Throughout 2024, Scoop reported on a large number of auctions in which many types of collectibles were purchased for exciting and record breaking prices. Here we present a sampling of impressive prices achieved in pop culture and historical categories that include toys, movie and TV props, movie posters, decorative art, antiques, and more.

Star Wars toys were some of the year’s biggest sellers, many of which sold at Hake’s Auctions. They sold a Boba Fett rocket-firing prototype (L-slot) AFA 85 for $114,224, a Glasslite Star Wars: Droids Vlix AFA 80 for $44,261, and a Star Wars Jawa 12-back-A AFA 90 NM/Mint early vinyl cape variety sold for $44,241 and an AFA 85+ for $36,603. Star Wars sales at Hake’s included a Palitoy Return of the Jedi General Madine Tri-Logo 70-back-B AFA 60 for $42,242, The Empire Strikes Back Boba Fett sample card with Princess Leia figure (Boushh disguise) 48-back-A AFA 75 salesman sample for $40,814, and The Empire Strikes Back Walrus Man card with Bib Fortuna (white cape) figure AFA 70 salesman’s sample for $28,556.

Notable toy sales covered antique and more modern examples. Bertoia Auctions sold a circa 1902-1907 Marklin clockwork Battleship France toy ship for $78,000, Hake’s sold a rare Aurora Superman and Spider-Man store two-pack factory sealed boxed model kit pair for $54,516, and Milestone Auctions sold an all-original and complete Exelo (Japan) battery-operated ‘Mars’ Explorer space car for $42,120.

An Aurora Godzilla’s Go Cart unused boxed model kit sold for $36,344 at Hake’s, a Yonezawa (Japan) windup Diamond Planet Robot realized $34,440 at Milestone, and a ThunderCats LJN/Rainbow Toys Europe Thunderwings Lion-O deluxe AFA 80 flew to $24,273 at Hake’s.

Milestone sold an original Marx 38in ‘Charlene’ prototype robot for $21,600, Hake’s sold a Transformers Series 1 Optimus Prime AFA 85 that was released in Mexico for $20,060, and Milestone sold an Aoshin Shoten, Japan tin windup Tremendous Mike Robot with rare original box for $19,065.

Propstore and Heritage were prominent in the movie and TV prop and costume department with huge sales in 2024. Propstore’s sales were led by C-3PO’s screen-matched light-up head from Return of the Jedi that reached $843,750, the Star Wars: A New Hope that went for $409,500, the Marauder’s Map from the Harry Potter film series cleared $299,250, and the Kali lighting stand-in model from The Golden Voyage of Sinbad brought $236,250.

Propstore’s big sales included an Imperial Stormtrooper helmet from Return of the Jedi that cleared $225,000, the Blade Runner light-up, photo-matched Lobster Spinner aerodyne model miniature saw $131,250, the Dread Pirate Roberts mask from The Princess Bride totaled $126,000, and Sabrina Fairchild’s screen-matched embroidered silk-Organza gown from Sabrina went for $125,000.

Heritage had a massive sale when Dorothy’s ruby slippers from The Wizard of Oz sold for $32.5 million. They sold the floating wood panel hero prop from Titanic for $718,750, Indiana Jones’ signature bullwhip from Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom for $525,000, Ernie McCracken’s translucent “Red Rose” bowling ball from Kingpin for $350,000, and the Jumanji screen-matched primary hero game board, complete with four tokens and a pair of dice, for $275,000.

Heritage also sold Dennis Nedry’s hero dinosaur embryo cryogenic smuggling device from Jurassic Park for $250,000, the screen-used hero “flying” hoverboard from Back to the Future Part II for $237,500, the screen-matched “Concentration No. 3 Gas Bombs” container from 1933’s King Kong for $187,500, and Kevin McCallister’s knit hat, scarf, coat, and mittens from Home Alone for $162,500.

eMoviePoster averaged three auctions a month in 2024, with sales led by A Dog’s Life linen-backed one-sheet for $41,000, a Son of the Sheik linen-backed one-sheet for $33,000, an M linen-backed German poster for $26,601, The War of the Worlds British quad for $23,733, a Werewolf of London title lobby card for $18,700, and It’s A Wonderful Life linen-backed one-sheet for $14,000. They also sold a Creature From The Black Lagoon linen-backed one-sheet for $13,888, an Attack of the 50 Ft Woman one-sheet for $10,057, a Forbidden Planet 30” x 40” poster for $10,000, The Wolf Man pressbook for $6,000, and a House of Frankenstein insert for $5,505.

Heritage’s major results continued with Babe Ruth’s game-worn World Series “Called Shot” jersey from 1932 that went for $24.1 million and a first edition of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein: or, The Modern Prometheus that reached $843,750.

Tiffany Studios continued to be popular with antique and decorative art collectors. A Peacock table lamp on a rare, matching Peacock base cleared $307,500 and a ‘Peony’ leaded-glass lamp nabbed $110,700 at Morphy Auctions, and a circa 1910 “Tulip” table lamp with an 18-inch shade went for $131,250 at Fontaine’s Auction Gallery.

Scoop reported on several of the political and historical sales at Hake’s, led by the 1860 “For President Abram Lincoln for Vice President Hannibal Hamlin” parade flag that went for $42,185. They sold a Roosevelt, Hughes & Taft “Security Harmony Justice” 1916 campaign button Hake #3017 for $25,960, a McKinley & Hobart riding bicycle to the White House button from 1896 (Hake #8) for $17,587, and a Cox/Roosevelt Club presidential campaign button Hake #1 for $36,580.

Two Canadian White Rose Gasoline signs combined to bring $56,640 at Miller and Miller Auctions, while a circa 1930s double-sided porcelain curb sign advertising Sinclair Pennsylvania Motor Oil went for $54,120 and a Husky Service double-sided porcelain service station shield sign with iconic Husky mascot dog realized $59,040 at Morphy’s.

More pop culture, historical, and art sales reported in Scoop in 2024 included a circa 1912 Hupfeld Phonoliszt-Violina Model “A” automatic violin and piano playing machine that brought $221,400 at Morphy’s, a signed 1980 tempera on Masonite painting by Marc Chagall soared to $199,700 at Ahlers & Ogletree, and a guitar that Kurt Cobain stage used and smashed during a pre-fame Nirvana concert in 1991 sold for $157,772 at Hake’s.

A circa 1904 Caille Bros (Detroit) Roulette 5¢ floor model slot with a 7-way roulette wheel payout went for $135,300 at Morphy’s, a Portrait of Caroline Allport from 1897 by William Merritt Chase saw $118,750 at Shannon’s Fine Art Auctioneers, and a 26-inch-long Carpenter (American) cast iron Tally Ho horse-drawn coach totaled $120,000 and a circa 1880 Uncle Sam clockwork velocipede cleared $90,000, both at Bertoia.