Decoy enthusiast Jim Doherty of New Jersey was known as a passionate Americana collector who assembled one of the finest collections of waterfowl decoys in the country. He passed away unexpectedly in 2013. His wife, Pat, also took tremendous pride in the collection. She also had a keen eye for color and form. Pat passed away on May 2, 2020. Over time, for nearly four decades, Jim and Pat built a collection considered by most in the hobby to be among the best, but without a doubt, their New Jersey examples were among the very best. The collection was well rounded and covered most of the major regions with excellent examples by important carvers. Jims friends and fellow collectors knew him as a fierce competitor when it came to buying at auction. He always prepared with a well-planned strategy, especially at the watershed sales like The McCleery sale, where he walked away with the famous Bowman curlew and the Harry V. Shourds gull. His in-depth knowledge of decoys grew from a commitment to studying the available books, having frequent serious discussions with other collectors, attending decoy shows and auctions, and welcoming other passionate collectors into the couples New Jersey home. In 2011, Jim completed and published the definitive book on New Jersey decoys, titled Classic New Jersey Decoys. Today, this work is considered the cornerstone for anyone interested in learning about carvers from the great state of New Jersey. Since Jims passing, his daughter, Barbara, and son, Jim, have begun following in their parents footsteps collecting decoys. Much of Jim and Pats collection is in the hands of the family. The auction offerings are examples of great decoys that the family is excited to offer at auction for new caretakers to enjoy. Pat and Jim would be thrilled to know that their passion and appreciation of decoys continues. Guyette & Deeter will be selling these without reserve on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 20 and 21. Guyette & Deeter is based in St. Michaels, Md. For further information, visit www.guyetteanddeeter.com.