The Essential Guide To Stevens Decoys

Excerpts from The Essential Guide to Stevens Decoys…
 

"Harvey considered his decoys to be in a realm of their own.  In his mind every distinguishing nuance in his work distanced his decoys dramatically from the techniques of all other makers, including his own brother.  Harvey’s harsh berating of other makers revealed his feisty and competitive nature…"

"Harvey’s last decoys of around 1892 were so perfectly balanced that they met an astonishing mathematical standard. It seems history is indicating that Harvey may be the only maker that would possibly consider this much unnecessary structural precision to be quintessential in a hunting decoy…" 
 
 
"One of the more under-utilized methods of determining the authenticity of a Stevens decoy is the bill carving detail because it is one that most collectors do not know about.  It seems almost impossible that the carving of the bill lines could be so precise and unchanging that they can validate the authenticity of a decoy, but in this case it is reliable…" 
 
 
From the author…
 
"I call this book the Essential Guide because it is intended to convey the practical understanding that is indispensable when investing in a Stevens Decoy.  I do not illustrate the details of construction that aren’t useful when inspecting a Stevens decoy that you are considering buying.  The section entitled “Five Ways to Identify a Stevens Decoy” will teach you how to recognize, authenticate, attribute and date a decoy made by Harvey and George Stevens and consequently how to avoid buying a fake, a decoy with repairs, or one that has been restored; well, at least without knowing that you are."
 
 

TABLE OF CONTENTS  

Forward by Harold W. Reiser                                                                                         

CHAPTER I.              Introduction             

CHAPTER II.            Two Periods, Two Models, Two Brothers         

            1. The Two Periods   

                Characteristics of the Tackeye Period Decoy

                Characteristics of the Glasseyee Period Decoy

            2.  The Two Models  
 
            3.  The Two Brothers, Harvey & George
               
 

CHAPTER III.       The Stencil, Branding and Label  

CHAPTER IV.       Five Ways to Identify a Stevens Decoy

            1. The Form
            2. The Paint
            3. Drilled Holes on the Bottom
            4. Bill Carving
            5. The Head Connection
 

CHAPTER V.       The Difference between Harvey’s and George’s decoys          

CHAPTER VI.       The Frank Ash Photo Collection      

CHAPTER VII.     The William S. Overton Decoy Rig         

CHAPTER VIII.    Ten Things You'll Probably Never See       

CHAPTER IX.       The Species Chart & Photograph Guide