This New Disneyland-Themed Auction Is Full of Joyful Gems

By Alysia Gray Painter • •

"Rediscovering Disneyland"? It's something that grateful fans are doing as May 2021 begins and The Happiest Place on Earth returns to greeting guests each day with a happy wave, an upbeat song, and a Mickey balloon on a string.

The Anaheim theme parks reopened on April 30 following a year-plus closure. As Disney devotees plan their visit, and daydream of seeing the new Snow White's Enchanted Wish attraction, or the eerie Haunted Mansion additions, they can also go about "Rediscovering Disneyland" via a new Van Eaton Galleries auction.

The later-in-May auction has been specifically timed to merrily celebrate the parks' reopening.

Known as a major player in the realm of Disneyana, the Sherman Oaks-based auction house's mondo May 22 and 23 event will feature "nearly 1,200 artifacts." This is, by the by, the "first open public exhibition and auction" helmed by Van Eaton Galleries in well over a year.

The on-the-block treasures featured in the two-day happening hail from Disneyland, Walt Disney World, and other corners of the Disneyverse as well, and run the gamut from quaint benches to attraction signs to Cast Member uniforms.

The Van Eaton Galleries shares this intriguing preview: "Highlights of this collection include a loan agreement signed by Walt Disney and his wife Lillian Disney in 1954 relating to $60,000 Walt borrowed against his own life insurance policy in order to build Disneyland, an Mark VII Autopia Vehicle Body, vintage cast member wardrobe from Club 33," and more.

That "more" includes "... a hand-crafted mosaic display that was once part of Sleeping Beauty Castle, hand-written and signed sheet music for 'It's a Small World' by the Sherman Brothers, Disneyland parking lot signs, as well as a plethora of park signage, props, costumes, furniture, and much more that celebrates the incredible history of Disneyland and its creator, Walt Disney."

See some of the nifty signs, pieces of sheet music, and, yes, trash cans now. Everything up for auction can be viewed, along some background and estimates, on the Van Eaton Galleries site.

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"One of the major highlights of the auction is a hand-made mosaic that was part of the original Sleeping Beauty Castle before it was renovated in 1983," shared the Van Eaton Galleries team. "The massive, hand-crafted artwork consisting of hundreds of individual tiles features an image of Sleeping Beauty and Prince Phillip and is an actual piece of the Original Sleeping Beauty Castle." (Estimate: $25,000-$30,000).
Van Eaton Galleries
"One of the major highlights of the auction is a hand-made mosaic that was part of the original Sleeping Beauty Castle before it was renovated in 1983," shared the Van Eaton Galleries team. "The massive, hand-crafted artwork consisting of hundreds of individual tiles features an image of Sleeping Beauty and Prince Phillip and is an actual piece of the Original Sleeping Beauty Castle." (Estimate: $25,000-$30,000).
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"A more unusual item in the auction is one of the original Fantasyland Trash Cans from the park's opening year in 1955. A trash can may not seem like an artifact of the park that would be considered a high-value collectible, but these stylish trash cans from the park can sell for well over $10,000, and since only a few of these trash cans were made in the park’s opening year, and this is the only one known to still exist, it is sure to get a lot of attention in this sale."
Van Eaton Galleries
"A more unusual item in the auction is one of the original Fantasyland Trash Cans from the park's opening year in 1955. A trash can may not seem like an artifact of the park that would be considered a high-value collectible, but these stylish trash cans from the park can sell for well over $10,000, and since only a few of these trash cans were made in the park’s opening year, and this is the only one known to still exist, it is sure to get a lot of attention in this sale."
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30th anniversary lamppost sign (Estimate $200-$400)
Van Eaton Galleries
30th anniversary lamppost sign (Estimate $200-$400)
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Original Main Street Electrical Parade Promotional Painting (Estimate: $2,000-$3,000)
Van Eaton Galleries
Original Main Street Electrical Parade Promotional Painting (Estimate: $2,000-$3,000)
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Original Big Thunder Ranch entrance sign (Estimate: $2000-$4000)
Van Eaton Galleries
Original Big Thunder Ranch entrance sign (Estimate: $2000-$4000)
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<br>Original Autopia Vehicle Body<strong> </strong>(Estimate: $6000-$8000)
Van Eaton Galleries

Original Autopia Vehicle Body (Estimate: $6000-$8000)
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Rare signed music score for The Haunted Mansion "Screaming Song" (Estimate: $1,000-$3,000)
Van Eaton Galleries
Rare signed music score for The Haunted Mansion "Screaming Song" (Estimate: $1,000-$3,000)
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An extremely rare Disneyland Haunted Mansion blueprint (Estimate: $1,000-$2,000)
Van Eaton Galleries
An extremely rare Disneyland Haunted Mansion blueprint (Estimate: $1,000-$2,000)
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Original Main Street Penny Arcade Game (Estimate: $1,000-$2,000)
Van Eaton Galleries
Original Main Street Penny Arcade Game (Estimate: $1,000-$2,000)
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Sleeping Beauty Castle mosaic (estimate $30,000—$50,000)
Van Eaton Galleries
Sleeping Beauty Castle mosaic (estimate $30,000—$50,000)
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A rare Fantasyland Castle Wrought Iron Bench (Estimate: $2,000-$4,000)
Van Eaton Galleries
A rare Fantasyland Castle Wrought Iron Bench (Estimate: $2,000-$4,000)
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Original track from Walt Disney’s backyard railroad, the Carolwood Pacific ($5000-$7000)
Van Eaton Galleries
Original track from Walt Disney’s backyard railroad, the Carolwood Pacific ($5000-$7000)

This article tagged under:

DisneylandSherman OaksDisney

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