Entertainment Memorabilia

From autographs to stage costumes, musical instruments to locks of hair, posters to film props, entertainment memorabilia encompasses anything that has an association with celebrities in the world of film, popular music and show business.

Certain celebrities or brands can be bankers like The Beatles, Elvis or Bond Films. Broadly speaking, the closer the direct association an item has with the person to whom it relates, the higher the value will be.

Provenance is key in this sector as an important guide to authenticity.


Original Dracula film poster

Rare design for 1931 Dracula film sets movie poster record – watch Heritage Auctions specialist giving an expert’s view

21 November 2017

One of just two surviving movie posters for the 1931 horror classic ‘Dracula’ set a record for a movie poster at auction when it sold for a premium-inclusive $525,800 (£398,300). In this video released before the sale, director of vintage posters at Heritage, Grey Smith, discusses the film and the rarity of the poster.

Harryhausen

Harryhausen monsters, models and memorabilia head to Surrey for movie auction

20 November 2017

Did you miss the Tate’s exhibition on Ray Harryhausen? Don’t worry, there is a chance to see some of the weird and wonderful beasts that this legendary animator created at a Surrey auction house.

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A slapstick selection at the Ephemera Society's winter fair

20 November 2017

Performing arts dealer Sarah White is just one of many setting up at the event in London on Sunday, December 3, bringing with her some unusual panto playbills.

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Comic book characters raise a chuckle in Ohio

13 November 2017

A 700-lot sale devoted entirely to one single-owner collection of comic book character artefacts is to be offered on November 18 by Milestone Auctions of Willoughby, Ohio.

Presley

Elvis divorce papers and an Einstein thank you note head to auction in Wiltshire

02 November 2017

A Mercedes Benz, a Cadillac, a 1971 Harley Davidson Motorcycle, $100,000 in cash and half the income of California rental homes around Beverly Hills and Palm Springs.

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Film poster collectors get their teeth into Dracula and more classic early designs

01 November 2017

Have you heard of the famous actor Béla Ferenc Dezsö Blaskó? Probably not in that form, but you may know him better as Bela Lugosi. If you collect film posters, you will certainly know his most famous role.

Wilton

V&A preserves a piece of music hall history with Wilton's archives

31 October 2017

The oldest surviving music hall in the world, Wilton's, has given its complete archive to the V&A, saving the history of its eclectic performing arts at the venue for posterity.

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Jimi Hendrix Experience drummer Mitch Mitchell memorabilia at auction

30 October 2017

In September 1966, John Graham ‘Mitch’ Mitchell was invited to ‘come and have a play’ with a newly arrived American guitarist in London named Jimi Hendrix.

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007 stars among 300 film posters

30 October 2017

Brought about by the sad death of one of the collecting scene’s more colourful characters, the sale of the Adrian Cowdry Collection at Ewbank’s (22.5% buyer’s premium) at Woking on October 12-13 attracted bidders from round the world.

California court

Trade wins clarification over California law

23 October 2017

A coalition of auction houses and book dealers has succeeded in rewording a controversial new law governing the sale of autographed collectables in California.

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Rock ‘n’ Roll ‘n’ Ryedale: Bill Haley gold disc stars at auction

23 October 2017

Back at No 1, 60 years after driving teenagers wild and their parents to despair, Bill Haley’s Rock Around the Clock was the star of Pop and Rock Memorabilia sale at Ryedale Auctions (17.5% buyer’s premium) in Kirkbymoorside, North Yorkshire, on September 29.

Omega

New premises for auctioneer that sold John Lennon’s glasses

16 October 2017

A Warrington auction house has moved into new premises as a first step towards expansion.

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Sir Christopher Lee lifetime honours and awards come to auction

05 October 2017

He was famous for film roles such as Dracula in Hammer Horror movies, Scaramanga in The Man With The Golden Gun, Lord Summerisle in The Wicker Man, Saruman in Lord of the Rings and Count Dooku in Star Wars. But Sir Christopher Lee’s role in the Second World War is also highlighted in a collection of his awards on offer at Spink on November 1.

Audrey Hepburn collection auction

Hollywood comes to London: white-glove auctions for Vivien Leigh and Audrey Hepburn collections

02 October 2017

The personal collections of film stars Vivien Leigh and Audrey Hepburn were both ‘white glove’ events in London last week.

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Poster girl for cult film collection

02 October 2017

This film poster, below, was designed by the Czech artist Olga Poláčková-Vyleťalová for 'Une Femme Douce' (A Gentle Woman) based on a Dostoevsky short story.

Stagecoach

‘Stagecoach’ film poster sells for £31,000 at auction in Cardiff

22 September 2017

A collection of film posters captured the attention of US bidders at a recent sale in Cardiff.

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Stones poster buyer gets satisfaction

18 September 2017

It’s only rock ‘n’ roll, but nevertheless rare concert posters are selling for large sums at auction.

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Falcon poster flies among film relics

18 September 2017

Best of 193 lots of film posters which made up a specialist sale at Burstow Hewett (15% buyer’s premium) at Battle was this variation for the classic movie The Maltese Falcon.

Leigh

Both alike in dignity: treasures of two Hollywood icons go under the hammer in London

15 September 2017

British star of Gone with the Wind Vivien Leigh and Breakfast at Tiffany’s screen legend Aubrey Hepburn are the basis for auctions at Sotheby’s and Christie’s respectively next week.

Rolling Stones

Buyer does get satisfaction at Bushey Auctions after ‘The Rolling Stones’ concert poster sells for £13,000

12 September 2017

A rare concert poster from a 1965 tour by ‘The Rolling Stones’ has been snapped up by a collector after a bidding battle at Bushey Auctions in Hertfordshire.

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