Unless given to members of the cast or crew, film props were generally destroyed and forgotten about until the 1970s. From then on, MGM studios realised they could make some serious money by auctioning off material, especially from The Wizard of Oz. Collecting props has since become a hobby mostly for men, as Stephen Lane of Propstore (www.propstore.com) admits. "Star Wars stormtrooper helmets, Batman's cape and [] James Bond are hugely popular. So yes, it's a predominately male clientele."
Lane is putting James Bond guns on auction at Christie's on 5 December, including Sean Connery's Walther PPK from Dr. No. He expects it to sell for £30,000. Meanwhile, a stormtrooper's blaster will easily go for £30,000, and an entire costume will sell for in excess of £50,000. More iconic items have sold for even more Dorothy's ruby slippers from The Wizard of Oz fetched $666,000 at auction several years ago.
So it's little wonder that film buff Andy Goulding tells the FT that buying props has "been more profitable for me than my property investments". But as Lane points out, sourcing a bargain is like "looking for a Picasso on Ebay", and fakes abound. When buying an item, ensure that the seller is authorised by the studio this can be done by contacting the studio that made the film, or by asking to see the seller's certificate of authenticity.
Subscribe to MoneyWeek
Subscribe to MoneyWeek today and get your first six magazine issues absolutely FREE
Sign up to Money Morning
Don't miss the latest investment and personal finances news, market analysis, plus money-saving tips with our free twice-daily newsletter
Don't miss the latest investment and personal finances news, market analysis, plus money-saving tips with our free twice-daily newsletter
-
What happens if you can’t pay your tax bill, and what is "Time to Pay"?Millions are due to file their tax return this Friday as the self-assessment deadline closes. Though the nightmare is not over until you pay the taxman what you owe - or face a penalty. But what happens if you can't afford to pay HMRC your tax bill, and what is "Time to Pay"?
-
What does Rachel Reeves’s plan for growth mean for UK investors?Rachel Reeves says she is going “further and faster” to kickstart the UK economy, but investors are unlikely to be persuaded
