Mr. Spock's Vulcan Lute from Star Trek: The Original Series

A rare prop musical instrument from the production of TOS, Mr. Spock's famous Vulcan Lute, sometimes also referred to as a Harp or Lyre, which was screen used by Leonard Nimoy in several episodes of the series, recently sold as Lot #89143 in last fall's Heritage Auctions October 14-15, 2023 Greg Jein Collection Auction for a final price of $40,000 (including a 25% buyers premium) on a high bid of $32,000.  

Presented below is the complete Heritage auction catalog description, along with its accompanying photos and several closeup views that further highlight the construction details of this iconic piece of Star Trek history ...

LOT #89143  Leonard Nimoy "Spock" Vulcan Lute from Star Trek: The Original Series (Paramount, 1966-1969).

Vintage original lute prop constructed of wood, acrylic, wire and metal components.  Expertly studio designed and assembled to appear as an exotic, long-necked, stringed instrument.  In the legendary Sci-Fi series, this 12-stringed instrument hailed from the planet "Vulcan", was tuned on a diatonic scale, and was famous for the soothing music it generated.  This prop is highly visible when played by "Spock" (Nimoy) in Original Series episodes including "Charlie X", "Amok Time" and "The Way To Eden".  "Uhura" (Nichelle Nichols) also sang while accompanying herself with this instrument in episode, "The Conscience of the King".  The iconic prop instrument measures 39" x 17" x 1.5" and can be clearly screen matched by its many hallmarks in multiple episodes, including hardware placement and the distinctive woodgrain.  The prop was painted black and gold for a subsequent production, but Greg Jein had begun restoration, sanding off most of the paint, with the exception of the area directly under the brass strings, the neck area as well as the control knobs and its back plate.  The back of the prop retains a vintage original typed label reading, "(c) 1969 Paramount Pictures Corporation", and there are two ports cut into the lower back of the instrument to access the bolt that affixes the oversized wooden knob to the front exterior.  An iconic and distinctive prop from the Original Series.  Exhibits age, minor chipping and delamination along edges.  Comes with a COA from Heritage Auctions.  From the Collection of Greg Jein.

Starting Bid: $15,000

Below are some screenshots of this prop as seen in various episodes of TOS ...

Some rare images of the Vulcan lute in a deleted scene from the 3rd season episode "Elaan of Troyius" ...

And some rare behind-the-scenes and candid at-home photos of Leonard Nimoy, taken while TOS was in production, playing not his famous character's Vulcan Lute, but just a traditional guitar from the planet Earth ...

 

Star Trek TOS William Shatner Zenite Mining Gas Mask from "The Cloud Minders"

 

A rare William Shatner screen used prop from Star Trek: The Original Series, this highly memorable Zenite Mining Gas Mask from the 3rd Season episode "The Cloud Minders" (first airdate: February 28, 1969) - which would protect the wearer from the deleterious effects on mental function caused by exposure to the dangerous gas emanating from unrefined zenite - was recently sold as Lot #89215 in last fall's Heritage Auctions October 14-15, 2023 Greg Jein Collection Auction.  

Presented below is the complete Heritage auction catalog description, with accompanying photos, for this exceptional piece of Star Trek history, as well as several detailed images of the mask that were graciously provided for use in this article by the successful bidder on the prop, a major collector of Star Trek TOS memorabilia ... 

LOT #89215  William Shatner "Captain Kirk" Zenite Mining Gas Mask from Episode, "The Cloud Minders" of Star Trek: The Original Series (Paramount TV, 1966-1969)

Vintage original mining mask prop constructed of repurposed oxygen facemask cup and chin port with 3-vials attached containing multi-colored fish tank gravel.  The mask is held to wearer by a large aluminum 9" x .05" bracket that fits across the top of the head.  Highly visible worn by Captain Kirk (Shatner) in the Zenite mines of planet Ardana.  The 4" x 7" x 11" mask exhibits age, production wear and some scratching, minor plastic tears and paint rubbing.  Comes with a COA from Heritage Auctions.  From the collection of Greg Jein.

Some screenshots of the Zenite Mining Gas Mask as seen in the episode "The Cloud Minders" ...

 

The 4 Foot SS Botany Bay Filming Miniature from Star Trek: The Original Series

An extraordinary piece of Star Trek history, the 44" long filming miniature of the DY-100 Class sleeper ship SS Botany Bay that was seen in the fan favorite 1st Season TOS episode "Space Seed" (Original Airdate: February 16, 1967) sold as Lot #89160 in last fall's Heritage Auctions October 14-15, 2023 Greg Jein Collection Auction for a final price of $200,000 (including a 25% buyers premium) on a high bid of $160,000.   "Space Seed", the 22nd broadcast episode of The Original Series, featured Ricardo Montalban in an exceptional performance as the iconic, genetically-altered superhuman Khan Noonien Singh - a role that the actor would reprise in the feature film "Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan" (Paramount, 1982).

Presented below is the complete Heritage auction catalog description, with accompanying photos, for this incredible piece of Star Trek history, as well as several detailed images of the SS Botany Bay model on display at The Greg Jein Collection Auction Exhibit that was set up at the Heritage Auctions headquarters building in Dallas, Texas in preparation for the historic auction event.  

Special thanks to my friend and fellow Star Trek fan David Wendelburg, who attended the auction in Dallas, and very graciously supplied all of the exhibit photography that is shown in this article ... 

LOT #89160  SS Botany Bay Filming Miniature from Episode "Space Seed" of Star Trek: The Original Series (Paramount TV, 1966-1969)

Designed by legendary Original Series art director Matt Jefferies, and built by Film Effects of Hollywood, this iconic filming miniature of the DY-100 class sleeper ship SS Botany Bay is crafted of resin with metal "antenna array" fitments mounted on the tail.  Measuring 44" x 18" x 12.25", the model is expertly finished in flat brown paint with darker "distressing" accents to align with the plotline of the derelict ship having been launched nearly 300 years prior to it being discovered by the USS Enterprise in the celebrated Season 1 episode "Space Seed".  The Botany Bay miniature was later repurposed as unmanned freighter Woden in the Season 2 episode "The Ultimate Computer".  Exhibits expected age and wear from production, including some paint scuffing, oxidation of metal parts and a single missing metal antenna panel.  Exhibited at the legendary Star Trek: The Exhibit at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, Washington, D.C., February 1992 through January 1993.  Comes with a COA from Heritage Auctions.  From the Collection of Greg Jein.

Starting Bid: $60,000

Below are some rare behind-the-scenes images of this filming model alongside the 11 foot USS Enterprise filming miniature undergoing principal photography on the soundstage of Film Effects of Hollywood during the production of "Space Seed" in December of 1966 ...

Some screenshots of the Botany Bay model as seen in the episode "Space Seed" ...