Stormtrooper helmet from first Star Wars film stars at Heritage, July 22-23

Screen-matched stormtrooper helmet made for and used in the original ‘Star Wars’ movie, est. $480,000-$720,000. Image courtesy of Heritage Auctions

 

Screen-matched stormtrooper helmet made for and used in the original ‘Star Wars’ movie, est. $480,000-$720,000. Image courtesy of Heritage Auctions
Screen-matched stormtrooper helmet made for and used in the original ‘Star Wars’ movie, est. $480,000-$720,000. Image courtesy of Heritage Auctions

DALLAS – A long time ago in a theater probably not too far from your house, Star Wars was released on May 25, 1977, long before the original space opera was rechristened Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope. To celebrate that 45th anniversary, Heritage Auctions will offer in its July 22-23 Hollywood & Entertainment Signature® Auction two of the rarest and most coveted items featured in the film that spawned a never-ending franchise: a screen-matched stormtrooper helmet and a screen-used hero E-11 blaster shared by stormtroopers, Han Solo, Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia. Absentee and Internet live bidding will be available through LiveAuctioneers.

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American Folk Art Museum to add major donors’ names to director/CEO’s title

Entrance to the American Folk Art Museum in New York, photographed in June 2019. It recently announced it had accepted a $5 million donation from Becky and Bob Alexander, who will receive naming rights to the museum CEO’s job title in recognition of the gift. Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons, photo credit Ajay Suresh. It was originally posted to Flickr and is shared under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license.
Entrance to the Americna Folk Art Museum in New York, photographed in June 2019. It recently announced it had accepted a $5 million donation from Becky and Bob Alexander, who will receive naming rights to the museum CEO’s job title in recognition of the gift. Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons, photo credit Ajay Suresh. It was originally posted to Flickr and is shared under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license.
Entrance to the American Folk Art Museum in New York, photographed in June 2019. It recently announced it had accepted a $5 million donation from Becky and Bob Alexander, who will receive naming rights to the museum CEO’s job title in recognition of the gift. Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons, photo credit Ajay Suresh. It was originally posted to Flickr and is shared under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license.

NEW YORK (AP) – The American Folk Art Museum, unlike many other arts institutions, managed to avoid layoffs and other cutbacks in the two years after the pandemic through a mix of fundraisers and increased donor contributions. On June 28, the museum planned to announce its largest and most unusual recent gift – a $5 million donation from Arkansas-based arts supporters Becky and Bob Alexander to help fund the museum’s exhibition program and its operation as one of New York City’s few free museums. In honor of the Alexanders’ donation, they will receive naming rights to the museum CEO’s job title, which will become the Becky and Bob Alexander Director & CEO of the American Folk Art Museum.

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Celebrity designer accused of smuggling crocodile handbags

Crocodiles in Villavicencio, Colombia. Posted to Wikimedia Commons by mauriciogq, licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license

WASHINGTON (AP) – A leading fashion designer whose accessories were used by celebrities and characters in the Sex and the City TV series was arrested in her hometown of Cali, Colombia, and faces extradition to the United States on charges of smuggling crocodile handbags, Colombian prosecutors said July 8. Nancy Gonzalez faces charges in the U.S. Southern District of Florida that could lead to up to 25 years in prison and a $500,000 fine.

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Colors to please everyone: Exclusive All-Opals Auction, July 20

Oval-cut 8.33-carat Ethiopian black fire opal, est. $200-$250

 

Oval-cut 8.33-carat Ethiopian black fire opal, est. $200-$250
Oval-cut 8.33-carat Ethiopian black fire opal, est. $200-$250

NEW YORK – Check the results of any auction of loose gemstones and you will find that the opals consistently prompt some of the fiercest fights and biggest winning bids. Jasper52 has wisely cut to the chase and offered an Exclusive All-Opals Auction on Wednesday, July 20, starting at 4 pm Eastern time. Absentee and Internet live bidding will be available through LiveAuctioneers.

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Magic: The Gathering cards – everyone can be a wizard

A still-sealed Alpha set made $70,000 plus the buyer’s premium in April 2021. Image courtesy of Heritage Auctions and LiveAuctioneers.
A still-sealed Alpha set of Magic: The Gathering cards achieved $70,000 plus the buyer’s premium in April 2021. Image courtesy of Heritage Auctions and LiveAuctioneers.

NEW YORK — Magic: The Gathering is strictly a childhood amusement for many, but others retain their passion for it well into adulthood, honing their collections of these trading cards and hunting for valuable examples.

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