When Morton W. "Cappy" Smith died in 2002, his daughter distributed property from his Landmark Road house in Middleburg among her half-brother, herself and Henry McCall, Cappy's brother-in-law. McCall put his items in storage and put off even thinking about them for a long time.

"For many years I didn't think about any of these objects because I missed the people who had owned them," McCall remembered.

Recently he realized that Cappy's many friends in the Middleburg area might like to have something from his home to remember him by, and, rather than simply run a few advertisements announcing the sale as he would have done before the internet, McCall created the Morton W. "Cappy" Smith Auction online at www.pondvillage.com/cappy.

"This is not an ebay auction," McCall cautions. "There is no seller "rating" because the seller has never done anything remotely like this, and Pay Pal is not involved. This is simply an opportunity for individuals who knew and admired him to bid on a small number of Cappy's things."

There were, according to McCall, too few items for a real "estate" auction, and only several items of substantial market value.

"I included the less valuable personal items as I knew Cappy had many admirers around Middleburg and I know they will recognize many of the objects from his home."

Although the provenance of the items is not available, there is a charming selection of decorative pieces and hunt memorabilia on view in the 105 crisp photographs on the website.

Reserves have been posted on the dining room table, a painting and other pieces of furniture but the personal items have no reserves and any items not sold will be donated to charity.

The sale begins at 9 a.m., Thursday, March 27th and ends at 9 p.m. Tuesday, April 3rd. Bidding, payment and shipping details are available on the website and bidders are encouraged to view the furniture and artwork prior to the auction.

McCall intends to be in Middleburg to distribute small items to winning bidders twice in the week following the sale. For bidders who are not in the Middleburg area, items will be shipped once payment has been received. Winning bidders for larger pieces must make arrangements to pick up their property by April 8th.

"The idea of having some fun with this sale is as important to me as trying to maximize any price," McCall concluded. "Right after the sale end, I am going to Rome where I will have dinner in an old restaurant behind the Pantheon where nuns serve you and sing hymns at the same time. From there, I will remove to the Café Della Pace where I intend to raise a glass to Mr. and Mrs. Smith and to the very interesting lives they led."