$8,449 (4 bids): Harrison Ford Indiana Jones Shirt Authentic Costume. An original Western Costume Company costume made specifically for Harrison Ford to wear in the Indiana Jones movies. It is the khaki shirt that you see him in all the movies. It is authentic. It has been appraised by Bison Productions/ Archives. It comes with the letter of authenticity and the studio photos of Harrison wearing the shirt. The shirt has a few spots on the front and back edges and button edge. It looks like it had a tear that was repaired along the bottom edge. He definitely worked hard while wearing it. (Photo: eBay seller kamadra.)

DBA: Movie memorabilia is one of the highest priced collectible categories. Harrison Ford’s kangaroo whip from the Indiana Jones series was sold for $32,000 at Christie’s, London in November of 2012. It was reported to have re-sold for $114,000 (but I could not confirm that story). Harrison Ford’s costume as Han Solo from Star Wars is offered for sale at $75,000 in an Internet store.

Other examples of movie memorabilia that have sold for fantastic prices: Judy Garland’s blue cotton dress with polka dot trim from the Wizard of Oz was sold for $360,000. The air pistol used by Sean Connery as James Bond in four films was sold for $300,000. Assorted costumes worn by Julie Andrews and the rest of the cast in The Sound of Music was sold for $1,560,000.

Movies that seem to be the best to collect from are most of the science fiction/action movies, such as Star Trek, Star Wars, ET, Superman and classics like Gone with the Wind, Casablanca, or The Sound of Music.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

$4,054 (12 bids): WAS Benson Table Lamp Antique Arts And Crafts. Original WAS Benson lamp with original shade dating from 1890/1900. Size 19 inches tall, base 5 x5 inches. Condition amazing for age, shade slightly out of shape; i.e., not quite vertical when viewed straight on, otherwise 99% perfect. (Photo: eBay seller westcountryboy40.)

DBA: One of the most significant and forward-looking of the Arts & Crafts designers, William Arthur Smith Benson (1854–1924) promoted the most important themes of the Arts & Crafts movement. This movement was in stark contrast to the Victorian style with its formal and highly decorative components. The Arts and Crafts objects were designed in a more informal, relaxed style and were more practical. One example of this involves the finish for lamps. WAS Benson formulated a thin lacquer that would prevent the dulling of brass and copper, a problem with the humidity in British houses.

This eBay price is in keeping with the usual price or cost of similar lamps. This was a good buy as these will continue to be rare.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

$2,560 (34 bids): Pureoxia Ginger Ale counter sign display/1920s/MOXIE/Boston.
This is a beautiful and rare, original die-cut countertop display sign for Pureoxia Ginger Ale, a product of the Moxie Company. I would say it dates from the late 1920s. The composition is quite alluring—a beautiful young woman in a coquettish pose, beckoning the viewer to try the drink in her hand. The display is printed on thick, pressed laminated layers of cardboard. Size is 10.5 by 15 inches. (Photo: eBay seller patina46.)

DBA: Advertising memorabilia continues to be a very collectible category. This object is different from the usual categories in that this product is no longer produced. It is probably the fashion of the beautiful young lady that brings this object to this price, especially with this being a thick cardboard object rather than the painted tin or more long-lasting materials.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

$5,111 (36 bids): Charles-Francois Delamarche Orrery Tellurium Planetarium Astronomy Model.
Although this orrery is unsigned, we are attributing it to the French Mapmaker and Astronomer, Charles-Francois Delamarche (1740-1817). Delamarche founded the important and prolific Paris-based Maison Delamarche map publishing firm in the late 18th century. Measuring 15.25 inches tall overall with a 9.25-inch diameter turned-wood base, this circa-1800 model shows the Earth’s movement around the Sun as well as the Moon’s movement around the earth, albeit in a simplified form and not to scale. The 2.75-inch diameter Terrestrial Earth Globe rotates, and the moon rotates around the earth. The paper-covered Earth globe has some surface wear, but there are no tears or restorations. (Photo: eBay seller wwolst12.)

DBA: An orrery is a mechanical model of the solar system that shows relative positions of the planets and moons. Scaling is not usually accurate due to the vast differences in sizes of the planets. The Greeks actually had planetaria, but the first of the modern era was made in 1704 and given to the Earl of Orrery where it gets the name.

A tellurium is a clock that depicts how day, night and the seasons are caused by the movement of the Earth on its axis as it orbits around the sun. This device was made around 1800 and shows the Earth’s movement around the Sun and the Moon’s movement around the Earth in a simplified form and definitely not to scale. Charles-Francois Delamarche headed a publishing firm and was not a scientist. These were more decorative rather than scientific. The maps and globes produced by Delamarche are collectible, and this is a good price for the buyer.