Film enthusiasts and collectors are in for a spectacular event next month as a treasure trove of cinema history prepares to go under the hammer. Propstore's highly anticipated Winter Entertainment Memorabilia Live Auction is set to showcase an extensive collection of iconic items, from intergalactic weapons to beloved animation cels.
Star Wars and Blockbuster Highlights
Scheduled for December 5-7, this major auction features more than 1,350 lots with a combined estimated value of a staggering £8 million. Topping the list of coveted items is the legendary EE-3 carbine rifle used by the bounty hunter Boba Fett in Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back. This iconic prop carries an estimated price tag of £350,000 to £700,000.
Stephen Lane, the Founder and CEO of Propstore, expressed his excitement about the piece at a recent press preview. He revealed that the blaster was authenticated through a painstaking, weeks-long process that included matching the wood grain on the stock. "Despite some damage and distress, this is and remains the one and only Boba Fett blaster used in 'Empire Strikes Back'," Lane confirmed.
The auction doesn't stop there for Star Wars fans. Other notable items from the galaxy far, far away include a rebel pilot helmet from the same film and a Stormtrooper E-11 imperial blaster from Return of the Jedi.
A Journey Through Cinematic History
The event celebrates a wide array of films beyond the sci-fi epic. Attendees can bid on Will Ferrell's green tunic from the modern Christmas classic, Elf. The collection also includes the famous brown fedora made for Harrison Ford in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.
Other standout pieces sure to attract competitive bidding are the black symbiote suit worn by Tobey Maguire in Spider-Man 3, Marty McFly's hoverboard from the Back to the Future sequels, and ballet slippers from the classic film The Red Shoes.
A Rare Look into Disney's Animation Magic
For lovers of animation, the auction provides a rare and enchanting glimpse into the creative process behind some of Disney's most cherished films. The offerings span from early concept art to finished production celluloids, showcasing the artistry that brought these stories to life.
Highlights from the Disney vault include:
- Mary Blair's 'Cinderella at the Palace Window' concept painting (1950) - Estimated at £15,000-£30,000.
- A hand-drawn beat board from Monsters, Inc. (2001), signed by Jorgen Klubien.
- Original storyboards from the groundbreaking Fantasia (1940).
- Finished cels from Sleeping Beauty (1959) featuring Maleficent and Diablo, valued between £12,000 and £24,000.
- The iconic Pinocchio cel from the "I've Got No Strings" scene, estimated at £10,000-£20,000.
Collectors will also find cels from The Jungle Book, the sea witch Ursula from The Little Mermaid, and original storyboards from Pixar hits like Cars (2006) and A Bug's Life (1998).
The Propstore auction begins with in-room bidding on December 5, followed by online-only bidding, offering global collectors a chance to own a piece of cinematic history.
