Kara Thrace's costume concept sketch for Season 2's "Lay Down Your Burdens, Part II." (Lot 92)

My first introduction to the world of costume design sketches was in 2007 at the Christie’s Entertainment Memorabilia Auction where Christie’s auctioned off the famous Little Black Dress that Audrey Hepburn wore in “Breakfast at Tiffany’s”.  It went for around $ 1 million.  What was equally impressive was that the concept design sketch for that dress brought $ 100,000. 

Fortunately, we were able to acquire all of Glenne Campbell’s costume design sketches for Battlestar Galactica for this auction.  There are some wonderful pieces, including costumes for Starbuck, Baltar, his acolytes and the New Caprica Police.  There is even a sketch used for the Final Five Cylon robes as seen in Season Three’s “Rapture”.  (Of course, there are no hints to who the Final Cylon is!  Some of these sketches, notably Baltar’s and the ones for young Helena and Lucy Cain, even have fabric swatches attached.  These are all original watercolors and will look amazing framed on someone’s wall.

Concept sketch of a costume for one of Baltar's acolytes from Season 4. (Lot 101)

I think there will be some bargain’s here, especially the Baltar’s Acolyte ones.  They aren’t major characters and so won’t draw the big bidders, but still, they are great pieces with tremendous eye appeal.  The Starbuck piece and the Baltar piece will draw the highest bids of this group because they are main characters.  When you buy a piece like this, it needs to resonate with you, and costume sketches are so cool because they combine the art of costume design, with painting.

Now you may wonder,  “where are the costume sketches for the main costumes and uniforms we see?”  Unfortunately, those were done by the costume designer for the mini-series, who did not stay on, and so we weren’t able to get her sketches.  So you better get one of these as there aren’t many more!

Season 3 is the season of medals. For astute viewers who have watched the episode, “Maelstrom“, they will have noticed that there’s a medal hanging in Socrata Thrace‘s apartment. This is most prominent during the flashback scene where Kara visits her mother six years.

Here is a close up of that medal.

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