A remarkably well-preserved dinosaur skeleton, identified as a Camptosaurus and affectionately named Barry, is set to be auctioned in Paris next month. This exceptional specimen hails from the late Jurassic period, dating back approximately 150 million years, and was originally unearthed in Wyoming during the 1990s. Notably, it underwent its initial restoration in 2000, carried out by paleontologist Barry James, whose name it now bears.
After coming into the possession of the Italian laboratory Zoic last year, Barry has undergone further restoration efforts. This dinosaur skeleton stands at an impressive height of 2.1 meters (6.9 feet) and stretches a remarkable 5 meters (16.4 feet) in length.
Alexandre Giquello, representing the renowned Paris auction house Drouot where the auction will take place, expressed the rarity and quality of this specimen. “It is an extremely well-preserved specimen, which is quite rare,” he remarked. Giquello added, “To take the example of its skull, the skull is complete at 90%, and the rest of the dinosaur (skeleton) is complete at 80%.”
Dinosaur specimens of such caliber are infrequently encountered in the world of art auctions, with only a few sales occurring annually on a global scale, according to Giquello.
The public will have the opportunity to view this remarkable skeleton in mid-October before it goes under the hammer on October 20. The auction is anticipated to fetch a substantial sum, with estimates reaching up to €1.2 million ($1.28 million) for the sale of this extraordinary dinosaur relic.