Up For Auction: A Gallery of Natural History Specimens

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Tyrannosaurus bataar

This nearly complete <em>Tyrannosaurus bataar</em> is set to go on auction. It is one of many rare natural history specimens Heritage Auctions plans to sell on May 20. An Asian relative of the North American <em>Tyrannosaurus rex</em>, this specimen's est

(Image credit: Wynne Parry)

This nearly complete Tyrannosaurus bataar is set to go on auction. It is one of many rare natural history specimens Heritage Auctions plans to sell on May 20. An Asian relative of the North American Tyrannosaurus rex, this specimen's estimated value is between $1.4 and $1.8 million.

Preparing for the Auction

Four days before the auction, workers put the specimens to be auctioned off on display. The showroom is open to the public in the days before the auction.

(Image credit: Wynne Parry)

Four days before the auction, workers put the specimens to be auctioned off on display. The showroom is open to the public in the days before the auction.

Rare Minerals

The auction plans to sell not only dinosaur fossils, but also meteorites, tufts of mammoth hair and minerals, including those shown above. Only the taxidermy is not on display.

(Image credit: Wynne Parry)

The auction plans to sell not only dinosaur fossils, but also meteorites, tufts of mammoth hair and minerals, including those shown above. Only the taxidermy is not on display.

Gold in Quartz

The tyrannosaur of the minerals, this gold nugget in quartz weighs more than 70 ounces (2 kilograms).

(Image credit: Heritage Auctions)

The tyrannosaur of the minerals, this gold nugget in quartz weighs more than 70 ounces (2 kilograms).

From the Water

From left to right, a sea lily or crinoid, a pregnant female ichthyosaur and a xiphactinus "bulldog" fish.

(Image credit: Wynne Parry)

From left to right, a sea lily or crinoid, a pregnant female ichthyosaur and a xiphactinus "bulldog" fish.

Centipede in Amber

A centipede preserved 50 million years ago in stick tree resin, which became amber.

(Image credit: Heritage Auctions)

A centipede preserved 50 million years ago in stick tree resin, which became amber.

Meteor from Mars

A meteor made of igneous rock from the planet Mars.

(Image credit: Heritage Auctions)

A meteor made of igneous rock from the planet Mars.

Ankylosaurid Skull

An Ankylosaurid from Central Asia.

(Image credit: Heritage Auctions)

An Ankylosaurid from Central Asia.

A Dodo

A cast of one of the few existing skeletons of this now-extinct bird.

(Image credit: Heritage Auctions)

A cast of one of the few existing skeletons of this now-extinct bird.

Wynne Parry
Wynne Parry
Wynne was a reporter at The Stamford Advocate. She has interned at Discover magazine and has freelanced for The New York Times and Scientific American's web site. She has a masters in journalism from Columbia University and a bachelor's degree in biology from the University of Utah.