Parris and I have always been big supporters of the various charities, both fannish and mundane, that raise funds through auctions at SF and fantasy conventions. It's a great way to raise money for worthy causes, have a little fun, and get some unique items into the hands of collectors. In fact, I just finished shipping off five huge boxes of books, games, t-shirts, and other collectables to our hotel in Reno, to donate to the various charity auctions at worldcon.
(Some items will go to SFWA Emergency Medical Fund auction, some to the BWB fund-raising drive to pay for their party, some to the worldcon's own charity).
Unfortunately, there are a couple items that won't be auctioned at worldcon. We had hoped to bring a couple of signed scripts from the first season of the HBO series GAME OF THRONES with us, and the good folks in Belfast were kind enough to donate them. Dan Weiss sent them across the pond (registered and priority, signature required).
All that arrived was a battered envelope and Dan's cover letter.
The US post office delivered the envelope in a plastic baggie with a pre-printed note apologizing for the "damage." But this was no error in handling. The envelope was torn open at one end, and both scripts were gone, though Dan's letter remained.
I am convinced the scripts were stolen.
Last year we donated a signed STAR TREK script to a charity auction and it brought $1200. These two scripts may not have gone for quite that much, but they would have brought home some significant bucks. Someone in the US Post Office (we believe the package made it across from Belfast relatively unscathed) recognized their value and removed them.
So... I am putting out the word to all my fans and readers. Whoever sold these scripts will presumably try to cash in at some point. So if any of you ever see scripts fitting this description turn up on ebay, one of its competitors, or on some dealer's table -- notify me at once, and report the stolen property to whatever local authorities are appropriate.
Here's what was taken: two teleplays, final shooting scripts for episodes nine and ten of season one, "Baelor" and "Fire and Blood," autographed by writers David Benioff and D.B. Weiss and director Alan Taylor, printed on white paper.
Like Bloodraven, I have a thousand eyes and one. So let's keep 'em all peeled, boys and girls.
(Some items will go to SFWA Emergency Medical Fund auction, some to the BWB fund-raising drive to pay for their party, some to the worldcon's own charity).
Unfortunately, there are a couple items that won't be auctioned at worldcon. We had hoped to bring a couple of signed scripts from the first season of the HBO series GAME OF THRONES with us, and the good folks in Belfast were kind enough to donate them. Dan Weiss sent them across the pond (registered and priority, signature required).
All that arrived was a battered envelope and Dan's cover letter.
The US post office delivered the envelope in a plastic baggie with a pre-printed note apologizing for the "damage." But this was no error in handling. The envelope was torn open at one end, and both scripts were gone, though Dan's letter remained.
I am convinced the scripts were stolen.
Last year we donated a signed STAR TREK script to a charity auction and it brought $1200. These two scripts may not have gone for quite that much, but they would have brought home some significant bucks. Someone in the US Post Office (we believe the package made it across from Belfast relatively unscathed) recognized their value and removed them.
So... I am putting out the word to all my fans and readers. Whoever sold these scripts will presumably try to cash in at some point. So if any of you ever see scripts fitting this description turn up on ebay, one of its competitors, or on some dealer's table -- notify me at once, and report the stolen property to whatever local authorities are appropriate.
Here's what was taken: two teleplays, final shooting scripts for episodes nine and ten of season one, "Baelor" and "Fire and Blood," autographed by writers David Benioff and D.B. Weiss and director Alan Taylor, printed on white paper.
Like Bloodraven, I have a thousand eyes and one. So let's keep 'em all peeled, boys and girls.
- Current Location:santa fe
- Current Mood:
pissed off

Comments
What STAR TREK? I would love to know. I bet it would make a great movie.
I'd also have a talk with the British version---I don't know as much about them.
If this happened in the U.S., they will investigate. Overseas, I am not sure.
Usually mail in the US is safe and secure. In 3rd world countries, definitely not secure. But this came from Europe where they are usually also very safe and precise in handling envelopes, especiially registered.
I'll definitely have my eyes open at the convention in two weeks.
As soon as a parcel is damaged, it should initiate an investigation, where the sender and recipient are contacted, and the items contained in the parcel are confirmed, rather than letting it get to this point, where it might have been days since it was stolen, and the trailer grown cold.
If you contact UPS and make a formal complaint, if it was handled properly, they should be able to trace whose care it was in when the 'damage' occurred.
It's a federal crime to tamper with mail, especially registered mail over here, as I imagine it is in the states. I'd give it a shot, and also apply for compensation - that will get them moving to find the culprit, and give you some money to at least donate - there's usually a limit, but hit them in the hip pocket nerve, and it should get them moving.
Best of luck tracking the stolen scripts.
I am not entirely surprised, years ago I had some issues whenever I had stuff delivered through the United States Postal service to Canada, magazines, merchandise came damaged, unusually late etc. The US Postal Service would usually pass the packages to Canada Post, and would blame them for whatever was going wrong.
Anyways, I'll keep my eyes open and if anything comes up on the net regarding this I'll inform you ASAP. At the same time I'm also going to think what should happen to the thief if he or she is ever caught...something gruesome in keeping with the unforgiving nature of "A Song Of Ice And Fire" (I'm of course kidding...well sort of...)
The person who did this is majorly f**ked!
I didn't think anyone did that anymore - anyone with sense, anyway. you don't put ANYTHING of value into the hands of the United States Postal Service... they are the lowest common denominator in delivering correspondance or packages. It's unfortunate, but I hope everyone reading about this (or those involved, dan, db, etc) learns from this mistake and never counts on the usps to actually delivery anything of import...
I am spreading the word about your manuscripts.
I do hope you get them back.
I stopped using them for sending important property.
I just received a similar envelope and apology. It contained the cover sheet of a Locus magazine and nothing else.
If the envelope frayed at the bottom, then they do give way, just like that, and the contents drops out on the floor. If it has any sort of address on the script, it may have gone back to that address. They do try.
No, really. As someone who ran a rural route, delivering everything from earthworms to trees to live chicks as part of my job, I know the kind of hard work that goes on behind that tall counter.
I hope there was an address one the script itself, and that it homers to it.
Megan Lindholm