Virginia Curlew Calls the High Note at Maryland Decoy Auction

Hog Island curlew, $39,600.

EASTON, MD. - The auction firm of Guyette and Schmidt, Inc., of West Farmington, Me., conducted its annual fall decoy auction November 8 to 9 at Talbot County Community Center, immediately preceding Easton Waterfowl Festival. The two-day gross was $1,203,000, with 17 items selling for over $10,000.

Ward Brothers pintail drake, $29,250.

The top price was fetched by a circa 1880 curlew from Hog Island, Va., which brought $39,600. It was from the collection of Charles "Bus" Humphries. Prices were high through the sale, with many new buyers in evidence.

Also drawing top prices were a pintail drake by Ward Brothers, which sold for $29,250; a pair of bluebills, also Ward Brothers, which reached $28,600; an early pintail hen by John English of Florence, N.J., which sold for $29,250; and a rare swan by Jim Cockey which reached $29,000.

Additionally, a merganser hen by Elmer Crowell sold at $17,000; two rare mergansers by O.S. Bibber of Maine were sold separately, bringing $16,000 and $11,500; a bluebill by Ferdinand Bach was the top Midwestern decoy at $12,100; and a black duck by John English finished at $19,800.

The next Guyette & Schmidt auction will be in conjunction with the National Antique Decoy Show, April 26-27, in St Charles, Ill.