‘Simpsons’ co-creator’s memorabilia, art is going to auction

NEW YORK (AP) -- A pinball machine from "The Simpsons" and fun pinup art are among the items going to auction from the collection of the show's co-creator Sam Simon.

Sotheby's announced Thursday that it will be selling Simon's entire personal collection of memorabilia, fine art and other objects in a series of sales through the fall and next year. It valued the collection between $7.7 million and $11.5 million.

Simon died from colon cancer March 8 in California at 59.

The 260-plus lots will be spread across 11 "various-owner" auctions, beginning Sept. 19 and ending in June 2016.

In addition, Sotheby's will offer Simon's memorabilia in a dedicated sale Oct. 22. Those items include a circa 1990 "The Simpsons" pinball machine with a presale estimate of $1,000 to $2,000 and a "Simpsons" jacket decorated with the show's favorite characters for an estimated $600 to $800.

His art collection includes an August Rodin sculpture of the French writer Balzac estimated to bring up to $350,000. A painting of a boy and his dog by Thomas Hart Benton titled "T.P. and Jake" could sell for $1.5 million to $2.5 million.

"Each piece in Sam Simon's collection embodies a central theme: The ability of art to tell a story," Andrea Fiuczynski, chairwoman of Sotheby's West Coast, said in a statement.

All proceeds will go to the Sam Simon Charitable Giving Foundation, which supports animal welfare, disaster relief and other causes.

After leaving "The Simpsons" in 1994, Simon shifted to philanthropy.

In an interview with The Associated Press in 2013, Simon said he wanted to spend all his money on charitable causes. "I'm supporting the charities that I supported during my lifetime," he said, "and I want to continue to do that."

After stints writing for "Taxi," "Cheers" and "The Tracey Ullman Show," Simon helped launch "The Simpsons." During his writing and producing career, he collected nine prime-time Emmy Awards.

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