A life-size papier-mache prototype of a gorilla by Dr Auzoux is expected to make £80,000-120,000 ($124,480-186,720) at Christie's.
The lot, which dates to around 1863, will lead the Out of the Ordinary sale in London on September 10.
 Dr Auzoux was a famous French anatomist and model maker |
French anatomist Auzoux's models were designed to be taken apart to show the various anatomical layers. This proved revolutionary, reducing the need for fresh specimens in teaching.
Christie's comments: "Today [Auzoux's] anatomical models are highly sought after for both their scientific and artistic merits, and can be seen in museum collections from India through Europe to the U.S.
"The Gorilla is perhaps his most ambitious of all the models; in 1869 it was advertised at a price of 3,000 Fr. It is certainly the rarest, only four are known: in Paris at the Musée Histoire Naturelle one in a private museum, another in La Musée d'Anatomie Montpelier (formerly in the collection Delmas-Orfila-Rouvière), and the current example."
A photographic mosaic of the Moon's surface taken from NASA's Lunar Orbiter V in 1967 is valued at £30,000-50,000 ($46,680-77,800).
The lot shows a view of Copernicus, one of the largest and most distinctive craters on the Lunar surface.
The sale will also feature the shoes Roger Bannister wore during his sub-four minute mile run.
Please sign up to our free newsletter to receive exciting news about unique items auctions.
