Anything at all…
Memorabilia galore can be found at a shop on Limassol, whose owners have tracked it down from around the world and guarantee it is genuine
Legends and Icons. My first thought of ancient religious artefacts. When I walked into the shop it more than apparent I was wrong as I was surrounded by an amazing collection of memorabilia relating to film, sport and the music industry.
Business partners Tyrone and Donna Fitzgerald buy all the items themselves, never using outside agents, so they can guarantee the authenticity of every item. They travel to fairs all over the world and deal only with people who are members of the Universal Autographs Collectors Club (UACC) and the International Autographs Dealers Alliance (IADA), the two senior governing bodies of the industry.
Tyrone had been stationed in Cyprus twenty years ago and always said he’d come back and now uses the island as something of a trading post. “More and more of our business is coming from Saudi Arabia. It’s easier for me to do business from Cyprus than England, it’s easier to travel to the Middle East,” he said.
Among the items for sale is the biggest collection of Muhamed Ali boxing memorabilia in the Middle East. They’ve even got items from Rocky Marciano and Jack Dempsey, all incredibly rare.
Everything available is given a lifetime guarantee and has an authenticity certificate. I was really taken by a framed bra signed by Madonna, Christine Aguilera and Britney Spears bought at a breast cancer charity auction in America. To have all three sign it makes it an incredibly rare piece.
I use to love watching John Wayne cowboy films and was delighted to see a piece on him. In his frame there is a gun six bullets and the sheriff’s badge. It is signed ‘John Wayne’ the only cowboy ever to have ‘True Grit’.
A James Bond piece has been signed by Connery, Lazenby, Moore, Dalton and Brosnan and includes a gun prop. They have a most unusual Rat Pack piece, which has five members’ autographs – Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Jody Bishop, Peter Lawford and Sammy Davis Junior. Most other memorabilia of the Rat Pack has only three in them. There are also musical instruments that have been signed by the stars including two guitars, one signed by Sting and the other George Michael.
The golfing memorabilia is mostly purchased from Australia while football items come from England or directly from the teams themselves. “We don’t deal with outside agents because we have to guarantee authenticity. We need to find the history of where the items originate,” said Tyrone. There is a football shirt signed by the players of the Greek team who were Euro Cup team winners in 2004 plus items relating to David Beckham, Maradona and George Best.
However, such rare items do not come cheap. Prices range from hundreds of pounds to the most expensive in Cyprus at £3,000, a Charlie Chaplin piece. In England that can cost up to £10,000. These are pieces are obviously purchased as an investment, but as the price of each item is offered at a discount you do make a saving from the start. If there is something special you would particularly want they will attempt to find it for you.
But for the more casual shopper, there are pieces for as little as £15. When a film is made there’s the master film and copies are made and sent to cinemas. Original cells from the master film are framed with a picture of the film, which are then sold.
Without a doubt it’s an absolutely amazing collection of memorabilia.
There is a full catalogue listed at www.legendsandicons.co.uk. Legends and Icons, Pamelva Court, Griva Digenis, Limassol. Opposite St Mary’s School. Tel: 25 345345, 96 577102
