Just As I Thought

Star Trek keeps going and going and going and…

Yet another Star Trek auction is underway, selling for the umpteenth time some of the stuff from the series. It’s money on a loop.

Just how much Star Trek stuff is out there? I was under the impression that the props and costumes from a show that went off the air in 1969 were likely in a landfill somewhere; but I remember seeing an exhibit of existing props and costumes at the Smithsonian a long time ago which included the Enterprise helm — which had been fished out of a garbage dump. It was in horrible condition.
Yet another Trek auction is underway, selling for the umpteenth time some of the stuff from the series. It’s money on a loop.

LOT #1212
Nichelle Nichols “Lt. Uhura” duty uniform from Star Trek: The Original Series
1212. Nichelle Nichols “Lt. Uhura” duty uniform from Star Trek: The Original Series. (NBC-TV, 1966-69) Signature red velour duty uniform dress with black scoop neck collar and an original “engineering” Starfleet insignia patch at the left breast. Because of the way the uniform is tailored (with the zipper closure over the left breast), this duty uniform dates from early in the first season, as Ms. Nichols’ uniforms were re-designed shortly thereafter as it was difficult for her to get in and out of the dress. Comes with a letter of authenticity from Nichelle Nichols, as well as a color photograph signed by Ms. Nichols in her Starfleet uniform. One of the rarest of the Enterprise crew uniforms, this is the first Lt. Uhura duty uniform from the original series we’ve ever encountered, and is one of only two known to have survived. A rare and highly desirable uniform from one of the most important and influential science-fiction TV/film series of all time. $8,000 – $12,000

LOT #1216
Worf Starfleet uniform from Star Trek: The Next Generation
1216. “Worf” Starfleet uniform from Star Trek: The Next Generation. (Paramount TV, 1987-94) Starfleet costume worn by Michael Dorn as “Worf” in the TV series Star Trek Next Generation. The trademark uniform is mustard yellow and black with yellow trim around the neck. It has a piece of Velcro on the front where the communicator badge would have been fixed and fastens up with a hidden zip at the back. The trousers have built in braces. “Worf” wears this ripped uniform in the series seven episode ‘Genesis’ where the entire crew of the Enterprise is affected by a synthetic T-Cell which has made the crew members resort to their most animal like instincts. The uniform has bone-like additions to the arms and side and a small protrusion on the thigh where “Worf” has changed into his animal self, the back of the uniform has a large rip in it where a large spine extension has ‘burst’ through. The costume comes with the original costumer’s label from the production, which details the character and the actors name, the scenes and the episode name. $4,500 – $5,500

LOT #1218
Geordi’s VISOR from Star Trek: Generations
1218. Geordi’s VISOR from Star Trek: Generations. (Paramount, 1994) Prop VISOR worn by Lt. Geordi La Forge, a device that allows the birth-blind La Forge to “see” throughout the electromagnetic spectrum. Constructed of resin that is painted silver and gold, and measures approx. 6 in. in length. $2,000 – $3,00

LOT #1222
Jean Luc Picard’s “Enterprise E” command chair from the Star Trek films
1222. Jean Luc Picard’s “Enterprise E” command chair from the Star Trek films. (Paramount, 1994, 1996, 1998) This padded aircraft-style armchair is covered with burgundy-dyed imitation leather, and features armrests with simulated control panels which are designed to accept small LCD display screens. This command char was used by Patrick Stewart as Jean-Luc Picard’s Captain’s chair on the bridge of the Enterprise-E in three of the TNG films, including Star Trek: First Contact, Star Trek: Insurrection and Star Trek: Nemesis. Measures 47 in. tall x 36 in. wide x 32 in. deep. $45,000 – $60,00

LOT #1241
The Holographic Doctor’s mobile emitter from Star Trek: Voyager
1241. The Holographic Doctor’s mobile emitter from Star Trek: Voyager. (Paramount, 1994-2001) Constructed of grey-painted resin and measures approx. 2 in. long, this device is a 29th century self-powered mobile emitter worn on the armband of Voyager’s holographic “Doctor” (Robert Picardo) that allows the Doctor to leave the previously confined area of sickbay. $600 – $800

That last one is for T.K.
But wait, there’s more compelling stuff:

LOT #1244
Original screen-used Energizer Bunny from the classic television commercials of the 1980s and 90s.
1244. Original screen-used Energizer Bunny from the classic television commercials of the 1980s and 90s.. This Elaborate working prop features the loveable Energizer bunny outfitted in a custom-fitted wetsuit and SCUBA gear, with front mounted bass drum bearing the Energizer logo. This fully-animatronic prop was used for an underwater scene, in which two SCUBA divers are shown swimming through the deep with an over-dubbed narrative mentioning an upcoming Jacques Cousteau-type nature special. Suddenly, this bunny comes barging through, as if intruding from another television commercial! (This commercial first aired on July 1, 1991). These TV ads are credited as being one of the most successful campaigns in advertising history, and the Energizer bunny grew from a cute television gimmick to become an icon of the 20th century. This hand-made pink bunny is fitted with air hoses which activate the arms and head, and additionally create bubbles to give the illusion that the SCUBA equipment is actually supplying air to our furry friend. Measures approx. 30 in. tall, and comes with a letter of authenticity from Eric Allard, the original creator of the Energizer bunnies, who custom-made all of the bunnies for this long-running series of commercials. $5,000 – $7,000

Update, December 7: I reiterate my surprise that there are any Star Trek props available anymore, what with all the auctions and what not. And yet, Viacom has announced the “Star Trek Tour,” a traveling exhibition of props and costumes. So, are these the real ones? I mean, how many captain’s chairs were there, anyway? I assumed when I visited the Star Trek Experience in Las Vegas that those props must have been specially made for that exhibit, because they couldn’t have appeared there and be auctioned at the same time. Now we have a huge exhibit featuring items which I am certain I saw sold at Christie’s (for example, the Enterprise-A shooting model and Kirk’s command chair), which begs the question: are they replicas or duplicates; did the people who paid big bucks for original props get ripped off; or did the auction buyers loan them back to Viacom? The provenance of all this stuff is certainly suspect, and getting more so every day. Or is this just sour grapes from someone who couldn’t afford to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars for a piece of balsa and plastic?

3 comments

  • There’s a large Star Trek exhibit at the “Star Trek Experience” at the Las Vegas Hilton, which includes a lot of uniforms, gadgets, and some really notable props. It’s really a great little museum which also serves as the entrance to the two Star Trek themed rides. Also some props are for sale in the gift shop there, ranging from the a few hundred up to a few thousand for some pieces… random phasers, background scenery props, etc.

  • …this makes me feel soooo much better about being a Star Wars dork.
    BTW, I was going to note how you said nothing about Shatner’s idiotic rant when he discovered he wasn’t to be cast in the newest Trek. But then again, if you posted every time Shats did something mind-bogglingly self centered and stupid- well, then you’d have 10,000 entries instead of just 5000.

  • I kinda want to go the the Experience in Vegas. When I went to Vegas it hadn’t been built yet.

    And I though Grant Imahara of Mythbusters designed and built the energizer bunnies?

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