As someone who was around in the hobby's beginning, one of my goals has been to own a horse that belonged to Ellen, Simone, Linda, and Marney. Having something tangible connected to our hobby's founders would have great meaning to me.
I have a Lady Phase that belonged to Marney. I got her from long-time hobbyist and friend of Marney's, Terry Richard, at the 2012 BreyerFest.
Nothing yet from Ellen, but I'm lucky to have a Beswick Appaloosa from Simone. The Beswick version was the first and is better painted than the the second, Royal Doulton version.
Simone's Beswick version on the left, my Royal Doulton version on the right.
Like so many other collectors, I was inspired by Linda Walter's *Alconbury Hill which she showed in the late 1960s/early 1970s. It became a much wanted piece for many and took me decades to acquire. I got the second version first and was disappointed - its paint job just was not the same quality as the first version.
The first time I saw *Alconbury Hill was in Horse & Rider Magazine, October 1970. That was when I discovered that there were other collectors like me, Bobbie Sue, and Carol out there holding backyard and bedroom shows and it was then that I entered the emerging model horse hobby.
Linda passed away a few months ago. Ed and Sheri Alcorn are working with Linda's brother, David, to sell her collection.
Linda had six Beswick and Royal Doulton Appaloosas in her collection and David, Ed, and Sheri went through them all, comparing them to photos and trying to determine which one was the famous *Alconbury Hill. Thanks to all the photos of him, they were successful.
After four truck loads from Alabama back to Florida, the Alcorns had Linda's collection at their home and have begun putting the individual pieces on eBay.
I plan to keep watching the auctions as they come up. I don't think I will add a third Appaloosa to my collection, but it's possible. I definitely want something that belonged to Linda - she was a kind friend and we used to correspond - so much so that I still have her home address memorized. (I chatted with her a few years ago at BreyerFest and that really surprised her!)
If you, too, want a piece of hobby history in your own collection, Ed's eBay account is hr-horsenut. Do a search for Linda Walter and her things will pop up.
Once I get something from her collection, then all I will need is a piece from Ellen Hitchin's collection. I suspect that that will be difficult - she passed away in the 1990s if I remember right, and back then the internet was in its infancy and communication was not nearly what it is now. I don't even know if her collection was saved. But, I am hopeful.
I have a handful of drawings by Linda. I shall always treasure having wandered into her room at BFest and choosing them straight from her hand. She had such a unique sense of humour.
ReplyDeleteHow I will miss Linda! I last saw her @the 2019 Breyerfest and she remembered my name! I on
ReplyDeletece found a 1st coloration Beswick Appaloosa @ an antique store ! Unlike other Beswicks I own, he has a RED belly stamp and I wrote to Linda asking her if I could use *Alconbury as his grandsire and she said YES!! He stands proudly in my curio cabinet--a proud sire, grandparents and great-grandsire of many of my appaloosa and sport bred horses!
She was also responsible for my interest in H-R's back in the day as she willing shared identifying photos (which I *still* have somewhere! HA!)
She was a *true* treasure! Thank you for letting us know that Ed and Sherri will be selling her collection!! Don't know if I'll be able to snag anything-- but I sure will be watching!!