Alan Rickman’s spellbinding scripts and mementoes head to auction

If Professor Snape kept memories in vials, Alan Rickman kept his in plastic boxes, each one meticulously labelled, guarded with the kind of precision that would make even Hermione Granger nod in approval. Now, some of these treasures from Rickman’s personal archive are set to go under the hammer.

Propstore, the memorabilia specialists that recently sold a Star Wars lightsaber for £2.7 million, is staging a three-day sale featuring a selection of Rickman’s most remarkable keepsakes. And true to his reputation for obsessive attention to detail, many of these items are covered in his copious handwritten notes.

The star attraction is Rickman’s archive from his film-acting debut in the 1988 thriller Die Hard, where he played the unforgettable Hans Gruber. Estimated at £30,000–£60,000, the lot includes his heavily annotated shooting script, filled with alternative dialogue suggestions, along with call sheets, press packs, and even his invitation to the London gala preview.

In a separate lot, bidders can vie for a prop Treasury note for $100,000 from the same film, estimated at £1,000–£2,000. Yippee-ki-yay, collectors.

Rickman, who died in 2016, remains beloved for his portrayal of Severus Snape across all eight Harry Potter films. Several pieces from that era are up for sale.

Among the lots are:

• A gold-plated pocket watch given to the cast and crew of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (estimate: £2,000–£4,000)


• Rickman’s own set of Harry Potter novels (estimate: £1,000–£2,000)


• A Snape toy figure, still in its original packaging (estimate: £500–£1,000)


• And perhaps the most heart-warming of all: a hand-drawn Halloween message from Rupert Grint, estimated at £2,000–£4,000

Rickman’s range extended far beyond robes and wandwork. From romance to comedy to villainy, his archive captures the breadth of a remarkable career.

• A box of items from the beloved ghost-romance Truly Madly Deeply (1989), containing annotated script pages, cello-playing notes, and a thank-you letter from director Anthony Minghella


• A shooting script from Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, another standout villain performance, valued at £10,000–£20,000


• Items from the cult sci-fi comedy Galaxy Quest, including logo-emblazoned caps and an invitation to the cast and crew party (estimate: £4,000–£8,000)


• Behind-the-scenes photographs from Sense and Sensibility, in which he played Colonel Brandon

For fans of Rickman’s "deep cuts", the sale also features materials from Kevin Smith’s 1999 religious comedy Dogma, in which he played the angel Metatron, a script and clapperboard from his directorial debut

The Winter Guest, and production notes, storyboards and location recce documents from his second and final film as director, A Little Chaos.

Propstore’s Entertainment Memorabilia sale will take place at Bafta in London, as well as online, from December 5–7.

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