The Klingon cloaking device won’t hide anything. The Cardassian replicator can’t make a roast beef dinner. And the Ferengi hand scanners would be useless even without the Ferengi graphics.
But for fans of the “Star Trek” series of TV shows and films, these fantastical items made of plastic, metal, rubber and wood are historic treasures.
Marking the 40th anniversary of the original TV show, Christie’s will begin a three-day auction of Star Trek costumes, props, set designs and models Thursday.
Taken from the archives of CBS Paramount Television studios, the items represent the mother lode of Trekkiana. The rifles, swords and other weapons; jumpsuits and jackets; furniture; and spaceship blueprints were used in five television series and 10 feature films that followed the intergalactic adventures of Kirk, Spock, Picard, Worf and all the other friends and enemies of the Federation.
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Auction items include four wall panels in the distinctive biomechanical design of the merciless, cybernetic Borg. Paul Camman of New Milford, Conn., said he already has a picture of a Borg space vessel in the Star Trek room at his home. Camman, a senior optical manufacturing engineer at Goodrich Corp. in Danbury, Conn., said he would be interested in some of the other auction items, particularly the ship models, “but unfortunately, I don’t have the cash right now.”
That could be a problem for even the most devoted Trekkies, no matter how badly they want that Klingon floor matting or Talaxian head-appliance. Total value of the 1,000 lots is estimated at $3 million, according to the New York City auction house, and estimates on some individual lots range up to $30,000.
Following are some items and price estimates from the Christie’s auction, titled “40 Years of Star Trek: The Collection.”
– Starship Enterprise-A model — 22-inches long; made from a modified plastic hobby kit, with battle scars painted by technicians at Lucasfilm’s Industrial Light & Magic. Used in three movies, “Star Trek II: The Wrath of Kahn,” “Star Trek III: The Search for Spock” and “Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country.” $15,000 to $20,000.
– Klingon Bird of Prey ship model — 15-by-36 inches; plastic, milled aluminum and resin. Designed for “Star Trek III: The Search for Spock”; also used in later “Star Trek” films and TV episodes. $8,000 to $12,000.
– Captain Kirk’s civilian shirt — Pink, long-sleeved shirt with crossover button, distressed from use in a fight scene; worn by actor William Shatner in “Star Trek III: The Search for Spock.” Lot also includes a clean shirt of the same style made for “Star Trek: The Voyage Home.” $1,000 to $1,500.
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For more information, visit www.christies.com/special–sites/startre k/overview.asp