The act of gathering memorabilia is gaining higher and higher momentum. For most fans and mindful collectors, the price of the memorabilia should never be a hindering factor to acquiring any item you so much desire, be it modern or antique memorabilia. The cost of the memorabilia should rather motivate you more to be named as the new owner. Just go for it!
Memorabilia Collection
In the circle of memorabilia collection, there are two types of collectors, those that collect because they are fans or admirers (probably of a particular sporting team, movie, television star, music or art production), and those that collect memorabilia because it is a good investment. Either which you might be, the point never shifts from the fact that memorabilia collectors will always collect anything that either appeals to them or has some value.
Having stated that collecting depends on the interests of the individual collector, it may deal almost on any subject that can quench his taste like sports (Baseball Memorabilia, Basketball Memorabilia, Football Memorabilia, Golf Memorabilia, or NASCAR memorabilia), Movie Memorabilia, Music Memorabilia, Art Collectibles, or innumerable other things. Also, the depth and breadth of the collection may vary. Some collectors although having a general interest, may decide to focus on a specific subtopic within their area of general interest such as Golf memorabilia of Tiger Woods, NASCAR memorabilia of Tony Stewart, Baseball memorabilia of Babe Ruth, Music memorabilia like Jimi Hendrix’s Burnt Guitar, Boxing memorabilia like the Muhammad Ali’s boxing gloves from fight with Floyd Patterson, and a so much more.
The cost of any collectible memorabilia item is directly proportional to the popularity of the figure with which the item correlates. The more famous the figure behind the item is, the more money the collectible memorabilia item will demand. Another factor that has continually affected the cost of memorabilia item is the forces of supply and demand. The whole memorabilia industry is driven by supply and demand. The more demand, the higher the price. However, in all aspects, the quality and image greatly influence all.
THE MOST EXPENSIVE MEMORABILIA ITEMS EVER SOLD
Though sports memorabilia tops the chart of the most sold memorabilia, different items from movies have also had an impressive run. A few scientific items had also made it to the list. With the upsurge in demand for memorabilia items, the future speaks volumes of much higher success. So far, the compilations of the most costly memorabilia to be sold are listed below.
Marilyn Monroe’s Dress
On may, 1962, miss. Munroe wore a dress, which is beautifully encrusted with jewels. The flesh-colored and form-fitting dress was worn to sing the infamous “Happy Birthday Mr. President” to John F. Kennedy. In 2006, the same dress was sold to Ripley’s museum, LA, for a whopping sum of $4.8 million.
‘The Girl’ Ivory Pleated ‘Subway’ Dress
Yet again, another Marilyn Monroe attached item was sold for $4.6 million from Debbie Reynolds in 2011. Then the iconic dress was worn in the 1995 American romantic comedy film, “The Seven Year Itch.”
Audrey Hepburn ‘Ascot Dress’
The dress was worn in the 1964 American musical comedy-drama film, at the scene when Eliza Doolittle (Audrey Hepburn) visits the Ascot racing was sold in 2011 for $4.5 million, by Debbie Reynolds at Beverly Hills.
The Prototype Batmobile
In 2013, George Barris sold the iconic 1960 redesigned Batmobile for $4.2 million. Barris purchased the original Lincoln Futura car for a mere $1. Over the years, the car rose as one of the most renowned superhero vehicles, although it was not the first-ever physical depiction of the familiar superhero ride.
Babe Ruth 1920 Jersey
Perhaps, as one analogist properly but it, if ever the launderer of Mr. Borris could foresee the value of the baseball jersey… the $4,415,000 valued jersey, which was sold to Lelands in 2012 at California. The 1920 Babe Ruth jersey is the oldest-known New York Yankees jersey worn by Babe Ruth. This rare piece of sports memorabilia wields a great significance in the baseball world, with a stronghold in America.
James Naismith’s Basketball Rules
In 2010, the rare James Naismith’s founding rules of basketball were sold to David Booth in New York for $4.3 million. This simple piece of literature is held in high prestige by most basketball lovers.
Aston Martin Goldfinger and Thunderball DB5
If there’s any list of popular movie cars, the Aston Martin’s DB5 will definitely make a list. The famous movie car went to auction in 2010, with all gadgets all every time been intact. The car was sold from RM Auctions in London for $4.1 million.
The Maltese Falcon Statue
Of the two falcon statue in the movie, one of them was sold from Bonhams in 2013 for the sum of $4.1 million. The statue also bore a slight dent, which suggests that it is from the scene where the statue was dropped in the movie.
The Piano Played by Humphrey Bogart in Casablanca
Bonhams sold one of the most famous pianos in the world in 2014 for $3.4 million. The iconic musical instrument from the movie Casablanca, at the “Rick’s Café Americain” is valuable movie memorabilia.
Honus Wagner Baseball Card
1909 made holy grail of baseball cards was sold by Ken Kendricks in 2016 for $3.12 million. The card is still the most expensive baseball card of all time.
John Lennon’s Rolls Royce
The John Lennon 1965 Rolls Royce phantom is one of the highly coveted cars in the world. The customized and the yellow flowery painted car was sold to Jim Pattison for $2.229 million in 1985.
Muhammad Ali’s Boxing Gloves from 1965 Against Floyd Patterson
Muhammad Ali’s second championship fight, in 1965, against Floyd Patterson, in a heavyweight title fight in Las Vegas, was sold to Lorenzo Fertitta in 2012 for $1.1 million.
One and one, the list goes. There’s still a high expectation that most modern items like Captain America’s shield will be valued so high in the nearest future. The bottom line, however, remains aside from quality, the pertinent factor that can influence the price of a piece of memorabilia item is the image behind the item.
