A WELL-THUMBED copy of The Observer's Book of Birds was among the birdwatching books owned by comedian Eric Morecambe of Morecambe and Wise fame.
Now it is among his modest collection of ornithological titles which is to be sold as a single Lot at auction in the New Year.
The 25 or so books also include Birds of South Vietnam and Birds of Hawaii though it is not known if he visited either country.
Possibly of greater interest within the same Lot (number 402) is a four-page handwritten letter from another comedian-birdwatcher, Bill Oddie, who penned it while his pal was recuperating from one of several heart attacks.
The presale guide price for all is between £100 and £150.
Morecambe (who died aged 58 in 1984) had a birdwatching buddy, Gordon Beningfield, who was an excellent wildlife artist.
Individual Beningfield studies of a pair of Bullfinches, Snipe, Water Rail and a 'falcon' - each with a pre-sale estimate of between £100 and £200 - are also included in the sale as is Morecambe's own 1966 oil-on-canvas depiction of a Robin in winter.
The comedian's optical accessories for his hobby seem almost primitive by modern standards.
His binoculars (of unknown magnification) were a pair of vintage Deraisme of Paris, thought to have been manufactured by French company Jumelles.
However, no information has been given about the telescope and tripod.
The sale is to be conducted by auction house Hansons at their salesroom in Etwall in Derbyshire on January 10-11 next year.
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| Beningfield's study of a Water Rail |
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| Eric Morecambe's French-manufactured binoculars and case. The pre-sale guide price is between £30 and £50 |
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| Old-fashioned or what? The late comedian's telescope for which the guide price is between £50 and £70. |
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| Winter Robin - as depicted by Eric Morecambe. The painting is expected to fetch between £30 and £50. |
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| Another sketch by Beningfield - this time a Kingfisher |
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