20th May, 2022 10:30 GMT/BST
Taxidermy: A Late Victorian Cased Spotted Crake (Porzana porzana), dated 1893, a full mount adult male with head raised about to feed upon a snail, stood upon grit covered rockwork, amidst a natural setting of reeds and grasses, enclosed within a typical period ebonised single-glass display case, 38cm by 14cm by 26.5cm, bearing handwritten label to front glass - Spotted Crake (Porzana porzana), ♂ Fulbourne, Cambs, October 20, 1893
Sold for £700
Estimated at £120 - £180
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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