December 2013

Doctor Who Memorabilia Set For Auction
Who doesn't know of the good Doctor Who?
Article By Steven R. Rochlin

  On the 18th of December Bonhams Knightsbridge will hold an auction to offer up great memorabilia to Doctor Who fans around the world! This auction coincides with the show's 50th anniversary of this now classic series. Bonhams Knightsbridge will include pieces from each decade of the show's history at its forthcoming Entertainment Memorabilia sale. Bonhams is the only auction house to hold dedicated auctions for the timeless BBC series and offer items from a range of sources.

Heroes and villains from the long running series will be represented including a Dalek, a Cyberman suit and the Yeti amongst others, as well as props used by The Doctor. Scripts, drawings and costumes will also be offered, including a number of lead character costumes from the BBC archive used on spin-off series Torchwood.

Stephanie Connell, Head of Bonhams Entertainment Memorabilia Department, said "We are delighted to be offering such a range of pieces from the 50 year history of the series, many of which are previously unseen. The sale recognizes our relationship with the Doctor Who series and the fans of the show."

One of the sale highlights is a Destroyed Dalek, believed to have appeared in Remembrance of the Daleks, which is offered for sale with estimates of £4,500-£5,000. An iconic part of British popular culture, the Dalek appears in the Oxford English dictionary, has featured on postage stamps and was voted the all-time greatest monster by leading science fiction magazines. Made from wood, fiberglass, metal, plastic and foam, the Dalek prop stands at over one meter in height. This model is believed to be the very one blown up in the episode and later to appear in the office of villain, Mr. Rattcliffe.

Other highlights include a selection of items from the recently rediscovered Patrick Troughton era episode, The Web of Fear. A set of five Rehearsal Scripts for Doctor Who and the Web of Fear from the collection of episode writer Henry Lincoln, each signed by the author, are offered with an estimate of £2,500 to £3,500. Filmed episodes of Doctor Who and the Web of Fear were thought lost until their recent discovery in a TV Station in Africa. The set of five scripts to be sold on 18th December include the script for the still missing episode three of the series. Two extremely rare original Yeti homing device props from the 1968 serial The Web of Fear are offered for sale. Each figure stands 11.5cm high and carries an estimate of £2000 to £3000. The Yeti were created by scriptwriter Henry Lincon and first featured in The Abominable Snowmen. After Lincon's departure as writer for the program, the Yeti were never to appear again.

Props and monsters from Tom Baker era will also be offered such as a 1978 Taran Wood Beast monster costume from, Doctor Who: The Androids of Tara (estimates £1,500 to £2,000). The enormous body suit of synthetic fur is complete with clawed hands, scaled face and protruding eyes and teeth, set on a head measuring half a meter in diameter. A Cyberman costume from 1988 episode Doctor Who: Silver Nemesis consisting of silver painted body suit, molded chest pieces, laser gun and gloves is estimated at £1,000 to £1,500. The Cybermen were the most persistent of The Doctor's enemies. They originated from Earth's twin planet but had extended their lives with artificial implants and become coldly logical, emotionless beings.

Also appearing in the sale is the original dove pan magic trick prop from The Talons of Weng-Chiang, 1977 staring Tom Baker as Doctor Who. The prop is from the estate of Larry Barnes, magic advisor for Doctor Who. It is estimated to sell for £700 to £900.