1942 Oscar to be auctioned in Rhode Island; expected to sell for $5,000 to $30,000

This undated photo released by Briarbrook Auctions shows a portion of an Academy Award Oscar statue awarded for color art direction in 1942 to Joseph C. Wright for his work on “My Gal Sal.” The statuette is being auctioned in Rhode Island Monday evening, June 23, 2014, by Wright's nephew. Wright died in 1985. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences does not allow an Oscar statuette to be sold without first offering it back to the academy for $1. But the auction house said that restriction does not apply to awards before 1950. (AP Photo/Briarbrook Auctions)

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The Academy Award Oscar statue was awarded for color art direction in 1942 to Joseph C. Wright for his work on “My Gal Sal.”

EAST GREENWICH, R.I. — Movie buffs have a chance to buy their own Academy Award in a rare auction of an Oscar statuette.

Briarbrook Auctions in Rhode Island is auctioning the 1942 Oscar on Monday. It was awarded to Joseph C. Wright for color art direction for his work on “My Gal Sal,” starring Rita Hayworth and Victor Mature.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences doesn’t allow an Oscar statuette to be sold without first offering it back to the academy for $1. But the auction house says that restriction doesn’t apply to awards before 1950.

Wright died in 1985, and his nephew inherited the award.

He received 12 Academy Award nominations and won twice, both in 1942.

The auctioneer estimates the Oscar will sell for $5,000 to $30,000.