Rare Tyrannosaurid Skull - Tyrant Lizard from the Age of Dinosaurs. Alioramus remotus. Late Cretaceous. Nemegt Formation, Gobi Desert, Central Asia

From the scientific to the superbly decorative, astoundingly unique fossil specimens will be offered by international fine arts auctioneers Bonhams on June 1, 2007 during the firm’s Natural History auction in New York. The 525 lot sale offers a diverse group of high quality and distinctive mineral specimens, gold nuggets, lapidary works of art, gemstones and jewelry as well as exceptional fossils from prestigious collections around the world.

Leading the auction is a rare tyrannosaurid skull – one of only three or four Alioramus skulls to have been discovered (est. $120,000 - 140,000). Known as the ‘Tyrant Lizard from the Age of Dinosaurs,’ this rare specimen from the Late Cretaceous period was found in the Nemegt Formation, Gobi Desert, Central Asia. Although very little is known about this rare tyrannosaurid, Alioramus is smaller and more slender than its famous cousin the T-Rex, and boasts a higher tooth count. This animal was most likely a very swift hunter with the ability to be faster and more agile than many of its contemporaries. The present skull specimen is from an individual which would have measured over 20-feet in length and impressively displays the 76 serrated, knife-like teeth.

Rare Tyrannosaurid Skull - Tyrant Lizard from the Age of Dinosaurs. Alioramus remotus. Late Cretaceous. Nemegt Formation, Gobi Desert, Central Asia

Also featured in the June auction is a well-documented Triceratops skull from the Hell Creek Formation, North Dakota (est. $100,000 - 125,000). Unquestionably one of the most popular dinosaurs, Triceratops lived over 65 million years ago at the end of the Cretaceous Period. The dinosaur is famous for its iconic three horns and large bony frill profile. Along with giving this creature lasting celebrity, the external defenses undoubtedly helped to protect the animal from its predatory contemporaries, such as T. Rex. The present skull specimen is beautifully preserved and exemplifies the famed behemoth of the ‘Age of Dinosaurs’.

Triceratops Skull. Triceratops horridus. Cretaceous. Hell Creek Formation, North Dakota

A Large Jurassic Ichthyosaur specimen -- highly sought after by collectors-- will also be offered at auction this summer (est. $60,000 - 80,000). From the famous Holzmaden quarries, the Ichthyosaur is believed to have filled a similar ecological niche as today’s dolphin. Of all known reptiles, they were best adapted to a marine existence. A fine example of this fascinating inhabitant of the Jurassic seas, the present specimen displays expert preparation with all four flippers visible. The skeleton is virtually complete and displayed in an attractive lateral presentation.

Large Jurassic Ichthyosaur. Stenopterygius. Jurassic. Holzmaden, Germany

The décor section of the sale will feature two monumental halves of an entire petrified wood tree aptly dubbed ‘The Twins’ (est. $125,000 - 150,000). From the Triassic period, the magnificent offering was discovered at the Chinle Formation, Northern Arizona. Staggering to the imagination is the number of hours and the degree of expertise required to remove, split and polish this ancient treasure which is evidenced by the mighty presence of the unique pair. The cut faces display brilliant red hues, earth tones, cream and black, augmented by a fine polish. Each petrified wood log measures approximately 8-feet tall.

The Twins – Monumental Cut and Polished Petrified Wood Log. Araucarioxylon arizonicum. Triassic. Chinle Formation, Northern Arizona

Also featured amongst the strong selection of items suited to interior design is a collection of very important petrified wood slabs artfully inlayed with ancient fossilized wood and suitable for use as a tabletop or bench; works in polished quartz and citrine on illuminated bases as well as a diverse selection of framed and unframed fossilized items from the world famous Green River Formation.

Additional highlights will include an uncommon Alaskan Mammoth Tusk of impressive size (est. $20,000 - 25,000); ‘The Dragon’s Head’, a zoomorphic gold nugget from Victoria, Australia weighing nearly two troy pounds (est. $35,000 - 45,000); a hand-sized gold nugget boasting a rich, buttery patina (est. $28,000 - 35,000); a baby snapping turtle from a distinguished private collection (est. $10,000-12,500) and the ultimate prize for the serious meteorite collector, a group of three Martian meteorites (est. $2,500 - 3,500).

Mammoth Tusk of Impressive Size. Mammuthus primigenius. Pleistocene. Alaska

This very large mammoth tusk was found in Northern Alaska near the village of Koyuk. Weighing over 164 pounds, its exceptional thickness is distributed over most of its length. It displays rich brown, beige and beautiful cream colors blending into a finely polished patina. Tusks of this size are uncommon. Length measures 11 feet, 4in; Circumference measures 20 1/4in. Estimate: $20,000 - 25,000

Zoomorphic Gold Nugget—“The Dragon’s Head”. Wedderburn, Victoria, Australia

Many collectors of gold (and also meteorites) enjoy collecting zoomorphic specimens, i.e. those specimens which resemble a certain animal. This attractive, three-dimensional nugget gives the appearance of a dragon’s head with his ferocious mouth agape. Ancient and water-worn, as evidenced by its smooth surfaces, this nugget is particularly appealing—and it weighs nearly 2 troy pounds! The patina is rich and buttery, indicating a high gold content, and there is only a minute hint of brown limonite in one crevice. Weighing approximately 23.62 ozt (734.7 grams) and measuring 4 ¾ x 3 x 1in. Estimate: $35,000 - 45,000

Gold Nugget. Western Australia

Gold nuggets weighing over 5 ounces are extremely rare and many larger ones can be dull and unattractive. The present specimen has a rich, buttery patina indicating a high gold content—and Australian gold is some of the purest on the planet at 98% (+/-). A hand-sized specimen with smooth tumbled edges, it offers the enormous tactile pleasure that only a water-worn nugget can. This is an appealing nugget of prodigious size.  Weighing 17.66 ozt (549.2 grams) and measuring 12.0 x 6.0 x 1.5cm. Estimate: $28,000 - 35,000

Baby Snapping Turtle from a Distinguished Private Collection – Part and Counterpart Chelydridae. Eocene. Green River Formation, Lincoln County, Wyoming

Fossil turtles from the world famous Green River Formation are highly prized. Considered extremely rare, they provide the cornerstone for many fossil collections. This specimen, a juvenile snapping turtle, is preserved in a positive-negative presentation as may be seen in fossils from the F-2 (split fish) Horizon. Both sides exhibit virtually perfect articulation. From the George Lee Collection of Southern California.(2). Measures 7 1/2in x 6in; Specimen measures 4in. Estimate: $10,000 - 12,500

Group of Three Martian Meteorites. NWA 1110 - Morocco. Dar al Gani 476 - Hammadah al Hamra, Libya. Zagami - Zagami-Katsina Province, Nigeria

Samples of the planet Mars possess a highly specific chemical signature. Extensive studies of Mars specimens delivered to Earth by the unmanned Viking lander in 1976 have served in the identification of suspected Mars meteorites by way of the examination of minute particles of gas trapped in samples which match the atmospheric composition of Mars. Here is an opportunity to own three Martian meteorites – the planetary meteorite which is often considered the ultimate prize for the serious meteorite collector. (3). NWA 1110 weighs .43gm;Dar al Gani 476 weighs 2.58gm; Zagami-Katsina weighs 2.71gm - Estimate: $2,500 - 3,500

Bonhams & Butterfields Natural History auctions are the largest of their kind, both in terms of number of lots and overall estimated value. The June 1st auction will include more than 500 lots and feature a diverse group of high quality and distinctive mineral specimens, gold nuggets, lapidary works of art, gemstones and jewelry in addition to exceptional fossils as well as numerous items of unique décor in the form of wall art and sculpture.

Auction: June 1, 2009 at 1:00pm, Bonhams New York
Preview: Friday-Sunday, May 29-31, 2009, Bonhams New York