Now you can own a piece of movie history. This is a beautifully engraved authentic Movie Prop Bond (and coupons) used in the motion picture Beverly Hills Cop starring Eddie Murphy, Judge Reinhold and Paul Reiser. This movie prop document was made from three different types of German Bonds that have a vignette of cherubs and a underprint of the German Eagle Coat of Arms. The studios used offset printing in the preparartion of this bond.

These are the coupons attached to the bond

In the movie Eddie Murphy heads to Beverly Hills after his friend is murdered (Mikey Tandino played by James Russo)to track down the killer. His friend has been murdered due to the fact that he stole these 10,000 Mark German Bonds, so the whole movie plot is centered around this bond. Please look at the scans and you CAN SEE THESE EXACT BONDS that were used. See the actual scans below from the movie (approximately 13 1/2 minutes ) to show you the bonds. In the movie, you see the side with the six "coupons", then his friend lays them down on the table and points to them to show the denomination on the opposite side. The forth scan down shows the bond laid flat so that you can see both sides that are shown in the movie. You can see Murphy's friend pulling the bonds out of the sack, showing them to him and telling him about taking 10,000 Mark bonds. These bonds were also shown later on in the movie in a warehouse scene.

Eddie Murphy's friend is Pulling Out the Bonds

Bonds sitting on the table

Eddie Murphy holding the bonds

If you have ever been involved in Movie or TV Production in Los Angeles, it is almost certain you've had dealings with Ellis Props and Graphics Partners, or Ellis Mercantile as most old-timers call it. Ellis Mercantile was established as a pawn shop in 1908. When a customer needing a glass eye for one of the earliest movie productions suggested that he rent the glass eye instead of purchasing it, the rental business was started. Over the years, Ellis props have been used on countless famous movies and well-known TV productions. Ben-Hur, Cleopatra, Spartacus, The Titanic, Get Smart and Wild Wild West to name but a few.

Certificate of Authenticity Ellis, owned by the Tapestry Group, last year closed shop, due to failing profits combined with runaway production concerns. Over five days in early June 2000, nearly a century worth of movie props were auctioned off at the Universal Hilton and via the Internet. Everything from Ellis' 40,000 square feet of props went on the block. Attendees could bid on antiques and collectibles such as an operating Gatling gun from circa 1872, used in Clint Eastwood's The Outlaw Josey Wales, life preservers from The Titanic, the baby carriage from De Palma's The Untouchables, light sabers from Star Wars, the umbrella phone from Get Smart, as well as movie used real prop money which we acquired.