Full Text:

SPORTING AUCTION AT ELDRED'S

(with cuts)

EAST DENNIS, MASS. -- A sporting auction of 500 lots featuring decoys, guns,

fishing gear and military items was held at the Robert C. Eldred Co on

November 19.

Red-breasted merganser drake decoys captured the top three spots of the sale.

The leading price of $10,450 went for a decoy by an unknown Massachusetts

maker, and two others, by A.E. Crowell, with oval brands, sold for $8,580 and

$6,600.

Other notable decoys were ruddy turnstone decoy in spring plumage, by A.E.

Crowell, which sold for $2,750; a Mason Factory red-breasted merganser hen,

which also brought $2,750; and a black duck decoy, also by Crowell, which sold

for $1,870.

Decorative carvings by A.E. Crowell included a life-size bobwhite, which sold

for $2,420 and an exceptional and rare pair of miniature green-winged teals,

which brought $1,540. Two carvings by Jesse Blackstone sold for $660 and $770,

one a miniature green-winged teal drake and the other a miniature canvas back

drake.

Of 50 lots of fishing items, the outstanding pieces were four fly reels by

Edward Vom Hofe used for trout rods. One, with a patent date of January 23,

1883, sold for $4,950; one marked "Fulton, N.Y." brought $3,520; one, with a

patent date of "January 23, 1883," sold for $3,300; and a cased reel marked

"Fulton, N.Y." brought $2,970.

A large tin tackle box filled with wooden lures, boxes, scales, bass bugs,

flies and more sold for $1,265; a large lot of over 1,000 usable flies brought

$1,072; and five wooden fishing lures, including two by Heddon, two Cheek

Chubs and a Winchester, sold for $687.50.

Other top items were three cased three-piece fly rods by E.F. Payne, one

selling for $1,045 and a #204 selling for $1,320, and a #208-H bringing $880.

Following the fishing section, a grouping of advertising signs and prints and

paintings was highlighted by a tin advertisement for "Iver Johnson Revolver

Hammer the Hammer," showing a hand with a hammer on a revolver's hammer, which

sold for $3,300. Other signs were an "Iver Johnson Champion Iver Johnson's

Arms & Cycle Works, Fitchburg, Mass. USA," which sold for $2,035, and one for

"H. and R. Arms Co.'s Guns and Revolvers," with a shotgun and pistol, which

brought $1,815.

At the top of 260 lots of weapons and military items were guns. Bringing

$3,300 was a Colt London model 1851 Navy revolver marked "Address Col. Colt

London," with British proof marks. An eased "William Evan's from Purdey's"

side-by-side shotgun, with intricate engraving, reached $2,200. Other notables

were a 20 gauge Browing over-and-under shotgun, which brought $1,650; a Sharps

new model 1869 carbine which sold for $1,815; a Colt model 1860 Army revolver,

which brought $1, 540; and a Colt single-action Army revolver, which rang up

$1,540.

A Smith carbine sold for $1,210, and a Spencer model 1865 carbine brought

$1,045. A US model 1841 percussion rifle sold for $1,100, an Allen & Wheelock

early model 22 side hammer revolver sold for $1,430, a Winchester Model 1886

rifle sold for $1,320, and a Whitney Kennedy lever action large frame rifle

sold for $1,210.

For information, 508/385-3116.