Beyond Movie Memorabilia and Autographed Sports Memorabilia

Whether you’re looking for unusual memorabilia collectibles or searching for unusual ideas for a man cave, there’s a whole world of collectible items beyond the standard movie memorabilia and autographed sports memorabilia collections. Autographed posters from Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest are great home theater décor, certainly, and when it comes to collectibles, sports memorabilia is definitely popular, but there are other types of entertainment collectibles that also make excellent choices when you’re looking for collectible home décor. Here are just a few ideas beyond the typical that you might incorporate into your own decorating schemes.

Horse Photos

When people think of sports memorabilia, they tend to gravitate toward baseball memorabilia, such as baseball cards, or basketball memorabilia, like autographed jerseys and basketballs. There are other sporting events that aren’t quite as visible, but still have a heavy following, such as horse racing. Photographs of Triple Crown winners are always popular collectibles, with Secretariat photos leading the way. You can even get celebrity autographs with your horse racing memorabilia – the most sought after horse photos are those signed by the jockey that rode the horse to victory.

Hollywood Memorabilia

The longest-running and most popular movie franchises have spawned some of the most popular movie memorabilia available. From a signed James Bond poster featuring the autographs of various actors who have portrayed the famous international spy to posters from the LOTR trilogy or a signed Star Wars poster, there are hundreds of choices to display your love of Hollywood. Beyond movie posters, however, you can look for home theater décor that includes celebrity autographs on collectibles or on their own photographs and on theater bills and other collectibles that were used on movie sets. The most popular movie memorabilia often includes autographed photographs with items that were used on set or with movie posters advertising LOTR, Pirates of the Caribbean 4 and other popular movies.

Political Memorabilia

For some people, nothing is more entertaining than the world of politics, and there’s no doubt that our presidents are among the biggest celebrities on the world stage. Framed presidential memorabilia seldom commands the high prices realized by movie memorabilia and autographed sports memorabilia – which often makes political memorabilia a great entry point for beginning collectors. From framed, autographed photos of presidents to collections of campaign buttons in shadow box frames, presidential and political memorabilia can be a hot ticket item at auctions – and unusual accents in your home décor.

Choosing movie memorabilia, autographed sports memorabilia and other types of memorabilia for your home is easier when you rely on a trusted dealer. Always purchase your collectibles from a company you can trust to verify everything they sell.

Top Prices for Movie Memorabilia and Autographed Sports Memorabilia

If you’re just starting out collecting movie memorabilia or autographed sports memorabilia, the prices you see listed for items like Star Wars posters and autographed basketballs or baseball bats may come as a shock. Keep in mind that movie posters, movie memorabilia and sport memorabilia items have value in the eyes of collectors because they have a connection to famous people or to fond memories, and that the value of any piece of movie memorabilia or sports memorabilia is determined by what collectors are willing to pay to own a piece of movie or sports history. Just how high can those prices go? Take a look at some of the prices paid for movie posters, basketball memorabilia, baseball memorabilia and football memorabilia over the last few years for an idea of just how valuable your Hollywood collectibles and sport memorabilia can become.

Autographed Basketball Memorabilia

Signed basketballs, especially those used in a championship game, often command high prices at auction, but game jerseys are among the most popular autographed basketball memorabilia available today. How much can a game jersey command? According to Wikicollecting, a game jersey worn by Julius “Dr. J” Erving in the 1976 ABA All-Stars game fetched $188,321 in a 2007 auction and a Celtics home jersey worn by Bill Russell in a 1967-68 game – and signed by Bill Russell – brought in $65,000 in a 2008 auction.

Hollywood Memorabilia

Movie memorabilia fetches huge prices at auction, and highest prices often go to mementoes from popular film franchises, such as Star Wars movie posters and Pirates of the Caribbean Hollywood collectibles. The highest price paid for a piece of Star Wars movie memorabilia was $625,000 for the Panavision PSR 35mm camera used to shoot principle footage for Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope. That makes the price for an original Star Wars: The Duel poster seem like an absolute bargain.

Football Memorabilia

If you’re looking for bargain sport memorabilia, you can’t do better than starting a collection of football memorabilia. When you compare the prices paid for football collectibles to those paid for other sports memorabilia, it’s clear that autographed footballs, football helmets and game jerseys are highly undervalued. That’s changing rapidly, though, as American football becomes more popular throughout the world. The most expensive piece of football memorabilia ever sold is the plaster cast used to cast the first 40 Heisman Trophies. It sold at auction in 2008 for $89,625. Want to get in on the ground floor with football memorabilia? Check out the selection of autographed football jerseys and autographed footballs available through memorabilia dealers online.

Collecting movie memorabilia and autographed sports memorabilia is a growth industry – but it’s far more than that. It’s a fun and challenging hobby that can afford you hours and hours of fun.

Decorating with Movie Memorabilia

Movie posters have a whole new lease on life. Remember back to your teen years when you put up your favorite movie posters on your bedroom walls, and you swore that you’d never grow too old to surround yourself with mementoes of the best movies ever? Well, movie posters have grown up. These days, movie memorabilia, including movie posters and entertainment memorabilia from your favorite stars, movies and sports, are among the hottest tickets in home décor. You can celebrate your love of Middle Earth with LOTR posters, hang your favorite Star Wars poster on the wall of your man room or deck out your home theater with celebrity autographs and entertainment collectibles and no one will blink an eye. In fact, your friends will be impressed with your collection of Hollywood memorabilia or sport memorabilia.

Home Theater Décor Ideas

Who would have imagined back then that you might have a room in your home dedicated to watching movies? These days, home theaters are popping up in even modest homes. Decorating your home theater room can be a whole lot of fun, especially if you choose a theme and run with it. Grab that Star Wars: The Duel movie poster – signed by the actors who played Darth and Luke, of course, and bulk up your collection with other Star Wars memorabilia.

Of course, movie memorabilia from one particular movie is only one of the ways to develop a theme for your home theater décor. You could also focus on collecting movie posters from movies directed by your favorite director, or starring your favorite movie stars. You could put together a display of movie posters and Hollywood memorabilia from Hollywood’s Golden Age, or focus on a particular movie franchise, such as Pirates of the Caribbean 4 and the other Pirates of the Caribbean movies. If you’re a Bond fan, you could create a collection centering around a James Bond poster or a Bond display featuring all of the actors who have played 007 over the years. The possibilities for personalizing and customizing your collection of movie memorabilia are practically endless.

Authentic Movie and Hollywood Memorabilia

The biggest difference between the movie posters you collected as a teen and today’s movie memorabilia is authenticity. Memorabilia dealers command high prices for items, photos and movie posters that are autographed or that came from the sets of famous movies. When you invest in expensive Hollywood memorabilia or sport memorabilia, it’s important to only buy from reputable dealers who can authenticate the signatures and memorabilia items that you buy.

A Buying Guide for Movie Memorabilia

Bring your favorite movies into your decorating scheme with movie memorabilia from your favorite films. Hollywood memorabilia comes in many different flavors and types, from autographed movie posters and theater cards to celebrity autographs to autographed movie photos and actual props. The world of movie memorabilia encompasses nearly anything associated with movies and the people who make them.

While entertainment collectibles can increase hugely in value and earn their owners thousands of dollars, most people collect movie memorabilia for the thrill of the hunt and the pleasure of ownership. That doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t be concerned about authenticity and value, however. If you’re just starting a collection of movie memorabilia and entertainment collectibles, keep these things in mind.

Types of Memorabilia

Promotional posters are among the favorite types of movie collectibles, especially if they’ve been signed by one of the stars or the director of the movie. You’ll find promotional movie posters of all types, including foreign films, classic films and popular U.S. films. While posters from older classic films are rare and can be expensive, you can pick up a Star Wars poster or a poster for Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest for a much more reasonable price. If you choose movie memorabilia from the most popular movies of the last few decades, you’ll get them at an affordable price and have a piece of movie memorabilia that is nearly guaranteed to increase in value.

Publicity items, such as promotional photos, press kits and lobby cards, are prized pieces of Hollywood memorabilia, especially if they’ve been autographed. Often, dealers in memorabilia will put together framed display collections of memorabilia that include a movie poster, celebrity autographs and even an item used on set.

Celebrity autographs are the most popular type of movie memorabilia, and a good way to get started in collecting.

No matter what type of memorabilia you choose to collect, authenticity is the key to value. There are a number of ways to ensure that you’re only buying authentic memorabilia – and this applies to all types of collectibles, including sports memorabilia, framed presidential memorabilia and celebrity autographs. These steps can help you ensure that you only buy authentic memorabilia of any kind.

Buy from a well-known dealer with an excellent reputation. The collectors’ world is a small one, and most people know each other, at least by reputation. When you buy from a dealer, online or off, you can check reputation with other collectors.

If you’re dealing with a new dealer or with an individual, ask for references from other buyers. If the seller can’t or won’t supply them, be suspicious.

Always get a certificate of authenticity for any piece of movie memorabilia with a signature or that is being advertised as a movie prop.

Collecting movie memorabilia can be both fun and profitable, as long as you take the time to research the pieces you buy and always ask for authentication.

Movie Memorabilia From Top Movies

Hollywood’s Golden Age has got nothing on the last 25 years when it comes to the creation of movie memorabilia. Today’s hottest entertainment collectibles aren’t the bits and pieces drawn from old Hollywood classics, but movie posters and other memorabilia from film classics in the making. Movies franchises like Star Wars, Pirates of the Caribbean and LOTR have spawned some of the most collectible Hollywood memorabilia and posters of all time. If you’re looking for movie-themed home theater décor, you can’t go wrong with posters, framed movie art and movie memorabilia from these top cult and popular favorite movies and franchises.

Star Wars

A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away millions of Star Wars fans were transported to a new world – a world that eventually spawned seven full-length feature films and created an entire genre of movie memorabilia. Star Wars posters are among the most popular Hollywood memorabilia, especially framed art that combines an official Star Wars poster with other memorabilia from the movie franchise. Perhaps the most famous and iconic scene in all of Star Wars, The Duel – with Luke facing off against Darth Vader, light sabers in hand – has been captured in photograph and framed alongside autographs of stars Hamill and Prowse, who played Skywalker and Vader in a framed Star Wars display that’s the perfect gift for your favorite Star Wars fanatic or the ideal finishing touch for your home theater.

Pirates of the Caribbean

As Jack Sparrow, Johnny Depp minced onto the screen and into the hearts of a whole generation of movie lovers. His portrayal of the dashing rogue spawned a new homage to pirates and an entire field of Pirates of the Caribbean movie memorabilia. Jack Sparrow, William and Elizabeth have romped through four Pirates of the Caribbean movies to date, but the most-wanted memorabilia from the franchise comes from Pirates of the Caribbean Dead Man’s Chest, released in 2006, and Pirates of the Caribbean 4 On Stranger Tides, released in 2011.

LOTR

One of the most anticipated film franchises of all time may well have been the Lord of the Rings trilogy, released in 2001, 2002 and 2003. The trilogy is the sixth highest grossing film series of all time and has collected 17 Academy Awards and 30 Oscar nominations. LOTR posters are hot properties, not only with collectors of movie memorabilia but with fans of high fantasy, making them a double win.

Whether you’re decorating a home movie theater or looking for the perfect gift for a special movie fan, consider a gift of movie memorabilia featuring posters or mementoes from one of these top three movie franchises of all time.

Decorating with Autographed Sports Memorabilia

One of the hottest trends in decorating for a man cave or a den is the use of autographed sports memorabilia as accent pieces. There are many different ways to display sports memorabilia in your home. These are just a few of the most popular ideas for man cave decorations and displays.

Autographed Jerseys on the Wall

Uniform jerseys are among the most popular types of autographed sports memorabilia available. Generally, when you purchase an autographed uniform jersey, it will be included in a framed display to protect it from the air and other damage. Hang the framed displays on a wall and highlight them with subtle recessed lighting from above or below. It’s a great way to display any type of framed sports memorabilia.

Display Cases for Autographed Sports Memorabilia

You’ll feel like the luckiest kid at the ball park when you can proudly display a baseball autographed by your favorite hometown slugger. Signed baseballs, basketballs and hockey pucks have always been among the favorite types of autographed sports memorabilia, and a collection of autographed balls or sports equipment looks its best when displayed safely and properly in a case. Looking for something special? There are dealers of autographed sports memorabilia that specialize in hard-to-find autographs and artistic displays for discriminating sports fans.

Uniquely American Sports Memorabilia

Americans have a lasting love affair with baseball that dates back to the origins of the game. It’s the only sport where we traditionally expect our leader to kick off the official season by throwing out the first pitch – and political pundits have commonly made much of the president’s throwing ability. One of the most impressive and unique pieces of framed Presidential memorabilia ever to hit the market brings together politics and sports in the game that’s as American as – well, the President. It features autographed baseballs signed by four former U.S. presidents – George H.W. Bush, Ronald Reagan, Jimmy Carter and Gerald Ford – along with a photograph of the presidents together in the Oval Office and authentications of all signatures.

Collectible Sports Memorabilia

Most autographed photos are not quite as rare and are considerably more affordable than a showpiece like the Presidential baseball display, but that doesn’t make them any less desirable. If you’re choosing a gift for a sports fan, an autographed photo of a classic sports moment is one that’s sure to be appreciated.

No matter the sport, you’ll find autographed sports memorabilia to honor it, but there are many dealers out there who don’t authenticate carefully. Don’t get taken in by a fake piece of sports memorabilia. Ensure that you’re buying authentic baseball memorabilia, basketball memorabilia, football memorabilia and other sport memorabilia items by buying from a reputable memorabilia and collectibles dealer.

Movie Memorabilia and Entertainment Collectibles on the Little Screen

If you’re a fan of the A&E reality series “Storage Wars,” you’ve probably been picking up a background education on collectible Hollywood memorabilia and movie memorabilia thanks to Barry Weiss, the retiree turned storage warrior. For those who have never watched the show, the premise is a simple one. It follows the adventures of several California entrepreneurs who battle each other at storage unit auctions. Each of the main characters has a persona; there is Dave Hester, who owns an auction house, and Darryl Sheets, who owns a thrift shop, and Jarrod Schulz and Brandi Passante, who own a secondhand store.

And then there is Barry Weiss, a self-styled collector, who is always on the lookout for the rare, the unusual and the valuable. A life-long collector of antiques and collectibles, Barry joined the show at the suggestion of his friend, who is the executive producer of the show. He loves finding what he calls “collector’s units,” storage units that might contain valuable collectible movie memorabilia, autographed sports memorabilia and other kinds of entertainment collectibles. Barry’s finds have included the shoes worn by Shelley Duvall in the movie “Popeye” and a set of rare horse racing posters netted him more than $6,000.

“Storage Wars” is only one of many shows that feature antiques, sports memorabilia, Hollywood collectibles and celebrity autographs. For lovers of memorabilia and collectibles the last few years have been a veritable feast. The venerable “Antiques Roadshow” has featured episodes that include framed presidential memorabilia, autographed movie posters and collectible sports memorabilia alongside their more standard family heirlooms and stately antiques. Spike TV’s “Auction Hunters” follows the adventures of Ton Jones and Allen Haff as they attend storage unit auctions around the country, often uncovering collections of baseball memorabilia and out-of-the-ordinary celebrity collectibles, like signed surfboards and signed movie posters.

As alluring as it may be to imagine uncovering a stash of mint condition Star Wars posters in an old storage locker, there are easier ways to acquire movie memorabilia. If you’re looking for home theater décor or ideas for a man cave, you’ll find plenty of inspiration browsing catalogues and listings posted by reputable dealers of collectibles – and you’ll be certain that the items you’re buying are the genuine thing. Reputable dealers will always provide you with certificates of authenticity for any celebrity autographs or movie memorabilia they sell.

Whether you’re looking for a Star Wars display for your home theater or the perfect piece of football memorabilia to finish off your den, your best option is always a well-known, reputable dealer of movie memorabilia and entertainment collectibles.