THE JURASSIC PARK MOSQUITO THAT STARTED IT ALL TO BE OFFERED AT AUCTION FOR THE FIRST TIME

Screen-matched amber fossil from Spielberg's 1993 blockbuster estimated at $100,000–$200,000 comes to public auction.

LOS ANGELES , CA, UNITED STATES, August 17, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ -- One of the most significant props from the opening moments of Jurassic Park (1993) is coming to auction for the first time, as Propstore offers a screen-matched mosquito in amber fossil from Steven Spielberg's landmark film as part of its $10 million Summer Entertainment Memorabilia Live Auction, taking place August 26–29. Estimated at $100,000–$200,000, the fossil is being offered publicly for the first time.

Screen-matched props from Jurassic Park are exceptionally rare, offering collectors a direct, verifiable connection between an original production artifact and its precise appearance in the finished film. In this case, distinctive bubbling within the amber, the positioning of the mosquito and patterning where the amber meets the surrounding rock all correspond to the close-up in which Juanito Rostagno (Miguel Sandoval) holds the fossil toward the light of his men's helmets. The camera shifts focus from Rostagno to the fossil itself, making the small production prop a key visual moment in the film's opening.

The provenance is particularly significant given the role the fossil plays in the story. In the opening sequence, lawyer Donald Gennaro (Martin Ferrero) visits the Mano de Dios amber mine in the Dominican Republic, where Rostagno and his men uncover the prehistoric mosquito preserved in amber. The discovery introduces the scientific breakthrough at the center of Hammond's Jurassic Park: dinosaur DNA extracted from prehistoric mosquitoes provides the basis for recreating the dinosaurs that populate Isla Nublar.

The mosquito in amber subsequently becomes a defining symbol of Hammond's enterprise, with a fossilized mosquito appearing atop his signature cane throughout the film. What begins as a tiny fossil in the opening minutes of Jurassic Park therefore becomes the visual and narrative starting point for the story's central premise — making this screen-matched production prop an unusually direct connection to the moment the film's extraordinary story begins.

Constructed from resin textured and painted to resemble amber encased in stone, the production-made fossil features a prehistoric mosquito embedded within the resin. The piece shows wear consistent with on-set use, handling and age, including cracked resin and minor flaking paint. It measures approximately 4" x 6" x 2.5" (10 cm x 15 cm x 6.25 cm).

Released in 1993, Jurassic Park became a landmark in visual effects and blockbuster filmmaking, grossing more than $914 million during its original theatrical release and winning Academy Awards^® for visual effects, sound effects and sound editing. The film was later selected for preservation in the National Film Registry for its cultural, historical and aesthetic significance.

The fossil is now being offered publicly for the first time, giving collectors the opportunity to acquire a production prop directly connected to one of the most recognizable opening sequences in modern cinema.

Brandon Alinger, Propstore’s Chief Operating Officer, commented: “This is an unusually significant piece of Jurassic Park production history. It is a screen-matched prop from the film's opening sequence, but it also introduces the scientific discovery that makes the entire story possible. Screen-matched examples from films of this stature are particularly desirable because of their rarity, and the connection between this fossil and such a recognizable moment in Jurassic Park makes it an exceptional opportunity for collectors.”

Propstore's Summer Entertainment Memorabilia Live Auction takes place August 26–29, 2026, with collectors able to participate via live online, absentee, telephone, or via in-room bidding at the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles on Day 1 of the auction.

Day 1 (August 26): Begins at 9:30 AM PDT / 12:30 PM EDT / 5:30 PM BST, with public in-room bidding at the Petersen Automotive Museum alongside global online, absentee, and telephone bidding.

Days 2–4 (August 27–29): Begin at 9:00 AM PDT / 12:00 PM EDT / 5:00 PM BST, with global online, absentee, and telephone bidding.

Registration is now open and the full catalog is available at https://propstoreauction.com/auctions/info/id/525

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Notes to Editors:

For further information, catalog images and expert interviews, please contact:
Bethany Willetts | bwilletts@blazepr.com

Images are available in the following link: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/irti7dnm7l3sv0idm3idt/AGHWDQkgRjI66WxcIGdXaNI?rlkey=xc8peppqmfl30f46b8n5pb8df&dl=0
Credit: Propstore

About Propstore
Founded in 1998 by film enthusiast Stephen Lane, Propstore has grown from a collector’s passion project into one of the world’s foremost authorities on entertainment memorabilia. The company bridges the worlds of film, art, and collecting, offering access to authentic screen-used props, costumes, and production artefacts that bring cinematic history to life.

Working in close partnership with many of the world’s leading film studios, production companies, and entertainment brands, Propstore curates exclusive auctions and sales throughout the year, giving fans and collectors unparalleled access to items direct from the source.

Since 2014, Propstore has hosted globally acclaimed live auctions featuring artefacts from the greatest moments in film and television. Alongside its flagship events, Propstore also runs regular online auctions and studio collaborations, with more than 2,000 items available for immediate purchase at www.propstore.com

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Matthew Kovacs
Propstore
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