Lang’s Auction, the estate of Martin J. Keane
By KBarton10 on Apr 14, 2009 in Fly Fishing, web site
For the auction crowd, Lang’s April 17th auction contains the estate of Martin J. Keane, author of “Classic Rods and Rod Makers.”
Lots of classic bamboo rods available with hoary and rarified names; Young, Leonard, Pre-Fire Leonard, Halstead, Thomas & Thomas. Payne, Winston, F.E. Thomas, Goodwin Granger, Orvis, and Edwards. Reels to match with numerous Hardy, Fin Nor, Vom Hofe, Sage, and Orvis.
Flies by Carrie Stevens, Preston Jennings, Edward Ringwood Hewitt, Syd Glasso, Harry Darbee, Lee Wulff, Charles Defoe, and Poul Jorgensen, as well as many other published masters.
Buttressed by scads of first edition books, ancient catalogs, and (my favorite) hand carved fish decoys.
Add wooden duck decoys by the Ward Brothers, Harry Shourds, a leavening of Mason’s in most grades, and a couple hundred hand carved duck calls, and you’ve got an hour of unfettered desire ahead.
MHH | Apr 14, 2009 | Reply
That collection is simply staggering. I scrolled through with a mixture of awe, jealousy, and nostalgia.
The amassing of such an estate has the residue of a particular time and place in our history, an era when the sportsman was a more revered figure and leisure was, in something like an ironic twist, taken a bit more seriously. I couldn’t shake the feeling that it’s an era that’s well and truly passed us by.
kbarton10 | Apr 14, 2009 | Reply
I’m like you, while I may not have the money to take part – being able to look at all the flies and memorabilia is always a lot of fun.
Trout Underground | Apr 14, 2009 | Reply
Don’t be so sure you lack the dollars to participate; last time a big collection went to Lang’s, supply neatly exceeded demand, and it took many months for the prices to recover.