The largest individually owned Disneyland/Disney Park collection in the world, amassed over a 30-year period will hit the auction block at Van Eaton Galleries. “The Joel Magee Disneyland Collection” auction will kick off on July 17 (Disneyland’s 68th birthday) and continue for three days, concluding on July 19.
The collection is so vast, the auction house secured a 30,000 square foot building in Burbank, California for the public exhibition, which began June 28 and will remain open through July 16. With over 1,500 items, the auction and exhibition, the fascinating and diverse collection offers a huge trove of items to appeal to both Disney aficionados and Park lovers.
“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 Mike Van Eaton, Co-Founder, Van Eaton Galleries.
“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.’”
Many of the artifacts are so rare, they haven’t been seen in public for over 60 years, such as the 1917 Model T Ford Moving Van from Main Street that Walt Disney created himself or the set of very rare three animatronic Hitchiking Ghosts from The Haunted Mansion mentioned by Van Eaton — only set in the world to be available.
Other remarkable items include a Peter Pan Ship Ride Vehicle (estimate: $50,000-$100,000); a Haunted Mansion “Doom Buggy” ($30,000-$60,000); a very rare set of Tiki Birds from the Enchanted Tiki Room, which have been restored to working order ($80,000-$100,000); and the very rare ‘Midget Autopia’ car ($50,000-$100,000).
The over 1,500 items will be exhibited at the Burbank Town Center Mall at 201 East Magnolia — the location where Walt Disney once planned to build the Disney-MGM Studios. The exhibition runs June 28-July 16. From the rarest of attraction artifacts to costumes, props, souvenirs, tickets, signage, cast member items and more, the auction exhibition will be a journey through Disney history, displaying a range of pieces from some of the earliest historical items to mementos of modern day ride attractions.
The monumental exhibition is unprecedented for Van Eaton Galleries. Guests will see the Dumbo ride vehicle ($100,000-$200,000) and the world’s largest collection of Disneyland posters all together for the first time (estimates vary). Reflecting the huge scope of the collection, even as curated for exhibition, Van Eaton Galleries offers a lengthy rundown of other remarkable highlights:
- Walt’s Microphone Shield ($7,000-$9,000)
- Rare 1955 Junior Admission Complete Ticket Book ($1,500-$2,500)
- Santa Fe & Disneyland Main Street Original 1956 Attraction Poster ($8,000-$10,000)
- Original Main Street (1955) City Hall Doors ($15,000-$20,000)
- Rare Hand Painted (Disneyland, 1950s) Rainbow Caverns Omnibus Sign ($20,000-$30,000)
- Disneyland 1960s Toy Factory Mold-a-Rama Vending Machine ($2,000-$4,000)
- Disneyland Bubble Gum (1965) Trading Card Display Case with unopened Trading Cards ($500-$800);
- Rare 1955 Disneyland Globe Board Game ($200-$400)
- Celebration U.S.A. (Disneyland, 1991) Parade Float Model ($7,000-$9,000)
- Large Main Street Electrical Parade (Disneyland, 1970s-1980s) Window Display ($3,000-$5,000)
- Indiana Jones Imagineering (1990s) Model ($10,000-$20,000)
- Original Walt Disney World Barnstormer Vehicle ($5,000-$8,000)
- Original Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom Sign ($6,000-$8,000)
- Original Walt Disney World Mickey Mouse Promotional Art ($2,000-$4,000)
- Tower of Terror (1994) Twilight Zone Bellhop Costume ($2,000-$4,000)
- Giant Toy Story Alien Prop Figure ($1,000-$2,000)
- Toy Story Midway Mania Potato Head Vehicle Prop ($800-$1,000)
- Mickey Mouse Steamboat Willie Poster ($500-$700)
- Original Phantom Boat (1955 Disneyland) Production Model ($5,000-$7,000)
- Rare Space Mountain Attraction Sign ($4,000-$6,000)
- Rare Space Mountain Attraction Vehicle ($10,000-$20,000)
- Rare Monorail Attraction Poster (Sample 1961) ($4,000-$6,000)
- Walt Disney World Monorail Captains Chair and Controller ($10,000-$20,000)
- Original Submarine Voyage Mermaid Prop ($8,000-$10,000)
- Original Painting Concept for Mission to Mars Poster ($20,000-$30,000)
- Skyway Original Bucket Vehicle (1965 Disneyland) signed by Bob Gurr ($60,000-$100,000)
- Original Kilimanjaro Safari Wait Time Sign ($2,000-$4,000)
- Great Movie Ride Busby Berkely Dancer Figure ($2,000-$4,000)
- Figment Audio Animatronic Figure ($4,000-$6,000)
- Spaceship Earth Prototype Head ($500-$700)
- Walt Disney World Original Painting ($800-$1,000)
- Original Discovery Island Florida Natives Sign ($500-$800)
- Polynesian Resort Trash Can ($2,000-$4,000)
- Star Jets Attraction Vehicle (1974-1994) ($15,000-$20,000),
- Seven Dwarfs Mine Train Construction Fence décor ($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 Magee. “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.
To bid in “The Joel Magee Disneyland Collection” auction, visit vegalleries.com.
