Unfortunately, until one has owned original screen-used props, it's very hard to understand the feelings of those who have extremely rare and valuable items in their collections.
Although I don't agree with the fundamental premise and inherent elitism that exists in regards to this dynamic, I nonetheless understand it. I also feel the protectiveness, and deal with these feelings on a regular basis when copies of original props I own are released by people who have no stake or investment in them except to further their own personal glory while profiting from something I pride myself in owning.
Here's the dilemma: It's hard enough these days to verify the authenticity of a piece, but once details about an original are released, and bootleggers start making evermore accurate replicas, it makes it even more difficult to prove the genuineness of a prop. What's worse, many fakes eventually find their way into private collections, pawned off as originals, costing unwary victims thousands—and in some cases tens of thousands—of dollars.
I've heard from several owners of original Blade Runner props over the past week, and they're livid that this information has been released. In at least one case, the owner has decided to part with something he's owned for over 20 years because the mystique of the piece has been lost. Another is very upset because "tells" only known to him have now been exposed and will be added to reproductions. The paper prop dilemma is even worse, and those who own original Blade Runner badges, IDs, etc. are thoroughly frustrated.
Until one's spent over $10k on a prop, and then watched it reproduced, will never understand the concern.
All of this said, it's about time owners of original props began to realize that one of the reasons prices of certain pieces has remained artificially high is due to this "code of silence." With the advent of the Internet, and the unprecedented mass and instant sharing of information on a global scale, the fundamentals of data exclusivity have changed. Just ask the RIAA and MPAA.
It's about time owners of original props came to understand that if something they own is not being replicated, it probably isn't worth much in the first place. And while seeing information about such pieces gratuitously shared with everyone in the world is frustrating, it should come as a major consolation that people care about such pieces as much as they do in the first place.
Similar to real estate, the secret to maintaining the value of original props is still: Provenance, provenance, provenance.
Phil
Heres hoping.
