VENTURA, Calif. – There are times in an auctioneer’s life that makes them believe they’re sitting outside a cornucopia. There’s so much good material available.

“It is still exciting to discover rare and important estate items after 40 years,” says Auctioneer John Eubanks, owner of California Auctioneers Estates.

And, Eubanks who has long made his living by finding treasures, made a really fine “catch” for his Dec. 9 Extravaganza Auction in his Ventura gallery. Live online bidders can bid from his website, LiveAuctioneers or Invaluable, in addition to phone bids.

From the estate of Bobby and Sharon Calhoun is a collection of important Tiffany and Steuben glass, with several Favrille and aurene pieces. From the estate of Architectural Designer Leslie Taylor of Ojai, Calif., are fine Persian rugs, paintings and early American furniture.

More than 100 quality antique Beluch carpets will be sold, in addition to a rare shiraz hand-made carpet illustrating leopards.

But the sale will also have it’s more interesting or “oddball” items, which are expected to be highly contested. Among those are a lot of four never-published glass negatives of the infamous John Dillinger shortly after he was shot July 22, 1934, by police outside the Biograph Theater in Chicago. The glass negatives show Dillinger in the paddy wagon after being examined following his death, Eubanks said.

Eubanks will also be selling a secondary sidearm to one of the “Special Police” officers that shot and captured Dillinger. Also selling will be a John Wayne Colt Army, single action firearm with provenance. An authentic Wayne 10-gallon hat will be sold, in addition to a vintage holster with provenance.

Several pieces of fine art, including paintings by William Lees Judson (English/California, 1842-1928), Eugene Boudin (French, 1824-1898) and a Colin Campbell Cooper (American, 1856-1937) titled Lower Manhattan 1908.

Also being sold at the California Auctioneers Estate on Dec. 9 will be an historic Colt Walker, one of the 40 Texas Rangers A Company revolvers extant; a near-mint scarce Colt Lighting rifle and a pre-war Winchester 1892.

In addition, there are more than 75 vintage and antique firearms.

Contact: (805) 649-2686

www.californiaauctioneers.com