The County Decoys: The Fine Old Decoys of Prince Edward County, Ontario [signed] [first edition]

A superb collection, beautifully illustrated. The waterfowl decoys of Prince Edward County, located along the north shore of Lake Ontario, are among the oldest, most unusual and finest carved decoys in North America. Many date back to the nineteenth century. They are prized across the continent and abroad for their splendid folk-art qualities, often selling for thousands of dollars. Despite their perennial popularity among collectors, little is known about these fascinating decoys and their long-deceased makers. After ten years of detective-like research, noted decoy authority Jim Stewart unravels many of the mysteries surrounding both the artifacts and their carvers. Lavishly illustrated with 250 color photographs and 75 archival black and white photographs, The County Decoys sets a new standard for decoy books. Each chapter begins with a beautiful wildfowl painting by Allan Brooks, best known for his many works for the Audubon Society and National Geographic magazine in the 1920s and '30s. The County Decoys will appeal to the growing number of decoy collectors and folk-art enthusiasts.