An archive of drawings and character ideas from Jim Henson's first pitch for the Muppet Show will be re-offered in an online sale that closes July 31.
 Will the investors see strong returns for after just one month? |
The fantastic collection first appeared at Bonhams' Entertainment Memorabilia auction on June 24, where it sold for $35,000. It is now being sold again with a minimum bid of just $1,000, though it has already surpassed this and is currently selling at $1,210.
The archive includes Henson's hand drawn Muppets illustrations, handwritten story ideas and the introduction of several characters, including Piggy Lee, who would later be renamed Miss Piggy. Henson even sketches an entire dance scene where puppet gazelles dance around musician Herb Alpert, and includes two photographs of Henson manoeuvring the figures.
Also included in the sale is the iconic whip used by Harrison Ford in Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark, which also featured in Bonhams' June 24 sale, where it made $31,250. With a letter of provenance from Kit West, the special effects supervisor for the film, it is now selling for $4,608 after attracting eight bids.
A similar occurrence has been seen recently in Heritage Auctions' August 2 sale, where Muhammad Ali's Thrilla in Manila trunks will be offered just two months after they were sold for $100,000. Read the full story here.
This recent trend can be attributed to investors - believing these items to be undervalued - seizing the opportunity to make a strong return on their purchase in the current buoyant market. We will have to wait until after July 31 to see if their strategy pays off - check back with us regularly to see the results.
Paul Fraser Collectibles offers a unique 120% investment guarantee on selected items in our stock, which ensures a 4% annual return within five years of the purchase date - a fail-safe way to begin investing in collectibles.
