An auction of collectors’ fishing tackle is being held in London on March 26th 2011, which some of you may find of interest. Vintage and antique tackle is collected in over 30 countries and you may be aware a Haskell minnow lure made c1859 sold for $101,000 and a pair of Hardy White Wickham sea reels made in the 1930’s fetched £48,000 sterling.
The items of tackle in this sale are even more desirable since the premier lot was made by the most prestigious maker of all, – the pioneer London maker Onesimus Ustonson. He invented the multiplier and his Original Multiplying Brass Winch, described as ‘The Holy Grail’ of collector’s reels made c 1762 will come under the hammer. The finest rods (4) will also be offered for sale dating from 1825 to 1856 and stamped ‘Earl Spencer’ since they were the property of the 4th and 5th Earl Spencer – the late Princess Diana’s ancestors. 
The most important display of artificial lures (48) in a glazed fronted case is expected to make a new record since Christie’s sold it in 1999 for £29,900. These are among almost five hundred lots that represent the crème de la crème of every aspect of fishing used over the centuries.
The Graham Turner collection not only offers the finest antique rods, reels and lures but a unique collection of tackle makers trade cards and handbills by the pioneer London makers that traded in the capitol from the 1700’s. The 14 examples in the sale rival the only other collection of 15 in the British Museum. They are the main source of information as to what anglers were using at the early period and represent the most important early documents relative to the field of tackle collecting that has ever come to auction.
Included are the 18th and early 19th century original advertisements by Henry Stone, 13 Crooked Lane – John Cheek, 52 The Strand – J Clark, 11 St John’s Lane – E Willingham, 36 Maiden Lane – Sarah Sandown at the sign of The Compleat Angler’ – George Webester, 5 Chiswell St – Abraham Jacobs, 145 Regent St – Charles Holmes, 2 Sidney’s Alley – Higginbotham, No 7 above Holborn Bars – John Taylor, 64 Piccadily – Thomas Goodwin, 7 Tottenham Court Rd – Henry Stone & Chas. Iverson, Crooked Lane – H Turpin, 2 Myddleton Place.
The Star Item Is Lot 481 The Hand-Bill Of Onesimus Ustonson
The Ustonson advertisement carries the address – 205 Corner of Bell Yards, Near Temple Bar, Fleet St, London. This address was being used in the1770’s and possibly earlier. The document lists a wide range of tackle that was being sold. It displays the ‘Fish & Crown’ emblem which was the name and sign of the original tackle shop that traded from 1700. The Ustonson handbill in the sale is at the present time believed to be the also another which used the reverse side as an invoice made out to Sir only example, apart from two earlier ones in the British Museum collection Joseph Banks who was Captain Cook’s companion on the second of his discoveries on the ship ‘Resolution’ dated 1772 – that is in The State Library, New South Wales, Australia.
The sale also includes the finest leather limited editions re- collectable fishing tackle also the most sought after – Ronald’s Fly Fishing Entomology 11th Edition and quality displays of flies by PD Mallock.
The auction is being held on the 26th March at CHiswick Town Hall
