Bermuda Finds In Jaws Author’s Auction
Bermuda shipwreck artifacts recovered by Peter and Wendy Benchley are among the items being offered at an October 29 auction of the late Jaws author’s personal collection, with proceeds benefiting ocean conservation organizations.
A spokesperson said, “The auction includes original Jaws production photographs, Benchley’s 1975 Jaws movie poster, personal typewriters and writing material, a T-shirt gifted to him by Steven Spielberg, diving equipment, Bermuda shipwreck artifacts recovered by Peter and Wendy Benchley, White House material from his time as an LBJ speechwriter, and objects connected to his lifelong passion for the ocean.”
According to the auction house’s listing, the Bermuda lot comprises 14 marine artifacts recovered around 1969–1970, including glass bottle fragments, pottery fragments, a copper-alloy bolt and iron spikes. The collection is accompanied by a handwritten provenance note from Wendy Benchley.
Benchley’s Bermuda connections also extended to his writing. The Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute notes that the wreck of the Constellation inspired his novel The Deep, whose film adaptation was mostly filmed in Bermuda.
Benchley met Bermudian diver Teddy Tucker while researching a National Geographic article about Bermuda’s shipwrecks, and their diving adventures helped inspire his novel The Deep. Recalling their friendship, Benchley wrote, “I spent six weeks diving with him, and we’ve been fast friends ever since.”
A statement from Willow Auction House said, “On October 29, 2026, Willow Auction House will present The Peter Benchley Collection: Jaws, A Life of Writing, A Legacy of Stories, featuring nearly 300 lots from the personal collection of Peter Benchley [1940–2006], the bestselling author, screenwriter, White House speechwriter, diver, explorer and ocean conservationist.
“Proceeds from the auction will benefit two organizations carrying forward Benchley’s commitment to marine conservation and education: WildAid and Beneath the Sea.
“Highlights include original Jaws production photographs and memorabilia, Benchley’s 1975 Jaws one-sheet movie poster, original typewriters, personal books and research materials, awards and personal effects, as well as an original Jaws T-shirt gifted directly to Benchley by director Steven Spielberg.
“Before writing Jaws, Benchley worked as a speechwriter for President Lyndon B. Johnson. The auction includes White House photographs, presentation pieces and personal material associated with President Johnson and First Lady Lady Bird Johnson, including signed and inscribed photographs presented to Benchley.
“Several objects from Benchley’s collection were recently exhibited at the LBJ Presidential Library in Austin, Texas, as part of the 2025 exhibition From the White House to the Deep Ocean: LBJ, Jaws and Conservation.
“Among them are deeply personal objects from Benchley’s working life, including his White House place card, professional identification and items that sat on his desk.
“The auction also provides a glimpse into the wider Benchley family legacy. Works include paintings by Peter’s father, author and artist Nathaniel Benchley, as well as an original pen-and-ink drawing of the Benchley family by celebrated caricaturist Al Hirschfeld.
“Benchley was a passionate collector of history, art and objects discovered through decades of travel. The collection includes material dating back hundreds of years, including a 13th-century French vellum Bible leaf, a royal decree signed by Philip II of Spain, documents associated with Ferdinand II of Aragon and Isabella I of Castile, and an early copy of The Massachusetts Spy.
“His lifelong fascination with the sea is reflected throughout the collection.
“Some of the most evocative objects are those Benchley actually used beneath the water.
“The collection includes his personal diving equipment, Henderson titanium wetsuit, shark teeth, fossils and archaeological artifacts recovered by Peter and Wendy Benchley, including objects connected with Bermuda shipwrecks.
“After Jaws became a worldwide phenomenon, Benchley grew increasingly concerned about public fear of sharks and spent much of the later part of his life educating people about the animals and advocating for shark and ocean conservation.
“Photographs of Benchley diving with sharks and manta rays, together with his wetsuits, diving gear, specimens and marine collections, document the remarkable evolution of the man who wrote the world’s most famous shark story into one of the ocean’s most passionate defenders.
“That legacy continues through the beneficiaries of the auction:
“WildAid — an international conservation organization working to protect wildlife and reduce demand for threatened species, including extensive marine conservation initiatives.
“Beneath the Sea — a nonprofit organization dedicated to ocean education, diving, marine exploration and conservation.”
“This collection tells a much bigger story than Jaws,” said Jill Iorio of Willow Auction House. “When you go through Peter Benchley’s personal belongings, you begin to see all of the different chapters of his life—the writer, the White House speechwriter, the traveler, the historian, the diver and ultimately the conservationist. There are things from his desk, things he wore, things he collected and even objects he personally recovered while diving. It feels less like an auction and more like walking through the story of his life.”
The statement added, “The Peter Benchley Collection: Jaws, A Life of Writing, A Legacy of Stories will be offered by Willow Auction House on Thursday, October 29, 2026, in Lincoln Park, New Jersey, with online bidding available.”
For more information, visit Willow Auction House.
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