Chuck I looked in an old fly wallet. I live in Rhode Island so I'm in New England. The wallet came from an estate in CT. Many of Carrie and Wallace's friends/clients were in and around CT, NY etc. It's not something that is easy to stumble across but if you know what you're looking for you may get lucky.
I have a very good eye for detail but I took a chance buying them. I also took a picture of the flies and emailed it to Mike through another friend of his Chris Del Plato who wanted to know where the antique store was if I wasn't interested in buying them myself (he was very kind to identify them also). They could've been just a sentimental purchase of old flies. I knew the right people to ask questions to and had a relationship with one I knew could really help me with this purchase. You just really have to educate yourself. I paid $15 dollars for the col bates fly. Two of the flies I bought could be worth $200 - $400 ea. depending on the buyer. They're not worth anything unless you find the right buyer. I didn't buy them for that reason though. I bought them for me. My flies have definitely been fished with so the original owner either was a client in the area or maybe they were given to him by a fishing buddy. They do show up on ebay but the seller usually knows what he has. Dave Skok got a really nice selection off ebay of Carries flies that weren't fished but didn't have the cards attached to them so he went through the same process I did to have them identified for collection purposes. His are really sweet but he paid a lot more for them then I did and his are worth much more. I have to say.. I have a pretty good network of friends that look after me and I usually ask their advice if I'm buying something that is "pricey" to me. You take your chances with old tackle. I would just buy it if the price is comfortable for you and you enjoy the item you found. Warm regards, Deb -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Chuck Alexander Sent: Monday, November 05, 2007 2:17 AM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [VFB] Streamer Swap Deb: These are beautiful.. and I looked at Carrie's page.. I take it she has now passed away??? What made you think to look in a wallet for flies?? LOL..That seems odd, but I guess things "are where they are"...What would flies like that be worth???? I'm gonna start looking at some shops around here for flies. I just never thought to look in antique shops, but it would be as good a place as any to find old flies..If I find any old flies.. Is there a place/person to send pics to to get them ID'd?? Maybe not the tier if it were not a famous tier, but the dating etc?? I bet ppl here could do that for Me though... Chuck ----- Original Message ----- From: Deborah Duran <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: [email protected] Sent: Sunday, November 04, 2007 7:58 PM Subject: RE: [VFB] Streamer Swap After years of looking through antique shops in my area I finally stumbled onto an old wallet with four Carrie Stevens flies. I was beside myself!!! I called Mike Martinek from the sidewalk outside the shop to help me identify certain characteristics to look for in her tying style. The flies weren't in the best of shape but I'm just so happy to have a few flies that were tied by Carrie Stevens. I sent them on to Leslie Hilyard so I could have some kind of documentation from him to save with the flies. So I have a nice letter from him on Rangeley Favorite letterhead. It's a neat thing to have. Here is the website for Streamer tiers. Many of the flies you will see on this site are Classic Maine Streamer patterns. Peggy ties these flies at the shows. She sure draws people in to our table with them. They are beautiful flies. Enjoy, Deb <http://globalflyfisher.com/streamers/fish/smelt/> ttp://globalflyfisher.com/streamers/fish/smelt/ <http://globalflyfisher.com/streamers/fish/smelt/> -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Mark Beresford II Sent: Sunday, November 04, 2007 5:37 PM To: [email protected] Subject: RE: [VFB] Streamer Swap i just searched the Carrie Stevens, some beautiful flys, i would love to join you swap. ill have to order some materials, as i dont do many streamers. let me know if theres room and how long i have to tie them. Mark. _____ No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.503 / Virus Database: 269.15.21/1109 - Release Date: 11/4/2007 11:05 AM
