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As a caretaker of some amazing\u00a0props from some\u00a0well known\u00a0films, I am often asked how I go about authenticating\u00a0props, \u00a0costumes, pop memorabilia, and collectibles. \u00a0Some of these type of items are\u00a0featured in the Movie Prop Collectors<\/span><\/em><\/strong> opening<\/span> animation\u00a0as well as our <\/span><\/span>online museum<\/strong><\/em><\/a>. I also have been fortunate to have come in contact with\u00a0original items via the multiple studios and conventions I attend each year and cover for other media outlets as well as this website. When I attend San Diego’s Comic Con<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/a> each year many studios have original props, costumes, pop memorabilia, and art on display. Interviewing the artists at the con provides additional knowledge on the subject as well.<\/p>\nWhile there is no perfect<\/em> or only<\/em> way to authenticate an original prop or costume, there are a few\u00a0steps you\u00a0can take to research whatever item you are interested in.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n To start, here are some terms everyone should be aware of in regards to original props and costumes.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Original<\/em>:<\/span><\/strong><\/span> The<\/span><\/span> source or cause from which something arises. In regards to an original prop or costume, original <\/em>would be associated with\u00a0an item being\u00a0created or acquired for,\u00a0use in a film.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Made for Production<\/em>:<\/span><\/strong> <\/span>Similar to original, <\/em>and sometimes misused in describing an items attribution<\/span> to a film. Many times, things are made for a film and not used.\u00a0Reasons\u00a0vary, and can include the prop or costume having it’s design changed, being edited out of the final film, or any number of other reasons. So\u00a0when made for production<\/em> is used to described an item, always make sure you ask for clarification.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Screen Used<\/em>:<\/span><\/span> <\/strong>An item (prop or\u00a0costume), that was used in the released film.\u00a0A screen used prop or costume is generally more desirable than a non screen used item, as it was used on screen.\u00a0Many times items\u00a0can’t be screen matched<\/em> (see below), but that does not mean that the item was not screen used. It is very difficult to\u00a0screen match an item used in a film.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n *See page 2 of this article\u00a0for another screen matched\u00a0example from Small Soldiers<\/strong><\/em>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Replica<\/em>:<\/span><\/span><\/span> <\/strong>I am including this term only to differentiate between a replica prop or costume and an original one. Obviously a replica is a copy of an original item. A replica can be a nice alternative to\u00a0acquiring original props and costumes when the cost is prohibitive or the original does not exist. Unfortunately sometimes unscrupulous people try to\u00a0pass replicas as original so one has to be very careful.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Licensed, quality replica companies do exist.\u00a0You can find many different licensed pop culture and entertainment related items from Funko<\/em><\/strong><\/a>, Mattel<\/em><\/strong><\/a>, Hasbro<\/em><\/strong><\/a>, Factory Entertainment<\/em><\/strong><\/a>, Mondo<\/em><\/strong><\/a>, Monsters In Motion<\/a>,<\/span><\/strong><\/em>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0Entertainment Earth<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/span>\u00a0<\/strong><\/em>and many others.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n When looking for, or being offered, an original item, the first thing to consider is the<\/span><\/strong><\/em> source<\/strong><\/span><\/em>. The source is one of the most important things to consider when looking to acquire an authentic item. In this case, an original prop or costume.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The main sources available\u00a0for\u00a0acquiring original props, costumes, and film artifacts\u00a0are\u00a0the film companies themselves, prop-masters or those that work in films, auction houses,\u00a0after market dealers, and other collectors.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Auction houses such as Profiles in History<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/a><\/span>, Sotheby’s<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/span>, Christies<\/span><\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/span>\u00a0,as well as\u00a0others, including Marvel Entertainment<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/a>, who in 2012, held an amazing auction featuring hero, main items from their hit\u00a0films, hold Hollywood <\/em>memorabilia auctions a few times a year. Many movie studios, actors, prop-masters, and private individuals consign (offer) their items to the\u00a0auction houses as well.\u00a0\u00a0An interested bidder\u00a0should register at least 2 weeks ( 1 should be fine), before the auction providing information such as\u00a0their name, address, and\u00a0credit card for verification purposes.\u00a0First time bidders\u00a0usually will be charged\u00a0a small fee for the catalog.\u00a0Prospective bidders usually can find the catalog\u00a0offered online\u00a0at no cost. If\u00a0 a bidder\u00a0wins an auction\u00a0lot ( the item bid on),\u00a0they usually will receive future auction catalogs from the auction house at no cost, unless they have a special auction, or you stop being a customer.<\/p>\n After market dealers, such as The Propstore of London<\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/a> and Screen Used<\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/a> deal with original film props and\u00a0costumes, as well as replicas and crew gift items.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Private individuals\u00a0also offer props and costumes\u00a0between themselves and Ebay, though with Ebay there seems to be quite a bit of fraudulent items listed as original<\/em> that are not. My advice on Ebay\u00a0is to\u00a0utilize extreme caution.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n You can find other collectors and fans on forums such as MoviePropCollectors.com<\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/a> . Members\u00a0have access to information about\u00a0original props, costumes, and artifacts. As well as information\u00a0about sellers, auctions, and events.\u00a0 Some forums, such as Movie Prop Collectors<\/strong><\/span><\/em>, have a live chat-room where fellow collectors and enthusiasts can get together, ask questions, share info, and talk shop.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The following questions will assist you in determining the history\u00a0an item.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 1.) What exactly is this?<\/strong><\/span><\/em><\/span> <\/span>Have the seller clearly state exactly\u00a0what the item is, where it came from, and\u00a0whether they know how many were created for the film. For example,\u00a0only saying “production made”\u00a0is not good enough if you want a screen used item. If you are\u00a0ok with a\u00a0“production made” (which is fine) item, ask\u00a0if it is known why it was not used in the film or what information the\u00a0seller can share with you and what they can\u00a0verify\u00a0concerning the item.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 2.)<\/span> What guarantee comes with the item<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/em><\/span> if it is proven to not be as represented by the seller? An honest individual\u00a0seller in a private deal,\u00a0should\u00a0 have no problems refunding your money if the prop\/costume is proven to be not as described.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 3.) Does the seller have any history<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/em> with other people which can be verified?<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Get all of the above in writing if possible. The more you can verify the better.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The buyer\u00a0needs to research\u00a0the item. A few times I have emailed those that have worked on a film and nicely asked if they could share any information about\u00a0an item. I also have asked other members of the prop community their opinion of a prop, costume, or seller as well.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n For myself, nothing beats screen matching an original prop or costume from a film. While I cannot expect that to always be the case, I always try to screen match whatever I am interested in. I purchase the DVD or Blue Ray of the film and literally go through the film to find where the item would have been used. I then freeze frame as many clips as I can.\u00a0Then I\u00a0compare them\u00a0against high definition photographs of the item.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Here is an\u00a0example of a screen matched hero prop from our museum.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Animatronic Slamfist<\/em> hero puppet, from the Joe Dante<\/em> film, Small Soldiers<\/em>. We own the only two hero versions of this character.<\/p>\n You can see this puppet and more\u00a0in our online museum<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n When trying to authenticate an original prop, costume, or artifact from one of your favorite films, always remember to do your research. Take your time, and when you are not sure of something, ask others for their input as well. You can\u00a0ask for\u00a0advice here or the Movie Prop Collectors Forum<\/strong><\/em><\/a> <\/span>anytime.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Happy collecting!<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.moviepropcollectors.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/ScreenMatch2016-1-300x72.jpg\")
<\/a>Screen Matched<\/em>:<\/span><\/span><\/span> <\/strong>A definitive match to a prop, costume, or item used on screen. A\u00a0pattern (such as paint, wood-grain, etc), scratch, or\u00a0identifying one of a kind\u00a0mark(s),\u00a0sometimes can\u00a0be\u00a0attributed to\u00a0the item used in a specific scene or scenes. Not easy to do, but possible, as I have done this in quite a few instances. Left is a screen match for a hero dinosaur from\u00a0The Lost World:\u00a0Jurassic Park <\/strong><\/em>that MoviePropCollectors<\/em> owns.\u00a0![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.moviepropcollectors.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/ScreenGrabDino2016-300x160.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.moviepropcollectors.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/ScreenMatch2016.jpg\")
<\/a>Click photo for full size.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n