Barry, the Dinosaur makes its auction debut at Paris after 1

In a stunning twist of prehistoric fate, the incredibly well-preserved skeleton of a 150-million-year-old camptosaurus, affectionately known as 'Barry,' is set to hit the auction block in Paris next month.

Discovering Barry

'Barry' was unearthed in the rugged landscapes of Wyoming back in the 1990s and later expertly restored by the talented palaeontologist Barry James in 2000, from whom it derived its distinctive moniker. The magnificent dinosaur, towering at an impressive 2.1 meters and stretching a colossal 5 meters in width, has undergone additional restoration under the care of Italy's Zoic laboratory, which acquired the specimen last year.

A Rarity on the Auction Scene

Alexandre Giquello, the representative of the renowned Paris auction house Drouot, has marvelled at Barry's exceptional condition, describing it as "an extremely well-preserved specimen, which is quite rare." An astonishing 90% completeness in its skull and a remarkable 80% completeness across the rest of its body only add to its allure.

Valued at over $1.28 million by the auction house, experts predict that this estimate is rather conservative, with the potential for the price to soar as the auction date of October 20 approaches.

T-Rex Skeleton Sets Auction Records

The world of dinosaur fossils remains a captivating realm for collectors, with only a handful of sales taking place worldwide each year, each commanding immense attention.

Notably, April witnessed a historic moment when a 67-million-year-old Tyrannosaurus-Rex skeleton named 'Trinity' was auctioned in Switzerland. This marked the first time an entire T-Rex skeleton had graced the auction stage, fetching an astonishing $6.1 million at the Koller auction house.

Trinity was a composite creation, constructed from the bone material of three distinct T-Rex specimens excavated between 2008 and 2013 in the US states of Montana and Wyoming. These regions, known for their rich paleontological history, have also seen the auctioning of two other T-Rex skeletons from the Hell Creek and Lance Creek formations.

This sale was particularly momentous, given that only 32 adult T-Rex skeletons, among the largest apex predators to ever roam the Earth, have been discovered worldwide. The fervour surrounding these ancient titans shows no sign of abating, as collectors and enthusiasts alike eagerly anticipate the upcoming auction of 'Barry,' a rare and magnificent piece of Earth's history.