Oscar-winning filmmaker Guillermo del Toro is putting a significant portion of his famed “Bleak House” horror memorabilia collection on the auction block after a close call with the recent California wildfires that threatened his Los Angeles home. The director said the blaze underscored the need to safeguard the trove, which he regards as a form of cultural stewardship. The first sale is scheduled to open on 26 September and will span items from across del Toro’s decades-long career, including props from his 1993 feature debut “Cronos,” pieces from “Nightmare Alley,” and other genre classics housed in his private museum-like residence. Among the highlights is a rare piece of Frankenstein artwork expected to fetch around $300,000. Del Toro’s collection, widely considered one of the world’s most extensive assemblies of horror and fantasy artifacts, has been valued at more than $175 million and includes multiple Guinness World Records. Proceeds from the auction have not yet been detailed, but the filmmaker framed the move as ensuring the pieces’ preservation and broader public access.