The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1884-08-02 00:00:00

SALE OF A MENAGERIE:

The sale of the famous zoological collection known
as " Edmond's (late Wombwell's) Royal Windsor
Castle Menagerie" began at Liverpool on Tuesday.
The menagerie, described as the oldest in the world,
was founded in 1805 by the late Mr. George Womb-
well, whose niece, Mrs. Edmonds, has managed it for
the last 50 years; and the sale has been caused by
her retirement. During half a century she has
travelled about with the menagerie, there being few
places in the kingdom that the collection has not
visited under her management. Her uncle, the
founder of the menagerie, was born at Brain-
tree, in Essex, and in boyhood devoted much
attention to rearing and breeding birds, rabbits,
pigeons, dogs, and other animals. While at
the London Docks he saw some of the first boa
constrictors imported into England. Most naturalints
were afraid of managing them, and Mr. Wombwell
was able to purchase them at £75 a pair. In three
weeks he realized considerably more by exhibiting
them. This was practically the beginning of the
collection now being dispersed. It is said that he
purchased for 1,000 guineas the first rhinoceros brought
to England. He lived to see his own menagerie without
rival, and died at Northallerton, Yorkshire, at the age
of 73 years. In recognition of the valuable services
of his niece, Miss Wombwell (Mrs. Edmonds), he left
her the whole collection. Since then it has increased
by purchases and by the breeding of lions, leopards,
and tigers.
The auctioneer was Mr. George Nichols (Nichols,
Son, and Alder, of Bristol), and he commenced the
business of the day at noon by taking a show of hands
as to whether he should offer the collection as a
whole. The company decided in favour of this, but
there was no bid when the collection was put up, and
Mr. Nichols proceeded to offer the animals in lots.
The first important lot was Jerry, a rare and frolic-
some blue-faced baboon, which brought £l3O, being
purchased by Mr. Hagenbeck, of Hamburg. A grave
looking hamadryad or Thoth baboon realised .E 45 ;
a tiny young spotted hyena, which the auctioneer
described as suitable for "a lady's pet," fetched
..e4 Bs.; an axis deer, £22; a brindled gnu (very
rare), £103; a Russian wolf, ..El5 ; a Thibetian sun
bear, £7; a brown bear, described as a fine specimen,
only 305.; a llama, "quiet and could walk well on
parade," £54; and a Boomer kangaroo, 40. A
beautiful Burchell zebra, which has been broken
in harness, induced brisk bidding, commencing at
..£lOO, and beina knocked down to Mr. Edward
Bostock for £125.
In the exhibition is a magnificent collection of lions.
Special interest was taken in the sale of the animals.
Before they were put up, Delmonico, the "Arab Lion
Chief," entered the cages, and, with the animals, went
through a series of daring performances, illustrating
his control over the animals and their strength and
agility and tractability. For a performing group of
four lionesses and two lions there was an active com-
petition, the auctioneer describing the lot as the finest
performing group in the world. The bidding com-
menced at £2OO, and the lot was knocked down to
Mr. James Edmonds for £370. The lioness Victoria,
with a litter, was sold to Mr. E. A. Bostock for £165.
Next came the forest-bred lion Wallace, about ten
years old, described as a "grand and magnificent
forest-bred black-maned lion, justly acknowledged
to be the largest, handsomest, and finest specimen
ever imported into this country." The bidding
began at £125, and Wallace was sold to Mr.
James Edmonds for £2OO, his destination being, it
was said, the zoological exhibition which that
gentleman has on the Continent. The lioness Alex-
andra was sold for 1.00 to Mr. Hagenbeck, who also
obtained the performing lion Prince of Wales, four
years old, and the Duke of Edinburgh, four years
old, for £275. The forest-bred lion Hannibal six
years old, also went to Mr. Hagenbeck for £l7s' the
lioness Princess, !our years old, to the same pur-
chaser, at 100 guineas; the lion Nero, four years old,
£265, to Mr. J. W. Bostock. A pair of dromedaries,
although warranted to go in harness, realised only,
£140; seven boa-constrictors, who had the recom-
mendation, said to be somewhat rare among those
creatures, of being all good breeders, were sold to
Mr. A. W. Bostock for £2l. The chief event of
the day was the sale of the male African elephant
Emperor, about 18 years of age, and standing
between 10ft, and lift, high, or only a few inches
less than Jumbo. Mr. George Sanger, to make a
start, bid £lOO, at which price the animal was
knocked down to him. For other lots, including
birds, good prices were realised.

A refreshment-bar on a New England railway, is
kept by a veteran baker. A sprightly young traveller
complained of one of his pies the other day. The old
man became angry. "Young man," he said, severely,
"I made pies before you were born." "Yes," re-
sponded the traveller, "I fancy this must be one of
those same Dies !"