Charles Jester Hooded Merganser Pair

Charles E. Jester (1876-1952) Chincoteague, VA, c. 1930 Two hollow merganser decoys with painted eyes. The hen has the Roy Bull (1911-1982) of Townsend, Virginia collection brand on the underside and the drake has an incised "A" rig mark and its original weight. The drake is illustrated in an article in the 1965 edition of "Decoy Collectors Guide" featuring, pioneering Long Island collector and artist, Malcolm J. Fleming's merganser decoy collection. Both are in old working repaint with heavy gunning wear; the hen has an age crack along the bottom and a bill repair.

Literature: Malcolm J. Fleming, "One Man's Mergansers," Decoy Collector's Guide, Burlington, IA, 1965, p. 16, exact drake illustrated.