Heritage Auctions, a leading U.S.-based auction house, officially announced its expansion into Japan during a press event in Tokyo on October 23. To commemorate this milestone, the company will showcase the iconic "Ruby Slippers" from the classic 1939 film The Wizard of Oz at Mitsukoshi Ginza in Tokyo from October 28 to November 3, before they go up for auction in December.

Heritage Auctions, which began by trading coins, has grown to encompass a wide range of collectibles, with a particular focus on pop culture categories such as anime, trading cards, and video games—markets that have garnered significant interest from collectors worldwide. By bringing the "Ruby Slippers" to Japan, Heritage aims to highlight its dedication to pop culture memorabilia and to introduce new value and excitement to the Japanese market.

The displayed "Ruby Slippers" are one of only four known pairs in existence, with others housed at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History, the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, and in the private collection of Lady Gaga. The pair going up for auction is expected to fetch an estimated ¥4.5 billion (approximately $30 million USD).

Heritage Auctions recognizes the importance of Japan's vibrant anime and video game culture, noting that Japanese collectibles have long been highly valued by international collectors. The Tokyo office, which opened in April, has already seen a rise in consignments of anime and gaming items, and the company expects even more participation from Japanese buyers and sellers in the future.

Heritage Auctions Tokyo Official Site

Source : ORICON NEWS