Gus Wilson Rare Long-tailed Drake

Augustus Aaron "Gus" Wilson (1864-1950) South Portland, ME, c. 1890 12 1/2 in. long

An exceedingly rare, if not unique, Monhegan-Island-style long-tailed decoy. All of Wilson's best mergansers, scoter, and eider exhibit wide bodies with low profiles, raised wings, and inletted heads. Yet seemingly all of his other known long-tails were made in his later styles. Original paint with moderate gunning wear, restored patch on top of head and to tail chip.