Gold statuettes may be the Oscars’ ultimate status symbol, but what of the envelopes that reveal the big winners? Since 2011, three sets of cards designed by Marc Friedland are produced for each category, with two sets taken to the venue. Winners are allowed to keep their cards and envelopes as mementos. Those left behind, along with any extras, are recycled, but Friedland's envelopes are intended to be keepsakes.
Notable winners have shared how they cherish their winning envelopes. Catherine Zeta-Jones proudly displays her Chicago winning envelope on the mantel in her home office, framed next to her statuette. Francis Ford Coppola showcases his winning envelopes and statues at his Sonoma County winery, while Steven Spielberg has his three winning envelopes framed in his Amblin Entertainment office.
Some winners choose to gift their envelopes to others. Christopher Lord and Phil Miller presented their Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse envelope to their publicist, Rachael Reiss. Unlike the strict rules regarding the sale or disposal of Oscars statuettes, there are no regulations on what winners can do with their envelopes, leading to occasional appearances on the market.
Recently, Julien’s Auctions sold a collection of Academy Award programs and two winner envelopes, including Gregory Peck’s best actor card for To Kill a Mockingbird and the 1964 card for best original song, “Call Me Irresponsible,” from Papa’s Delicate Condition, fetching $1,000. The original card and envelope for the 1958 best picture winner, The Bridge on the River Kwai, sold for $2,925.
For those interested in a closer look, the Academy Museum is offering access to Lupita Nyong’o’s 2014 best supporting actress envelope for a $25 admission fee. The envelope will be on display at the museum until January 5, 2025.
This article was first published in The Hollywood Reporter magazine on March 6. Subscribe for more exclusive content.
