Sci-fi champion's vast memorabilia collection to hit auction block

Forrest J. Ackerman, seen at his Los Angeles home in 2005, maintained a vast collection of movie and literary memorabilia. It will be sold this spring.(Damian Dovarganes/Associated Press)

The famed movie and literary memorabilia collection of late science fiction champion Forrest J. Ackerman — credited with coining the term "sci-fi" — will cross the auction block this spring.

Joe Maddalena, president of auctioneer Profiles in History, has tentatively scheduled the sale of Ackerman's vast collection for late April.

The auction will likely comprise thousands of lots, including Bela Lugosi's vampire cape and other props and costumes from classic Hollywood horror films, as well as autographed, first-edition copies of books like Mary Shelley's Frankenstein and Bram Stoker's Dracula.

"I'm holding that stuff in my hand and I'm just like, 'Wow, these are his most iconic treasures,' " Maddalena said, describing his reaction after being invited by Ackerman's estate to auction the collection.

He added that, under Ackerman's will, the estate's share of the profits will be divided among his friends.

Science fiction, horror and fantasy buff Ackerman, who died Dec. 4, founded pulp magazine Famous Monsters of Filmland. He mentored an unknown, unpublished teen writer named Ray Bradbury and served as the author's literary agent (also later representing Isaac Asimov and others).

As well as making an appearance in the odd film here and there, Ackerman owned a massive memorabilia collection that was displayed at his hillside home overlooking Los Angeles.

Most Saturdays, he welcomed anyone interested into his home and personal museum to view the collection, which ranged from junky items to rare treasures. At one point, his holdings surpassed 300,000 pieces.

Though he sold or gave away some pieces over the years (and when he moved to a smaller home in 2002), the items he kept numbered in the thousands.

The auction is expected to raise $500,000 US, Maddalena said.