Beatles Auctions Universe

Discover Entertainment Memorabilia

Entertainment memorabilia spans a variety of genres and includes a range of items, from the cool, rare, and highly in demand (think anything signed by the Beatles), to the kitschy, funny, and even a bit bizarre (think bobbleheads). You’ll find memorabilia as diverse and as numerous as there are entertainment icons in every genre, from movies, music, television, theater, video games, and much more.

• Autographs: Both original and reprints.
• Press materials: Press books, press kits, and clippings.
• Marketing materials: Ads, flyers, lobby cards, standees, window cards, playbills, posters, and souvenir programs.
• Screen-used memorabilia: Props, scripts, and wardrobe.
• Concert-used memorabilia: Musical instruments, guitar picks, drum sticks, and costumes.
• Personal items: Anything and everything a celebrity has touched, signed, or worn.
• Limited-edition goods: Manufacturers or studios can choose to produce a limited number of a certain item, such as hats, T-shirts, and jackets, or allow a certain number of licensed autographed items to enter the marketplace. Limited editions often come with a certificate of authenticity (COA), even if they do not have an autograph.
• Other common collectibles: Bobbleheads, collector plates, ticket stubs, pins, buttons, and calendars.

Collect Entertainment Memorabilia

As with any collection, you’ll probably want to start by picking a theme for your entertainment memorabilia. You can do this by item type, such as singling out only movie posters or concert T-shirts. Also, consider collecting by genre, such as Sci-Fi or Horror for movie fans, and Rock/Pop, Blues, or Jazz for music lovers.

Try narrowing your focus even further by collecting from a single movie, television show, or theater production, and choose anything from a wardrobe item, to a playbill, a prop, or a press release.

Another favorite way to build a collection is by actor or personality, which can span different movies, different time periods, and even different types of entertainment, from music to film to theater. Finally, consider collecting according to an era, such as 1950s entertainment memorabilia.

Also consider both how much you’re willing to pay and how many items you’d like to have when building a collection, since entertainment memorabilia vary greatly in value. For example, some personal items and instruments associated with musical icons like the Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, the Rolling Stones, and Elvis are considered the top of the heap for rock and pop collectibles, and may sell for more than other related items in the same genre.

Finally, whether you’re displaying your entertainment goods in a special display case or storing them, you’ll want to take the right steps to protect them from light, temperature, humidity, acidity, and even the potential for pests—all of which can adversely affect certain pieces and reduce their long-term value.

Research Entertainment Memorabilia

Authenticating your entertainment memorabilia is an essential component of collecting. Proof of authenticity can take many forms, including:

• Tags: Studio tags or a costumer’s tag, or the name of an actor or actress written in the collar of a particular wardrobe piece.
• Studio markings: Studio markings on props.
• Photographs: Still photographs of individuals wearing a certain item or signing a certain item.
• Testimonials: The personal word of someone associated with the film, the television show, the band, etc.
• Certificates of authenticity: Certificate of authenticity (COA) from the studio or seller that was issued by an authenticator with industry credibility, or an entity that has a proven track record of experience and integrity.

Check the item listing for photos and other important details, such as the provenance of the item (which includes information such as how, when, and where the item was obtained).

For a professional opinion on your piece of entertainment memorabilia’s authenticity or condition, go to eBay’s Opinions, Authentication, and Grading site, where you’ll find links to a variety of authentication sites and resources.

Note: The opinions expressed by these evaluators are theirs alone. eBay does not examine items listed on its site and does not have the expertise to evaluate items. eBay cannot guarantee the findings of these evaluators—authentication and grading are difficult, often subjective matters where the experts themselves occasionally disagree. Each of the companies listed on the Opinions, Authentication, and Grading page that provides authentication and/or grading services is an independent company, and eBay is not responsible in any way for any action, inaction, opinion, or service in connection with these companies. You should review the credentials of each company and use your own judgment before using a company’s services.

Find Entertainment Memorabilia on eBay

Go to the Entertainment Memorabilia portal, click on the link for the category that interests you most, and start searching for item listings on eBay.

• Categories: The Categories list on the left side of each page will help you narrow down your listings by item type. You’ll find links for Movie Memorabilia, Television Memorabilia, Theater Memorabilia, and more. As you dig deeper into the site, you’ll also be able to select listings by individual, film, production, etc.
• Keyword search: Search eBay listing titles for specific words. For example, if you want to find a Beatles concert promo poster, type “Beatles” (without quotation marks) into the Search box. Click “Search title and description” to expand your results. Visit eBay’s Search Tips page for more tips on searching with keywords.

If you can’t find exactly what you want, try shopping eBay Stores, tell sellers what you want by creating a posting on Want It Now, or save a search on My eBay and get notified by email when a match becomes available.

Buy Entertainment Memorabilia With Confidence

Before making your purchase, make sure you know exactly what you’re buying, research your seller, and understand how eBay and PayPal protect you.

Know your purchase

Carefully read the details in item listings.

• Figure delivery costs into your final price. If you spend a lot of money, make sure the seller will insure the item when it ships.
• If you want more information, ask by clicking the “Ask seller a question” link under the seller’s profile.
• Always make sure to complete your transaction on eBay (with a bid, Buy It Now, or Best Offer). Transactions conducted outside of eBay are not covered by eBay protection programs.
• Never pay for your eBay item using instant cash wire transfer services through Western Union or MoneyGram. These payment methods are unsafe when paying someone you do not know.

Know your seller

Research your seller so you feel positive and secure about every transaction.

• What is the seller’s Feedback rating? How many transactions have they completed? What percentage of positive responses do they have?
• What do buyers say in their Feedback? Did the seller receive praise?
• Most top eBay sellers operate like retail stores and have return policies. Do they offer a money-back guarantee? What are the terms and conditions?

Buyer protection

In the unlikely event that a problem arises during your transaction, eBay and PayPal are there for you.

• Pay safely with PayPal: PayPal enables you to pay without the seller ever seeing your bank account or credit card numbers. In fact, PayPal protects buyers 100% against unauthorized payments from their accounts. Plus, with PayPal Buyer Protection, your purchase can be covered up to $1,000.
• eBay Security & Resolution Center: Visit the Security & Resolution Center to learn how to protect your account and use eBay’s quick and efficient resolution tools.