IMPORTANT CATCH FROM RENOWNED NOTTINGHAM ANGLER
An historically important barbel mounted in a mahogany bow-front case with a brass plaque that reads ‘Caught at Shardlow Septr.1900 Barbel 7lbs 7ozs by Mr. F.W.K. Wallis’ will be sold at Bonhams next Henley Sale on July 19.
Estimated to sell for £3,000-5000 this good-sized barbel was landed by the fishing legend, Mr. F.W.K. Wallis, who was renowned as one of the group of famous ‘Nottingham Anglers’ from the late 19th century and known to fish with Henry Coxon of Aerial reel design. He won 1st place in the Float Casting Tournament Any Style at Crystal Palace in 1904 using Slater tackle and later put his name to rods and reels by famous tackle manufacturers including Slater, Allcocks and Hardy’s.
Wallis and Coxon made numerous trips to the Avon in their quest for barbel and it was here that Mr. Wallis landed his record barbel of 14lbs 6ozs in 1937 the largest amongst many double figure specimens over the years. He wrote a chapter for the Lonsdale Library’s “Fine Angling for Coarse Fish” which includes photographs of FWK casting, often referred to as ‘The Wallis Cast’.
The exploits of this legendary angler, although not well documented, point clearly to his passion for barbel and this specimen is believed to have been caught on his local water. It is interesting to note that according to records from the 1880’s a 7lb 7oz barbel from the Shardlow water seems a respectable size fish.
The Bonhams sale also includes a large three quarter cast model of a painted and decorated pike against a graduated painted dark background sketched with reeds, signed bottom right in red: Peter Spicer 1902. It is estimated to sell for £1,500 – 2,000.
FISHING GIFT TO A GAME KEEPER FROM ESTATE NEAR GLAMIS
An early example of a classic salmon outfit by Hardy from a Scottish estate near Glamis Castle will be sold at Bonhams next Henley Sale on July 19for an estimated price of £800 to £1,200.
This presentation outfit is believed to have belonged to James Auldjo Jamieson who was the proprietor of the Reswallie Estate in the parish of Rescobie, Angus, Scotland. The vendor’s great grandfather was a gamekeeper there and it is suggested that this outfit was given to him, possibly on his retirement. The estate is just ten miles from Glamis Castle, the childhood home of Elizabeth Bowen-Lyon, the late Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother.
This 19th century Hardy presentation outfit consists of: a Hardy all brass transitional Perfect salmon fly reel 4 1/4in, engraved J.A.J. 1899, together with a Hardy Gold Medal Brand three piece built cane steel centered Palakona salmon fly rod 18ft with lock fast joints, engraved J.A.J. 1899
It comes with a maker’s cloth bag and a Hardy alligator skin strapped fly book with parchment pages and pockets interspersed with four felt pages containing a selection of approx fourteen eyed salmon flies and loch patterns that also bears former owners initials J.A.J.
There is also a mounted black and white photograph 14cm x 20cm showing three men on the river bank assisting the two men in a rowing boat, the reverse in hand reads: About 1930 Netting trout at the Pond, Taylor’s Wynd to stock Rescobie Loch. L to R Thos. Powrie, G. Anderson, Jun, D. Auchterlonie, J.A. Jamieson, Laird and G. Anderson Senior, Game keeper.
For further information please contact Julian Roup on 0207 468 8259 or email julian.roup@bonhams.com or press@bonhams.com
