Dinosaurs and other Fossils Up for Sale

With all the difficulties in finding a buyer prepared to pay the agreed price for “Samson” the Tyrannosaurus rex mounted skeleton that went up for auction last month, you would think that auctioneers might lay off the dinosaur lots for a while.  Sadly this is not the case as another range of prehistoric artefacts go under the hammer in Paris at the beginning of next month.

To read what happened to the T. rex called “Samson”: “Samson” going to a Museum.

Dinosaurs Sold at Auction

The evolution themed auction being held on the 1st and 2nd of December features a whole host of prehistoric animals, from trilobites, and fossilised dragonflies, plus prehistoric mammals such as a mounted Sabre-toothed cat exhibit.  The star attraction is going to be an 8 metre-long mounted skeleton of the fierce predator Spinosaurus, complete with spines and huge teeth-lined jaws.

A Size Comparison between Spinosaurus and Tyrannosaurus rex

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

The human figure in the drawing is dwarfed by the two meat-eating dinosaurs.  The sail-backed Spinosaurus has been claimed by some scientists to be the largest predatory dinosaur known in the fossil record, with estimates of a length in excess of 16 metres.

To view a model of a Spinosaurus and other dinosaur models including Tyrannosaurus rex and Sabre-toothed cats (Smilodon), we suggest that readers take a look at the models section of our website: Dinosaur, Pterosaur, Smilodon and Other Prehistoric Animal Models.

To view the extensive range of dinosaur and prehistoric animal themed gifts and toys available from Everything Dinosaur’s award-winning website: Visit Everything Dinosaur.

Spinosaurid fossils, like most large theropod fossils are extremely rare.  The mounted Spinosaurus exhibit is actually a composite (most exhibits are like this), consisting of the remains of several individuals put together to create one display.  The missing bones are either replicas of bones from other specimens “gap fillers” as we call them, reconstructions to represent the fossilised bone that has never been found.  This particular exhibit, is made up from Moroccan finds.  It has been suggested that this specimen could fetch as much as $750,000 USD at the auction.

The sale is to take place at the Drouot-Montaigne auction house, Paris.  The organisers claim that there is something for every-body’s budget and every-body’s taste.  As well as the prehistoric animals, items from the Russian space programme are also up for sale, including bright green, cloth nappies made for Russian cosmonauts.

We hope that the fossils and other rare exhibits are purchased by public bodies or private collectors who are willing to let them go on public display and are happy to let scientists study them if required.