20th May, 2022 10:30 GMT/BST
The James Harrison Collection of Birds
127
Taxidermy: A Pair of Arctic Skua's (Stercorarius parasiticus), dated 1912 & 1927, a full mount adult male Arctic Skua in first winter plumage, with head turning to the right, stood atop a painted faux rock, overall height 36cm, with attached data label - Arctic Skua, Male first winter, 16th 12th 1927, Rye Harbour, Sussex, another smaller adult male Arctic Skua in light phase plumage, stood atop a painted faux rock, overall height 27.5cm, with attached data label - Arctic Skua, Male adult light phase, 7th 8th 1912, Filey Bay, Yorks, with additional handwritten label to underside, (2)
Sold for £320
Estimated at £150 - £200
Auction: The James Harrison Collection of Birds, 20th May, 2022
The James Harrison Collection comprises over 200 lots of cased and freemount birds dating from the late Victorian era to the middle of the 20th century. The collection includes rare and unusual examples, such as a passenger pigeon and a kiwi, as well as mounts by the likes of Rowland Ward, James Gardner, Charles Kirk and George Bristow.
James Maurice Harrison (1892-1971) was an ornithologist and one of the last great bird collectors, who gathered large numbers of specimens to study moult patterns, distribution, geographical and colour variation within and between species. A GP by profession, Harrison filled his family home and Doctor's Surgery, Bowerwood House in Kent, with his extraordinary collection.
Viewing
Wednesday 18th May 10:00am - 4:00pm, Thursday 19th May 10:00am - 4:00pm, and the morning of the sale from 8am. Viewing is open to the public, there is no need to make an appointment.
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