Beautiful Shakespeare No. 64 five-hook Red Musky (Muscallonge) Trolling Minnow with high forehead design dating it to circa 1906-7. Accompanied by a highly desirable circa-1908 pictorial box. Oversize baits of this type are rarely encountered. Provenance: Wayne Edens collection. Sold near the mid-point of its estimate range for $27,600. Photo – courtesy of Morphy Auctions ©
Morphy Auctions made a huge splash on December 9 with its sale of the Wayne Edens collection of antique and vintage fishing lures, Part I. The 622-lot auction, featuring the largest and most historically significant collection of its kind ever to hit the public market, reeled in an impressive total of more than $900,000.
As anticipated, the star of the day was a rare, all-original Heddon frog lure personally crafted by James Heddon, founder of the Heddon Company. One of only eight made, this unique piece was first exhibited on a display board at the Heddon factory in Dowagiac, Michigan. Previously owned by Dudley Murphy (1940–2022), co-founder of the National Fishing Lure Collectors Club, the frog lure came directly from the Heddon factory, and its provenance was confirmed through a photo match to one of the original eight “board” examples. Making its auction debut, the frog lure sold for $30,750, within its estimated value.
Another standout was a rare Heddon special order 1309 Black Sucker with a five-hook configuration. This stunning lure, featuring a glittery white saltwater colour and solid amber-glass eyes, dazzled bidders. Graded Excellent Minus to Excellent, it fetched $22,200.
The auction also showcased a Heddon 707 Dowagiac Musky Minnow bait, first marketed in 1909, which featured a sienna crackleback finish. A sturdy, 5-3/8-inch survivor of its type, it was sold with its oversized introductory box for $20,910.
Among other high-performing Heddon lures was an 8-inch 7602 Musky Vamp from around 1925. With its red eyes and tail, shiny finish, and perfect glass eyes, this lure was graded Excellent and included its original box. It exceeded expectations, selling for $9,840, well above its $4,500–$6,500 estimate. A particularly sought-after early olive-green Fancy Back crackle-paint finish 3-belly weight 150 Dowagiac Minnow from 1904 soared to $7,680, surpassing its $2,000–$4,000 estimate.
One of the legendary original eight Heddon ‘factory board’ frog lures hand-carved circa 1898 by Heddon company founder James Heddon. Definitively photo-matched to vintage photos of the frog lures in situ at the Heddon plant. Provenance: Wayne Edens collection; Dudley Murphy (1940-2022), co-founder of the National Fishing Lure Collectors Club; obtained directly from the Heddon factory. Sold within estimate for $30,750.
A special Heddon 309V Dowagiac Surface Minnow with glossy orange paint and black spots, coupled with its perfect glass eyes and L-rigged belly, sold for $5,280, exceeding its high estimate.
Other notable lots included a Shakespeare No. 64 five-hook Red Musky Trolling Minnow bait with its distinctive high forehead design from circa 1906–07, accompanied by its elusive circa-1908 pictorial box, which landed a remarkable $27,600. The Shakespeare No. 1611 Wooden Minnow, dating to circa 1907-09, also proved highly desirable, bringing in $19,680 along with its rare white-label pictorial box.
A standout piece from A.F. Bingenheimer of Milwaukee, a gold-painted Bing’s Nemahbin Minnow, came complete with its rare pictorial box. This gem exceeded its $5,000–$15,000 estimate, selling for $18,000.
Lastly, a stunning Jan Cummings Fairform Bait Works set of four handmade Savage Shrimp baits—each a different colour—created a buzz among collectors. Sold with their individual paper-labeled boxes and a larger dealer case, the set achieved $14,145 against a $3,000–$6,000 estimate.
With top-quality lures and historic pieces galore, the December 9 auction proved to be a fishing enthusiast’s dream, offering a captivating look at rare collectables while setting new records along the way.
