Star Trek is a TV show with a very special, furiously dedicated fanbase. How do we know? We were once trapped in a lift with someone who tried to explain the physics of warp-speed to us – three hours of our life we won't get back.
But that particular Star Trek fan has got something very special to look forward to – two things, if you include the fact that doctors are very close to finding a way of dislodging the emergency lift telephone from his small intestines – there's going to be a giant, official Star Trek auction featuring lots from every Star Trek series and movie ever.
2006 is the 40th anniversary of Star Trek. That's 40 years of slightly overdone Shatner-mocking, 40 years of not quite being able to do that Spock hand thing, 40 years of "Damnit Jim, I'm a blank not a blank" jokes and 40 years of having a troubling crush on Uhura. And to celebrate the big Star Trek anniversary, Christies is preparing a special giant Star Trek auction in October.
Although bits of Star Trek memorabilia have been auctioned off in the past – like Spock's ears and a kidney stone that William Shatner weed out – the Christies Star Trek auction will be the first major studio-authorised auction of Star Trek memorabilia. In all, there'll be more than 1,000 lots at the Star Trek auction; from detailed models of the Starship Enterprise to phaser guns to outfits worn by Spock, Jean-Luc Picard and Uhura. The Star Trek auction will feature memorabilia from all ten Star Trek movies and all six versions of the Star Trek TV show.
Top lot on the list is a replica of Captain Kirk's chair built for an episode of Deep Space Nine, which is estimated to sell for $15,000 although, since the collection of lots is going to tour Star Trek conventions throughout the summer, it's bound to go for far more. Cathy Elkies, Christies director of special collections, is already excited about the Star Trek auction:
"They really gave us the ability to go in and carve out a sale that tells the whole story of the series. It was one of those things where you went in there and thought 'Oh my god, I have to have this."
And we've already circled the date of the Star Trek auction on our calender. Just as a coincidence, not because we're going to fight tooth and nail for that Uhura outfit…
Read more:
Star Trek props under the hammer – BBC
[story by Stuart Heritage]