Just looked at my NAFA lotting letter. I've had "top lot" marten before, but never in the actual top lot of the entire auction.

I'm really happy to see that I have one of the 20 skins in the actual top lot; # 135601 3X/XXL *ssl.
I'm really curious to see what a skin in the top 20 skins out of nearly 52,000 sells for.

Most of my other skins graded well also, three quarters of them grading XD-DBR color.

That one will bring up your average.
A few years ago 2 guys from our council had 1 each in the top lot.They went for 1200 each.

Those were the days.

They'll be back.

I had one with a pale western beaver years ago when the trend went to pale beaver. No computer then or way to follow the auction. I got the check and the grade sheet a month later and almost dropped one beaver sold for $160 still remember that one and will forever.

Actually it was $1300 US which was also $1300 Can. at the time. Sale was March 2013 in Seattle when FHA was teamed up with American Legend. There were 15 marten in that lot. 3 from Labrador including one of mine, 1 from Northern Quebec, the two from Northern Ontario that Boco mentioned, 2 from northern Manitoba, 2 from British Columbia, 2 from North West Territories and 3 from Alaska. Mark Finnegan was/still is the marten grader at FHA. Mark gave me the origin breakdown as well as telling me he had the marten down to 55 skins out of 57,000 and was told to cut the creme de la creme of 15 from the 55. The remaining 40 sold for $310 which was the basis as they say. There were plenty of $200+ skins and lots of averages around $200. I attended the FHA convention the following April of 2014 and bought Mark a couple of triples at the Saturday night blow out. Met Boco there too and a whole bunch of other friends I never met before also.

Lots of Happy trappers that time Frank.I remember meeting you there and also Mac from Newfoundland.Was great talking with you guys.
Hope the upcoming FHA sale is better than this one last couple days at NAFA,but I doubt it.Market is what it is.