Bidspirit auctions | Willow Auction House Auction Oct 29

Willow Auction House, Oct 29 11:00 AM. 301 lots, estimates 100 - 6000 $.


Willow Auction House -

Willow Auction House is proud to present the personal collection of Peter Benchley (1940–2006), the acclaimed author, screenwriter, diver, and ocean conservationist best known for Jaws.

This intimate collection offers a personal look at Benchley’s life and career, featuring Jaws production photographs and memorabilia, original typewriters, personal books and research materials, awards, photographs, diving suits and personal effects. Highlights include Benchley’s 1975 Jaws one-sheet, original Jaws T-shirts - including one gifted to him by Steven Spielberg - and an extensive selection of material documenting the making and enduring legacy of Jaws.

Benchley’s early career included working as a speechwriter for President Lyndon B. Johnson, represented here by photographs and presentation pieces associated with Johnson and Lady Bird Johnson, including signed and inscribed photographs presented to Benchley. The collection also features a selection of historical manuscripts and documents, including a 17th-century royal decree signed by Philip II of Spain, documents associated with Ferdinand II of Aragon and Isabella I of Castile, a 13th-century French vellum Bible leaf, and an early American newspaper, The Massachusetts Spy.

Beyond Jaws, the collection reflects Benchley’s lifelong passion for the ocean, exploration, and maritime art, with works including Christopher Blossom’s Ship Allerton, Thomas Hoyne’s First and Saucy, and marine works by Richard Ellis, alongside marine photography, maps, and maritime artifacts. Particularly compelling are objects connected directly to Benchley’s own adventures, including his personal diving equipment, Henderson titanium wetsuit, shark teeth, fossils, and archaeological artifacts recovered by Peter and Wendy Benchley, including material from Bermuda shipwrecks. A passionate ocean conservationist, Benchley became increasingly concerned that Jaws had contributed to public fear of sharks; he subsequently dedicated much of his later life to educating the public about sharks and advocating for their protection. Photographs documenting Benchley diving with sharks and manta rays further capture his lifelong commitment to understanding and preserving the marine world.

Together, these 300 lots offer a rare glimpse into Peter Benchley’s life as a writer, speechwriter, diver, explorer, collector, and advocate for the oceans. From iconic Jaws memorabilia and literary material to fine art, historical documents, diving equipment, and personally recovered artifacts, there is something for every collector and admirer of Peter Benchley and the legendary film.


Lots in this catalog (301)