Bug-eyed ‘fox head’ bought for £50 at market uncovered as priceless ‘holy grail’ antique

The ‘extremely rare’ Tasmanian tiger head was first bought for £50 at an antiques market

The find, originally believed to be a Victorian fox head, has been labelled a 'one of a kind discovery' following revelations it is the world's only surviving head of the extinct Tasmanian Tiger.

The seller set an auction reserve of about $50 for the badly taxidermied curiosity - and was left stunned when it sold for almost $120,000.

The seller set an auction reserve of about $50 for the badly taxidermied curiosity - and was left stunned when it sold for almost $120,000.

Auctioneer Andrew Stowe with the taxidermy head (Picture: William Dax / SWNS) A taxidermy ‘fox head’ that was bought for £50 at a market because it looked a bit goofy has been sold for £60,000 at auction after its true nature was revealed. Natural history enthusiast James Crawford spotted the item for sale in Bristol a

After seeing off a rival at auction, a British collector says he is now in possession of a "holy grail" — a mounted thylacine head. But the item almost went unnoticed, listed as a 'fox head'.