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THBZane Grey's "Hardy-Zane Grey" Reel by Hardy Brothers Ltd.
About Seller
20 Winter Street
Pembroke, MA 02359
United States
Founded in 2005, Copley Fine Art Auctions is a boutique auction house specializing in antique decoys and American, sporting, and wildlife paintings. Over the course of the last two decades, the firm has set auction records for not only individual decoy makers, but also entire carving regions. Copley...Read more
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About Auction
LiveFeb 21, 2025
Lots 1-261 Copley Fine Art Auctions cinnie@copleyart.com
View Full Catalog (261)
- Lot Description
Zane Grey's "Hardy-Zane Grey" Reel
Hardy Brothers Ltd.
Alnwick, England c. 1935
Hardy Brothers Ltd. of Alnwick, England, has been creating high-quality fishing tackle since 1873. Beginning with small fly fishing reels, they began selling big game reels in 1921 as figures such as Grey were pushing boundaries and pioneering the field. Recognizing the value of Grey's experience with big game tackle, Hardy Bros. worked alongside him in the 1930s to produce their top-of-the-line "Zane Grey" models. These were the largest and most expensive reels that Hardy Bros. had ever sold.
Presented in this lot is a rare Hardy Bros. "Zane Grey" six-inch model reel, which was owned by Zane Grey himself and gifted to his son, Romer. This elegant piece of equipment is made of monel, a strong alloy often used in marine and aerospace engineering. It features a star drag adjustment and is stamped "The 'Hardy - Zane Grey' Size 6" - To Hold 600 YDS. 39 Thread." The spool still holds hundreds of yards of original linen line. Grey signed the reel handle with his initials in a stylized engraving and signed the inside of the case in ink. On the back plate of the reel are Romer Grey's red and white colors. Matching colors can be seen on the top of the reel's case, alongside a very faint inscription that once read "To Romer, From Dad, Zane Grey." With multiple anglers bringing their own gear into one boat for a trip, these colors would help identify ownership. Romer, a diehard fisherman himself, almost always accompanied his father on their frequent fishing trips.
With this reel comes a Hardy Bros. rod butt that was also owned and fished by Zane Grey. The rod butt and reel were loaned together to the International Game Fish Association for exhibition by Brian McGrath. The butt features red and blue paint, which McGrath identifies as "Grey's personal colors for his fishing equipment." Grey even etched his name into the metal reel seat. This butt would have been used in conjunction with a larger and interchangeable rod to catch the giant fish Grey pursued.
As found.
Provenance: Zane Grey Tackle Collection
Huck Spawr Zane Grey Collection (reel only)
Brian McGrath Collection
Ronald J. Gard Collection
Literature: Richard W. Oliver and Bob Lang, "The Fourth Annual Summer Auction of Fishing Tackle & Related Items," July 1, 1987, lot 1148, exact reel illustrated.Condition
Please refer to the description; if you have questions, email ben@copleyart.com.
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Shipping info
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