LONDON: Star Wars villain Darth Vader’s gloves are among the famous and well-known items from film, television and the music world to be up for grabs at next month’s annual live auction by UK memorabilia company Propstore. This year’s auction returns to an in-person event after a pandemic hiatus and features an expanded catalog of over 1,500 lots with a total estimated value of £11 million ($12.3 million).
“This year is bigger than ever. We added about 500 lots plus one more tag. It’s a big step up for us, which makes it an even more exciting event,” Propstore chief executive Stephen Lane told Reuters. Highlights include the full Superman costume worn by actor Christopher Reeve in the 1978-1987 Superman series, Vader’s black gloves from the first 1977 Star Wars film, and a Bible featured in Shawshank Redemption ’ from 1994 concealed a stone hammer.
There’s also a hardcover first edition of 2001’s Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone and the Little Nellie aviator helmet worn by Sean Connery in the 1967 James Bond film You Only Live Twice, a new category this year, which gets its own tag.
Lane selected Noel Gallagher’s Gibson Les Paul Silver Sparkle Florentine guitar from the ‘Be Here Now’ album and tour, estimated at £300,000-500,000, as keyless. Music lovers can also bid for David Bowie’s “Major Tom” space suit from the “Ashes to Ashes” music video, Elvis Presley’s signed gun license application, George Harrison’s “Dallas E” banjolele and Dave Grohl’s handwritten setlist from Nirvana’s “Nevermind” tour.
Lane, who has been collecting props and costumes for over 30 years, said the current economic climate is boosting sales. Propstore’s June auction in Los Angeles was a record-breaker with 2,000 lots selling for over $10 million, he said.
“It’s very interesting, we saw it similarly in 2007 and 2008 when we had the big financial crash, that where there is volatility in the markets, people are looking for fixed assets and similar items to put their money in can,” he said. “They take it out of the FX markets and actually put it into something more tangible. So we are seeing great success with our film props and costume auctions.”
Propstore’s live entertainment memorabilia auction will be held from 3rd to 6th November at the BAFTA headquarters in central London, with online and telephone bidding also available.
