*EXTRAORDINARILY RARE CASED SMITH & WESSON OUTDOORSMAN REVOLVER THAT BELONGED TO FORMER FIRST LADY ELEANOR ROOSEVELT.

SN 644941. Cal 22. High luster blue finish with 6″ bbl, partridge front sight, round top frame with adjustable rear sight. Mounted with smooth 2-pc pearl grips and accompanied by orig silver medallion, diamond checkered walnut grips matching numbered to this revolver. Also accompanied by a distributor supplied, green velvet lined, brown leatherette covered hard case with silver plaque on the lid engraved “OCT. 11, 1933 / May your aims always be perfect / EARL”. Interior is recessed for the revolver, a nickeled brass, Marbles pocket cleaning rod and a small collapsible screw driver. This revolver was the property of First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt (Oct 11, 1884- Nov 7, 1962), given to her on her 49th birthday by her long time personal security guard and companion Earl Miller (1897-1973). Mr. Miller was a New York State Trooper and Navy Veteran of WWI & WWII. He was the Navy middle weight boxing champion and an alternate to the US Olympic boxing team of 1920, and for a short time a circus acrobat. After joining the New York State Police he taught boxing and judo to cadets and later served as personal body guard of New York State Governor and 1928 Democratic Presidential Candidate Al Smith. Franklin D. Roosevelt was elected New York State Governor in 1928 and when Eleanor refused to be driven by official limousine, Franklin assigned Miller to be her body guard. Miller became Mrs. Roosevelt’s constant companion giving her riding lessons, coaching her in tennis and swimming and taught her how to shoot a hand gun. Mrs. Roosevelt became a very good shot and frequently carried a handgun in the glove box of her automobile, especially when traveling alone, driving herself around the country, not just through the neighborhood where she lived, as is reported in several newspaper & magazine articles. Mr. Miller also bought Mrs. Roosevelt a horse which she rode regularly and encouraged her to develop self-confidence and to allow herself to be photographed. There were long standing rumors of a romantic involvement between Miller and Mrs. Roosevelt that have never been completely debunked or verified. Accompanying this revolver is a notarized affidavit from John A. Roosevelt, Mrs. Roosevelt’s youngest son, dated January 24, 1974 which states that upon his mother’s death in 1962 he inherited along with this revolver her estate and gave it to Charles Curnan, the longtime caretaker of the Roosevelt property and multi-talented friend of the family who handled just about everything at Mrs. Roosevelt’s property as the superintendent of Val-Kill Farms, Hyde Park, NY. Mr. Curnan was not only a Roosevelt employee, he was more a family member than anything, who was with the Roosevelt family through 3 generations from FDR to John Roosevelt. “Charlie” Curnan was actually the honoree of the last party hosted by Mrs. Roosevelt, July 28, 1962, wherein he was presented with a silver platter. When Mrs. Roosevelt died, Mr. Curnan was the one who made all the arrangements and was responsible even for her body and was a pallbearer at her funeral. Accompanied by copies of Mrs. Roosevelt’s pistol permit from the State of New York, dated 1957. Also accompanied by a copy of a photograph of Mr. Curnan, Eleanor, John and Anne Roosevelt with Mr. Curnan holding the silver platter. Additionally accompanied by a picture from a magazine article showing Mrs. Roosevelt shooting a Smith & Wesson revolver. The revolver being sold herein will letter from Smith & Wesson as having been shipped June 22, 1933 to Federal Laboratories Inc., Pittsburgh, PA in a group of 6 different revolvers and was not cased at the time. Given Mr. Miller’s former connection with the New York State Police, and his position with the Roosevelt family, it stands to reason that he ordered the revolver and had it shipped to a contact at Federal Laboratories for him to have cased. Federal Laboratories was the manufacturer of tear gas guns and tear gas for law enforcement and the military, along with firearms, ammunition and other military supplies to private industry, strikebreakers, labor espionage agencies, vigilante groups, state and municipal law enforcement agencies all throughout the 1930s and 40s. Times have sure changed the attitude of most members of the Democrat party as relates to the ownership and use of firearms. It should be noted that the notarized letter from John Roosevelt and the NY State Pistol Permit all have the wrong serial number listed. All of that correspondence lists the serial number as “644041”, when in fact, it is “644941”. The “9” of the serial number, on a simple cursory look appears to be a “0”, but under magnification is actually a “9”. What a wonderful opportunity to purchase a firearm owned and used by “The First Lady of the World”. Mrs. Roosevelt was a crusader’s crusader, continuously, energetically and tirelessly promoting various charitable causes, not only here in the United States, but around the world. She is a shining example of what we expect, no, demand, of a First Lady. She was a grand Lady who truly did care, whose efforts weren’t just for show or self-aggrandizement, but were for the benefit of those less fortunate, and to promote the image of America. CONDITION: Extremely fine plus. Overall retains about 99% glossy orig blue with only faint, sharp edge wear and a very light cylinder line. Mechanics are crisp. Brilliant, shiny bore, has been fired but not a lot. Case is sound showing wear around the bottom edges with a few nicks and scratches and retains most of its orig brown finish. Interior is bright and clean. Accessories are extremely fine. Walnut grips are extremely fine, as new. 4-54300 JR293 (45,000-65,000) – Lot 3173

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Auction: Firearms - Fall 2014

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
	3173	$50,600.00	EXTRAORDINARILY RARE CASED SMITH & WESSON OUTDOORSMAN REVOLVER THAT BELONGED TO FORMER FIRST LADY ELEANOR ROOSEVELT. SN 644941. Cal 22. High luster blue finish with 6″ bbl, partridge front sight, round top frame with adjustable rear sight. Mounted with smooth 2-pc pearl grips and accompanied by orig silver medallion, diamond checkered walnut grips matching numbered to this revolver. Also accompanied by a distributor supplied, green velvet lined, brown leatherette covered hard case with silver plaque on the lid engraved “OCT. 11, 1933 / May your aims always be perfect / EARL”. Interior is recessed for the revolver, a nickeled brass, Marbles pocket cleaning rod and a small collapsible screw driver. This revolver was the property of First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt (Oct 11, 1884- Nov 7, 1962), given to her on her 49th birthday by her long time personal security guard and companion Earl Miller (1897-1973). Mr. Miller was a New York State Trooper and Navy Veteran of WWI & WWII. He was the Navy middle weight boxing champion and an alternate to the US Olympic boxing team of 1920, and for a short time a circus acrobat. After joining the New York State Police he taught boxing and judo to cadets and later served as personal body guard of New York State Governor and 1928 Democratic Presidential Candidate Al Smith. Franklin D. Roosevelt was elected New York State Governor in 1928 and when Eleanor refused to be driven by official limousine, Franklin assigned Miller to be her body guard. Miller became Mrs. Roosevelt’s constant companion giving her riding lessons, coaching her in tennis and swimming and taught her how to shoot a hand gun. Mrs. Roosevelt became a very good shot and frequently carried a handgun in the glove box of her automobile, especially when traveling alone, driving herself around the country, not just through the neighborhood where she lived, as is reported in several newspaper & magazine articles. Mr. Miller also bought Mrs. Roosevelt a horse which she rode regularly and encouraged her to develop self-confidence and to allow herself to be photographed. There were long standing rumors of a romantic involvement between Miller and Mrs. Roosevelt that have never been completely debunked or verified. Accompanying this revolver is a notarized affidavit from John A. Roosevelt, Mrs. Roosevelt’s youngest son, dated January 24, 1974 which states that upon his mother’s death in 1962 he inherited along with this revolver her estate and gave it to Charles Curnan, the longtime caretaker of the Roosevelt property and multi-talented friend of the family who handled just about everything at Mrs. Roosevelt’s property as the superintendent of Val-Kill Farms, Hyde Park, NY. Mr. Curnan was not only a Roosevelt employee, he was more a family member than anything, who was with the Roosevelt family through 3 generations from FDR to John Roosevelt. “Charlie” Curnan was actually the honoree of the last party hosted by Mrs. Roosevelt, July 28, 1962, wherein he was presented with a silver platter. When Mrs. Roosevelt died, Mr. Curnan was the one who made all the arrangements and was responsible even for her body and was a pallbearer at her funeral. Accompanied by copies of Mrs. Roosevelt’s pistol permit from the State of New York, dated 1957. Also accompanied by a copy of a photograph of Mr. Curnan, Eleanor, John and Anne Roosevelt with Mr. Curnan holding the silver platter. Additionally accompanied by a picture from a magazine article showing Mrs. Roosevelt shooting a Smith & Wesson revolver. The revolver being sold herein will letter from Smith & Wesson as having been shipped June 22, 1933 to Federal Laboratories Inc., Pittsburgh, PA in a group of 6 different revolvers and was not cased at the time. Given Mr. Miller’s former connection with the New York State Police, and his position with the Roosevelt family, it stands to reason that he ordered the revolver and had it shipped to a contact at Federal Laboratories for him to have cased. Federal Laboratories was the manufacturer of tear gas guns and tear gas for law enforcement and the military, along with firearms, ammunition and other military supplies to private industry, strikebreakers, labor espionage agencies, vigilante groups, state and municipal law enforcement agencies all throughout the 1930s and 40s. Times have sure changed the attitude of most members of the Democrat party as relates to the ownership and use of firearms. It should be noted that the notarized letter from John Roosevelt and the NY State Pistol Permit all have the wrong serial number listed. All of that correspondence lists the serial number as “644041”, when in fact, it is “644941”. The “9” of the serial number, on a simple cursory look appears to be a “0”, but under magnification is actually a “9”. What a wonderful opportunity to purchase a firearm owned and used by “The First Lady of the World”. Mrs. Roosevelt was a crusader’s crusader, continuously, energetically and tirelessly promoting various charitable causes, not only here in the United States, but around the world. She is a shining example of what we expect, no, demand, of a First Lady. She was a grand Lady who truly did care, whose efforts weren’t just for show or self-aggrandizement, but were for the benefit of those less fortunate, and to promote the image of America. CONDITION: Extremely fine plus. Overall retains about 99% glossy orig blue with only faint, sharp edge wear and a very light cylinder line. Mechanics are crisp. Brilliant, shiny bore, has been fired but not a lot. Case is sound showing wear around the bottom edges with a few nicks and scratches and retains most of its orig brown finish. Interior is bright and clean. Accessories are extremely fine. Walnut grips are extremely fine, as new. 4-54300 JR293 (45,000-65,000) – Lot 3173 Click here to view provenance Auction: Firearms - Fall 2014 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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*EXTRAORDINARILY RARE CASED SMITH & WESSON OUTDOORSMAN REVOLVER THAT BELONGED TO FORMER FIRST LADY ELEANOR ROOSEVELT.