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12th & 13th MARCH 2011 FISHING TACKLE SALE

981 lots were offered over two days, our usual ‘something for everyone' was never better illustrated than at this event, held at our established venue in the Clive Pavilion, Ludlow Racecourse, Shropshire.

A record sale total of over £195,000 (plus 17% buyers premium) was achieved for the auction showing the strength of market even in these uncertain financial times.

The Ray Bird Collection plus two smaller private collections of Hardy big Game tackle and early London drop rings rods were included.

Noticeably the Internet online bidding was very strong with 112 active registered bidders. This along with approx 80 commission bidders and over 100 buyers in the room gave a strong bidding forum.

Saturday's book auction of 100 lots realised over £5,000 with a good crowd in attendance along with some a very active Internet bidding.

Sunday was an early start with collector's dealers and traders for our fishing tackle trade fair waiting from 8am to gain access to the saleroom. Record prices were achieved with Hardy reels leading the market, as has been the case for the last 18 months. Lot 204, the 5" Hardy Brass face Perfect from Ray Birds collection topping the charts at more than double upper estimate at £6,600.

The rare 3-7/8" Hardy brass faced trout Perfect Lot 200 followed close behind at £4,800, similar value for lot 201 selling for £4,800 and so on.

Ray's 15 Hardy Brass faced Perfect reels totalling over £40,000, which was an outstanding result by any measure.

Lot 306 the Hardy all brass Perfect stormed over upper estimate at £3600, a fine improvement for these reels over the last 18 months.

Lot 300 the fine Hardy Brass Hercules reel doubled its estimate selling for £880.

Hardy Fortuna lot 447 sold strong at £1,100 whilst Lot 400 the fine Hardy Zane Gray reel with case and accessories sold for £4,000 bang on estimate.

Generally Hardy is very strong if the condition is right and this includes the modern reproduction models includes Cascapedia, Bougle, St George and Perfect models in cases with correct boxes. A few of the many notable prices include Lot 350 a fine Allcock's double ventilated aerial doubling its estimate and selling at £2400 to a UK collector.

The market remains strong and growing for gadgets, lures and accessories. Hardy Mother of Pearl bait Lot 333 sold at twice its estimate for £420. Flies are always popular with Lot 280, a fine salesman fly display wallet flying over its upper estimate of £700 to sell to a USA collector at £980. Lot 537 surprised everyone, a wallet with floats winders and some very early floats selling at £1,000 against an estimate of only £75-100, clearly got that one wrong?

Rods are finally a force to be reckoned with, B James leading the classic rods with rare and fine models being in demand. A scarce Peter Tombleson cane rod by B James, Lot 118 sold well with very competitive bidding in the room and on the Internet to sell at £780. Many other James rods selling sold at similar prices and the demand is as strong as ever.

As always a few items slipped through to give the resident crowd the odd bargain on the day. There's nothing like being at the saleroom itself to rummage through the lots and mingle with the tackle-collecting crowd, browse the trade fair and chance a bacon butty from the outside catering boys.

The emerging theme of the sale was to most peoples surprise early London makers drop ring rods of the 1800s. I have been watching this market quietly develop over the last 18 months. Museums, collectors, dealers and historians are finally realising the forgotten glory of these beautiful rods. London was the centre of excellence for early rod makers for over 100 years.

The period c1780 -1880 witnessed the building of some of the finest fishing rods in the world. The popularity of Tackle Exhibitions had the makers duelling to produce the finest quality rods using beautiful and sometimes the most exotic materials available to man. Fine examples of these rods have been slipping through many auctions, our own included for years.

However recent interest from many quarters has ignited one of the most exciting new market trends to hit our collecting sphere for many years. If the early rod market has the same support as say the reel market, it's going to be an exciting few years ahead.

The few rods we had for sale from a private specialist collection bore witness to that with examples selling just short of £2,000 each and bidding strong from dealers and collectors alike.

All above prices are plus 17% buyers premium plus Vat.

The complete list of prices realised can be downloaded from our website www.mullocksauctions.co.uk

Our next vintage and collectable fishing tackle sale is 23rd July, a Saturday one day sale. Entries are now being accepted.

Please contact me, John Stephenson on 07816 674044 or email me through our website to value or consign items.

The market has never been stronger for quality and rare items.

So don't miss the boat, get in touch today.

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