A batch of of fly-tying materials set a world record at Mullock’s auction today. The top price of £13,000 (excluding 17% commission) was paid for a unique collection of later Victorian materials, while a vintage tying kit containing some rare birds climbed to £8000 and a smaller collection of bird capes sold for £1000 (against an estimate of just £100-£200). These lots were formerly owned by Commander MB Casement OBE, and had been in the family for a century. Most of the feathers and capes were untouched, and they included very rare and exotic birds such as toucan, continga, pitta, Indian crow, chatterer, macaw and cock of the rock. Feathers from these birds, which now enjoy protected status, are in huge demand by fly tyers, especially those tying classic salmon flies. But they are very difficult to obtain and the chance to secure whole birds comes along very infrequently. In  Victorian times it was a very different story. The most beautiful and exotic birds were merely seen as decoration for women’s hats or as material for salmon flies. The sale also saw an Edkin glass-bodied lure sell for £2600 and a 5.25in brass-faced Hardy alloy Perfect for left-hand wind climb to £5600. A solid silver trophy presented to the famed FWK Wallis by Nottingham Wellington Angling Society reached £2000. The club gave the trophy to Wallis because he won it almost every year between 1897 and 1915. A full report of the auction appears in the next issue of Classic Angling.