Companies have been quick to cash in on the demand for Princess Diana memorabilia, ranging from china to T-shirts, writes James T Madore
Elvis Presley and Marilyn Monroe long have topped lists of departed celebrities with high sales of collectibles. But they will be eclipsed by Diana, the Princess of Wales, for at least the time being, as her fans purchase items to remember the 36- year-old princess, experts said this week.
Manufacturers and retailers are rushing to meet increased demand for anything with Dianas face on it. The Franklin Mint is working on an undisclosed commemorative product, while earlier this week a Florida entrepreneur brought out a 48-page book complete with tributes from Dianas funeral on Saturday. Dolls, jewellery and china are in the works as well.
Newsstands are filled with special editions of magazines and newspapers. Barnes & Noble bookstores have sold out of previously published Diana books and are awaiting copies of updated versions.
Sales have soared of the catalogue that Christies auction house published this summer of 79 dresses the princess sold for charity.
I think it might even be greater than Elvis, Leonard Cohen, president of Marlen Stamp & Coins in Great Neck, New York, said, when asked about potential sales from Diana stamps. She truly transcends the spectrum of anyone else.
He explained that the princesss royal status, youth and beauty and her violent death all contribute to her mass appeal across lines of gender, race and age.
Marlen Stamp, which specialises in celebrity postage, has purchased the remaining several thousand sheets of Diana stamps issued by the Central African Republic in April 1997. It is selling the six-stamp sheets depicting Diana and her sons, the Princes William and Harry for $6,95. Also available for $7,95 a sheet are stamps from Togo showing Diana exclusively.
Other stamp dealers are selling Diana postage for $15 to $20 a sheet. But Cohen said, I want to make people aware of stamps as collectibles. So, rather than price gouge, we are selling at the original price.
Donna Corn watched Dianas wedding and purchased a Diana doll in a wedding dress for about $300. She now is trying to sell the porcelain figure for $2000 to $4000. Corn also is asking about $1000 for a china sachet-holder with the royal crest and faces of Charles and Diana.
Princess Diana was my favourite. Im still crying, the Mastic Beach, New York, resident said. But I dont need these things to remember her by.
Fox Home Entertainment has pledged to donate profits from the sale of the videotape Diana: A Celebration to charities supported by the princess. The $1,98 tape includes archival footage from Dianas life as well as her funeral. It was produced by the British Broadcasting Corp. Fox representative Steven Feldstein said his company had never before sold a video after a celebritys death.
Warner Books reportedly has moved up by one week the release date of The Royals, a controversial book by Kitty Kelley. It originally was due in bookstores on September 23. Meanwhile, the Pocket Books imprint of Simon & Schuster is printing 500000 updated copies of Andrew Mortons Diana: Her True Story (1992) and 250000 copies of Diana: Her New Life (1994).
Shoppers are more likely to buy Diana collectibles where some of the profits go to her charities, said Mary Zimmer, a marketing professor at the University of Georgia. Consumers will respond to products that arent only money makers but also show concern for the social issues Princess Diana cared about, she said.
Gail Huganir, editor and publisher of British Heritage Magazine agreed, warning people not to buy the first Diana memento they see.
This is going to come in stages, and some of the early items may be of poor quality or tacky, she said. Later, there will be high-quality mugs, plates and other items.
Huganir is planning a special edition of her 250000-circulation magazine paying tribute to the princess. She said: I do expect to see quite a lot of items on the market. But they have to be the right thing to have value. Los Angeles Times Washington Post News