Star Trek Auction: "THIS BELONGS IN A MUSEUM!"
By Steve Lee
Today (5 October 2006), in New York, Christie's begins the biggest auction of authentic "Star Trek" memorabilia ever seen. Models, costumes and props from the science fiction franchise's television shows and movies - some 4,000 items from the Paramount warehouses will be sold. All these items have been on display for the last several days at Christie's Rockefeller Center headquarters.
Although I appreciate these rare opportunities the fans are given to purchase authentic pieces from their favorite shows, it saddens me that many of the items will wind up in private collections - never to be seen again by the general public.
I keep hearing the voice of Indiana Jones in the back of my head screaming "THIS BELONGS IN A MUSEUM!" while an artifact is taken away as he watches helplessly.
Especially heartbreaking for me is the sale of the original model of the USS Enterprise created for "Star Trek: The Motion Picture." That ship and I go way back.
These items used to be available for special exhibits and as reference for various Star Trek related projects. But their sale says that not only are there not enough Star Trek projects coming up to warrant their storage, but that Paramount doesn't even see the need to preserve their history anymore.
What an interesting way to commemorate Star Trek's 40th Anniversary.
Hopefully the collectors who come away with the more important items in this auction will see their way to donating them - or at least loaning them - to exhibits in the future.
posted by Steve Lee at 7:13 AM
2 Comments:
You'll be glad to know that I bought the entire collection. Then I donated everything to NASA for development.
They promised me that I could be the first to go up when they get 'em running.
As a lifelong fan of Star Trek, from the days I worked at NBC and the employees were asked their opinions of a new science fiction show to be called 'Star Trek', I was deeply, intensely saddened that the Star Trek memorabilia was sold off and not put in a museum for all to view. Shame on those who chose to commemorate 40 years of Star Trek in that way!
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