Captain Kirk’s long-lost phaser and communicator are to boldly go to auction.
The props, used by William Shatner in the iconic 1960s sci-fi show, have not been seen in public for over fifty years.
Los Angeles-based Julien’s Auction says they come with a “conservative estimate” of $100k – $200k each.
The original owner of the phaser and communicator, a now-deceased relative of the current owners, was a Hollywood prop industry veteran who is believed to have acquired them from a former employee at Paramount Pictures, the studio that has owned “Star Trek” since 1968.
The iconic props, created in 1966, are the “hero” versions featuring intricate details and moving parts that were unique to a select few props, making them exceedingly rare.
Don Hillenbrand, a long-time “Star Trek” prop collector and researcher, authenticated both remarkable pieces by a “screen-matching” method that identifies unique details and flaws on a prop to verify its appearance in the show.
The phaser is seen in “Star Trek” classic episodes such as “The Cloud Minders” and “The Gamesters of Triskelion”, as well as in photographs in the 1968 book “The Making of Star Trek.” The communicator, featuring a spinning dial, is seen in William Shatner’s hands in “Day of the Dove,” and in the episodes “Catspaw” and “Friday’s Child.”
Also to be auctioned is a tongue-in-cheek shirt worn by Ryan Reynolds in the highly anticipated Deadpool & Wolverine film, and featuring multiple pictures of actor Ryan Gosling (estimate: $2,000-$3,000).
An image of Reynolds wearing the shirt in the film appeared on his Instagram in April, causing Ryan Gosling to react with, “I mean, I just want my shirt back… He borrowed that shirt from me and I need it back”.
David Goodman, CEO of Julien’s Auctions, said: “We are extremely honoured to present at our exhibition the holy grail of the original ‘Star Trek’ series props, the original phaser and communicator used by William Shatner as Captain James T. Kirk that were newly discovered after more than 50 years and are thrilled to have Ryan Reynolds join in the fun with the auction of his one-of-a-kind pieces from his upcoming film ‘Deadpool & Wolverine.'”
The items feature in two Julien’s Auctions and TCM events, with the shirt to be auctioned on July 28, and the “Star Trek” items under the hammer on November 9.
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