Autographs of the Ultimate Frontier: Amassing Signed Star Trek Playing cards

It’s no secret that well-known autographs typically web collectors massive earnings. However on this planet of accumulating, there may be maybe no different tv franchise with such a dizzying array of autographs to gather because the ever-popular Star Trek.

Star Trek has produced 890 episodes (and counting) throughout forty-five tv sequence, in addition to a number of Hollywood films. There are additionally many non-canon works, from novels to fan-made movies. With the franchise being such a juggernaut, it’s no shock that the autographs of Trek actors and actresses have turn into a accumulating phenomenon all their very own.

To Boldly Gather

What units Star Trek aside is its big and devoted fanbase, which has solely grown with time. Trekkies, as they’re referred to as, are an especially loyal bunch. Many will fortunately journey tons of (and even hundreds) of miles to attend conventions, hoping to get the autograph of somebody who appeared in a lizard costume in a single episode.

Prized above all else are official autograph playing cards. These playing cards bear {a photograph} of the actor in character and normally have a clean house within the backside half the place the signature might be written. Topps, Impel, Fleer/SkyBox, and Rittenhouse Archives have produced the main cards out there to the trendy collector. Of those, the Rittenhouse playing cards are essentially the most traded as we speak.

With the unique present courting again to the mid-sixties, many Star Trek actors are not with us. Nichelle Nichols (Uhura) is the latest member of the Unique Collection most important forged to cross away. Of the unique bridge crew, solely William Shatner (Captain Kirk), George Takei (Sulu), and Walter Koenig (Chekov) are nonetheless alive. There’ll by no means be any new Leonard Nimoy or DeForest Kelley autographs within the accumulating world, which means the values of such autographs have elevated exponentially and can proceed to take action.

Unique Collection Autographs

Of all the various official (and non-official) Original Series autograph playing cards, collectors most frequently search the twenty-six-card signature group from the 1997 Fleer/Skybox launch. William Shatner (Captain Kirk) and Leonard Nimoy (Mr. Spock) have essentially the most beneficial signatures. Certainly, Shatner’s autograph is increasingly uncommon resulting from his coverage of solely signing gadgets at conventions or for charity.

Leonard Nimoy’s autograph repeatedly fetches many tons of of {dollars}. Of explicit word to collectors must be the 1998 A31 Captain James T. Kirk card from Skybox. Its restricted print run means this is likely one of the rarest playing cards thus far and might set trendy collectors again a thousand {dollars} for one in mint situation.

A Subsequent Technology

A model new Star Trek sequence with a brand new forged of characters was launched in 1987. The Next Generation ran for seven years and is mainly liable for why a lot Trek content material is out there to the trendy viewer. With out Subsequent Technology, there would have been no Deep Area 9, Voyager, or any new sequence at the moment airing on streaming providers.

A brand new sequence meant new actors, and autograph card firms have been fast to take advantage of the present’s rising reputation. Card firm Impel introduced out The Next Generation Inaugural Edition in 1992 when the present was on its fifth season. The 120-card set featured photos of ships, props, and key characters. The Inaugural Version can be Impel’s swan music—the corporate merged with Skybox that very same yr. Impel’s legacy within the Star Trek accumulating world is immeasurable—it was Impel who set the gold customary for high quality in an more and more saturated market. Most trendy buying and selling card firms owe an terrible lot to Impel.

Essentially the most beneficial autograph from The Subsequent Technology set is that of Patrick Stewart, who portrayed Captain Jean-Luc Picard. A signed Impel Captain Picard can set a purchaser again at the very least 300 {dollars}. Any autographs from forged regulars will maintain essentially the most worth, together with Michael Dorn (Worf) and Whoopi Goldberg (Guinan).

Later Exhibits and Films

After the startling success of Subsequent Gen, the Nineties and early 2000s noticed what many followers consult with because the golden age of Star Trek. Viewers have been spoilt for selection with exhibits like Deep Area 9, Voyager, and Enterprise. New exhibits meant new actors and new autographs. Fleer/Skybox (merging in 1995) went into overdrive, producing card units at a unbelievable price. However throughout this time, the corporate sailed into uneven monetary waters. Guardian firm Marvel entered chapter in 1996, and by 1999, Fleer/Skybox was a shell of its former glory.

Rittenhouse Archives picked up the place Fleer/Skybox left off, taking up the license for Star Trek-related buying and selling playing cards in 1999. The corporate continues to place out Trek content material and is at the moment one of many prime buying and selling card producers on this planet.

Two ’90s exhibits gained big reputation within the Trek accumulating market: Deep Area 9 and Voyager. Well-liked autographs from Deep Area 9 embody Michael Dorn (taking part in Worf as soon as once more), Marc Alaimo (Gul Dukat), Andrew Robinson (Elim Garak), and Terry Farrell (Jadzia Dax). Of all of the Voyager signatures, Jeri Ryan (who performed ex-Borg drone Seven of 9) is essentially the most sought-after.

The yr 2009 noticed the primary launch in a sequence of latest Star Trek films that includes Kirk and Co. in an alternate timeline. Chris Pine and Zachary Quinto (already large Hollywood stars in their very own proper) have essentially the most beneficial buying and selling card signatures.

The trendy iterations of Trek embody three new live-action sequence: Discovery, Picard, and Unusual New Worlds. Rittenhouse Archives once more got here to the fore within the accumulating world, producing nearly all of the official playing cards for these sequence. The Unusual New Worlds Season 1 Base set (with signature playing cards for the entire bridge crew) is ready to turn into an actual accumulating phenomenon as time passes.

Ultimate Ideas

Solely a collector with a really massive finances and inexhaustible endurance can purchase an in depth Star Trek autograph card assortment. Even then, will probably be more and more difficult to return by the autographs of deceased actors and actresses. If you’re prepared to speculate period of time and vitality on this planet of accumulating Trek memorabilia, your assortment won’t solely improve in financial worth, however additionally, you will personal items of popular culture historical past.

When you dwell in the USA, attending Trek conventions could also be a greater (and positively more cost effective) possibility than attempting to amass costly autographs on-line. You should purchase a pack of unsigned playing cards comparatively cheaply—then all it’s important to do is drive to conventions with Trek actors in attendance and stand consistent with your clean card able to be signed. It’s unbelievable what number of Trekkies (this writer included) discover this to be a productive strategy to spend a day. And whereas no person will get each signature on the market, you would possibly at the very least be capable of web a few of your favorites.

Matthew Doherty is a author, editor, and trainer specializing in all issues history-related. His work has been printed within the UK Defence Journal, the Small Wars Journal, and The Collector. He holds an MSc from the College of Edinburgh and a BA from the College of Leeds. In his spare time, he additionally writes science fiction tales.

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