A private collection of art telling the ‘story of Impressionism’ and which includes three paintings by Vincent van Gogh will be going under the hammer at Christie’s New York branch on November 11.

The Cox collection comprises 23 paintings by Impressionist and post Impressionist painters bought by oil tycoon Edwin Lochridge Cox over a period of 50 years.

‘Ed Cox, the most refined of southern gentlemen, was a passionate collector only guided by the very best,’ art advisor at Christie’s Stephane Connery said.

‘His quest for masterpieces of Impressionism started half a century ago and led to the finest collection of its kind left in private hands. It is a joy to know that so many will finally get to discover such a legendary group of works many of which were last seen publicly before World War II.’

It is not clear if Connery is referring to museums being able to buy the the paintings – the top pieces alone are expected to fetch eight figure sums.

The Van Gogh museum in Amsterdam would not be drawn about whether or not it would be bidding for any of the three Van Goghs on sale when approached by Dutchnews.nl.

The Van Goghs which may be soon be accessible to more than the collector’s gaze are Jeune homme au bleuet (1890), Meules de Blé (1888) and Cabanes de bois parmis les oliviers et cyprès (1889).

Paul Cézanne’s L’estaque aux toits rouges and Gustave Caillebotte’s Jeune homme à sa fenêtre may also come into the public domain as will works by Pisarro, Bonnard, Sisley and Monet.

The whole collection has been valuated at some 200 million dollars (over  €172m). A portion of the sale’s proceeds will benefit educational purposes, Cox’s heirs have said.