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

Sunday, November 7, 2021

Star Trek TOS Shatner Phaser Rifle Sells for Record $615,000 in Heritage's Azarian Collection Auction

Earlier today, a spectacular piece of Star Trek history, the unique TOS phaser rifle prop wielded by William Shatner in his first performance as Captain James T. Kirk during the 2nd Star Trek pilot episode  "Where No Man Has Gone Before" (original airdate: Sep. 22, 1966) sold in Heritage Auction's The Azarian Collection sale for a record setting final price of $615,000 - making it the most expensive piece of Star Trek memorabilia ever sold.   The final amount consisted of a high bid of $500,000 and a $115,000 buyers premium (= 23%).

In October of 2006, the 6.5 foot long Enterprise D starship filming miniature built for the Star Trek: The Next Generation television series sold as lot 712 in the Christies 40th Anniversary Star Trek auction for a final price of $576,000, including buyers premium - making it the most expensive piece of Trek memorabilia until today.

Prior to today's sale, the most expensive Star Trek: The Original Series screen used item had been the Captain's Chair from the TOS U.S.S. Enterprise Bridge set, which sold in June of 2002 for $304,750 (including buyers premium, based on a high bid of $265,000) at the Profiles In History Bob Justman Star Trek Auction.

Below is a screen capture from today's live online bidding session, showing the Phaser Rifle Lot Closing, followed by the completed auction result  ...     


The complete set of Heritage auction catalog photos and the lot description for this historic sale are presented as follows ...