The World's Most Important Willy Wonka Collection Is Up For Auction

Via press release

Profiles in History, run by Joe Maddalena, is proud to announce the world's most important collection of Willy Wonka & the Chocalate Factory items will be up for auction this July. A part of the Dreier Collection, this will more than likely be the last time any collector has a chance to own these iconic items.

First up and most significantly is the Gene Wilder "Willy Wonka" signature costume, pictured left. The costume consists of flamboyant purple velvet frock coat, wool & camelhair slacks, off-white shirt, distinctive purple & violet lamé vest with floral design and satin bow tie. Originally obtained from Michael D. Beinner, Director of Field Advertising and Publicity for Paramount Pictures who was gifted the costume following its promotional tour of several key cities around the U.S. Without doubt, one of the most iconic and instantly recognizable costumes in the history of film. It is estimated to fetch $80,000 – $120,000.

Also up for auction are three iconic items from the collection of Julie Dawn Cole, who played “Veruca Salt.” First is an original screen-used Everlasting Gobstopper, one of only two known to exist, pictured below. It comes with a notarized copy of a letter from Ms. Cole stating (in part), “The Everlasting Gobstopper was used in the Inventing Room Scene. Mr. Wonka gives each of the children one Everlasting Gobstopper each. Typically Veruca tries to wangle another one, if only she had succeeded! But at least I was allowed to keep this one.” It is expected to fetch $20,000 – $30,000. You can also own the Golden Egg, screen used by Julie Dawn Cole during the "I Want it Now," musical number. The egg comes with a notarized copy of a letter from Ms. Cole stating (in part), “The Filming of this [Golden Egg] scene and Veruca’s demise was actually filmed on my 13th birthday. The egg was presented to me at the end of the day’s shoot as a birthday present.” The egg is fashioned from polystyrene foam painted gold and is expected to fetch $20,000 – $30,000. The third item from the collection of Julie Dawn Cole is an original screen used Golden Ticket. This ticket was used in the memorable scene where it is found at “Salt’s Salted Peanuts” factory following Mr. Salt’s ambitious efforts to secure a Golden Ticket for his daughter. Comes with a notarized copy of a letter from Ms. Cole stating (in part), “The [Golden] ticket was used in the scene where it is found at ‘Salt’s Salted Peanut factory’. At last Veruca gets her hands on the ticket and Slugworth whispers in her ear…” The ticket is expected to fetch $20,000 – $30,000.

Other delicious Wonka items up for auction include a prop Wonka Scrumdidlyumptious bar from the collection of actor Peter Ostrum, who played Charlie Bucket. The bar consists of the heavy stock paper wrapper surrounding a light tissue-filled center. It represents the only known hero Wonka Scrumdidilyumptious bar in existence and is expected to fetch $3,000 – $5,000. A collection of five prop Wonka chocolate bars, each constructed of dense cardboard, so we don't recommend taking a bite. Precious few artifacts survived from this classic film. The day after shooting wrapped at the Bavarian studios, Cabaret started shooting and the vast majority of the Wonka props were discarded. This grouping of five bars represents the largest single grouping of authentic screen used Wonka Bars in existence and is expected to fetch $6,000 – $8,000. Finally, you can own an Oompa Loompa costume worn by one of the little-people actors portraying the industrious and trustworthy factory workers of Willy Wonka. The costume consists of a rust-colored wool shirt with striped collar and cuffs, a pair of white polyester jodhpurs with large buttons attaching integral suspenders, a pair of brown leather slippers with attached pom-pom, each with handwritten notation reading “Clayton” (a possible reference to George Claydon who played one of the Oompa Loompas) and a green curly-haired wig. This is the only complete Oompa Loompa costume known to have survived and it remains as one of the most instantly recognizable costumes in film history. It is expected to fetch $8,000 – $12,000.