Tuesday 26 November 2013

Original 7th Doctor item on eBay -
November 2013

I haven’t spotted many original Seventh Doctor items on eBay recently, but this one did catch my eye.

Silver Nemesis
Cyberman gun
UNSOLD FOR £5,500

Here we have what is quite literally a once in a lifetime opportunity, to own a genuine piece of Doctor Who history. This is an original, screen used, Cyberman gun from the 1988 25th anniversary story 'Silver Nemesis'. Never before has a gun like this been up for public sale, even at Bonhams! The gun is 1 of 8 that were originally made for the story, and is 1 of only 2 or 3 COMPLETE guns that remain today.

The gun is in magnificent condition for a prop that is 25 years old, no cracks or breaks or anything of the sort. The gun has been stored in an air-tight, ultra-violet resistant, custom made display case, which is also included in this listing. The gun has the obvious golden colour to it, which as I'm sure everyone knows, occurred when the original chrome props were sprayed with lacquer to make them shine on camera.

This gun was originally owned by a prop collector named Chris Balcombe, who I'm sure some of you are familiar with. The gun was then acquired by arguably the biggest Doctor Who props dealer in the world, and owner of www.doctorwhoprops.com and www.thepropgallery.com, Jamie Smyth. I obtained the gun directly from Jamie, only a few years ago. There are plenty of photos circulating of this prop being held by Mike Tucker, the chap who originally made the 8 guns for the BBC back in the 80's, when he inspected this gun and passed it as original.


The Happiness Patrol
Drone Mask
SOLD FOR £181.76

Original as seen and used on screen Doctor Who prop from the Sylvester McCoy story "The Happiness Patrol" 1988 Drone Mask.

Your chance to own a piece of television history in the Doctor's 50th year, the perfect Christmas present for the Whovian in your life or for yourself.

Stored in a smoke free home.

Purchased by myself from a one day Doctor Who convention in a hotel close to Heathrow London in 1996 the auctioneer was Richard Franklin who played Captain Mike Yates of UNIT.

Name inside of mask Paul Holmes. Easily mounted on the wall for display.

I paid cash for the item and there were no receipts or catalogues.
Happy to supply letter of authenticity.

I am starting the auction at 99p with no buy it now, so you may grab a bargain.
I have already had some interest in this item but I do not intend to finish the auction early or to do a deal outside ebay so please do not ask.


Saturday 23 November 2013

Doctor Who Celebration -
costume exhibition

This weekend’s Doctor Who Celebration has been a feast for the eyes for fans.

As well as catering for those who have come to Who through the relaunch series, there has been a good nod to the history of the show with a wide variety of guests and an extensive exhibition of costumes culled from Cardiff’s Doctor Who Experience.

They had a near complete set of Doctor’s costumes on show (missing was the Eighth and War Doctors) arranged in a circle around Bessie.

The Seventh Doctor costume on show was not the one from The Experience. In fact it is actually from the tv Movie when Sylvester returned to the role to hand over to Paul McGann.


Other Seventh Doctor item on display include a Tetrap from Time And The Rani, the debut McCoy adventure; and a cat person from Survival, what turned out to be the final classic series adventure.

There was also the stylish grey two-piece costume Ace wore in The Curse Of Fenric.

If you want to see the costumes for the other Doctors at the exhibition, click the links below

Third Doctor             Fourth Doctor
Fifth Doctor                Sixth Doctor

Doctor Who Celebration -
Sue Moore and Steve Mansfield

There was a LOT to see at the Doctor Who Celebration, and it was quite hard to get round to see everything.
The costume display was an obvious draw for me, and it was worth dropping back form time to time and catch up with some of the designers and costume makers who were on hand and happy to chat.

During the 1980s period of the show Sue Moore and Steve Mansfield became the new John Freidlander when they created some amazing monster.


They brought along a great display of their work, including The Destroyer from Battlefield, and a collection of Heamovores from The Curse Of Fenric.


I had a great chat with them, talking about their work on Doctor Who as well as Terrahawks.
Sue and Steve were signing autographs too, and I got them to sign my book.

Thursday 21 November 2013

Bonhams auction - 18th December 2013

With December looming, it is time for another Bonhams Entertainment Memorabilia sale!

The past few auctions have been Doctor Who lite when it comes to items, so there is no surprise that the first post-Anniversary is brimming with costumes and nick backs, dating back to 1968.

Lot 151
DOCTOR WHO: SILVER NEMESIS - A PART CYBERMAN COSTUME, the silver painted body suit, with moulded and painted chest pieces, tubing to arms and legs, gloves having attached laser gun, on stand




Estimate £1,000 - 1,500
Sold for £2,437

Lot 152
DOCTOR WHO: BELIEVED FROM REMEMBERANCE OF THE DALEKS - A DESTROYED DALEK, the skirt of wood, fibreglass, foam, metal and plastic, the base painted black and overpainted with red highlights, the foam explosion detail containing wire and metal poles, height approximately 48 inches (122cm)
FOOTNOTES
This was originally sold in these rooms as lot 140, 23rd June 2010, when it was described as having been made for exhibition purposes. Since purchased, further research by the vendor indicates this was actually the Dalek destroyed in the Totter's Lane junkyard by Ace's Nitro-9 explosives, then loaded onto Ratcliffe's lorry and later seen in his office. It is constructed from fibreglass with bolt-on hemispheres consistent with all the 'jelly mould' Imperial Daleks made for the story.

Examination of the destroyed Dalek shows marks to the hemispheres and elswhere that closely match that used in the production. Some of the hemispheres are now fixed in a slightly different way from how they appear on screen due to becoming loose and being tightened back into a different position over the years.

According to information from the vendor, after the production the top was redressed and repainted for exhibition use and further distressed with new foam detailing as well as new paint, with lights mounted underneath for exhibition purposes. Certain other details match it to the prop that appears in the office, most notably the box iron on the top. The prop appeared in several exhibitions over the years, most notably at Llangollen and the recently-closed Blackpool exhibition.

Estimate £4,500 - 5,000
Unsold

Tuesday 19 November 2013

Radio Times -
50th anniversary issue covers

The 50th Anniversary week is almost here, and as expected the cover of the latest Radio Times features The Doctor - not just once, but TWLEVE times!

The sources of the images used are quite interesting, the majority of which are from the Radio Times own extensive archive of Doctor Who images. All are out-takes, so are being published for the first time.

The First and Second Doctors come from the 10th Anniversary Special published by the Radio Times in 1973. The Third Doctor comes from a photoshoot in 1970 for the launch of Jon Pertwee in the role.


The Fourth, Fifth, Sixth and Seventh Doctors are pictured from the shoot for the 30th Anniversary special, which featured in the 1993 Children In Need.

This shows that they were all taken separately before being composited into the group on the cover.

The rest of the Doctors come from bespoke cover shoots done for the Radio Times in more recent years. For example the Ninth Doctor is from the gatefold cover which launched the new series in 2005; and the Tenth from The Next Doctor in 2008. The Eleventh and War Doctors are obviously newly taken.


Here’s the full size version of the Seventh Doctor’s cover.


Finally, have you noticed that all 12 covers join together to form a long single image?

Saturday 17 August 2013

Original 7th Doctor item on eBay -
August 2013

The trade in Tetrap and Haemavoure body parts continue with the latest offering on eBay...

Time And The Rani
framed Tetrap piece
SOLD FOR £130

This is an original screen used Tetrap costume piece framed. (from the Time And The Rani 1987) the costume was purchased in a Bonhams auction on the 24th Febuary 2010.
It comes with COA
Width is 14 inch
Length is 20 inch
I have had it valued at £160 to £170 and have started the auction at the lowest price but I am open to reasonable offers.


The Curse Of Fenric
framed Haemavoure piece
SOLD FOR £65

This is an original screen used piece of framed costume from the Haemavoure creature off of The Curse of Fenric.
It comes with COA.
Width is 9 inch
Length is 11 inch
I have had it valued at £75 and have started the auction at this price but I am open to reasonable offers.


The Happiness Patrol
Killjoy sticker
SOLD FOR £98.01

This is an original prop from the classic Doctor Who series The Happiness Patrol.

It is a sticker which the undercover agents use to identify Killjoys – usually just after they’ve murdered them! One is seen very clearly at the very start of Part One and they appear a number of times after that.

Although supplied with its original backing, this sticker ceased to be sticky a long time ago – it has never been stuck to anything but apparently sticker glue doesn’t last 25 years.

I obtained this item directly from the Production Office not long after the show was broadcast and it has been in my possession ever since.

Sunday 28 July 2013

Perks of the blog - part two

Just had a great day out celebrating all thing Sylvester McCoy at the BFI.

You maybe aware that each month the BFI has been screening a Doctor Who adventure - and since this is July, the Seventh Doctor was in their sights.

Chosen to represent his era, Remembrance Of The Daleks was showcased with both Sylvester and Sophie in attendance.

Due to unpresidented demand the ticked for the past few screenings have been allocated by a ballot system, and unfortunately I missed out - or so I thought.

A few weeks ago one of my clients, Tom Nichols, who has a small business hiring out Daleks and TARDISs for event, got in touch to ask if I was going to the BFI screening. It turned out he had offered to display his Special Weapons Dalek in the foyer, and had received the promise of a couple of tickets in return. A spare was on offer - would I like to come? WOULD I??

Anyway, long and short of it if I helped set up I’d be welcome, so I was more than happy to lend a hand.


I also suggested taking the Dalek to the original filming location for its scenes, which were done barely three streets from the BFI. Tom hadn't made the connection in his mind, so jumped at the idea.

We met up at Windmill Walk underneath the railway bridge where the Dalek factions have their pitched battle. Tom had the Dalek in bits in his transit van, and it only took a couple of minutes for us to manhandle it together.

We had some fun getting some great pictures of the Dalek in situe, and a number of slack-jawed passers by also grabbed a few shape too.

It was amazing to see it on the very spot where 25 years earlier it had been trundling along, obliterating Daleks as it went.


We then drove over to the BFI, where we were welcomed by security and shown where the Dalek was to be set up.
Tom was very easy going about it, and was happy for it to sit there unattended for the duration of the afternoon as a talking point and photo opportunity for everyone passing through. Some ropes were supplied to cordon it of, so all was good.


To our surprise we were welcomed into the green room. Sylvester and Sophie soon arrived, Sylvester with a cat on his ankle and wearing a kilt! He had recently had surgery on a troublesome foot, and trousers were too difficult to put on.


Before too long it was time to take our seats, which for me were the best I’d ever had at one of these screenings - in the centre block, almost dead central, only half a dozen rows back.

The episodes were broken up by a couple of interviews with guests, the first of which was John Leeson, best known for his voice of K-9, but he also provided voices for this story too.





He can be heard as the Dalek Battle Computer (when you think it is Davros, but turns out to be the little girl) and later he is the continuity announcer who introduces he next episode of Doc.... before being cut off.

There was also an interesting discussion with Mike Tucker who worked in the BBC visual effects department during the McCoy run, and now is effect supervisor on the current series.



Finally, long term member of the BBC Radiophonic Workshop, Dick Mills, filled us in on how the department worked down the years; how new equipment made things easier, but harder to be imaginative with.



The main interview session was between Sylvester McCoy (who was asked to keep his knees together in his kilt by a member of the front row), Sophie Aldred and writer Ben Aronovich.



There were some great tales of how both leads got their parts; of how the script was written; how Ace became a regular companion over a brief guest appearance; how the series was cancelled; and of Sylvester’s return in the tv movie.





All in all it was a great day!
I just want to say a BIG thank you to Tom Nichols for letting me tag along and help him set up the Dalek - and for getting me into a screening I thought I had missed out on!

Friday 19 July 2013

Original 7th Doctor item on eBay -
July 2013

It’s been a bit quiet of original Seventh Doctor item on eBay, but there has been the following massive collection on offer - for an equally massive price tag!

Original Dr Who prop
plus scripts and autographs
SOLD FOR £2,475

Original Dr Who props, scripts and autographs - massive collection!!!

Here is the chance of a life time to acquire a fantastic collection of doctor who items at an amazing price. These are my prized items and I love each one. I am being forced to sell under some pressure and was due to assign the majority to Bonhams for their winter Entertainment auction after their recent valuations. However, that is 7 months away, so this is your chance for a bargain! Unless stated, all items are original props or scripts. They all come with certificates of provinence and have clear and great detail of how they have arrived here!

In short, here it is:-

1) The one and only unique HAND TYPED set of scripts for the Nightmare Fair from the author - the famous missing story that has gone on to be made as an audio adventure and novel.

2) An original set of Krotons scripts (3 of 4) owned by an actor from the story - signed by him, Frazer Hines and terrance dicks on each script




3) Original full set of Greatest Show In The Galaxy scripts owned by the author steve wyatt and signed by him, Sylvester McCoy, Andrew Cartmel and the flower child.

4) Original Director Graehme Harpers set of scripts for episode Journeys End, signed in person by David Tennant. Comes with camera notes, set design model photos, etc

5) Original 7th doctor paisley hankie with Certificate - amazing item, signed in person by Sylvester McCoy (who recognised it as original immediatey)

6) Original huge piece of Warriors of the Deep Silurian leader Ithkar silurian hand and arm - with display frame for small piece - from Bonhams 1991








7) 11 doctors figure set complete and sealed, signed by six Doctors (Tom Baker, Peter Davison, Colin Baker, Sylvester Mccoy, Paul McGann, David Tenant)

8) Official licensed journal of impossible things - signed by David Tennant, Sylvester McCoy, Colin Baker, Peter Davison and a bunch of Tennant people - David Jacobi (old Master), John Simm (new master), Anthony Steward Head (Krilatane), Shaun (Rose’s Dad).

The First 5 items alone were valued by Bonhams recently for a joint estimated guide sale price of £3750 - and that was a conservative price they gave me based on some items I have sold with them over the last 18 months!!!

Tuesday 16 July 2013

Original Ace items on eBay - July 2013

I’ve been keeping an eye on eBay for original costume and props items which pop up from time to time (so you don’t have to!)

Recently I spotted a couple of items relating to the Seventh Doctor’s companion, Ace.

Here’s what I found.

Ace Jacket Costume Patch
SOLD FOR £325

An original patch used on one of the jacket worn by Sophie Aldred as Ace.

The patch features a NASA shuttle and can clearly be seen on the Aces right shoulder.

This patch came directly from John Nathan Turner as he kept various patches from jackets that had been professionally cleaned after scenes such as when Ace falls into the river in Silver Nemesis, the jackets had to be striped of their patches/badges for cleaning and badges/patches would quite often be replaced with new ones, John kept the badges in a small box and would often sell them at the various Longleat auctions during the 1990's

If you look closely at the image you can see were the patch was tacked to the jacket.



The Curse of Fenric Shoes worn by Ace
SOLD FOR £510


Welcome to possibly the oddest item i've ever auctioned!

A Pair of size 5 shoes worn by the Character "Ace" - as played by actress Sophie Aldred, in the 1989 Doctor Who serial The Curse of Fenric.

Longleat held a Doctor Who event on 14th August 1994. There was an auction of Doctor Who props by ex-producer John Nathan Turner and members of the production team. I was determind to buy something from the show, but had very little money at the time, so i ended up with these.

They can be seen on the show and in particular the end scene where Ace jumps into the sea.

100% Genuine! Low Auction Start.

CONDITION - Well preserved - they have been in the sea! They have been left exactly as i bought them. There is no smell to them. They can be easily cleaned-up with a soft cloth and polish, and possibly worn if you have have a mind to.

Fully Guaranteed.