April 25 & 26, 2013 - St. Charles, Illinois
Pre Recession Enthusiasm and Pre Recession Prices at April Auction
St. Charles, Illinois - With a gross of $2.8 million this was our largest and most successful decoy auction since our November 2007 sale in Easton, Maryland. The number of lots selling for over $10,000 was 56, many of which were two and three times their estimates. Over ten world auction records for individual makers were established.
Gary Guyette and Jon Deeter attributed the results to high quality marketing, fresh to the market merchandise and Guyette, Schmidt & Deeter’s guaranteed condition reports (Not all decoy auction houses offer guaranteed condition reports).
The abundance of new buyers had a positive impact on bidding. They were in the audience as well as on the phone and online. Forty new buyers registered for our debut auction in Charleston, South Carolina in February of this year and they made their presence felt in St. Charles. New buyers combined with a strengthening economy made for a very successful event.

Preening scoter by Gus Wilson

Redhead by Harry V. Shourds
Sold for 2x Estimate

Oversize curlew by the Mason Decoy Factory

Hollow carved Canada goose from Long Point, Ontario
Sold for 2x Estimate

Mallard drake by Harry V. Shourds
Sold for 2x Estimate

Canada goose by John Blair, Sr
Widgeon by Ken Anger
Merganser drake by William Foster
World Auction Record for Maker

Brant by Harry V. Shourds
Sold for 3x Estimate

Whimbrel by Thomas Gelston

Black bellied plover by Luther Nottingham

Pair of greenwing teal by Charles Bergman

Pair of bluewing teal by the Evans Decoy Factory

Pair of mergansers by Thomas Gelston

Winchester "Cock of the Woods" Poster
World Auction Record for Poster

Sleeping redhead by Albert Laing
Sold for 2x Estimate

Running yellowlegs by Elmer Crowell

Black bellied plover by John Dilley

Canvasback drake by Joseph Sieger
World Auction Record for Maker

Brant by Jim Schmiedlin

Calling mallard hen by
Horace Crandall
World Auction Record for Maker

Golden plover by John Dilley

Bluewing teal drake by
Harvey Stevens

Preening mallard hen by Robert Elliston

Pair of bluebills by Charles Perdew

Leroy Leland shell box

E.K. Tryons Shell Box

Peters advertising sign

Winchester Arms advertisement

Peters shell Box

Robin Hood shell box
Swimming mallard by John Blair, Sr
Sold for 2x Estimate

Canvasback drake by Henry Ruggles
Sold for 6x Estimate
World Auction Record for Maker
Pair of mallards by Enoch Reindahl
World Auction Record for Maker
Pintail by Charles Walker
Sold for 2x Estimate
World Auction Record for Maker

Swan by James Best

Pair of mallards by Mitchell LaFrance

Curlew attributed to Nathan Cobb, Jr.

Old squaw by the Mason Decoy Factory

Wood duck drake by Marty Hanson
World Auction Record for Maker

Duck call by Charles Perdew

Duck call by Victor Glodo

Bluebill by Ferdinand Bach

Mallard hen Mandt Homme
Sold for 4x Estimate
World Auction Record for Maker

Swan by Reggie Birch
Sold for 3x Estimate
World Auction Record for Maker

Canada goose by John Reeves

"Ohio Blair" redhead
World Auction Record for Ohio Decoy

Brant by Rowley Horner
Sold for 3x Estimate

Mallard drake by Elmer Crowell

Canvasback drake by George Stevens

Brant by Lloyd Parker

Blackduck by the Ward Brothers

Canada goose by Harry V. Shourds
Sold for 2x Estimate

Pair of mergansers by Levi Rhodes Truex

Pintail hen by James Holly

Yellowlegs by Ira Hudson

Dowitcher by John Dilley

Yellowlegs by Harry V. Shourds

Yellowlegs by Ira Hudson

Widgeon drake by George Stevens
World Auction Record for Maker

Curlew attributed to Alonzo Foster

Trout spearing decoy by Charles Irwin

Robin Hood shell box

Championship shell box