American icon John Wayne’s costumes, awards and documents in first ever public auction this October at Heritage Auctions
Memorabilia from John Wayne’s personal and professional archives now being cataloged by Heritage for Los Angeles public suction, exhibitions in Dallas and New York
Dallas, TX – The family of legendary actor John Wayne will be offering an expansive collection of never-before-released personal and professional memorabilia from the movie star’s personal archives for public auction this fall. Among the items in the collection are one of the iconic black eye-patches worn by John Wayne in his 1969 Academy Award® winning role in True Grit, the cowboy hat he wore in the film’s 1975 sequel, Rooster Cogburn, and more than 400 other costumes, scripts, personal documents and awards that will be available to fans for the first time.
John Wayne Enterprises (JohnWayne.com) has appointed Heritage Auctions (HA.com), the world’s third largest auction house, to conduct the first ever single-owner auction from John Wayne’s personal archive. Public exhibitions of the John Wayne collection will be held in Dallas, Sept. 16-18, 2011, and in New York, Sept. 23-25, 2011. The auction will take place at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles and online, Oct. 3-6, 2011.
“My father’s fans were very important to him. He was open and accessible to them, and making these items accessible to the public is something that feels right,” said Ethan Wayne, President of John Wayne Enterprises. “Museums have large collections of my father’s personal property, and our family has had a chance to select and keep items sentimental to us. There is no need to keep this memorabilia locked away when it can be enjoyed by his fans.”
“The John Wayne collection is a time capsule of classic Hollywood and U.S. history that has remained carefully preserved by his family since John Wayne died 32 years ago in 1979,” added Greg Rohan, President of Heritage Auctions. “We anticipate attracting a wide range of people to the auction, from serious collectors and loyal fans to movie fans and the simply curious.”
Among the additional items in the auction are John Wayne’s Golden Globe award for Best Actor for his role in True Grit; costumes from such movies asSands of Iwo Jima and The Green Berets; and more than 50 movie scripts from such celebrated John Wayne films as True Grit, The Green Berets, Stagecoach, Rio Lobo, Hellfighters and The Sons of Katie Elder. Many of the scripts are annotated with John Wayne’s handwritten notes.
Personal items include John Wayne’s cowboy boots and cowboy hats; saddle and stand; personal correspondence with U.S. Presidents and Hollywood’s biggest stars of the era; correspondence and awards related to his affiliation with the University of Southern California; John Wayne’s driver’s license, passport and American Express card.
Pre-sale estimates range from $100 to $50,000 each depending on the item. Items offered in the auction will be accompanied by a certificate of authenticity from the Wayne family and Heritage Auctions.
For more information on the auction and exhibitions, contact Heritage Auctions at (800) 872-6467 or visit HA.com.
i have been a fan of john wayne for a lot of years , i have found a portrait of john wayne at a flea market one day and i have had it hanging in my house for a number of years i just love it would love to have a autographed photo of john wayne it would be the greatest thing in the world i cannot afford the auction that you are having healthwise or financially thank you for taking the time to at least read my comment thanks again . Linda Mattson gray maine
My mother has a John Wayne room in her house. The walls are covered with prints. The grandkids know this is John Wayne’s room. I hope there will be auction items online for bidding.
I have an old painting of John Wayne…..1979 by Raphael painting great condition. If interested please contact me ! Phone number is 704-937-3549.. Can send you pic of painting via mobile phone !
Thank you..
Johnny Biddix
Hi johnny!!! I would love to talk to you more about the painting you have!!! I tried txting the number provided but don’t know if it worked :/
I know in making a hollywood movie, more than one costume is made because of any mishaps that would stop production. are these duplicates that are being sold.or the orginal costume from the movie
My husband & I have been married for 12 years as of 2 days ago, and we are both HUGE J.W. fans, as were my parents. We have nearly EVERY movie he ever made on DVD and VHS. I have always gotten in to dressing up for Halloween, but my husband not so much… until about 7 or 8 years ago. He fineally decided to dress up, as John Wayne!!!! We spent a week looking for one of those cowboy shirts with the button up frount pannle… OMG… he drove me nuts looking for it… but after we got all the stuff he wanted (replica guns, vintage style badge, neckercheff, cowboy shirt) he looked really cool, not as cool as the Duke, but cool none the less… We have full sheets of the J.W. U.S postage stamps, posters, figurines, stamps, cards and movies of course. I think our most fave. movie to watch together is Hatari… But we just LOVE them ALL…. I will not be able to be AT the auction, but I will be glued to my lap top in hopes to get a small piece of our country’s history…. and a gift for my husband that he will cherish FOREVER!!!!!!!
Thank you for sharing your father with the world!!!!!
a devoted husband and wife in Nebraska…. christina & sean
Is there anyway to view the items that will be auctioned off, or can you participate online? I would be very interested in being allowed to bid on some of the items. My home burned down a couple of years ago, and along with it went an incredible autographed photo of John Wayne to me. I would love the opportunity to replace it with something else.
You can view the items on Heritage Auctions’ site: http://entertainment.ha.com/common/search_results.php?N=53+793+794+792+4294954320
Heritage is also offering printed catalogs here: https://www.ha.com/common/catalogorders.php#johnwayne
I HAVE AN ORIGINAL JOHN WAYNE GUN WITH HIS SIGNATURE IS IT WRONG TO HAVE ONE JOHN 30 CAL LARGE LEVER LOOP
ETHAN, I AM TRYING TO FIND OUT ABOUT A GUY WHOS LAST NAME WAS NOBLES. HE SAID HE ATE WITH JOHN AND HIS X WIFE SEVERAL TIMES, HE SAID HE WAS IN JOHN WAYNE WESTERNS AS X TRA AND WAS BESIDE A GUY IN A SCENE WHEN THIS GUYS HORSE FELL AND THE RIDER WAS KILLED. CAN YOU SHED ANY LIGHT ON THIS GUY, ANY HELP WILL BE APPRECIATED AS HE WAS IN A NURSHING HOME INWESTMORELAND TN. AND HAD HIS LEG ANPUTATED IN GALLATIN TN. LATER DIED ANY HELP IS GREATLY APPRECIATED THSNKS TERRY
i to am a john wayne fan. i have collectors items like drinking glasses, coors beer cans that still have the beer in them ,the floor stand that was promoting the coors beer, couple years ago the movie cowboys had different scene photos an i put them in a frame for a cologe. a knife, photos an clocks and several other items. this is the man an a true cowboy in my book. really am glad that i could share some of the items i have collected an hope to find more in the future.
I went to an antique store and i found a flask. Inside this flask was a note saying
“This glass and brass flask originally belonged to John Wayne.
It is heayy glass w/brass all around the glass (except the opening). It has anchors and what i would call port windows all on the brass, Could this be an authentic piece?
Any information on this would be appreciated.
If there would be one peron that i could sit and talk with it would be John Wayne.
America lost a great man when John Wayne passed, but he will never be forgotten.
Any information on the flask would be appreciated.
To the family of John Wayne, Thank you from my heart for sharing your father with me. He was always my ideal of what An American should be.
Thank you,
I was recently given some photos of ‘ on/behind the scene’ photos of John Wayne from my grandma that were my grandpas. Im not sure what movie it’s from or if they are sole copies. I do believe they are originals and I havent seen any photos like them on the internet anywhere. I believe the film was in Mexico. He’s on a white horse in the photo u can see him clearly in. Another popular actor(whos name I cannot think of) is in another picture. I’m trying to find out who I can show the pictures to to 1. find the name of the movie 2. If they are indeed originals and 3. the value. Thanks for any info.
Hi Darla- I’m certainly no expert, but you might try getting in touch with Heritage Auctions (http://www.ha.com) or WorthPoint (http://www.worthpoint.com). I believe they have appraisers that will research an item for you. Good luck!
Is there anyone interested in an old album that John Wayne recorded called “PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN…..
Thank you if yes please contact me at
Marysusan60@gmail.com
I draw John Wayne in various poses. 18×24….but you have to draw ICONS big…as they are larger than life.
If curious find me on Facebook under Taylor-made Portraits . Thanks.