Giant Armadillo, Holmesina floridanus, Late Pliocene, Aucilla River, Jefferson County, Florida. One of the few known mounted Holmesina floridanus specimens in existence, this rare four million-year-old Giant Armadillo has been prepared to allow the removal of the outer armor, revealing the skeleton beneath. Now extinct, Holmesina floridanus lived during the Late Pliocene and Early Pleistocene and has been discovered in only a limited number of localities in Florida. The present specimen, over 80 per cent complete, is a composite of several individuals, with restoration to the pelvis, shoulder blades and top of skull. It is an exceptional and important specimen from the George Lee Collection of Southern California. Measures 48 x 24in. Sold for: $36,000. Photo: Courtesy of Bonhams & Butterfields.

LOS ANGELES, CA.- Bonhams & Butterfields June 3, 2007 sale of Natural History in Los Angeles brought more than $1-million Sunday. The sale featured property from the collection of Tucson-based gem and mineral dealer Albert Jon 'Zee' Haag - one of the most significant private collections of natural wonders to be sold at auction for many decades, unique fossil specimens from other collections and highly desirable décor, mineral carvings, meteorites, gold and wearable art.
Featured works from the Haag Collection included: an illuminated quartz and wrought iron sculpture titled "The Goddess with the Golden Heart" designed by Haag and sold for $20,400; an impressive petrified wood tree stump sold above the high estimate for $19,200; a unique Burlwood tree root bench brought $6,600; a classic iron Campo del Cielo meteorite on customized stand from Gran Chaco, Argentina sold for $4,500 and a selection of unmounted gemstones, lapidary, rough cut gems, spheres, classic Arizona and international minerals, sculpture, fossils, meteorites and large-scale décor from across the globe also brought strong prices. The offering was comprised of approximately 60 works and specimens, featuring examples of Haag's own design as well as pieces acquired by the Tucson-based collector.  Liez la suite http://www.artdaily.com/section/news/index.asp?int_sec=2&int_new=20470

Lawrence Stoller poses with the nearly 600lb, immense Smoky Quartz Specimen on Bronze Stand from the Govenador Valadares, Minas Gerais, Brazil, sold for $60,000. Photo: Courtesy of Bonhams & Butterfields