The very private art collection of late author Michael Crichton is on display this week in Beverly Hills at Christie’s auction house.

And it has quite a bit in common with the very public collection of L.A. billionaire and philanthropist Eli Broad.

The L.A. novelist, who died of cancer in 2008, had similar tastes to Broad and collected major 20th century artists such as Roy Lichtenstein, Robert Rauschenberg, Andy Warhol, David Hockney and Jeff Koons.

But the author of “Jurassic Park” and other science-based thrillers was such a private person that even famous paintings in his collection were rarely seen in public. The most valuable work is Jasper John’s “Flag, 1960-66,” a contemporary take on the American flag that is being exhibited for the first time in Los Angeles at the preview.

Christie’s Deputy Chairman Brett Gorvy said Crichton found writing a solitary profession and befriended painters for good company. He often visited Gemini Graphics Edition Ltd., a Melrose Avenue studio, where Gorvy said Crichton watched and talked to artists such as Johns and Rauschenberg.

The collection of about 80 works will be on view until March 12. It will be auctioned May 11-12 in New York.

Although the art market collapsed in fall 2008, it has since recovered and the collection is pegged to bring in as much as $100 million. The John piece alone may fetch $40 million.

“People want hard assets with blue-chip names,” Gorvy said.