$200,000 Tyrannosauroid dinosaur rears its head at California sale

A Pterodactyl fossil is also expected to swoop into the Natural History sale, next month

I M Chait has opened the catalogue for its upcoming Natural History Auction, which is expected to be a spectacular event.

On offer in the sale, a multifaceted selection of fine collectible items encompassing all areas of the natural world. Consignments have come in from all over America: the East Coast, the Mid West, the South and all over the Western States, as well as from overseas.

A fine offering of gemstones, minerals, lapidary carvings and boxes, meteorites, a collection of African sculptures and masks, narwhal and mammoth ivory, as well as zoological curiosities are all on offer.

Let's take a look at the fossils, which are some of the most covetable pieces in the auction:

A unique fossil eagle, a rare bat fossil, a fossil horse and camel, an important raptor egg nest, a sabre tooth cat skull are just some of the pieces on offer.

However, two stand out: two iconic dinosaurs which everyone can picture though no one has ever seen.

The first is an example of Pterodactylus kochi. Pterosaur fossils are the most sought after fossils from the Sölnhofen quarries in Germany. Due to their delicate lightweight construction of thin, hollow bones, which enabled them to fly, these flying dinosaurs are rarely preserved.

Pterodactyl fossil

This spectacular specimen represents one of the few finds of a well-articulated Pterodactylus. It features an excellent skull, 3 1/4 inches in length, displaying many sharp pointed teeth. The quality of the preservation is so fine that even many of the small claws on both feet can be seen.

It will go under the hammer with an estimate of $40,000-50,000.

Heading the auction however will be a complete Tyrannosauroid skull, belonging to the species Tyrannosaurus bataar of the late Cretaceous period.

Tyrannosaurus Bataar was the closest dinosaur relative to the North American King of Dinosaurs, Tyrannosaurus-Rex though it thrived on the Eurasian Continent approximately 2 million years earlier.

The two Tyrannosaurus species were quite similar, though Tyrannosaurus Bataar was slightly smaller with shorter arms and a few minor differences in the skull. The 41 inch long skull retains an impressive battery of knife-like teeth.

The whole skull is expected to achieve $150,000-200,000 in I M Chait's auction which takes place on December 5 in Beverley Hills, California.

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www.paulfrasercollectibles.com

Images: I M Chait