World’s Biggest Collectibles Auctioneer Wins Space at 445 Park

Who bought John Dilinger’s pistol, Johnny Carson’s desk, or the wristwatch Buddy Holly was wearing when he died? We may never know. But the purveyors of such celebrity relics will at long last have a permanent home in New York. This week, the Dallas-based Heritage Auction Galleries, the world’s largest collectibles auctioneer, made a successful bid for ground-floor space at 445 Park Avenue.

Founded in 1976, the company holds real live auctions as well as the online sort for everything from Civil War artifacts to “space memorabilia.” Also Nicolas Cage’s comic book collection.

The company also maintains sites in Switzerland, Germany and France, as well as a recently opened Beverly Hills gallery. The Park Avenue location is anticipated to open in September.

egeminder@observer.com