At only Koller‘s “Out of this World” auction, the past and future converge in a remarkable display. From ancient skeletons to futuristic marvels, this event offers collectors a unique opportunity to acquire extraordinary treasures.
Following the success of the Trinity sale, a nearly complete T-Rex which fetched $6.1 million, Koller presents its fourth edition, showcasing an equally captivating array of rare and enticing pieces that span the wonders of natural history and science. The auction is set to take place in Zurich on June 17, 2024.
The highlight of the auction is giant Artemis. The 70% complete Dryosaurus Altus, a dinosaur from the Late Jurassic period, about 150 million years ago, inhabited forested habitats. Belonging to the ornithopod genus, it evolved from small grazers into successful herbivores dominating the Cretaceous world.
Physically, it likely reached up to three meters in length and weighed around 100 kilograms, featuring a long neck, slender legs, and a rigid tail. With relatively short forelimbs lacking claws, Dryosaurus may have sported colorful feathers for thermal insulation. This species thrived until the end of the Cretaceous period, shaping North American landscapes. The skeleton was unearthed in August 2021 within the Morrison Formation, located at Bone Cabin Quarry in Albany County, Wyoming, USA.
Another standout is a 2.2 kg Moon meteorite. The auction features numerous treasures for fiction lovers. Pirates of the Caribbean, The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003) is a fantasy action film directed by Gore Verbinski and starring Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom, and Keira Knightley. Three coins from this cursed treasure, made from aluminum and in excellent condition, are available for the fans of the movie, with an estimated value of CHF 1,000/2,000 (€1,020/2,040). Dune movie fans will love to see the Crysknife from the 2021 edition, estimated at €8,160/12,240.
A striking black-and-white photograph of Marilyn Monroe is acquired directly from legendary artist Andy Warhol’s estate. Mr. Warhol’s fascination with Ms. Monroe is well-known, and he extensively collected images of her as part of his artistic process. Recently, in May 2022, Mr. Warhol’s Portrait of Marilyn Monroe (Shot Sage Blue Marilyn) sold for an astonishing $195 million. This photograph, in good condition with minor creasing along the edges, features visible stamps from the Warhol Estate on both sides and comes professionally framed.
Other highlights include Murder Clam (€2,550/4,590); Triton Trilobites (€2,040/3,060); Fossil of a Gar (€9,180/12,240); working model of a French guillotine carved by a prisoner of war (€4,080 / 6,120); Ruin stone or Pietra Paesina (€1,020/1,530); a 270 million years old Diplocaulus skull (an extinct animal) (€1,530/2,040); and a bezoar dating back to 1850 (€2,550/3,570).
The auction features more cool memorabilia from movies like Alien, Charlie & the Chocolate Factory, and Home Alone 2: Lost in New York. Original photographs from space explorations feature alongside natural history items like a Megalodon tooth, and multiple meteorites.
