David Pierini
A phaser prop from the original Star Trek
series will be auctioned off next month. Photo: Propworx
A rare phaser pistol from the
original Star Trek television series is “set to stun” when it goes on the
auction block next month in Los Angeles.
It is made of fiberglass and
one of only two known phasers to have survived the 1960s television series,
which starred William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy as the leaders of the starship
Enterprise.
The phaser could fetch more
than $60,000, according to the website Luxurylaunches.com when it hits the
block Feb. 21 during a Star Trek auction by Propworx.
Just whose’s weapon was this?
According to auction house Propworx, it was likely used during several episodes
of the second season. It has been visually matched to the March 29, 1968,
episode “Assignment: Earth,” where a closeup shot puts it in the hands of a
security officer in the transporter room.
A scratch and some small
blemishes match the screenshot from the show and the prop up for auction. It
was in the inventory of Star Trek’s production company, Desilu, before it went
into the hands of a private collector after the series ended in 1969.
A page from the auction catalog
shows a closeup of the phaser from a Star Trek episode and details visually
matched to the prop up for bid. Photo: Propworx
Propworx serves the movie and
television industry by selling off the assets of movie and TV productions. Its
founder, Alec Petters, is known as one of the top collectors of Star Trek props
and costumes.
While the old-school phaser is
the jewel of the auction, fans can bid on 100 lots of costumes, props, models
and other production materials from the Star Trek television franchise. Other
items include a tricorder from The Next Generation series, a Klingon D-7
spaceship model, a Captain Sisko dress uniform and Klingon knives.
In 2013, a phaser rifle used by
Shatner’s Captain Kirk was sold at auction for $231,000, according to
Luxuryluanches.com.
Propworx has two other Star
Trek auctions planned for this year. Interested bidders can sign up on
LiveAuctioneers.com.