Tips For Buying Original TMNT Movie Props

[NinjaRap]

During my short time collecting movie props (see: http://www.ninjarap.com), I picked up some important tips that maybe others here might find helpful.

1.) Provenance is one of the most important things in this hobby.
Anyone can make a COA. Unless the COA comes directly from the studio, an authorized studio reseller/auctioneer, or a reputable prop company like The Prop Store of London, which offers a money-back guarantee even if the prop changes hands, you are getting an otherwise useless piece of paper.

LOAs can be more helpful in that you might be able to directly contact the actor or crewmember and check the story out. If, however, the LOA is simply made out by the previous owner or someone not connected to the film industry, and the trail ends there, then any assurance you are given is merely hearsay.

2.) Screen-matching is essential.
As the saying goes, your eyes are your bargain.

When I bought my Ninja Rap Is Born newspaper, I was able to literally match the spacing and the size of each and every letter. It is a process that can sometimes take hours, but that is the only way to make sure what you are buying is the real deal.

3.) Get to know the replicas.
I have unfortunately seen many convincing replicas made by dedicated fans that were later sold as genuine props by unscrupulous or unaware sellers. It's best to search around to see if replicas of the prop that you are interested in exist so that you can compare and contrast.

For example, there was a run of Ninja Rap newspapers made by a fan named "cklinejr" in 2010. They originally sold for $20 each.

An official still from the set:


A picture of my original prop:


Now here's a photo of the replica's front:


And the replica's back:


Although the replica resembles the film's newspaper in many ways, it is an not exact match, as you can clearly see by comparing some of the details. (The back sports page is completely different, as well.)

There are replicas out there of the various weapons, the ooze canisters, and even the Foot Clan masks. Take note of them to prevent yourself from ending up with a costly fake.

4.) When all else fails, ask for a second opinion.
If you are still unsure, the next best thing to do is ask someone who directly worked on making the props, such as the propmaster. The TMNT II propmaster was able to tell me the full history of my newspaper (how and where it was made, and that it was last used by the stills photographer).

It is also never a bad idea to get a second opinion from another collector.

To sum things up: Without proven provenance and/or screen-matching, be wary of anyone trying to sell anything as "screen-used."

[Samhain]

Thanks for the tips.

[zkarlette]

Those tips are really great ! I think I would probably buy that canister even if it was a replica.

[Ninja_Shoe_Repair]

Mind posting the back of your original newspaper showing what the sports page is supposed to look like so we have something to base it off of? Nice tips.