Mary Astor's Oscar trophy stars among film awards in online auction

Mary Astor's Oscar trophy will trump Golden Globe and Emmy awards on July 31

The Oscar trophy awarded to actress Mary Astor in 1942 is currently leading bids in an online sale that closes July 31.

Astor was presented with the best supporting actress award for her performance as Sandra in 1941's The Great Lie, in which she stars alongside George Brent and Bette Davis. The trophy stands as her only Academy Award, despite her most notable film, The Maltese Falcon, also being released that year.

Paul Fraser Collectibles is currently offering a fantastic item from Maltese Falcon co-star Humphrey Bogart - click here to see more. 

1942's Academy Awards ceremony also saw Citizen Kane take home the award for best writing (original screenplay). That same award, which was presented to Orson Welles, sold for $841,542 at the same auction house in December 2011.

Astor's award is currently selling for $10,871 after attracting six bids from eager collectors. With four days left before the sale closes, it looks set to star as top lot.

With all Oscar awards now seeing huge figures at auction and a limited supply created by a rule which prevents post-1950 awards from being sold, the auction house is looking to branch out by also offering a number of other film and theatre awards. The Tony Award presented to Zero Mostel for his performance as Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof is currently selling for $2,148, while the Golden Globe trophy for best song, from the film Benji, is selling for $3,146.

While these prices may not come close to those seen by Oscars yet, Paul Fraser Collectibles predicts that the market will expand in the coming years as the remaining Oscar trophies are absorbed into private collections.

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Images: Nate D Sanders