Bare Essentials, an original oil on canvas by celebrated American pin-up artist Gil Elvgren, is expected to bring $75,000 to Heritage Auctions' illustration sale on July 31.

Elvgren was a commercial success during his lifetime. Bare Essentials (above) typifies his artistic output

The anticipated top lot, which hails from 1957 - arguably the golden age of illustration - is signed by the prolific artist in the lower right hand corner.

Created as a Brown & Bigelow calendar illustration, the image casts the onlooker in the role of voyeur, watching as a young woman warily undresses beside a parrot.

In June 2012, a Gil Elvgren pin-up painting sold for $145,000, suggesting collectors are willing to pay substantial sums for exceptional works by the artist.

Up At Bat – a slice of American history

In addition, American illustrator Douglas Crockwell's unintentionally menacing Up At Bat from 1940, which depicts an enthusiastic young girl armed with a baseball bat, is to feature in the sale.

Having starred on the cover of bi-monthly US magazine The Saturday Evening Post, Up At Bat is considered "among the best [paintings] Crockwell produced during his career", according to Todd Hignite, Heritage Auctions' vice president.

Norman Rockwell is also well represented in the online auction.

A rare Saturday Evening Post interior illustration from 1947 by the ever-popular artist is expected to make in excess of $35,000.

Here at Paul Fraser Collectibles, we have a raft of art and photography collectibles in stock, including this Charles Schulz original sketch of Lucy.

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