A taxidermy piece, initially thought to be a Victorian fox head, has sold for £60,000 after being identified as the sole surviving head of an extinct Tasmanian Tiger, also known as the Thylacine.
The specimen was bought for £50 at a West Country antiques fair approximately three months prior to the auction by an anonymous seller. It was not anticipated to exceed its initial purchase price significantly.
Following the discovery of its true identity by two auction-goers, a bidding war commenced, leading to the item selling for £50,000, with an additional £10,000 in fees.
The buyer, James Cranfield, a collector of taxidermy and natural history curiosities, described the head as a "holy grail" find. Cranfield, 38, stated that upon viewing the item, he found it peculiar and, after extensive research over ten days, became convinced it was a Thylacine. He traveled three and a half hours from his home in Essex to the auction house to confirm his suspicions on the day of the sale.
Cranfield noted that only one documented Thylacine specimen is listed in databases, with its whereabouts unknown, making his acquisition the only known example in existence. He emphasized the significance of this "one of a kind discovery."
The Tasmanian Tiger was driven to extinction through hunting, habitat loss, and disease. The last known Thylacine died at Hobart Zoo in Tasmania, Australia, in 1936. Of the 756 known specimens of the extinct species, only 101 are taxidermy.
Cranfield mentioned that previous attempts to have the head valued at other auction houses were unsuccessful, with experts deeming it "priceless" due to the lack of comparable items. He plans to keep the head for scientific research, making it available to academics and institutions.
Auctioneer Andrew Stowe of Auctioneum Ltd expressed surprise at the find, calling it a "shock" to realize the item's true nature. He noted that even replicas of Thylacine skulls or bones can sell for thousands of pounds, making a complete item like this exceptionally rare, particularly in the UK.
Stowe described the bidding as intense, with bids rapidly reaching tens of thousands of pounds. The final sale price was a significant moment for both the auction house and the vendor, who was reportedly overwhelmed by the outcome.
