Reeve’s Superman costume to be sold
THE iconic costume worn by Christopher Reeve in the first ever Superman movie is expected to sell for more than £30,000 at auction.
Reeve, who died in 2004, played the legendary superhero four times, first gracing the screens in 1978.
The 6ft 4in actor donned the tunic in the first movie after bulking up under the supervision of Dave Prowse, the bodybuilder who played Darth Vader in Star Wars.
The outfit, complete with Superman’s gold and red “S” sewn on the front, was designed by Oscar-winning costume designer Yvonne Blake and assembled by Noel Howard for Bermans and Nathans, which was based in Camden, London.
It was made from a flexible formulated German-made fabric that absorbed sweat stains.
Reeve, who was just 25 when he first played the role of Clark Kent, had a number of costumes that were reused for various scenes in the sequels.
His role in the movie series turned him into one of the world’s biggest stars, but in 1995 he became a paraplegic after falling off a horse.
The American became an advocate for spinal cord research but died in 2004 at theageof52.
Online auction house Nate D Sanders is now selling the outfit, which has a certificate of authenticity, on behalf of a private collector. It has a starting price of £32,000.
The auction house says it has a few small holes, but is otherwise in “near fine condition”. Without being stretched, tunic measures 18in across the chest and 29in long.