20th May, 2022 10:30 GMT/BST

The James Harrison Collection of Birds

 
  Lot 71
 

71

Taxidermy: A Group of Various Seagulls, dated 1917-1976, a full mount adult female Black Headed Gull, with head turning back and to the right, stood upon pebble covered groundwork, overall height 25.5cm, handwritten pencil data to underside - B H Gull, Rye, May 10th 1917, this handwriting matches the hand of George Bristow and could either have been mounted by him, or purchased from, a full mount immature male Common Gull, mounted upon an oak rectangular base, overall height 24.5cm, with small paper handwritten data label - Rye Harbour, Sussex, February 22nd 1925, a full mount subadult female Little gull stood atop a shell encrusted painted faux rock, overall height 29cm, with attached data label - Little Gull, Female Subadult, 12th 10th 1936, Rye Harbour, Sussex, a full mount Lesser Black-backed Gull downy chick, stood atop a painted and shell encrusted faux rock, with attached data label - Lesser Black-backed Gull, downy young, 27th 6th 1976, Islay, Hebrides, a Common Gull chick with wings outstretched, mounted upon a painted and heather covered faux rock, with attached data label - Common Gull, 21st 6th 1976, Islay, Hebrides, (4).

Sold for £180
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. 

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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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