Welcome! As part of its ongoing mission to document the Art and Production History of Star Trek, this site will present technical articles on Star Trek prop and costume authentication - focusing on The Original Series - with detailed photos and episode screenshots to complement the information presented; as well as feature pictorials to showcase Star Trek memorabilia in private & public collections, present rare Behind The Scenes TOS imagery & discuss other topics.
Gerald Gurian is a 40+ year collector of screen used Star Trek memorabilia and a passionate fan of TOS
     
- Star Trek TOS At Auction Part I - Gurian Collection Highlights - Greg Jein TOS Hero Type II Phaser
-Authenticating a TOS Communicator -6 Myths About Star Trek Prop Design -Star Trek 3rd Season Command Tunic
- Design Features of TOS Tricorders -Star Trek Props At National Air & Space - TOS Leatherette Tricorder
- TOS Federation Sciences Dress -Desilu Studio TOS Prop Fabrication - Unreleased Allen/Gurian Prop Photos
- The Beautiful Women of TOS Part I -TOS U.S.S. Enterprise 11' Filming Model - Captain Kirk's Chair from TOS
- Spock Ears -TOS Control Panels & Displays - Mr. Spock's Science Station
- TOS Soundstage at Desilu -TOS Shatner Romulan Pants - The Beautiful Women of TOS Pt. II
- TOS Galileo Shuttlecraft -Greg Jein TOS Cage Laser Pistol - TOS 3rd Season Midgrade Type II Phaser
- Dr. McCoy's Sickbay on TOS -TOS Balok Puppet Head - Captain Kirk "Mirror, Mirror" Tunic
- Greg Jein TOS Hero Tricorder -1992 Smithsonian TOS Cast Video - TOS 1st Season Command Tunic
- TOS "Where No Man" Silver Contact Lenses -TOS Special Effects: The Transporter - The Art of Matt Jefferies
- TOS "Space Seed" Gold Mesh Jumpsuit -Gorn Costume from "Arena" - Rare TOS Behind-the-Scenes Videos
- TOS Stunt Type II Phaser -1993 Bill Theiss Estate Auction - TOS Shatner Command Dress Tunic
- TOS Elasian Royal Guard Tunic -TOS Finnegan Silver "Shore Leave" Tunic - TOS Science Officer Tunic "The Cage"
- TOS Shatner Early 1st Season Command Tunic -William Shatner TOS Tunics At Auction - TOS Shatner Late 1st Season Command Tunic

Thursday, April 3, 2014

Star Trek Original Series James Doohan 2nd Season Mr. Scott Tunic

Presented below are some detailed photos of an extremely rare red velour Lieutenant Commander tunic from the 2nd season of Star Trek: The Original Series that was screen worn by James Doohan in his role as Chief Engineer Montgomery Scott.  This is the same costume which was offered as Lot 430 in Profiles In History's December, 2013 Hollywood Auction 62 but did not sell at an opening bid of $15,000.  It is now available for a fixed price of $12,495 from the well known entertainment memorabilia dealer The Prop Store of London at their Los Angeles location.  The tunic features its original gold leatherette Starfleet insignia on the left chest and exhibits a small tear in the center of the back (which was described in the Profiles auction catalog writeup and which is shown in the Prop Store photographs to be easily repairable if desired).  As is common for many TOS tunics, this costume does not possess an interior label, but it may be attributed to Doohan for several compelling reasons.  These include it's overall size which is a match for a Scotty costume, the clear markings in the velour fabric at the sleeves which indicate the tunic once possessed a single row of gold braid with "dashes" to denote the lieutenant commander rank, and the extreme rarity of this style of tunic being seen in an episode of TOS on any actor other than James Doohan - who was the only recurring character in the series to wear a red, single-line/dash braided tunic.  Given the shoe-string budget that the Original Series production team constantly struggled with; it is virtually certain that a background guest actor who might appear on screen in this style of tunic would be temporarily outfitted with a piece normally worn by Doohan as opposed to a newly created Lt. Cmdr. tunic especially fabricated for his brief, one-time guest appearance.  Also, as mentioned in the Prop Store description, the fact that this costume exhibits the notation "No. 3" in white ink on the inside zipper lining is highly suggestive that the tunic was one of several made in the same style for a single actor.   Given the $19,000 high bid witnessed on a Nichelle Nichols TOS red Uhura Starfleet dress at Profiles December, 2007 auction; and the recent $22,500 high bid realized for a complete George Takei TOS Sulu uniform at Profiles December, 2013 event; this Scotty tunic might be considered quite reasonably priced at $12,495.   Interested readers may view the Prop Store of London listing for this costume at:  http://www.propstore.com/product/star-trek-the-original-series/original-series-red-lieutenant-commander-starfleet-duty-tunic/