October 24th 2015 Antique Fishing Tackle
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/23/2015
There is no other lure that stirs the emotions of both avid and novice lure collectors than the Riley Haskell Minnow of 1859. Patent #25,507 was granted to Haskell, a noted gunsmith from Painesville, OH. on September 20, 1859, and very simply titled: "Trolling Bait for Catching Fish". This example is perhaps the smallest known of all Haskell Minnows, measuring a mere 3-1/4". It is a copper finished, no scale example, bearing the R. HASKELL PAINESVILLE. O. marking very boldly stamped along the left side. Faintly marked underneath that is the PATD SEP 20 1859. This example is unlike any other one known, having differences in the head and fin detail, being a bit"plainer" than other small size models. At some point in its lifetime, it is possible that this bait was "re-rigged",perhaps from being damaged during fishing, or perhaps to provide more hooking power with a treble hook. The through wire and rear treble both appear to be nickel silver instead of the typically seen brass wire. This appraiser does not believe that through wire to be of original make, however, there is no way to determine at one point in its lifetime it was altered.In 1859, 2 years before the start of the American Civil War, the Haskell Minnow was neither valuable nor collectible, it was simply a tool to put food on one's plate or provide sport for one's heart and mind. All of that has changed. The Haskell Minnow is perhaps the most coveted lure by collector and dealer alike, a bait that everyone looks for and hopes to find!! Conversations about old fishing lures inevitably always end in the discussion of the Haskell Minnow. Being fortunate enough to own a Haskell Minnow places you in a very small group. It is difficult to say exactly how many authentic Haskell have survived to this point in time and opportunities to purchase an authentic Haskell minnoware rare. Here is your chance to own "one of the best"….