for the little items, as they can have more of them and display them easier.

    Hmm... I'm not a big trekkie but I can think of a few items that would be nice. That flue of Picard's would be nice. Maybe a few isolinear chips. A comm badge. (STTNG please, those from the movies are gawdy!) Or that huge hunk of crystal dilithium that was in the enterprise's warp core.

    Get a bunch of the touch pads from the doors or holodecks and use them for light switch wall plates. :)

    And of course the computer display props. From what I've read, most of them (the ones that were not animated) were backlit reverse-glass paintings. Those would make awesome wall decorations in a chosen room of the house, hang 'em like paintings.

    I also hear the props in the captain's ready-room are very popular. hah... remember the episode where the enterprise had an alien computer virus and picard ordered tea and got the teacup with the what.. bird of paradize flower in it? "now THAT should not have happened!" That would be a fun one to have.

    Probaly the most fun props to have are the ones that not many people will even be considering.

    Though previous poster is right, that flute is going to go for a lot more than $300. I'd expect it to draw $1500-2500. Key props from emotional/memorable episodes are bound to go for a mint.
  • I call dibs on the nuclear wessel!!!!!
  • .... and distressed that Jean Luc really didn't play the flute. I mean I can understand the Enterprise not being real, phasers being special effects and the transported being fake, but come on. Jean Luc can't play a flute from a civilization that didn't exist?

    What next? Are we to find out that the medical devices they use on the show can't heal heart problems or bad acting?
  • saurian brandy maybe?
  • OOO....they have the symbols of total logic (Star Trek I).

  • Don't sell this individually... (Score:3, Interesting)

    by Simonetta ( 207550 ) on Sunday May 21, 2006 @01:14PM (#15376370)
    Paramount is making a big mistake even considering selling this items individually at auction. The collection should be kept whole and rented out to people and groups who want to make low-budget Star Trek movies.

        Since Star Trek fans are different from ordinary movie audiences in their willingness to pay for any filmed episode even remotely related to this genre, the studio should rent the Star Trek sets to low-budget productions. They own the copyright and would make money off any production that uses the Star Trek motif, logos, and fictional settings.

        The reason that they are selling the sets is because they don't plan to make anymore of these films themselves. The individual actors are too expensive or are no longer available due to age (or passing). The promotional costs are too high and the specialized audience too small to justify continued expenditures of $50-$100 million on further 'offical' Star Trek productions.

        So let someone else make a new set of films for the fanatic audience. Hire new actors, write new plots, and establish new distribution channels. The biggest cost for new independent Star Trek productions is the elaborate and detailed sets. And these sets are already built, documented, and vacant. The money that could be made by renting these sets for independent productions is greater than the money gained by selling off the props individually. Especially since the individual props can be sold off to the fans for the same price in the future after the market for low-budget ST productions has been fully exploited.

        For any other film series, selling off the props makes sense. But Star Trek has never been just any other film series. And selling off the props at this time makes no sense.
    • The collection should be kept whole and rented out to people and groups who want to make low-budget Star Trek movies.

      I think you overestimate the quality of the props. Most toys that you buy are much better quality. I believe it was in the "I Am Spock" (or "I Am Not Spock") autobiography that I read this, but Nimoy said that it was easy to spot fake Tribbles being sold at conventions as the actual props used: if they actually looked anything like tribbles, they were fake. Basically, the art department

    • The collection should be kept whole and rented out to people and groups who want to make low-budget Star Trek movies.

      See the post immediately below yours.

      With *very* few exceptions (e.g. Lord of the Rings), film and television companies build things as cheaply as possible. They are designed to last only just long enough to get through filming, and only just good enough to look convincing on screen.

      I used to work for an ex-Hollywood prop master. He had one of the screen-used hoverboards from Back to the Futu

  • These won't look like what you think they will. (Score:5, Interesting)

    by blair1q ( 305137 ) on Sunday May 21, 2006 @01:16PM (#15376376) Journal
    Anyone buying one of these things remotely will be rather surprised, maybe sorely disappointed, when they receive them in the mail.

    They're very shoddily built. Almost laughably unartistic. Nothing like the realism and solidity and quality they seem on the television.

    An acquaintance of mine, who worked for a company building props for ST:TNG, explained the illusion this way:

    Seeing something on TV is like catching it out of the corner of your eye going 60 mph in a rainstorm.

    So, since time is their least resource, they don't bother with fine detail that would just disappear, and they don't care about alignment, overspray, or fit, which you can't measure or even apprehend, nor durability, since almost everything is used for a very short time in a zero-stress environment by someone whose standing orders are "don't break the props".

    Much of the "metal" will be painted foam or extruded plastic. Controls won't operate. The costumes will appear cobbled together from the cheapest possible fabric and will have strange and coarse alterations, plus any damage that's accumulated since it became junk. Literally all the value left in these items is bragging rights, sentimentality, and ego boost.

    Which is going to have to do.

    Because I want a pair of Spock's ears. Bad.
  • That had to be my favorite Star Trek episode. The Inner Light rocked my socks. I think their estimate on its sentimental value to viewers was quite low... and I've got dibs on it anyways. =) lol =)

  • Self-sealing stem bolts anyone? (Score:3, Funny)

    by hobbes vs boyle ( 974630 ) on Sunday May 21, 2006 @03:06PM (#15376760) Homepage
    I still got 100 gross in my basement and don't know what to do with them...
  • Just think, you could buy the mask used on /. for a sci-fi story.
    Imagine reading Slashdot at work and having the rubber mask stare out at you with it's mouth wide open with the icon doing the same.

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