Second rare Tasmanian tiger head emerges after August auction

Summarised from 3 outlets · Updated 21 Oct, 09:32 · Archive

A second preserved head of an extinct Tasmanian tiger has emerged weeks after an Essex collector paid £60,000 for what was believed to be the only known specimen.

An Essex collector paid £60,000 for a preserved head of a Tasmanian tiger (thylacine), extinct since 1936, at an August auction. Collector James Cranfield, 38, spotted the item listed as a 'fox head' with a guide price of £30 to £50, but recognised it as something far rarer. Two other bidders also recognised its potential before Cranfield secured it for £50,000 plus £10,000 in fees.

After the purchase, Cranfield called it the 'holy grail' for natural history collectors and stated: 'The head I now own is the only one in existence.' The auction generated international headlines.

Weeks later, the international publicity prompted another family to come forward with a second rare specimen, which they had kept under a bed unaware of its significance. Auction house staff named this specimen 'Trevor'. It is expected to fetch tens of thousands of pounds at auction next month. Auctioneer Andrew Stowe said: 'Our sale back in August made international headlines and we thought it was a once-in-a-lifetime moment. To have unearthed another is extraordinary.'

How it is being reported

• One of world's rarest animal heads goes up for sale after being found under a bedAn Essex collector who paid £60,000 for what was believed to be the only known preserved head of an extinct Tasmanian tiger has been proved wrong just weeks later.Colchester Gazette · 21 Oct, 09:15
• One of world's rarest animal heads goes up for sale after being found under a bedAn Essex collector who paid £60,000 for what was believed to be the only known preserved head of an extinct Tasmanian tiger has been proved wrong just weeks later.Echo (Basildon) · 21 Oct, 09:15
• One of world's rarest animal heads goes up for sale after being found under a bedAn Essex collector who paid £60,000 for what was believed to be the only known preserved head of an extinct Tasmanian tiger has been proved wrong just weeks later.Brentwood Guardian · 21 Oct, 09:15

In this story: James Cranfield · Andrew Stowe · Essex · Tasmania

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