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

Friday, September 18, 2020

Star Trek: TOS Majel Barrett "Number One" Starfleet Tunic from "The Cage" at PropBlock September 26, 2020 Entertainment Icons Auction

Presented below are some detailed auction house photos and the catalog description associated with Lot 66 in the upcoming The Prop Block September 26, 2020 Entertainment Icons Auction, for an extremely rare female Starfleet Command Tunic worn by Majel Barrett in her role as "Number One" in the first Star Trek pilot production "The Cage".   It is believed that this is the only identified Barrett "Number One" tunic ever to appear at public auction.

The complete auction catalog description is as follows:

Star Trek: TOS Majel Barrett “Number One” Starfleet Command Tunic from “The Cage”

An exceptionally rare and possibly unique female Starfleet command tunic worn by actress Majel Barrett in her co-starring role as “Number One” in the first filmed Star Trek pilot episode “The Cage”, which underwent principal photography during the months of November and December, 1964.  The main tunic is comprised of gold velour fabric fitted with a black cotton collar and features clear indentations on the sleeves where gold rank braid was once mounted (currently not present).  As Majel Barrett was the only actress in “The Cage” to feature rank braid on her Starfleet tunic, the evidence of past braid on this costume is a key element in identifying the tunic as being worn by Barrett.  Additionally, both the location of the braid indentations fairly well up from the end of the sleeves, as well as the noticeably left-side shifted, off-center placement of the full body-length Velcro strip closure on the back of this tunic stunningly matches the characteristics of the costume seen on Majel Barrett in the opening scenes of the “The Cage”.  (Please view the attached screenshot imagery and costume photos.)  The black collar on this tunic is a modification that was made by the production team after the filming of the pilot was completed, in order that the costume might be used in regular season episodes.  It is noted that a female tunic which appears to have this same configuration can be discerned in a background corridor scene during the 1st season TOS episode “The Corbomite Maneuver”, being worn by an actress that might possibly be Majel Barrett herself in a brief cameo appearance. (Please view the attached screenshot.)  While lacking its original Starfleet chest insignia, this historic garment is in very fine production used condition and worthy of the finest Star Trek memorabilia collections.  This is the first time we are aware of an identified Majel Barrett “Number One” costume ever being offered at auction. 







The September 26, 2020 sale features a total of 21 different lots of Star Trek franchise memorabilia.   Interested bidders may register to participate in the auction directly on the icollector.com website at this link: https://www.icollector.com/The-Prop-Block-Entertainment-Icons-Auction_as67692?ps=100