It was a long night, but now it is done: The charity auctions in honour of Richard Armitage’s birthday are now up and running over on eBay. After the quick post yesterday which only included my first trial auction (which is nonetheless real and running), let me now give you the full story:

Thanks to some donations from a fellow fan who prefers to remain unnamed, I am auctioning fan items in order to raise funds for charity. This comes off the back of our combined fundraising efforts last year when we donated a massive 1743 USD$ for the Nepal Earthquake Appeal in May and a mind-blowing 2586 USD$ to the Syrian Children’s Fund. That is over 4300 USD$ for good causes! Both donations were made through Save the Children, and I have decided to continue donating to them, in order to bolster the previously made contributions.

The situation for children in Syria is still dire – they still need our help. 7.5 million children are affected by the war – and when you consider that it only takes 250 USD$ to provide a shelter kit for one household, then we could easily make a difference for one, maybe two families, if we manage to get some good auction results… You can read more about the Syrian Children’s Fund HERE. Save the Children is supplying humanitarian aid in Syria, including access to water, emergency care, shelter, education and psychological trauma care. 87% of their funds go to aid programmes and services! 

Refugee children are a cause close to Richard’s heart, as we could see in his heart-felt letter after visiting the refugee centre in Berlin earlier this year. In the run-up to his birthdays, he has often said that he would greatly appreciate gifts for him to take the shape of a donation to charity. He has made it easy for us to do so, by providing fundraising pages on JustGiving. Or this year, you could simultaneously give yourself a gift and bid for one (or more) of the items on offer in *my* charity auctions on eBay: Your money would go to charity – and as the auction winner you get the item. Win – win!? 100% of the funds raised will go to charity, as I am offering all auctions free of postage/packaging charges. My donation, so to speak, in order to free up more of *your* budget for the bidding.

The auctions are hosted on eBay this time, in an effort to widen the reach, to make bidding more reliable and easy, to make it more anonymous (for those who may have felt put off by having to send an e-mail to me), and to make it a bit easier for me. Because there are 10 auctions running. You can find an overview over all listings on my page HERE, and for your convenience I am also providing a picture, description and link to each individual item below. Click on the numbered headline to be transferred directly to the respective listing on eBay. I have grouped them in order of type:

1. One genuine Richard Armitage autograph

This is a print of my photo of Richard at the TH AUJ premiere 2013 in Berlin. The photo is signed “R Armitage” with silver Sharpie and was obtained through written request. It comes mounted and framed in an off-white, wooden frame. The frame can be removed.

Dimensions of photo: 15.3 x 20.2 cm     Dimensions of frame: 25.5 x 30.3 cm

Auction ends: 22 Aug, 2016 17:54 BST

2. One genuine Richard Armitage autograph

Another autograph on one of my photos of Richard at the TH AUJ premiere 2013 in Berlin. The photo is signed “R Armitage” with silver Sharpie and was obtained through written request. Unmounted and unframed!

Photo print with genuine signature. Dimensions of photo: 15.3 x 20.2 cm

Auction ends: 22 Aug, 2016 23:45 BST

3. One genuine Richard Armitage autograph

Another unframed, unmounted photograph of Richard at the TH AUJ premiere 2013 in Berlin. The photo is signed “R Armitage” with silver Sharpie and was obtained through written request.

Photo print with genuine signature. Dimensions of photo: 15.3 x 20.2 cm

Auction ends: 22 Aug, 2016 21:13 BST

4. One genuine Richard Armitage autograph

This autograph is mounted and framed. A photo by Guylty from the TH AUJ premiere in Berlin, 2013. Signed with silver Sharpie and obtained by written request. The frame can be removed and is wooden.

Dimensions of photo: 15.3 x 20.2 cm     Dimensions of frame: 25.5 x 30.3 cm

Auction ends: 22 Aug, 2016 22:36 BST

5. One commemorative poster pull-out The Hobbit AUJ

Donated by our fellow fan, this is a large, double-sided poster that was published as a pull-out in the Sunday Times in November 2012. It has Ian McKellen as Gandalf on the front, and a collage of other characters from the film on the back, including an extra insert of Richard as Thorin Oakenshield. Printed on newspaper, but no wear and tear apart from crease lines.

Dimensions: approx. 75 x 115 cm

Auction ends: 22 Aug, 2016 22:23 BST

6. One Hobbit Movie Guide – AUJ

This is a collector’s item for Hobbit fans – the ultimate movie guide to TH AUJ, written by Brian Sibley and illustrated with many pictures from the set and stills from the film. The paperback features a chapter on Richard/Thorin, as well as many articles on the other actors and creatives on the film. It was donated by our anonymous donor and is in great condition – all pages intact, no creases.

Published 2012    Dimensions: 22 x 28.5 cm

Auction ends: 22 Aug, 2016 21:58 BST

7. One Empire magazine, issue with Thorin Oakenshield hologram cover

A really exciting collectors’ item: The December 2012 issue of Empire movie magazine with Richard as Thorin Oakenshield gracing the hologram cover. For this issue of Empire, the magazine produced 5 different hologram covers. The cover is pristine and gives you the full hologram effect. The magazine is fully intact, no pages missing, and includes an article on Richard.

Published Dec 2012    Dimensions approx. 22 x 29 cm

Auction ends: 22 Aug, 2016 21:31 BST

8. One genuine The Crucible theatre programme

Top notch fan material, courtesy of the anonymous donor, the Crucible theatre programme is a wonderful memento of Richard’s turn in the leading role in the Old Vic production of TC. The programme is in great condition and contains a number of rehearsal pictures of Richard. A couple of tiny marks on the spine.

Published Summer 2014    Dimensions: approx 23 x 29 cm

Auction ends: 22 Aug, 2016 21:22 BST

9. One RA pocket shrine “King Oleron” (Alice Through The Looking Glass)

This is a pretty special RAPS for Richard as King Oleron – contained in an upcycled powder compact. It has all the usual trappings of a RAPS, minus the candles, but instead is a 2-in-1 with a couple of extra layers for fun. Read more about it in my presentation post HERE

Mixed media collage, hand-crafted item. Dimensions: approx. 6 x 7 cm (roundish shape 😉 )

Auction ends: 22 Aug, 2016 23:24 BST

 

10. One RA pocket shrine “Love Love Love”

Lastly, the first RAPS in anticipation of Richard’s turn in Roundabout Theater Company’s production of Love Love Love in NYC. This is a hand-crafted piece of fan art, one-of-a-kind, contained in an upcycled chewing gum tin. It comes with miniature candles and holders. Read more about this shrine HERE.

Mixed media collage, hand-crafted item. Dimensions: approx. 7 x 9 cm

Auction ends: 22 Aug, 2016 23:36 BST

 

Also, poll results are in. I asked you yesterday, whether you would like to see a “RAPS of your own choice” in the auctions. The people have spoken, and the resounding answer is yes. (Thank you for that lovely vote of confidence, btw.)

So here we have listing number 11:

 

 

11. One custom RA pocket shrine

Your custom-made RAPS will be a mixed media piece of fan art, contained in a mint tin, dimensions to be determined. It includes two mini candles (gold) and holders. For inspiration, check the Guylty Shrines gallery.

Now, since the custom RAPS is not yet made, it would be a service rather than a product that I am offering. Not really sure what eBay says to that, and so I have decided to auction this item off in the old way – bids by e-mail message to me, Guylty. The procedure is the same as previously:

1. Send an e-mail with your bid to guylty@photographer.net, subject line “Bid for Custom RAPS”.
2. Please convert your bid to US-Dollars. A handy converter is here.
3. You will receive confirmation from me that I have received your bid (in case of delay, please bear in mind possible time-difference)
4. I will update you on the bids on the blog and on my Twitter.
5. Please subscribe to the comments of this post in order to get notification of bid updates.
6. You may raise your bid, but please only bid if you really are prepared to win the auction (and pay).
7. Bidding is open from now until 11.59pm BST, Monday, 22nd August.
8. The auction winners will be notified by e-mail.

Some small print: All my auctions – on eBay and via e-mail – are private and non-commercial, a fundraiser for charity. I will try and update you on the progression of the auctions as we go along. Items go to the highest bidders, upon payment. The items will be carefully packaged and sent by registered mail, anywhere in the world. The postage fees will be covered by me. The buyers will receive a tracking number to track the progress of their parcel. No returns possible, I am afraid, as this is a charity project. The final sum of the proceeds will be posted here on blog, and I will notify you via blog when the donation has been made.

All proceeds of these auctions will go to the Syrian Children’s Relief Fund of Save the Children. If you do not wish to bid on an item but would like to contribute with a donation, please send me an e-mail and I can facilitate that. 

And now let’s get the auctions rolling! Bidding open on eBay items, and via e-mail for the custom RAPS. The pre-birthday weekend has started – let’s party like we’re 44 🎉.