Rare dodo bones are set to fetch a high prie as the collection of an eccentric naturalist goes to auction.

The collection was owned by Ralfe Whistler (1930-2023), a naturalist who lived in Dodo House in Hastings, a veritable shrine to the long-extinct bird. Ralfe, who was a member of the famous Whistler family which included artist James McNeill Whistler, was brought up surrounded by his father’s extensive collection of stuffed birds, which were later donated to the Natural History Museum.

The auction includes over 150 paintings, prints and drawings The auction includes over 150 paintings, prints and drawings (Image: Summers Place Auction)

Whenever a feature on the dodo appeared in the news, reporters and cameramen would make the pilgrimage to Ralfe's house to record his view on the matter and describe or photograph his collection.

The first part of the auction will take place at Summer's Place in Billingshurst on September 24 and the second on September 26.

Director of Summer’s Place, Rupert Van Der Werff said: “Ralfe’s father was a naturalist and he picked up on that but took a very specific area – the dodo. For the last two or three decades of his life, it’s not unkind to say he was obsessed by the dodo; it was all-consuming.

“His passion extended to all things dodo – a postcard, stamp, fluffy toy – he liked them all. It’s pretty unusual for that to be the case and it’s led to me having some fluffy toys at auction for the first time.”

Ralfe collected all kinds of dodo memorabilia including a clockRalfe collected all kinds of dodo memorabilia including a clock (Image: Summers Place Auction)

The “stars of the show” are the highly rare bones which come accompanied by a letter from Edith Clark, the daughter of George Clark, who discovered the first Dodo bones in a swamp on Mauritius in 1900. Whilst some items in the collection will start at prices as low as £20, Rupert has made a rough estimate of £10-20,000 for the bones, but says they could fetch even more.  

The sale includes two of the most important publications on the dodo, 150 paintings, prints and drawings, 20 sculptures and many kinds of memorabilia including tea pots, mugs, vases, plates, tea towels, soft toys and a clock.