Samantha the baby triceratops to make $80,000 at natural history auction

The skull of a baby triceratops named Samantha is to be sold in a natural history auction on May 6

The skull of a baby Triceratops, which has been named Samantha, is to sell in an important natural history auction on May 6.

Samantha the baby triceratops

The outstanding auction will feature a diverse selection of gem stones, meteorites and pre-historic fossils, with Samantha starring as a highlight.

The triceratops was one of the last surviving dinosaurs on the planet, ensuring that skeletons of this popular species are usually more intact than those that existed earlier. Samantha is a fantastically preserved example of T Prorsus, one of the two known triceratops species.

The skull was excavated in June 2011 from a site in Montana, and is said to be in first-class condition, with the triceratops' characteristic horns and frill already developed. Also excavated from the site was a seven inch tooth from a tyrannosaurus rex, suggesting that Samantha may have been killed by the notorious species.

Standing 29 inches high on a wooden plinth base, Samantha is estimated to sell for $60,000-80,000.

Also in the sale is a colossal hadrosaur skeleton, which measures nearly 40 feet long. The complete skeleton, which is as large as a bus, is one of only a handful ever found and is expected to bring $150,000-200,000 to the online sale.

Natural history collectors will also have the chance to buy a complete tyrannosaurus bataar skeleton, in another natural history sale on May 20.

A spectacular Tissint fragment, which was collected from the only Martian meteorite fall to be witnessed in our lifetime, is expected to see stellar results at the May 6 auction. Other fragments of this exciting discovery were sold to London's Natural History Museum earlier this year, making this a unique opportunity for space enthusiasts.  

Space collectors will want to view Paul Fraser Collectibles' signed Buzz Aldrin spacesuit, which was used during training for the historic Apollo 11 mission.

Recent and related articles

·  'Largest' T. Rex tooth auctions with 'King of all Saber-tooths' at Bonhams | 12 December 2011

·  Saber-toothed tiger skull fossil gives US Natural History auction some bite | 13 November 2011

·  Ming Dynasty dragon charger leads the way at 888 Auctions' Asian art sale | 13 October 2011

Your collecting

View our stock items for sale  |  How to start a collection

Guides and analysis

Investing in Unique Items  |  10 reasons to invest in collectibles  |  Market information & demographics

www.paulfrasercollectibles.com

Images: I. M. Chait