HIGH PRICES FOR EGGS

Evening Star, Issue 22272, 25 February 1936, Page 12

HIGH PRICES FOR EGGS

Hen auk eggs, said to be the most valuable in the world, each worth its weight in gold, recently arrived at Harvard University, says the ‘ New York Times.’ This collection was the bequest of the late Colonel J. E. Thayer, and ia now being made ready for study by the curator of ornithology, as each of these rarities has a most interesting history. In some instances the specimens have been the property of other famous museums. Their average value is about £3OO each. In one drawer in the museum are now 11 eggs of the extinct auk, one having already been given to the university by the head 6f the department of zoology at Harvard, Dr William Barhour, some years ago. There are' said to be about 73 auk eggs in existence, 71 of them having been photographed by the expert, Edward Bidwell. Prior to the great auction held in Covcnt Garden, London, last autumn, notice was sent to the various private collectors and museums, pamphlet prepared by Thomas Parkin, and a pamphlet prepared by Thomas Parkin, ELL.S., giving a short history of the great auk or garefowl (Alca inipennis, Linn.), was made available to the bidders.

Eggs which were cracked or broken brought a mere £IOO. But a choice specimen, such as that discovered by Professor Alfred Newton in a box of 10 auk eggs at the Royal College of Surgeons, where it had lain for 40 years, was at 3nee snapped up by a private collector, who willingly paid £3OO for it.

Perhaps the most interesting of all the famous eggs in the new Harvard collection is the one that was originally picked up by a schoolboy named Wallace Hewitt for a few shillings. He found it at an auction in Kent.