Van Eaton Galleries in Sherman Oaks, California will be auctioning off numerous items once owned by Walt Disney and the Walt Disney Studios. The auction has been titled “A Brief History of the Walt Disney Studios.” Many of the items are relics from the studio, but the auction includes a wide range of Disney memorabilia.
There are items included in the auction that span from the earliest years of Walt’s business attempts to pieces from well after his death. The auction is comprised of everything from a “Laugh-O-Gram” stock certificate signed by Walt Disney himself to a Disneyland Donald Duck character head, circa the 1970s. One of the big-ticket items is a piece of the Carolwood Pacific Railroad, which was the miniature railway Walt built in his backyard. It is expected to sell for about $50,000 or $60,000.
The signed Camp Cine-Q sign, featuring Walt’s signature and a Mickey Mouse drawing by him.
The sign features the signatures of several of the club’s members, like American artist Victor Clyde Forsythe. Original drawings of Mickey made by Walt are some of the most sought-after Disney artifacts.
“The ‘A Brief History of the Walt Disney Studios’ auction doesn’t just tell the story of the Studio, but it tells the story of Walt and his team of talented artists and individuals who helped build the company,” said Mike Van Eaton, co-owner of Van Eaton Galleries.
“We consider this one of the rarest opportunities we have had to show the world a side of Walt Disney that few have ever seen, through personal photographs and personally-signed or hand-drawn items. Many of these items have never come to auction before and are among the only such examples of these items that we have ever seen. To say we are excited about this auction is an understatement. Anyone who recognizes the incredible value of such items from Walt’s personal life will understand how significant this auction is.”
A plot plan for Disneyland is one of the rarest and most historically important items to be offered in this auction. In August 1953, shortly after purchasing land in Anaheim, Calif., Walt took a grease pencil and drew a triangle on the plot to represent where he wanted Disneyland trains to run, creating the boundaries for the park and the beginning of Disneyland.
This original drawing by Walt is the earliest known appearance of the shape of Disneyland and its location, and also represents Walt’s personal involvement and input in the creation of his park.
Walt Disney loved trains so much, he had one built in his backyard.
Another item going up for auction is a piece of railroad track from Walt’s own backyard railroad, as well as an extremely rare “Laugh-O-Gram” stock certificate from Walt’s early animation studio, signed by him.
Nearly 600 items will be offered in the “A Brief History of the Walt Disney Studios” auction that include furniture from the 1940s Walt Disney Studio in Burbank, original Disneyland props, animation art from Disney cartoons and films from the 1920s – 1980s, and more.
To take a look at other offerings in the auction, and to purchase the exclusive catalog, visit vegalleries.com.
Source: Attractions Magazine