The theatre has been given 400 books, many about sports, and memorabilia from the estate of the late New Zealand sporting broadcaster Peter Sellers, book sale co-ordinator and Regent Theatre Trust chairwoman Alison Cunningham said.
The Sellers collection includes a Wisden Cricketer's Almanac from 1949, a signed copy of Bert Sutcliffe's Book for Boys written by the New Zealand batsman, a biography of American boxer Joe Louis, along with books on rugby, football, athletics and more.
There is also a book of cartoons from the 1956 Springboks' tour of New Zealand.
Mrs Cunningham said she expected rugby would be the "particular drawcard'' for book buyers.
The selection would interest sports fans and those with an interest in broadcasting in New Zealand, she said.
The theatre would be auctioning some of the more valuable items online rather than offering them at the sale. These included a signed picture of Muhammad Ali.
Nonetheless, Mrs Cunningham said there remained "every chance'' a patron might stumble upon something "very valuable'' at the book sale.
Besides the Sellers collection, general donations had been "extremely strong'' this year.
"We probably won't even get through all the books we already have before the sale.''
Books which were not priced before this year's sale would be put aside for next year.
There was more science fiction on offer than last year and a range of children's books would all be filed together. Most books would be priced at just $1, Mrs Cunningham said.
There was also a very good selection of nearly new fiction. New Zealand material was also strongly represented.
Live music would again be played during the sale which begins on June 9, though the performers were yet to be confirmed.
JOSHUA.RIDDIFORD @thestar.co.nz
