Early wood lure made by Henry S. Welles, coming in its extremely rare "The Welles Bait" box. Measuring 5 1/4" x 2 1/8" and marked Patent Pending, this one-piece box is the earliest we are aware of, most likely dating to 1913. Printed on all four long sides, unstamped for color, listing Welles & Welles, NY as the maker, and including the Sheridan R. Jones collection stamp on the interior of the lid, about VG/VG+ condition with wear, rubs, couple small punctures, bends and light soiling, but solid and beyond rare. The short production 3 1/8" bait is clearly stamped "Welles Patent", rigged with heavy duty screw eye hook hangers and finished in gold with a red flat face, appearing unfished, in at least Ex-/Ex condition. The two Welles boxes in this auction are the only surviving examples we are aware of.

From the Sheridan Jones Collection.

Referred to as "America's pioneering outdoor writer", Sheridan Jones (1881-1958) was certainly one of the most respected and prolific angling writers of his era. Many of the lures offered in this auction, where noted, were personally owned by Jones. Several were given to the esteemed author and outdoor writer for his professional opinion, others as gifts by lure makers vying for his favor. Stated best by author Joseph Hilko in his 2010 book The Life and Legend of Sheridan R. Jones: "Jones' legacy as an educator, naturalist, professional writer and world-class angler is worthy of remembrance today".