17th Apr, 2024 10:30 GMT/BST
Natural History & Taxidermy
188
Natural History: An Aldabra Giant Tortoise Shell (Aldabrachelys gigantea), circa late 19th - early 20th century, a large adult inner shell structure and lower belly plate, 88cm by 69cm by 50cm. The Aldabra giant tortoise is one of the largest giant tortoises in the World, the species is endemic to the Seychelles, with the nominate subspecies A. g. gigantea native to Aldabra atoll. Many of the Indian Ocean species were thought to be driven to extinction by over-exploitation by European sailors, and they were all seemingly extinct by 1840 with the exception of the Aldabran giant tortoise on the island atoll of Aldabra. Historically, giant tortoises were found on many of the western Indian Ocean islands, as well as Madagascar, and the fossil record indicates giant tortoises once occurred on every continent and many islands with the exception of Australia and Antarctica
Sold for £2,200
Estimated at £500 - £700
the remaining outer surface professionally re-painted by Adrian johnstone to simulate the lost outer shell.
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Auction: Natural History & Taxidermy, 17th Apr, 2024
This April, Tennants Auctioneers are delighted to have been instructed to sell the Taxidermy Collection of Colonel Stephenson Robert Clarke, businessman, British Army officer, botanist, naturalist, ornithologist, horticulturist, art collector and landowner. The majority of the 61 lots are specimens taken by Stephenson Clarke on four hunting trips to Africa between 1909 and 1924 and were mounted by the renowned Rowland Ward Ltd of Piccadilly, London. Several of the lots are recorded in Rowland Ward's Records of Big Game (View Press Release).
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Tuesday 16 April 10am-5pm and morning of sale from 8am
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