LOS ANGELES – The largest individually owned Disneyland/Disney Park collection in the world, amassed during a 30-year period, will hit the auction block at Van Eaton Galleries. The Joel Magee Disneyland Collection Auction will kick off on Monday, July 17, 2023 – which is also Disneyland’s 68th birthday – and continue through Wednesday, July 19. Absentee and Internet live bidding will be available through LiveAuctioneers.
The collection is so vast that the auction house secured a 30,000-square-foot building for the public exhibition, which began June 28 and will remain open through Sunday, July 16. It is being held at the Burbank Town Center Mall at 201 East Magnolia in Burbank, California, which is a fitting location as it was once where Disney planned to build the Disney-MGM Studios. With more than 1,500 items, the auction and exhibition is so diverse, so large and so fascinating that both Disney aficionados and fans who love the happiest place on earth will be stunned at the amount of items included.
“The Joel Magee Disneyland Collection is actually almost 6,000 pieces. For this auction I have hand-picked just over 1,500 pieces that trace the story of the parks in an extraordinary fashion. This is the first and most important auction of his collection in the coming year and is by far the most impressive and historically significant one-of-a-kind pieces,” said Van Eaton Galleries Cofounder Mike Van Eaton, adding, “A couple of examples of the rarities the auction will provide are the set of three audio animatronic Hitchhiking Ghosts, which are estimated to sell for $100,000-$200,000, and the Midget Autopia car, estimated to sell for $50,000-$100,000. There are just too many outstanding Disneyland and Disney Parks items to list. It is the most amazing collection we’ve had the honor of working with in decades. We can’t wait to see all the happy faces come through the exhibition – our recreation of the ‘happiest place on earth.'”
Other remarkable items include a Peter Pan ship ride vehicle, estimated at $50,000-$100,000; a Haunted Mansion Doom Buggy, estimated at $30,000-$60,000; a very rare set of Tiki Birds from the Enchanted Tiki Room, which have been restored to working order, estimated at $80,000-$100,000; and the aforementioned Midget Autopia car, which carries an estimate of $50,000-$100,000.
From the rarest of attraction artifacts to costumes, props, souvenirs, tickets, signage and cast member items, the auction exhibition will be a journey through Disney, offering guests the opportunity to experience some of the earliest historical items to modern day ride attractions.
Never before has Van Eaton Galleries staged such a monumental exhibition prior to the auction. Guests will see the Dumbo ride vehicle, which is estimated at $100,000-$200,000, and the world’s largest collection of Disneyland posters displayed together for the first time, which carry a range of individual estimates.
Additional highlights include Walt Disney’s microphone shield, estimated at $7,000-$9,000; a 1955 Junior Admission complete ticket book, estimate at $1,500-$2,500; a Santa Fe & Disneyland Main Street original 1956 attraction poster, estimated at $8,000-$10,000; the original Main Street City Hall doors, dating to 1955 and estimated at $15,000-$20,000; an original circa-1963-79 Global Van Lines moving truck, estimated at $100,000-$200,000; a hand-painted Disneyland 1950s Rainbow Caverns omnibus sign, estimated at $20,000-$30,000; a Disneyland 1960s Toy Factory Mold-a-Rama vending machine, estimated at $2,000-$4,000; a 1965 Disneyland bubble gum trading card display case with unopened trading cards, estimated at $500-$800; a 1955 Disneyland Globe board game, estimated at $200-$400; a 1991 Disneyland Celebration U.S.A. parade float model, estimated at $7,000-$9,000; a large Disneyland 1970s-1980s Main Street Electrical Parade window display, estimated at $3,000-$5,000; and a 1990s Indiana Jones Imagineering model with an estimate of $10,000-$20,000.
Although the collection is far too massive to allow for listing all of the items up for auction, additional highlights include an original Walt Disney World barnstormer vehicle, estimated at $5,000-$8,000; an original Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom sign, estimated at $6,000-$8,000; original Walt Disney World Mickey Mouse promotional art, estimated at $2,000-$4,000; a 1994 Tower of Terror Twilight Zone Bellhop costume, estimated at $2,000-$4,000; a giant Toy Story alien prop figure, estimated at $1,000-$2,000; and a Toy Story Midway Mania potato head vehicle prop that has an estimate of $800-$1,000.
But there is more for the Disney collector. Other standouts include a Mickey Mouse Steamboat Willie poster, estimated at $500-$700; a 1955 Disneyland original Phantom boat production model, estimated at $5,000-$7,000; a Space Mountain attraction sign, estimated at $4,000-$6,000; a Space Mountain attraction vehicle that carries an estimate of $10,000-$20,000; a sample Monorail attraction poster from 1961, estimated at $4,000-$6,000; a Walt Disney World Monorail captain’s chair and controller, estimated at $10,000-$20,000; an original Submarine Voyage mermaid prop with an estimate of $8,000-$10,000; an original painting concept for a Mission to Mars poster, estimated at $20,000-$30,000; an original 1965 Disneyland Skyway bucket vehicle, signed by Bob Gurr and estimated at $60,000-$100,000; an original Kilimanjaro Safari wait time sign, estimated at $2,000-$4,000; a Great Movie Ride Busby Berkeley dancer figure, estimated at $2,000-$4,000; a Figment audio animatronic figure, estimated at $4,000-$6,000; a Spaceship Earth prototype head, estimated at $500-$700; a Walt Disney World original painting, estimated at $800-$1,000; an original Discovery Island Florida Natives sign, estimated at $500-$800; a Polynesian Resort trash can, estimated at $2,000-$4,000; a Star Jets attraction vehicle dating to between 1974-1994, estimated at $15,000-$20,000; and a piece of Seven Dwarfs mine train construction fence decor, estimated at $300-$500.
Joel Magee is best known as “The Toy Scout.” His passion for collecting began at age 13 while visiting a local flea market, where he was fascinated with a collectible lunchbox, and the rest is history. He is a well-sought-after personality, appearing at toy shows across the country, and has amassed one of the most impressive collections of toys and Disneyana in the world. He can often be seen on television and heard on radio shows where he brings his passion and knowledge for all things toys and Disney to each and every appearance.
“I have spent most of my life searching the world for the most extraordinary Disney items that trace the history of such a magical place. It’s been a passion of mine forever and now it’s time to share that passion with fans and collectors around the globe,” said Joel Magee, adding, “I look forward to seeing all the happy faces at the exhibition and hope that the lucky bidders who become the new custodians of pieces in this collection enjoy them and learn from them like I have over the past few decades.”
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