Looking Back – The First BSG Live Auction

Now that the auctions are over, we thought we would take a look back with fond memories at the last year–the year we had all the pieces of BSG at our fingertips. So let’s go back to the moment it all began. The following is an account of the first live auction–as told through the eyes of one of our friends and favorite BSG fans, Shelley Littleton:

BSG Auction #1: Creating the Legend

The Final Episodes. The Final Five. The Propworx Battlestar Galactica Live Auction Event. The three day event January 16th, 17th and 18th 2009 in Pasadena, California and online at AuctionNetwork.com drew participants from all over the world bidding on props, costumes and set pieces from what critics and fans alike consider the greatest Science Fiction TV series ever made. Sponsored by NBC/Universal, this live auction marked the debut of Propworx, the entertainment industry’s premier auction house for production assets. Propworx has set the standard for event auctions, allowing fans and collectors to meet the creators and cast of their favorite series or movie and acquire iconic relics from these properties. The first live Battlestar Galactica auction was truly a milestone event, and capped what was a remarkable TV series with an auction that paid homage to the show and the people who created it.

Fans were eager to pick up a piece of the magic and drove prices to astronomical heights, often hundreds, if not thousands, above estimates. Online bidders, eager to beat fans that had made the trip to Pasadena, kept the bidding intense, and online live auction provider Auction Network managed to combine outstanding technology with top-notch auctioneers and production teams to ensure a smooth operation.

In conjunction with the live auction in Pasadena, 200 BSG items were up for sale on eBay, ending the Monday after the auction. This was followed by 34 weeks of eBay auctions over the next year!

Sin Qua Non

The title of one of Battlestar Galactica’s most famous episodes was “Sine Qua Non,” Latin for “without which not” or “without which it could not be” perfectly describes the Propworx-produced collectible auction catalog. A spectacular visual reference, the catalog featured sections with costumes from every major character, beautiful costume sketches and watercolors – works of art in their own right, production art and detailed plans, set decoration items, props and full-sized ser pieces. In addition to photos and detailed descriptions, the book includes behind the scenes interviews and insights from the series creators and crew.

With a bow to the Battlestar Galactica universe, the 319-page catalog featured cut corners, authentic typefaces, emblems, and a cover inspired by the Galactica’s log books used by Adama. The auction catalog is the perfect addition to any BSG collection.

The Fleet

Supplementing Propworx’s dedicated auction staff was The Colonial Fleet, the premier Batllestar Galactica fan club dedicated to all things BSG. Lovely red-dressed, blond-wigged Sixes mingled with officers in their Duty Blue Uniforms and flight deck crew members in fan-created costumes so authentic looking that fans in attendance wanted to know why they were wearing such valuable screen used costumes! The Fleet members assisted prospective buyers with questions about the auction items and added an authentic flair to the festivities. Many fans just wanted pictures next to their favorite fleet member (with a little spaceship in the background ).

Preview Day

Preview Day was a fantastic event where all the items to be auctioned were on display. Almost a thousand fans and collectors came on preview day to see the goods! Plus, Propworx and NBC/Universal flew down the department heads from BSG who each gave a one-hour chat on what it was like to work on the show and to give some behind-the-scenes tales of what it took to create the items that were being auctioned. Tricia Helfer, Michael Trucco, Michael Hogan and Richard Hatch all made appearences at Preview day, as did series creator Ronald Moore.

Day 1: Off With A Bang

The very first item, a set of production drawings and set plans valued at $500, sold for $1,200! That set the tone for the day, as drawings and concept art fetched hundreds, above estimates. Some of the original concept art that was used to sell Battlestar Galactica to SyFy channel went to some lucky winners. Much of the art were concept sketches in pencil by BSG concept artist Ken Rabehl, while many of the technical schematics of the sets were by Ivana Vassik.

Playing Dress Up

After the artwork and set drawings and a brief break, the first of the costumes went up on the block, and the first item was a doozie. Adama’s Duty Blues complete with rank pins and insignia, sold for and amazing $12,500. What a way to start off the costume group! A few items later, Starbuck’s Flight Suit blew the roof off with an outstanding $16,800 confirming the notion that someone would love to wear a sweaty, used leather suit, as long as Kara Thrace/Katee Sackhoff provided the sweat. Starbuck’s wardrobe raised almost $45,000, and not to be outdone, Apollo’s wardrobe was up next. Fan favorites, Lee Adama’s duty blue uniforms (both regular and “Fat Lee” size) drew the most interest, but Lee’s flight suit was also popular and reached $6,000. I guess more fans were interested in Katee’s than Jamie Bamber’s sweaty leather togs. $36,000 later, Colonel Tigh and Gaius Baltar’s clothing held the bidder’s attention, but it was Helo’s Dress Grays that wowed the crowd, hitting the $6,000 mark and confirming the old adage that we all love a man in uniform. Dee, Tyrol and Gaeta were up next, and they did not fail to impress. Uniforms, flight deck jumpsuits, BDUs and civilian wear all sold well. More big numbers came from Athena/Boomer, where only 8 lots totted up over $26,000. Another fan favorite, Crewman Specialist Cally Henderson, had a combination of military and civilian lots and provided the first petite crew jumpsuit for sale. Pilots Racetrack, Hotdog and Seelix along with Lieutenant Hoshi’s costumes also sold well. Hard living, smoke ‘em if you got ‘em Doc Cottle’s medical outfits followed along with many other characters dress uniforms, BDUs, jumpsuits, and flightsuits.

All Hail to the Chief

She may have only had a small bag on her original flight to Galactica aboard a Colonial Heavy Transport from Caprica in the original miniseries, but Laura Roslin always looked the part of President and classy lady. Her outfits up for auction included multiple pantsuits and skirts perfect for the politician on the go.

A Nod to the Past

The only actor to have roles in both the original and re-imagined BSG, as Apollo and Tom Zarek, Richard Hatch’s costumes drew a lot of interest from the bidders, with prisoner jumpsuits, politician-appropriate herringbone and his iconic black leather jacket up for sale.

A round of other civilian wear followed, including cougar Cylon Mom Ellen Tigh, kleptomaniac lawyer Romo Lampkin, high-priestess Elosha, in preparation for another round of military garb featuring razor-sharp Admiral Cain, haunted XO Kendra Shaw and Cain’s successor Commander Jack Fisk.

Devil with the Red Dress On

Things seemed rather calm and tranquil until Lot #260 appeared. The Red Dress. Slinky. Sexy. Over the top. Most of the ladies (and the men) wondered if they could buy the dress and the body to go with it. Men loved her and women wanted to be her (or, in some cases, the reverse). Tricia Helfer designated four favorite charities for the proceeds to go to and the bidders did not disappoint. $15,600 later, a lucky bidder took home one of the most desired red dresses in history. More Cylon Six dresses, cut out leather sets, opera-appropriate white, and even sackdress prisoner garb went for thousands, reinforcing the fact that fans love Six.

Cylons costumes continued to interest with Final Five and Presidential confidante Tory, Prophetic Two Leoben, Fanatic Five Doral, Boxed but Not Out Three D’anna, and Medic Four Simon along with Final Five white robes rounding out the group.

Ships Passing in the Night

As the costumes finished up, you could clearly hear the crowd’s excitement build for the largest items up for auction – the Raptor, Viper Mark VII and Cylon Raider. Many in the crowd dreamed of owning one of these fantastic ships, and a few even jotted down plans for the perfect storage building to protect their investment. When the bidding started, all the audience looked to each bidder, wondering who had the money (and the room) for an actual spaceship! Unfortunately, none of the ships reached their reserve, and now some of the ships are destined for a Battlestar Galactica exhibit to be held at the SciFi museum in Seattle this Fall!

Day Two: Props, Props, and More Props

Day two started the props section of the auction, and fan favorite Doc Cottle got in the game with his cigarette case and lighter. A few items later, the most important key on the Galactica, the FTL Key, sold for $3,600. Adama’s lighter, a symbolic prop for both father and son, also fetched a pretty penny, netting over $6,000. Personal photos, books, Galactica crew documents, equipment, and a Cylon Transponder were next leading up to the intricate and elaborate Elosha’s Scroll, one example of the Sacred Scrolls so often referred to in the series.

The Iconic Arrow

There were some iconic props in this auction, and Lots 482 and 483, the Arrow of Apollo Hero and Stunt version, were two of the finest. The Arrow starred in Season One’s two-part season finale,” Kobol’s Last Gleaming” and part of Season Two, the Arrow of Apollo was the focal point of the story arc where Starbuck steals the captured Cylon Raider and goes back to Caprica to find the Arrow, which President Roslin believes will guide the fleet to Earth. These two key pops brought top dollar, totaling over $13,000.

Notebooks, log books, crew paperwork, reference books,and radiation badges followed with essentials like Baltar’s nuclear bomb in custom carry case, the Blackbird signed hullplate, and Galactica “Top Gun” Beer Stein exciting the bidders. Tactical models of Galactica, Vipers, Cylon Baseships, Cylon Fighters and other ships were used in the “War Room” in various episodes, and interested hopeful buyers looking to plan their next mission. Helmets, guns, patches and military insignia featured prominently in the next grouping of items, and hard core fans drove the bidding up in order to acquire authentic items to complete their costumes.

No collection would be complete without a translight or two. Maps, plans and navigation routes were all planned on Galactica’s light tables, and these translights document the journey of Galactica and the humans to Earth. Popular translights for bidders included a large map of Kobol, the Cylon Baseship plans, and Galactica Schematic.

Equipment Anyone?

Phones of every shape and size, squadron shields, wall lights, Colonial One recliners and Pilot Ready Room Chairs were snapped up by bidders eager to redecorate their “Battlestar” dens. Bidders buzzed for Colony Flags, displayed at every BSG official function from swearing-ins to funeral masses. Furniture and set pieces from Laura Roslin’s office and Adama’s quarters were also popular with bidders as these items were constantly seen on screen and associated with the characters. The iconic oil painting “The Cylon War” which resided front and center in Adama’s quarters, demanded a staggering $21,000, shocking both bidders and auctioneers alike. The excitement continued to build for the larger set items, from Dee’s FTL console, Dradis displays, Officer’s Bunk Beds, large Galactica doors, the Cylon Resurrection Tub and the Cylon Centurion.

“The auction was certainly one of the most impressive Hollywood memorabilia auctions of all time,” said Propworx CEO Alec Peters after the event. “Certainly, no other auction has been put together with so much love and attention, and that is because my staff and I are all huge Battlestar fans, and NBC/Universal really wanted an event that would honor the show, not just sell the assets. I think we accomplished that.”

Of course what Alec didn’t realize he was doing, when he created such a spectacular event, was setting the bar even higher for the second live auction!

For a fantastic video of this auction, please visit the following link:

BATTLESTAR GALACTICA HIGHLIGHTS-First Propworx Auction