
View this listing in the catalog PDF
Bidding for this lot will end on Wednesday, August 26th. The auction will begin at 9:30 AM (PDT) / 12:30 PM (EDT) / 5:30 PM (GMT) and lots are sold sequentially via live auctioneer; tune in to the live streaming broadcast on auction day to follow the pace. Note other lots in the auction may close on Thursday, August 27th or Friday, August 28th or Saturday, August 29th.
A “Midgrade" Starfleet Type-2 phaser from Gene Roddenberry's Star Trek. Starfleet crew, including Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner), Spock (Leonard Nimoy), and their fellow officers aboard the USS Enterprise, carried Type-2 phasers as their standard-issue sidearms and wielded them against extraterrestrial foes in many major episodes.
Originally designed by legendary Star Trek art director Walter "Matt" Jefferies, who also designed the Starship Enterprise, Type-2 phasers were characterized by their sleek design with elongated handgrips, top-mounted Type-1 Phaser, and highly detailed features. The phasers could be set to "stun" (as referenced in the classic line "phasers on stun") or "kill" modes, depending on the needs of the story. Jefferies' designs were considered groundbreaking, representing a significant improvement on the more fantastical weaponry seen in classic science-fiction franchises like Flash Gordon, and earned him his sole Emmy® nomination.
Production originally created two styles of Type-2 phaser prop: highly detailed hero-style versions with electronic and mechanical functions for key characters and close-ups, and cruder, minimally detailed, nonfunctional versions wielded mainly by background and stunt performers. By the middle of Season 1, however, production realized that higher-quality props that could stand up to everyday use (unlike the fragile, expensive heroes) while still resembling the heroes in every shot (unlike the less-detailed background versions) were necessary.
Designed as a bridge between the hero and background phasers, "midgrade" phasers - which featured hero-level detailing but were otherwise static - first appeared in the classic Season 1 episode "The Devil in the Dark." Thereafter, "midgrade" versions became the main phaser props used throughout the rest of the series' run, ultimately becoming the single-most-used type of phaser.
This phaser is one of only five "midgrade" examples known to be in private hands, making it extraordinarily scarce. It originates from the collection of a long-serving Paramount Pictures executive and is coming to public auction for the first time.
Cast from the original hero molds, it is constructed from fiberglass and cast resin. It features a turned aluminum nozzle with an acrylic emitter, as well as a rotating dial on the left side of the body, among other key futuristic detailing. Its body is hand-painted to appear metallic. Thanks to careful preservation, the phaser shows only minor evidence of wear consistent with on-set use, handling, and age, including paint flaking, discoloration, and lifting to the grate on the top. Its exceptional vintage condition makes this lot especially desirable.
With its utopian depiction of colorblind camaraderie amidst the superhuman wonder of future space travel, Star Trek changed the landscape of television forever upon release. The Original Series has since spawned one of the most long-standing and successful franchises of all time, including 12 subsequent TV series, 14 feature films, and innumerable other installments across media platforms.
Today, Type-2 phasers, as introduced in The Original Series, remain among the most recognizable technologies in global popular culture, having become ubiquitous through various promotional campaigns and art, spin-off series, and commercial products. Original surviving phasers are widely coveted, with this example among the most complete and best-preserved ever to come to market. Dimensions: 8" x 6" x 3" (20.5 cm x 15.25 cm x 7.75 cm)
This lot was hand-inspected and verified by renowned Star Trek expert and collector Don Hillenbrand.
Contains mechanical components; see notice in the Buyer's Guide.
Estimate: $75,000 - 150,000
This item comes with a Propstore Certificate of Authenticity.