Mario Puzo's GODFATHER Archive Sold for $625,000 at Auction

An archive originating from the estate of author Mario Puzo sold for $625,000 according to Boston-based, RR Auction.

A highlight of the collection is Godfather I material that includes; thousands of pages, notes, and drafts, of a multitude of versions of both the novel manuscript and the film screenplay, that sheds light on never-before-released information regarding Puzo's character, scene, and dialogue development, and his legendary collaboration with director Francis Ford Coppola.

Included is an original 744-page typed working draft manuscript (for The Godfather novel, then titled "Mafia," featuring a plethora of important handwritten amendations by the novelist. In addition is the presence of six large oak tag storyboards outlining the lengthy nine-section novel.

All in all, there are nine partial copies of the Godfather I script in various stages of completion, many of which have important notations in Puzo's own hand; present is a beautiful handwritten piece of Vito dialogue where the author himself pens, "I'll make him an offer he can't refuse."

"It's is a rare glimpse into the mind of the author of two of the most iconic Films of the 20th Century," said Robert Livingston, Executive VP at RR Auction. "The archive covers his entire literary career and provides extraordinary insight into his artistry. We are honored to have been selected by Puzo's estate and couldn't be more thrilled with the results of the sale."

Expertly organized within 45 banker's boxes, this collection surveys the lifework of Puzo on a scale never-before-seen, and is highlighted by the book-to-screen progression of the work that defined his career.

Online bidding for the Literary Rarities auction from RR Auction began on February 11, 2016 and concluded on February 18, 2016, at 6PM ET. At 7:00PM ET, a live auction of the Mario Puzo Archive took place at the company's Boston Gallery. More details can be found online at www.rrauction.com.

Photo Courtesy: Estate of Mario Puzo

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