(Reuters): Next month, an exceptionally well-preserved Camptosaurus skeleton known as Barry from the late Jurassic period, some 150 million years ago, will be auctioned off in Paris.
The dinosaur was initially reconstructed in 2000 by palaeontologist Barry James, from whom it received its name. The dinosaur was initially uncovered in the 1990s in the American state of Wyoming.
The skeleton, which is 2.10 meters (6.9 feet) tall and 5 meters (16.4 feet) long, has undergone extensive restoration work thanks to Italian laboratory Zoic, which purchased Barry last year.
“It is an extremely well-preserved specimen, which is quite rare,” said Alexandre Giquello of the Paris auction house Hotel Drouot, where the sale will take place.
He explained that, for instance, the skull is 90% complete and the remainder of the dinosaur’s skeleton is 80% complete.
There are just a few sales of dinosaur specimens on the art market globally each year, according to Giquello.
The skeleton is anticipated to sell for up to 1.2 million euros ($1.28 million), and it will be displayed to the public in mid-October before the sale.