ORIGINAL KILL DEVIL LURE

historically the most important British lure, constructed of nickel silver, shaped with a central barrel, attached to which are curved winged flanges either side together with a single trailing hook, length overall 5 1/4 inches, circa early 19th century.

The lure is housed in a late 19th century olive green display case with concealed press button closure and stamped to base ‘ J C Vickery Regent Street together with a Royal Crown insignia denoting the maker was a Royal Warrant Holder. The Ustonson insignia displayed inside the case is a copy of an original.

The legendary bait was mentioned in many 19th century British angling books also James A Henshalls ‘Book of the Black Bass’ of 1881 in America. The most comprehensive information is given by J H Keene in his book ‘Fishing Tackle : Its Materials and Manufacture’ 1886 which contained the first detailed illustration. The author J H Keene defined the lures unique features as being the curvature of the wing flanges, which he detailed by subtle shading to the wings in Fig 8 page 94. The author’s text concludes that the intricate curvature design could not be copied without the original machinery.
The lure is stamped with the ‘U’ trade mark which was only used by Maria Ustonson (1822 - 47)

and while Royal Warrant Holder supplied King George IV with fishing tackle including Kill Devils

in 1828. Reference - Fishing Tackle : The Ultimate Collectors Guide’ pages 50 / 51.

*. The unique features of the lure poses the possibility the lure was made by Ustonson and

Included in the lot is a copy of J H Keene’s book

Providence

Documentation will be supplied to buyer including copy of purchase invoice for the nickel lure stamped with the letter ‘U’ from the sale of the well documented premier collection assembled by Ian Duncan Mackenzie