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to say, Mackey ended up with a great number of
vintage decoys that years later would sell at
auction for prices never dreamed of at the time
that he bought them for “pocket change.” Many
of those discard decoys that were picked up by
“Cigar Daisey” for Mackey are in high-end
collections today, valued at 5- and 6-figures.

Looking Forward

Today’s World of Decoys is light years
different from that of the era when the three
books we have mentioned here (1934 and 1965)
were published. New generations of carvers have
come and gone. Many non-vintage decoys
created by contemporary carvers have found an
important place in the decoy marketplace.
For many present-day collectors, “old” and
“vintage” are just two of many descriptive words
that are important to the serious collector. The
quality and style of decoys made by some
contemporary carvers are very high indeed.
A final point should be made with regard to
These Mallards by the Caines Brothers combined to sell for $1,144,600. the collecting of American decoys. Actually, it
The hen, a world auction record price, for the maker at $767,000, and the drake at $377,600. applies to the collecting of any vintage artifact.
Always, of course, there is the artifact; but then
there is also the story, the history of the artifact.
In some instances, perhaps even in most cases,
Secondly, she states “There was a necessity. The new settlers needed game to augment their
food supplies.” Her conclusion, though, argues that “the basic notion of the decoy was already the story of the artifact is as important, perhaps
here – the idea of making a bird to catch a bird. Long before the coming of the white man, the even more important, than the artifact itself.
American Indian had conceived this brilliant notion. The Indians made decoys as
early as A.D. 1000.”

Inspiration for Collectors

William Mackey, in the Foreword of his book, writes: “It is the aim of this book
to focus attention upon the rich heritage of collectible decoys that have been made
and used in America during the past century or more, to describe their inimitable
characteristics, and to tell the colorful stories of the men who made them.” He goes
on to tell the reader that the material in the book “has been almost forty years in the
gathering. It all began for me when, as a young man, I picked up a no longer useful
shorebird decoy, admired it … and became a collector.” Mackey’s book is filled with
detailed descriptions of the decoys he collected and also the story of how, when, and
where he found them.
A personal note regarding William Mackey: About fifteen years ago my wife and I visited Old quality decoys can have significant value. This decoy
Delbert Lee “Cigar” Daisey at his carving studio in Chincoteague, Virginia. He regaled us with has what appears to be a “Back Bay” Premier Grade,
stories about old decoys and decoy carvers on the Eastern Shore (VA). One of his stories had to Mason Factory Canvasback drake head on an early
South Carolina, oversized Canvasback body.
do with his being a Picker for Bill Mackey. During that period of time when new lightweight
(photo and text: Ron Gard)
plastic decoys were all the rage with Market Gunners and duck hunters in general, the old,
heavy, wooden decoys were being tossed aside (and even used for firewood) by many. Cigar told
us that Bill Mackey paid him to drive up and down the Coast in his pickup truck and buy the I believe that “across the board” collectors today
old discarded wood decoys for are increasingly aware of the importance of the
him to sort through and then story behind the artifacts that they collect.
save or sell them. That was, of That’s a great thing, and it adds both interest
course, a period of time when and value to any collection. So, Happy
the value and collectibility of Collecting Everybody!
vintage decoys were not widely
known or appreciated. Needless Stan Van Etten has published Hunting &
Fishing Collectibles Magazine for the past 19
years. He can be reached by email at hfcol-
lectibles@aol.com or by phone at 336-593-9477.
The magazine’s web site is HFCollectibles.com

Title image:
This outstanding
This vintage Goldeye hen decoy (ca. 1880) Canada goose by
with the New York Central & Hudson Nathan Cobb, Jr.
River Railroad brand on the bottom sold at auction for
sold for $950. Certain brands $118,000.
can add significant value
to an otherwise “ordinary” decoy. All photos and captions, unless otherwise stated,
are courtesy of Guyette & Deeter Auction, Inc.
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