The discovery of a worn, well thumbed copy of the Australia and New Zealand Shooter's Omnibus , edited by Roger Hungerford, Reed, 1980, sent Little Darwin on an interesting hunt , which included bagging the following item of interest .
Australian silver shooting trophy for the South Australian Rifle Association Cup 1861, won by Captain Popham , scoring 13 points , without a miss . He was also presented with 20 pounds.
It had a domed foot relief decorated with emus and kangaroos in a bush landscape, rising to a knopped leaf moulded stem, the bowl with repousse scroll work and a scene of uniformed officers shooting at a target .
Bearing the hallmark of W. Edwards, Melbourne, in October 2012 , Singer and Singer sold it for $5400, which included the buyer's premium .
The well- illustrated book appeared to only mention the Northern Territory on one page , with a hunter holding two Magpie Geese, described as being not as popular as other table birds, but invariably ending up in the pot .
There is one drawing of a crocodile , several photographs of Queen's Shoot competitions in Victoria, Canberra and Brisbane .
It includes information on how to tan your own skins, mount and preserve your trophies, stalking, how to train a gundog , the basics of reloading your own ammunition. It has a good New Zealand section and there is mention of American hunters.
