EXTREMELY RARE FRENCH ROYALTY CASED COLT PATERSON NO 3 BELT MODEL WITH MATCHING NUMBERED 12″ BARREL OWNED BY PRINCE FERNINAND-PHILIPPE, SON OF KING LOUIS-PHILIPPE I, HEIR TO FRENCH THRONE AND THE DUKE OF ORLEANS.

SN 549. Cal. 34. Blue & color case hardened with 4″ & 12″ oct bbls that have German silver blade front sights and are marked with the address “Patent Arms Mg Co Paterson N-J Colt’s Pt.” with small bow tie at each end. Bbl lugs are flat on the sides where they meet the frame. Cyls are unfluted with rnd shoulders and have the Centaur scene roll marking. Mounted with 1-pc, nicely figured walnut grip that has the number “695” on the bottom left edge. SN was observed on the rear face of each bbl, wedge, rear face of both cyls, right side of frontstrap under the grip & inside backstrap. Additionally, on the cyl rotating ring no additional disassembly was effected to check for other matching numbers. Accompanied by a fine orig Colt mahogany casing with fluted lid and an empty escalloped, rectangular German silver plate in the lid. Interior is burgundy velvet lined and recessed in the bottom for the revolver and an orig brass & copper charger. It is fitted with steal wire brackets to hold the accompanying brass capper and combination loading tool/screwdriver/nipple pick with steel pins to retain the single ball bullet mold that has 3 turned walnut handles with brass ferrules and to retain the spare bbl at the front of the case. The charger has the number “20” on each end of the copper tube and on both the brass bullet & powder rings. The center brass band is roll marked with the same address as is found on the bbls. The capper has the number “255” inside the lid and on the body. Also accompanying in the case is an orig Paterson brass cleaning jag with turned walnut handle that is 13-1/2″ overall length. The spare cyl is retained in the right rear corner on a wooden dowel. Only about 800 of these #3 Belt Model Paterson revolvers were produced in the period 1838-1840 and, to date, only 7 sets are known with the matching numbered 12″ bbl. This exact gun is illustrated and described on pg 15 of “The Colt Engraving Book Volume One”, R. L. Wilson. “From the private collection of Ferdinand-Philippe, The Duke of Orleans, heir to the French throne and son of King Louis-Philippe. Cased Paterson No. 3 Belt Model; serial number 549. 4-inch barrel, with extra 12-inch barrel, and extra cylinder, with full accessories. Varnished select walnut grips. One of only three known cased No. 3 Belt Models with extra barrels in private hands and one of only five known examples”. Prince Ferdinand-Philippe, Duke of Orleans was the son of Louis Philippe the Duke of Orleans and the future King Louis Philippe I of France. Prince Ferdinand-Philippe was born Sept 1810 in Sicily while his parents were in exile. He returned to France in 1817 where he gained an education under tutors. He was a good student and took courses at the Ecole Polytechnique. In 1819, he joined the military and in 1824, King Charles X made him a Colonel and the title of Royal Highness. In 1830, at the French Revolution, his father became King of France and Prince Ferdinand-Philippe became the Duke of Orleans, Prince of Orleans and also became Prince Royal, the heir apparent to the throne. In March 1832, he was granted the annual income of $1,000,000 Francs. From 1831 to 1840 Ferdinand-Philippe led his military command fighting in Belgium where he proved himself a courageous and able commander. In 1835, he went to Algeria to fight the Arabs where he was wounded. He remained in Algeria until 1836 before returning to Paris and then back to Algeria in 1839 and again in 1840 participating in a number of battles. With his brilliant military career, his popularity and prestige greatly increased. Ferdinand-Philippe was a descendant of King Louis XIII who began what would become an extraordinary collection of firearms collection that soon numbered into the hundreds. Ferdinand-Philippe himself was a passionate collector, painter, draftsman and collector of porcelains. It was undoubtedly during or around his military activities in Algeria that he acquired, probably was presented by Col. Colt, this magnificent set. Ferdinand-Philippe died in a carriage accident in July 1842 before assuming the throne. Accompanied by a 10-pg letter from renowned author and Colt historian R. L. Wilson describing this pistol and with some history of the Duke of Orleans and the rarity of this set. He also lists all of the other known sets with 12″ bbls. In the 1990’s the Duke of Orleans one of the last Royal family collections of France was dispersed. The Duke’s firearms collection was gifted to the country of France. Non-French arms and other family effects were sold at auction by Millon & Associes. A copy of “Millon & Associes Armes” auction catalog from June 8, 1999 selling the contents of Chauteaux de Randan including Paterson SN 549 and a 50mm bronze 1837 dated medal of the Duke Ferdinand-Philippe, “Duc de Orlean’s” elegant profile with his betrothed. According to R. L. Wilson’s research, this medal was given to the Duke by the city f Paris. PROVENANCE: Prince Ferdinand-Philippe; Lot 107 June 8, 1999 Millon & Associes Armes, Paris; Page 15 Wilson “The Colt Engraving Book Vol.”; Dr. Joseph Murphy; private collection, 2009. CONDITION: Extremely fine plus, matching as noted above. 4″ bbl retains 95-96% glossy orig factory blue with some minor flaking on right side of muzzle. Frame & hammer retain most of their orig case colors, strong and bright on right side; moderately faded on the left. Front strap & backstrap are mostly silver patina with strong case colors on the buttstrap. Grip is sound with a few minor nicks and retains most of its orig varnish. Mechanics are tight. Strong bright bore with some minor roughness at the breech end. Cyl in the revolver retains about 98% glossy orig blue and about 99% Centaur scene roll marking. 12″ bbl retains about 90% glossy orig blue with most of the losses from flaking on left side of bbl lug and left side flat. Brilliant shiny bore, probably unfired. Spare cyl may have been fired and shows about 90% strong orig blue with sharp edge wear and some dulling and overall shows about 98-99% Centaur scene roll marking. Case is sound, missing its lock escutcheon with light nicks & scratches, and overall retains most of its orig varnish. Interior is moderately faded with light soil. Charger, matching as noted, retains about 60-70% bright copper polish on the two halves of the body and 30-40% gold-wash on the powder spout end and traces on the bullet end. Capper is a medium mustard patina. Mold retains about 75% orig blue with solid handles. Combination tool retains traces of orig blue being mostly a blue-grey patina. Altogether, an incredible orig and well documented and extraordinarily rare set which was once owned by royalty. 50140-15 JS123 (600,000-750,000) – Lot 2143

Click here to view provenance

Auction: Firearms - March 2016

Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

Image	Lot	Price	Description
	2143	$0.00	EXTREMELY RARE FRENCH ROYALTY CASED COLT PATERSON NO 3 BELT MODEL WITH MATCHING NUMBERED 12″ BARREL OWNED BY PRINCE FERNINAND-PHILIPPE, SON OF KING LOUIS-PHILIPPE I, HEIR TO FRENCH THRONE AND THE DUKE OF ORLEANS. SN 549. Cal. 34. Blue & color case hardened with 4″ & 12″ oct bbls that have German silver blade front sights and are marked with the address “Patent Arms Mg Co Paterson N-J Colt’s Pt.” with small bow tie at each end. Bbl lugs are flat on the sides where they meet the frame. Cyls are unfluted with rnd shoulders and have the Centaur scene roll marking. Mounted with 1-pc, nicely figured walnut grip that has the number “695” on the bottom left edge. SN was observed on the rear face of each bbl, wedge, rear face of both cyls, right side of frontstrap under the grip & inside backstrap. Additionally, on the cyl rotating ring no additional disassembly was effected to check for other matching numbers. Accompanied by a fine orig Colt mahogany casing with fluted lid and an empty escalloped, rectangular German silver plate in the lid. Interior is burgundy velvet lined and recessed in the bottom for the revolver and an orig brass & copper charger. It is fitted with steal wire brackets to hold the accompanying brass capper and combination loading tool/screwdriver/nipple pick with steel pins to retain the single ball bullet mold that has 3 turned walnut handles with brass ferrules and to retain the spare bbl at the front of the case. The charger has the number “20” on each end of the copper tube and on both the brass bullet & powder rings. The center brass band is roll marked with the same address as is found on the bbls. The capper has the number “255” inside the lid and on the body. Also accompanying in the case is an orig Paterson brass cleaning jag with turned walnut handle that is 13-1/2″ overall length. The spare cyl is retained in the right rear corner on a wooden dowel. Only about 800 of these #3 Belt Model Paterson revolvers were produced in the period 1838-1840 and, to date, only 7 sets are known with the matching numbered 12″ bbl. This exact gun is illustrated and described on pg 15 of “The Colt Engraving Book Volume One”, R. L. Wilson. “From the private collection of Ferdinand-Philippe, The Duke of Orleans, heir to the French throne and son of King Louis-Philippe. Cased Paterson No. 3 Belt Model; serial number 549. 4-inch barrel, with extra 12-inch barrel, and extra cylinder, with full accessories. Varnished select walnut grips. One of only three known cased No. 3 Belt Models with extra barrels in private hands and one of only five known examples”. Prince Ferdinand-Philippe, Duke of Orleans was the son of Louis Philippe the Duke of Orleans and the future King Louis Philippe I of France. Prince Ferdinand-Philippe was born Sept 1810 in Sicily while his parents were in exile. He returned to France in 1817 where he gained an education under tutors. He was a good student and took courses at the Ecole Polytechnique. In 1819, he joined the military and in 1824, King Charles X made him a Colonel and the title of Royal Highness. In 1830, at the French Revolution, his father became King of France and Prince Ferdinand-Philippe became the Duke of Orleans, Prince of Orleans and also became Prince Royal, the heir apparent to the throne. In March 1832, he was granted the annual income of $1,000,000 Francs. From 1831 to 1840 Ferdinand-Philippe led his military command fighting in Belgium where he proved himself a courageous and able commander. In 1835, he went to Algeria to fight the Arabs where he was wounded. He remained in Algeria until 1836 before returning to Paris and then back to Algeria in 1839 and again in 1840 participating in a number of battles. With his brilliant military career, his popularity and prestige greatly increased. Ferdinand-Philippe was a descendant of King Louis XIII who began what would become an extraordinary collection of firearms collection that soon numbered into the hundreds. Ferdinand-Philippe himself was a passionate collector, painter, draftsman and collector of porcelains. It was undoubtedly during or around his military activities in Algeria that he acquired, probably was presented by Col. Colt, this magnificent set. Ferdinand-Philippe died in a carriage accident in July 1842 before assuming the throne. Accompanied by a 10-pg letter from renowned author and Colt historian R. L. Wilson describing this pistol and with some history of the Duke of Orleans and the rarity of this set. He also lists all of the other known sets with 12″ bbls. In the 1990’s the Duke of Orleans one of the last Royal family collections of France was dispersed. The Duke’s firearms collection was gifted to the country of France. Non-French arms and other family effects were sold at auction by Millon & Associes. A copy of “Millon & Associes Armes” auction catalog from June 8, 1999 selling the contents of Chauteaux de Randan including Paterson SN 549 and a 50mm bronze 1837 dated medal of the Duke Ferdinand-Philippe, “Duc de Orlean’s” elegant profile with his betrothed. According to R. L. Wilson’s research, this medal was given to the Duke by the city f Paris. PROVENANCE: Prince Ferdinand-Philippe; Lot 107 June 8, 1999 Millon & Associes Armes, Paris; Page 15 Wilson “The Colt Engraving Book Vol.”; Dr. Joseph Murphy; private collection, 2009. CONDITION: Extremely fine plus, matching as noted above. 4″ bbl retains 95-96% glossy orig factory blue with some minor flaking on right side of muzzle. Frame & hammer retain most of their orig case colors, strong and bright on right side; moderately faded on the left. Front strap & backstrap are mostly silver patina with strong case colors on the buttstrap. Grip is sound with a few minor nicks and retains most of its orig varnish. Mechanics are tight. Strong bright bore with some minor roughness at the breech end. Cyl in the revolver retains about 98% glossy orig blue and about 99% Centaur scene roll marking. 12″ bbl retains about 90% glossy orig blue with most of the losses from flaking on left side of bbl lug and left side flat. Brilliant shiny bore, probably unfired. Spare cyl may have been fired and shows about 90% strong orig blue with sharp edge wear and some dulling and overall shows about 98-99% Centaur scene roll marking. Case is sound, missing its lock escutcheon with light nicks & scratches, and overall retains most of its orig varnish. Interior is moderately faded with light soil. Charger, matching as noted, retains about 60-70% bright copper polish on the two halves of the body and 30-40% gold-wash on the powder spout end and traces on the bullet end. Capper is a medium mustard patina. Mold retains about 75% orig blue with solid handles. Combination tool retains traces of orig blue being mostly a blue-grey patina. Altogether, an incredible orig and well documented and extraordinarily rare set which was once owned by royalty. 50140-15 JS123 (600,000-750,000) – Lot 2143 Click here to view provenance Auction: Firearms - March 2016 Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

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EXTREMELY RARE FRENCH ROYALTY CASED COLT PATERSON NO 3 BELT MODEL WITH MATCHING NUMBERED 12″ BARREL OWNED BY PRINCE FERNINAND-PHILIPPE, SON OF KING LOUIS-PHILIPPE I, HEIR TO FRENCH THRONE AND THE DUKE OF ORLEANS.