The world of antique fishing lures turned heads on December 9, 2024, as Morphy Auctions hosted the first installment of the Wayne Edens Collection, raising over $900,000. With 622 lots, the auction featured the most comprehensive fishing lure collection ever brought to market. Among the standout items were iconic creations by Heddon, Shakespeare, and other esteemed manufacturers.
At the forefront of the sale was a legendary Heddon frog lure, hand-carved in 1898 by company founder James Heddon. This one-of-eight lure was previously owned by National Fishing Lure Collectors Club co-founder Dudley Murphy and sold for $30,750.
Another Heddon lure, a special order 1309 Black Sucker with amber-glass eyes and a glitter finish, fetched $22,200. The auction also highlighted a 1909 Heddon Dowagiac Musky Minnow, paired with its oversized introductory box, selling for $20,910. Meanwhile, a 1906 Shakespeare No. 64 Red Musky Trolling Minnow, accompanied by a rare pictorial box, drew $27,600.
Other notable lots included a gold-painted Bing’s Nemahbin Minnow, produced by A.F. Bingenheimer in 1904-05, which surpassed expectations at $18,000. A set of Jan Cummings’ handmade Savage Shrimp baits, complete with individual boxes and a dealer case, sold for $14,145, proving that even smaller-scale lures can make a big splash.
Parts II and III of the Wayne Edens Collection are slated for 2025, with more than 600 lots per auction. These sales promise more rare lures, many still housed in their original boxes, offering collectors another chance to cast their bids on pieces of fishing history.
All prices quoted include the buyer’s premium.
