Cobbs Auctions 'Unexpected Game' for Unexpected Price

PETERBOROUGH, N.H. -- A rare and desirable painting by one of America's premier sporting illustrators brought a record price paid at auction this past weekend at Cobbs Auctioneers.

The auction featured a portion of the sporting collection of the late Walter and Helen Peterson, Nashua, N.H., and was filled to the brim with rare books, quality fly-rods, trophy mounts and numerous pieces of artwork.

The highlight of the auction came as a Phillip Russell Goodwin oil on canvas, entitled, "Unexpected Game," crossed the auction block. The painting was cataloged as being in untouched original condition and was said to have been in the Peterson collection since the 1920s. Goodwin, an artist who did magazine and book illustrations as well as calendar art, is perhaps best known for the illustrations that he did for Winchester, Remington and Marlin.

The rare 24- by 33-inch painting, in the original frame, sold after active bidding to one of the six phone bidders for $143,750. The National Museum of American Illustrators, Newport, R.I., was the successful buyer.

A complete review will appear in a future issue.