The foreword of this fine book champions that Boyd “is at last having his story told.” The writer further states, and quite correctly, “I am thrilled that Jim has decided to tell Mr Boyd’s story. There couldn’t be a more capable and diligent person for the job.”
Foreword writer Dan Graf hit the nail squarely on the head as this reference book fills a void by illuminating the entire body of work created by Boyd, New Hampshire’s premier decoy maker. It is filled with superb historical information, maps, receipts and photographs of Boyd’s home and surroundings, period photographs of the carver and great photographs of great decoys and miniatures.
Fittingly, Cullen points out that “‘Finely carved and nicely painted’ are not the author’s words chosen to describe the work of George Boyd. They are the words of arguably the most famous collector, student and critic of decoys, William F. Mackey.” They are also the words used by a host of collectors today.
Boyd’s work was limited in regard to variety, producing only five species of ducks and geese and two species of shorebirds, yet the miniatures that he carved represented 65 species of waterfowl, game birds and songbirds. Each species of the working decoys is provided with a chapter and each is lavishly illustrated with superb examples.
The first of the chapters deals with Boyd’s shorebirds and exquisite examples of yellowlegs and black-bellied plover in a variety of paint patterns are illustrated, ranging from fall to winter plumages. Chapters on ducks and geese follow, with a great deal of attention and historical information provided in regard to Boyd’s mergansers, black ducks, mallards, goldeneye and teal.
Cullen illuminates on the miniatures, or “Boyd’s Little Ducks,” and then closes out the book with the history of an auction featuring a single owner collection of Boyd miniatures conducted in 1977. The miniatures had been collected by a one of Boyd’s early patrons, for which the carver charged 50 cents apiece. The average price per carving at the auction was $216.30. A local newspaper report quoted Boyd’s daughter as saying, “If he were here and saw all these people paying these prices, I guess he’d just laugh.”
This book covers all of the bases and is top notch in every detail. Filled with history and personable insight, it is not only a pleasurable read, it is a must have for anyone with an interest in American folk art and the art of the decoy. The book is limited to 500 copies and can be ordered directly from the author at 603-964-9918 or cullenjh@comcast.net .
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