Premiere Decoy & Sporting Collectible Auction
Featuring the Steve Weller Collection
Saturday April 15th, 2023
500 + Lots
10am Est.
500 + Lots
10am Est.
James Audubon Prints and Books
Duck Decoys by Elmer Crowell, Ward Bro., Madison Mitchell, Stevens, Illinois River and Many more
Fish Decoys, Shorebirds & Advertising
Duck Decoys by Elmer Crowell, Ward Bro., Madison Mitchell, Stevens, Illinois River and Many more
Fish Decoys, Shorebirds & Advertising
Proceeds from the Steve Weller collection auctions will be used by Sycamore Land Trust to create an Environmental and Conservation Education Center elevated above a wetland property along Beanblossom Creek near Bloomington, Indiana. This education center and the nature preserve will enable people of all ages and abilities to experience and learn about the importance of land conservation, habitat restoration and wetlands, to support biodiversity and climate resiliency. In the coming years, Sycamore will significantly expand the preserve's current wetland to create more waterfowl habitat.
Sycamore Land Trust is a nonprofit conservation organization founded in 1990 to preserve the beauty, health, and diversity of southern Indiana’s natural landscape through strategic land conservation, habitat restoration, and environmental education. Sycamore protects 10,763 acres of forests, wetlands, wildflower meadows and other open landscapes, and maintains over 30 miles of hiking trails on 13 of its nature preserves for free public access. Sycamore’s Environmental Education Program connects thousands of people of all ages and abilities to nature through guided hikes and free programming for local schools and community organizations. Learn more at sycamorelandtrust.org.
Sycamore Land Trust is a nonprofit conservation organization founded in 1990 to preserve the beauty, health, and diversity of southern Indiana’s natural landscape through strategic land conservation, habitat restoration, and environmental education. Sycamore protects 10,763 acres of forests, wetlands, wildflower meadows and other open landscapes, and maintains over 30 miles of hiking trails on 13 of its nature preserves for free public access. Sycamore’s Environmental Education Program connects thousands of people of all ages and abilities to nature through guided hikes and free programming for local schools and community organizations. Learn more at sycamorelandtrust.org.
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Steve was born March 25, 1953 in Danville, Illinois but grew up across the state line near
Perrysville, Indiana. As a child Steve tromped the fields, woodlands and streams of the Wabash
River Valley in west central Indiana hunting arrowheads and morels, fishing for bass and
bluegill, and learning to identify the flora and fauna he observed.
Steve began his career as an outdoor education naturalist at Forest Glen County Preserve near
Westville, Illinois. By then he could identify anything that “grew, flew, walked or squawked” in
the native landscape. He went on to obtain two Masters Degrees in Biology/Education and
Landscape Architecture, and held various positions in Outdoor Education, Open Space Planning,
and Natural Resource Conservation/Restoration in Indiana and Illinois. In his last job in the
public sector, he was Executive Director of the McHenry County Conservation district,
conserving over 6,000 acres of high-quality native areas and developing 60 miles of rail trails,
which connected to biking/hiking trails in northeast Illinois.
Upon retiring from public service Steve formed his own firm specializing in large-scale wetland
restoration to mitigate wetland losses from development in the Chicago region. The wetlands he
brought back to life serve as freshwater sinks for groundwater replenishment and habitat for
animals, birds and migrating waterfowl.
Toward the end of his life Steve developed a fascination for wooden duck decoys along with
tinnies, shorebird decoys, fish decoys, duck calls and an assortment of related items you see
presented in these two auctions by Grant Cole of Auctioneers, Inc. Steve would be pleased that
these treasures will be “flying off” to appreciative wildlife lovers across the country. He would
also be pleased that the totality of profits from these auctions will be directed to public wetland
restoration and outdoor education projects.
Perrysville, Indiana. As a child Steve tromped the fields, woodlands and streams of the Wabash
River Valley in west central Indiana hunting arrowheads and morels, fishing for bass and
bluegill, and learning to identify the flora and fauna he observed.
Steve began his career as an outdoor education naturalist at Forest Glen County Preserve near
Westville, Illinois. By then he could identify anything that “grew, flew, walked or squawked” in
the native landscape. He went on to obtain two Masters Degrees in Biology/Education and
Landscape Architecture, and held various positions in Outdoor Education, Open Space Planning,
and Natural Resource Conservation/Restoration in Indiana and Illinois. In his last job in the
public sector, he was Executive Director of the McHenry County Conservation district,
conserving over 6,000 acres of high-quality native areas and developing 60 miles of rail trails,
which connected to biking/hiking trails in northeast Illinois.
Upon retiring from public service Steve formed his own firm specializing in large-scale wetland
restoration to mitigate wetland losses from development in the Chicago region. The wetlands he
brought back to life serve as freshwater sinks for groundwater replenishment and habitat for
animals, birds and migrating waterfowl.
Toward the end of his life Steve developed a fascination for wooden duck decoys along with
tinnies, shorebird decoys, fish decoys, duck calls and an assortment of related items you see
presented in these two auctions by Grant Cole of Auctioneers, Inc. Steve would be pleased that
these treasures will be “flying off” to appreciative wildlife lovers across the country. He would
also be pleased that the totality of profits from these auctions will be directed to public wetland
restoration and outdoor education projects.
JOHN JAMES AUDUBON (1785-1851)born Jean-Jacques Rabin; April 26, 1785 – January 27, 1851) was an American self-trained artist, naturalist, and ornithologist. His combined interests in art and ornithology turned into a plan to make a complete pictorial record of all the bird species of North America.
We are pleased to offer this important selection of his medium at Auction.
Birds of America, Royal Octavo First Edition. Vol I, II, III, IV, V, VI & VII
(1840 - 1871)
Audubon and his wife traveled the U.S., as he studied and painted wonderful life sized images of hundreds of birds. Audubon went to Scotland and England and published his first work, The Birds of America. These prints were chiefly engraved and hand colored by Robert Havell Jr. They were printed on "double elephant" folio sized sheets of watermarked J. Whatman fine wove paper. From 1826-1838 these aquatint copper plate engraved sheets, measuring about 26" x 39", and beautifully hand colored, were issued in 87 parts of 5 prints each. The complete set totaled 435 prints. They were sold by subscription, and the owners/subscribers eventually bound them into 7 volumes. It is estimated that between 160-180 complete sets of the first Birds of America were issued. Today about 110 complete sets survive, mainly in museums and other institutions. An unknown number of partially bound sets and individual prints survive. They are quite rare.
The success of Audubon's first Birds of America brought Audubon Worldwide acclaim. Following that success, he returned to America and set out to issue a smaller version that would include more birds (most newly discovered in the Western U.S.). He decided on a 1/8 or octavo sized sheet measuring about 6-1/2" x 10". He called this set The Royal Octavo Edition of Birds of America. The 1st Edition of 500 plates was lithographed and hand colored by J.T. Bowen in Philadelphia and New York from 1840-44.
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Framed and Matted Original Prints
American Robin
TURDUS MIGRATORIUS. Male I. Female II. Young III,
Chestnut Oak. Duercus Prinnus
Drawn from Nature by J. J Audubon, F.R.S.F.L.S
Engraved Printed and Colored by R. Havell 1832
No. 27 Plate CXXXI
TURDUS MIGRATORIUS. Male I. Female II. Young III,
Chestnut Oak. Duercus Prinnus
Drawn from Nature by J. J Audubon, F.R.S.F.L.S
Engraved Printed and Colored by R. Havell 1832
No. 27 Plate CXXXI
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Passenger Pigeon
COLUMBA MIGRATORIA . Linn Male I. Female II.
Drawn from Nature by J. J Audubon, F.R.S.F.L.S
Engraved Printed and Colored by R. Havell 1832
No. 13 Plate LXII
COLUMBA MIGRATORIA . Linn Male I. Female II.
Drawn from Nature by J. J Audubon, F.R.S.F.L.S
Engraved Printed and Colored by R. Havell 1832
No. 13 Plate LXII
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Glossy Ibis
IBIS FALCINELLUS. Male Adult
Drawn from Nature by J. J Audubon, F.R.S.F.L.S
Engraved Printed and Colored by R. Havell 1837
No. 78 Plate CCCLXXXVII
IBIS FALCINELLUS. Male Adult
Drawn from Nature by J. J Audubon, F.R.S.F.L.S
Engraved Printed and Colored by R. Havell 1837
No. 78 Plate CCCLXXXVII
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Sora Rail
RALLUS CAROLINUS. 1 Male, 2 Female, 3 Young
Drawn from Nature by J. J Audubon, F.R.S.F.L.S
Engraved Printed and Colored by R. Havell 1837
No. 47 Plate CCXXXIII
RALLUS CAROLINUS. 1 Male, 2 Female, 3 Young
Drawn from Nature by J. J Audubon, F.R.S.F.L.S
Engraved Printed and Colored by R. Havell 1837
No. 47 Plate CCXXXIII
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Yellow Poll Warbler
SYLVIA AESTIVA, GMEL. Male
Drawn from Nature by J. J Audubon, F.R.S.F.L.S
No. 5 - 9 Plate 89
SYLVIA AESTIVA, GMEL. Male
Drawn from Nature by J. J Audubon, F.R.S.F.L.S
No. 5 - 9 Plate 89
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Pectoral Sandpiper
TRINGA PECTORALIS.
Drawn from Nature by J. J Audubon, F.R.S.F.L.S
Engraved Printed and Colored by R. Havell 1836
No. 59 Plate CCXCIV
TRINGA PECTORALIS.
Drawn from Nature by J. J Audubon, F.R.S.F.L.S
Engraved Printed and Colored by R. Havell 1836
No. 59 Plate CCXCIV
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Tell - Tale Godwit or Snipe
TOTANUS MELANOLEUCUS, VIEILL
Drawn from Nature by J. J Audubon, F.R.S.F.L.S
Engraved Printed and Colored by R. Havell 1836
No. 62 Plate CCCVIII
TOTANUS MELANOLEUCUS, VIEILL
Drawn from Nature by J. J Audubon, F.R.S.F.L.S
Engraved Printed and Colored by R. Havell 1836
No. 62 Plate CCCVIII
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Velvet Duck
FULIGULA FUSCA.
Drawn from Nature by J. J Audubon, F.R.S.F.L.S
Engraved Printed and Colored by R. Havell 1836
No. 50 Plate CCXLVII
FULIGULA FUSCA.
Drawn from Nature by J. J Audubon, F.R.S.F.L.S
Engraved Printed and Colored by R. Havell 1836
No. 50 Plate CCXLVII
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Bernard Ohnmacht
Bert Graves
Bill Gibian Shorebirds
Bill Gibian
Bob White
Cigar Daisey
George Boyd
Gus Moak
Jim Schmiedlin
Madison Mitchell
Mason Goldeneyes
Orel LeBoeuf
Oscar Peterson
Skippy Barto
Stevens Bros.
Walter Lowry
Ward Black Duck
Ward Canada Goose
Ward Pintail
Ward Widgeon
