-
THE DAVID WEISZ CO. PRESENTS A PUBLIC AUCTION OF THE COUNTLESS TREASURES ACQUIRED FROM METRO GOLDWYN MAYER (MGM) - VOLUME ONE (GOLD COVER)
(MGM STUDIO). Weisz Co., The David. Los Angeles: The David Weisz Co., 1970. First Edition. 4to. Printed Wrappers. Auction Catalog. Near Fine.. 232pp, 52 color illustrations. In 1970, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer studio sold the contents of seven sound stages to Los Angeles auctioneer David Weisz. Weisz hired costumer and collector Kent Warner to help catalog and select the material for auction, and in the course of his work Warner found several pairs of the ruby slippers from "The Wizard of Oz". The one pair offered at the MGM sale fetched a then-unheard-of $15,000, and actress Debbie Reynolds alone is said to have purchased thousands of items. The five catalogues prepared for the event contain the brief details (often with attributions) for over twenty thousand lots offered over six sales beginning Sunday May 3rd, 1970 that ran for seventeen days. This is the first catalogue only of the five - referred to as the "gold book auction" - which is the only illustrated volume. It contains descriptions for eleven thousand, eight hundred and fifty-five lots of antiques and furniture that were auctioned off over the first eleven days. A most handsome example of this uncommon item showing some very light wear and creasing to its gold covers. Inventory Number: 023769