No. 054
Released: July 22, 2009
Ornament: Lt. Uhura, Gold Uniform
Series: Star Trek: The Original Series
Product code: QMP4008
Artist: Anita Marra Rogers
Original retail: $25.00
Dimensions: 3.5” H x 2” W x 2“ D
Branding: Keepsakes
Material: Styrene
Packaging: White box
Magic: None
Power source: None
Front box text: 
Special Event Edition
Hallmark KEEPSAKE
STAR TREK
Lieutenant Uhura™ STAR TREK
christmas ornament décoration de noël
Back box text: 
Lieutenant Uhura™ STAR TREK™
“Hailing frequencies are open.” From the command deck of the Starship Enterprise, Lieutenant Uhura breaks the silence of deep space. As communications officer, she transmits messages in all the languages of the known galaxy. Hers is often the first human voice to be heard by alien races in unexplored star systems. Both Uhura’s name and her spirit reflect the Swahili word for “freedom.”
Usually seen in “engineering and security” red, Lieutenant Uhura wore this striking “command” gold uniform in only one original series episode, “The Corbomite Maneuver” (1966).
This special event edition repaint of the 2007 Lieutenant Uhura limited quantity ornament was created for exclusive distribution at major collector events and conventions.
Anita Marra Rogers Hallmark Keepsake Artist
For decorative use only. Not for children under 8.
Conçu à des fins décoratives seulement. Ne convient pas aux enfants de moins de 8 ans.
handcrafted
Bottom box text:
TM & © 2008 CBS Studios Inc. All Rights Reserved.
STAR TREK and related marks are trademarks of CBS Studios Inc.
http://www.startrek.com
Mfd. for/Fabriqué pour Hallmark Cards, Inc. Kansas City, MO 64141
Made in China
QMP4008
Additional information: Limited to 450 units and only available at San Diego Comic-Con.
Pros: As a repaint of the fantastic 2007 Uhura ornament, this gold-uniform version is absolutely top tier—elegant, vibrant, and just as iconic. A must-have for collectors who appreciate subtle variations.
Cons: That factual error on the back of the box? Not a dealbreaker. In fact, it adds a bit of charm and character to an otherwise flawless release.

That’s MY fact-based error! Dang it, I carry that as one of my greatest shames. (There are a LOT of them.) I just blanked out Uhura’s appearance in “Mudd’s Women” when I wrote that off the top of my head on a short-notice assignment.

That ornament was produced in 2007 for a speculative Hallmark appearance at Comic-Con International that ultimately didn’t happen. When we went in 2008 only to display, we recognized the opportunity we were missing by not having exclusives. As we planned for the 2009 event, I mentioned that somewhere in our warehouse was a pallet of product we could take to the show. Someone managed to track it down, and thus the exclusive was made available.

The summer of 2008, though, when we believed there would be no future for these ornaments, I was given a handful of the ornaments to donate to an auction for a fundraiser at the Shore Leave convention in Hunt Valley, Maryland. I believe three of them were auctioned. I brought back two of them signed by Nichelle Nichols, who was a guest at the convention. One of the ornaments met a cruel fate when it was dropped and shattered.

So where did the signed ornaments go? I gave one to Anita Marra Rogers because she certainly should have one. The other went to my uncle, who was an avid Keepsake Ornament collector until his passing.

Kevin Dilmore
March 1, 2024