Rare Walt Disney prospectus could see $120,000 in California sale

A rare copy of Walt Disney's prospectus for Disneyland is to lead animation items on July 27

Walt Disney's initial prospectus for the construction of Disneyland is to be auctioned on July 27 in an important California animation sale.

Bankers that snubbed Disney would regret the decision within two years

The prospectus was drafted by Disney and artist Herb Ryman in 1953 to give words and images to Walt's idea of a family fun attraction. It is the only extant copy of three produced by the duo for Disney to take to New York, where he hoped to find a partner willing to invest $5m in his Disneyland dream.

Disney left all three copies with the bankers he proposed his idea to and returned from New York empty handed. Despite this, the historic Disneyland theme park would open its doors just two years later, with those who had turned down his offer left reeling by its instant success.

Along with two spectacular hand drawn maps, the remarkable document features nine pages of writing which detail Walt's ideas for various "lands" within the park - many of which would never be realised - such as "Liliputian Land" and "Happy Holidays Land". The folder was discovered in a Rhode Island estate in the early 1980s and has been with the current owner, Gary Sohmers, since 1984. 

Sohmers has since had the documents authenticated by experts from the Walt Disney Archives, who agree that the prospectus is genuine and not one of the many fake copies that have appeared on the internet since its discovery.

An incredibly rare and important piece of Disney memorabilia, the complete folder is expected to bring $80,000-120,000 and will star as top lot in the sale. It will feature alongside a stunning array of Disney memorabilia, including Walt Disney's first professional motion picture camera ($30,000-50,000), and an original "Ratty" car from Disneyland's Mr Toad's Wild Ride ($20,000-30,000).

Paul Fraser Collectibles has a magnificent selection of Disney memorabilia currently available to collectors. This brilliant sketch of Mickey Mouse and autograph from Walt Disney has been added to a rare copy of Ivanhoe, which was published privately by the exclusive Bohemian Club.

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Images: Profiles in History