Renowned Auction House Mecum Announces Inaugural Celebrity Items Auction!

Mecum Auctions, the largest collector car auction house in the world, has announced its first celebrity memorabilia auction with the inaugural Mecum Celebrity Items Auction, a two-day extravaganza at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, CA July 26-27, 2013. Mecum Celebrity Items Auction: Celebrating the Legendary History of Hollywood will display and present extraordinary pieces of entertainment history focused on vintage Hollywood, music and pop culture memorabilia, all with amazing celebrity history. The auction will feature a remarkable, wide range of personal items and hundreds of rare artifacts to motorcycles, cars and more from the Golden Years of Hollywood to present day. Select items will be available online for silent auction beginning July 5 at www.MECUM.com.

John Lennon's "Lost Weekend" glasses & Ringo Starr's "Power Ring" will be at the Mecum Celebrity Items Auction (Photo: Business Wire)

Featured amongst the more than 2,000 items to be offered at this unprecedented auction include items from musicians, directors, authors, actors and actresses including John Lennon, Steve McQueen, Elvis Presley, John Wayne, Ringo Starr, Marilyn Monroe, Jack Nicholson, Roy Rogers, Evel Knievel, Frank Sinatra, Hunter S. Thompson, Jimmy Stewart, Burt Reynolds, Errol Flynn, Gene Kelly and many more.

Additionally, a featured centerpiece of the auction is the amazing 1,200-piece collection from John Hagner, curator of the Hollywood Stuntman’s Hall of Fame. Acquired over the course of nearly seven decades, Hagner’s collection consists of remarkable memorabilia including the red handled leather-weave whip seen in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade; the original 1943 Captain America cowl; a hood and cape from Spiderman pre-cursor the 1938 serial The Spider’s Web. Hagner will be in attendance for the auction and to authenticate his collection.

Mecum Celebrity Items Auction highlights

John Lennon prescription Swan glasses (mid 1970s)

Lot S240: A pair of 1970s-style aviator prescription sunglasses with black plastic frames and dark amber-tinted lenses that Lennon wore in New York and Los Angeles during what rock historians dubbed his “Lost Weekend.”

The specs were consigned by May Pang, his former personal assistant, production coordinator, companion and muse. She will be in attendance for the auction to authenticate her item.

Ringo Starr “Power Ring” (circa 1976)

Lot S238: This is the first time one of Starr’s rings has ever been up for auction. With that, Lennon’s band mate and drummer will get equal billing in Mecum’s Celebrity Items Auction with the first-time offering of a silver and gold Electrum diamond “Power Ring.” Nancy Lee Andrews commissioned the ring for her then-fiancé, Ringo Starr. The Power Ring is most prominently displayed on the cover of Starr’s 1977 album Ringo the 4th as well as many other publicity and personal photos.

The ring is consigned by Nancy Lee Andrews who will be in attendance for the auction to authenticate the item.

Steve McQueen Yucatan trunks (circa 1969-1971)

Lot F240: Several items of McQueen’s will be up for auction including the “Holy Grail” of his movie career – the storied Yucatan trunks. Only three in existence, these trunks garnered a 2005 front -page entertainment feature story in the The New York Times, with the movie now in pre-production as a feature film starring Robert Downey, Jr. The two trunks contain 16 leather-bound notebooks filled with drawings, storyboard illustrations, photographs and a detailed story pitch for Yucatan. Slated to be McQueen’s follow-up to his racing epic Le Mans, the superstar worked two years (1969-1971) on this “lost classic.”

Steve McQueen 1969 Chevrolet C/10 Baja Truck

Lot F239: Equally as impressive and just as rare as the Yucatan trunks will be McQueen’s 1969 Chevrolet C/10 Baja race truck designed by off-road motoring visionary Vic Hickey. It was sold to McQueen in 1970, who held onto the truck until 1972. With just over 14,000 original miles, the truck still sports the original red paint along with many other original parts, accessories, and Hickey racing customizations.

George Barris/Ringo Starr 1957 Chevy Bel Air Coupe

Lot S235: It’s hard to upstage an icon like Ringo Starr but this ’57 Chevy Bel Air Coupe stole the spotlight from the former Beatle and was featured in an NBC TV special titled Ringo. Built from the creative mind of George Barris, this hardtop coupe was housed in Australia for the past three decades and has been brought back to its native California. Comes with a letter of authenticity from Barris.

Frank Sinatra 1976 “Mike Royko letter”

Lot S170: Frank Sinatra's famous scathing letter to Chicago Tribune columnist, Mike Royko. Said to be "possibly one of best Sinatra memorabilia pieces to own," this incredible piece of history is from the estate of Vie Carlson who bought the letter from Mike Royko. In 2009 Carlson was featured with the letter on PBS’ Antiques Roadshow and the segment still shows up in some of their highlight reels today.

To consign an item or to become a pre-registered bidder at the auction, visit www.mecum.com or call (262) 275-5050.

MECUM CELEBRITY ITEMS AUCTION SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:
Barker Hangar
3021 Airport Avenue
Santa Monica, CA 90405-6101
www.barkerhangar.com

PUBLIC PREVIEW:
Thursday, July 25, 6:00pm – 9:00pm
Friday, July 26, 12:00pm – 5:00pm

LIVE AUCTION TIMES:
Friday July 26, 5:00pm – 9:00pm
Saturday, July 27, 1:00pm – 5:00pm
* Admission: $20 per person per day, children 12 and younger admitted free

SILENT AUCTION: Opens July 5 exclusively at www.MECUM.com

About Mecum Auction

Nobody sells more than Mecum. Nobody. The Mecum Auction Company is the world leader of collector car and Road Art sales, hosting auctions throughout the United States. The company has been specializing in the sale of collector cars for 26 years, now offering more than 15,000 vehicles per year and averaging more than one auction each month. Established by President Dana Mecum in 1988, Mecum Auctions remains a family-run company headquartered in Walworth, Wis. For further information, visit www.mecum.com or call (262) 275-5050. Follow along with Mecum’s social media news and join us on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Pinterest and Instagram.

Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/multimedia/home/20130522006421/en/