SPORTING SALE REPORT Phillip Allwood FNAVA                                             E J Churchill Shotguns With just over 1,200 lots on offer, and a mix of items ranging from a picnic set to a stuffed giraffe(!) there was great interest in all areas of the sale. The crowd was also boosted with familiar faces keen to acquire a final bargain from the 100 lots being offered on behalf of Bertie Wooster's Gentleman's Outfitters. The Cirencester branch of this popular firm has been a fixture on Castle Street for some years and with a good selection of clothing, works of art and prints, the results were strong throughout. Top price of the day was held by a pair of consecutive E J Churchill "Utility" side-by-side double barrel 12 gauge shotguns. In original case and with box lock ejecting action, these fine guns realised £5,000. Proving that small is beautiful, the highlight of the fishing section was always going to be a Hardy 21/2" brass "Perfect" reel. This rare reel was consigned locally and found at the bottom of a rod box! In good condition and dating from circa 1896 there was tremendous pre sale interest. On the day telephone bids from as far afield as America battled it out with bidders in the room, and a private collector in the room finally reeled it in at a whopping £2,800.   In the 250 lots of taxidermy, quality counted, with the higher prices being reserved for the usual suspects. A pair of stuffed and mounted Alpine Choughs by Rowland Ward sold for £1400, whilst a leopard skin rug by Van Ingen and Van Ingen of Mysore realised £820. An incredible stuffed and mounted swan by Hutchings of Aberystwyth also generated interested selling for £1,250 In a large selection of pictures it was no surprise that a collection of Snaffles prints topped the results on an individual basis. However, it was the one unsigned print entitled "Nigeria" which soared above the signed examples selling for £820. Another surprise was the 10 times estimate £1,100 paid for a set of 4 black and white engravings after George Stubbs. In average condition and with some wear and tear a single telephone and a room bidder fought a drawn out battle, with the latter finally winning. In the miscellaneous silver, works of art and book section £500 was paid for a silver entree dish and cover embossed with a shooting scene, whilst a whip made from a bull's penis proved hard to sell at just £30 With a sale total over £70,000 the following for these sales continues to grow. Phillip Allwood FNAVA Moore Allen & Innocent - The Salerooms Norcote, Cirencester, Glos. GL7 5RH Tel: 01285 646050   Fax: 01285 652832 http://www.mooreallen.co.uk