FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Josh Chait
310.285.0182
josh@chait.com

DINOSAUR FOSSILS FOUND IN THE HEART OF BEVERLY HILLS!

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Lot 268

Amazing Paleontological discoveries:

• Dinosaur Egg with an embryonic dinosaur skeleton preserved inside
• Virtually complete Ceratopsian dinosaur skeleton
• Unique “Flying Dinosaur” skeleton, Pterosaur, from the Jurassic Period
• Skull of an extinct Sabre-Toothed Cat

10th November 2005, Beverly Hills: These extremely rare fossils are among the magnificent treasure trove at the I.M. Chait Gallery/Auctioneers in Beverly Hills. On December 18th, 2005, over 250 lots of museum-quality fossils, gems and Minerals, Meteorites and Dinosauria will be auctioned off to the highest bidders at what promises to be a fascinating auction of Natural History. The renowned Gallery, in association with Natural History expert Mr. David Herskowitz, and Gem and Mineral specialists Jim Walker and Mary Fong-Walker present a showcase of specimens rarely made available to collectors at public auction. “At this auction, everyone will have the opportunity to own an important piece of Earth’s past,” offers Isadore Chait.

This unique collection will feature a dinosaur egg with an unborn Raptor skeleton exposed within; a “flying dinosaur” skeleton with preserved wing impressions from the Jurassic Period; a virtually complete Ceratopsian dinosaur skeleton mounted and ready for display; a nest of 11 dinosaur eggs; a matched pair of Wooly Mammoth tusks, each measuring over seven feet in length; a giant Sabre-Toothed Cat skull; a comprehensive collection of meteorites; exotic Gems and Minerals from around the world and much more.

AN EXTREMELY RARE FLYING DINOSAUR
Rhamphorhynchus gemmingi
Jurassic

LARGEST VERTEBRAE EVER KNOWN TO FLY CAUGHT IN BEVERLY HILLS!

Lot 273

The Pterosaurs were carnivores that flew long distances using their large, light-weight wings. Two characteristics make the Pterodactylus unique and clearly different from the reptiles: warm bloodedness and a coat of hair. Pterodactylus, or “flying Dinosaurs” flourished during the Upper Jurassic period and were the first vertebrates to fly. Pterosaurs thrived for nearly 150 million years and were virtually uncontested in the air. Pterosaurs vanished 65 million years ago during the great dinosaur extinction of the Upper Cretaceous.

This auction offers a magnificent specimen of a Rhamphorhynchus Gemmingi, the rarest of all Pterosaurs found in the limestone quarry at Solnhofen, Germany. This beautifully preserved specimen is virtually complete and had a wingspan of about 3 ½ feet. Displayed on its original matrix slab, this magnificent fossil is estimated at $120,000-$150,000.

A SPECTACULAR OPALESCENT AMMONITE
Placenticeras meeki
Cretaceous
Bearpaw Formation, Alberta, Canada

“THE MOST POWERFUL STONE OF THE MILLENNIUM”
- Feng Shui Master Edward Kui Mind Li

Lot 260

For many years, ammonites have served as a symbol of abundance, good luck and prosperity in the Far East. These 71 million year old fossils are believed to attract wealth and good fortune, enhance clarity, wisdom, and promote creativity. Many Feng-Shui masters believe that ammonites contain the absorbed knowledge of the universe. “Ammonite may enhance the flow of Qi or life force energy throughout the body and may reduce the body’s toxicity’” offers world-renowned Feng-Shui master Edward Kui Ming Li. He states that the invaluable energy of the ammonite “may benefit people who place or locate the stone within a home or office environment, especially when they are placed upon the heart of the home or business.” He further states that “it is believed by some that the shell has the ability to transpose negative energy into positive.”

Among the most sought after ammonites are those from the Bearpaw Formation of Canada, which posses an array of bright opalescent colors such as the present specimen. This particular ammonite is among the finest ever discovered to date. Both sides of this extraordinary specimen display uncommonly bright colors. One side boasts a predominately red surface with accents of orange, yellow, green and hints of blue while the other side exhibits a rich combination of green, blue and orange with red and yellow highlights along with some splashes of purple. The bright opalescent colors were naturally created by the combination of millions of years of compression and the mineralization of iron, copper and silica, which precipitated from volcanic ashes. This outstanding specimen is virtually complete and measures 18 ½ inches in diameter.
Estimate: $25,000 – 35,000

DINOSAUR EGG WITH AN EMBRYONIC DINOSAUR SKELETON EXPOSED
Elongatoolithus, Oviraptor sp.
Late Cretaceous, 65-70 million years old
Nanxiong Formation, Guangdong Province, China

70 MILLION YEAR-OLD RAPTOR READY TO HATCH!

Lot 269

The fossilized remains of dinosaur eggs are, in most cases, limited to the eggshell. The embryo skeletons themselves are rarely preserved. This specimen has the potential to contribute to scientific knowledge by offering the unique opportunity to study dinosaur embryology. Thus, this specimen represents a rare and important paleontological discovery.
The specimen measures 8 inches in length and its greatest width is 3 1/4 inches. The body of this dinosaur is laid out almost as it may have been just before death, with the head placed at the narrow end of the egg. The bones in this specimen are distinguished by their remarkable state of preservation and degree of ossification, which suggests that the individual was close to hatching.
Dr. Mark Norell and others at the American Museum of Natural History, New York have found similar eggs during collecting expeditions to Mongolia. The embryos found in these eggs have been identified as belonging to a species of Oviraptor. The present specimen has been examined by several technicians at the American Museum of Natural History in New York and they concur with the conclusions of this description.
Estimate: $35,000 – 45,000

RARE GIANT SABRE-TOOTHED CAT
Machairodus giganteus
Miocene
Guanghe Beds, near Liuxia
Gansu Province, China

A RARE GIANT SABRE–TOOTHED CAT SPOTTED ALONG CIVIC CENTER DRIVE!

Lot 245

An exceptional skull of this huge lion-sized Sabre–Toothed Cat with natural coloration of tan/orange and some blue toning. The large pair of sabres (canine teeth) are in excellent condition, nearly 100% original, and posses the “steak knife” serrations that made these denizens of ancient China such ruthless and effective killers. The skull shows very little distortion, a testament to its superb preservation. These vicious carnivores most likely hunted in packs much as modern lions do, and were the undisputed rulers of their ancient world.
ESTIMATE: $ 30,000 – 35,000

The Natural History, Gems and Minerals auction will be held on Sunday, December 18, 2005, at 1:00 PM. The auction offers in-room, absentee, phone, and live on-line bidding. The I.M. Chait Gallery/Auctioneers is located at 9330 Civic Center Drive, Beverly Hills, California, 90210. For more information, or to order a catalogue, kindly call (310) 285-0182, or visit our website at www.chait.com.