EXTRAORDINARY CASED ENGRAVED PRESENTATION COLT MODEL 1862 POLICE PERCUSSION REVOLVER.

EXTRAORDINARY CASED ENGRAVED PRESENTATION COLT MODEL 1862 POLICE PERCUSSION REVOLVER. SN 14302. Cal. 36. Blue & color case hardened with 5-1/2″ rnd bbl, brass pin front sight and 1-line address. Cylinder is usual fluted 5-shots with blued steel grip frame containing a most unusual set of 2-pc pearl grips. Grips, as noted, are genuine pearl in two pieces with a most unusual mounting system which consists of the retaining screw through steel escutcheons with an ivory block in the middle that has two locating pins and pin recesses in each grip. Ivory block is pencil numbered to the revolver. Left grip is slightly raised carved in the pattern of a stand of flags with liberty cap, a rifle with bayonet and a star around the escutcheon. Right grip is engraved with oak leaves & acorns and a star around the grip escutcheon. Frame, bbl, back strap, trigger guard & hammer are wonderfully engraved by Master Engraver Gustave Young with full coverage foliate arabesque patterns on the frame which extend over the bbl lug. Several of the scrolls terminate in flower blossoms. Hammer is deluxe engraved with a wolf head on each side of the hammer nose and foliate arabesque patterns down the sides. Top of the back strap has Mr. Young’s typical fan pattern with foliate arabesque patterns elsewhere. Back strap is inscribed, in very fine period script engraving, “Metropolitan Fair N.Y. / from Colts Pt F.A. Mfg Co / Hartford Conn. March 28. 1864”. Accompanied by a 1957 dated letter to renowned collector/dealer Herb Glass, on New York Historical Society letterhead, over the signature of James J. Heslin, curator/historian, wherein he states that the Metropolitan Fair in New York opened April 4, 1864 in the 22nd Regiment Armory on West 14th Street and in a building on Union Square. The fair was held for the Sanitary Commission in order to raise money for their work supplying clothing & supplies to Union soldiers in the Civil War. Mr. Heslin states that the fair was a great success and netted in excess of $1,000,000.00. While he could not state with certainty that this revolver was one of the items donated, but given the inscription and the date in the inscription there is little doubt that it was part of the proceedings. This revolver is pictured in full color, two exposures, on p. 54 of Fine Colts The Dr. Joseph A. Murphy Collection, Wilson. The caption for these photographs and for the Root revolver on the preceding page, which is nearly identically inscribed with the date March 28, 1864, states that Mrs. Samuel Colt, her sister Miss Jarvis, the wife of Gov. Holley and Miss Olmstead were in attendance at the Connecticut booth. This lends further credence that this revolver and the Root were in fact donated at that time for that event. Accompanied by its orig spectacular rosewood casing with burgundy velvet lining compartmented in the bottom for the revolver, a spectacular presentation quality, high gloss finish, 2-cavity steel bullet mold with “COLTS PATENT” sprue cutter, marked on the right side “36P”, an equally high gloss finish nipple wrench, a sgl sided “COLTS PATENT” eagle flask, a full lacquered tin of Eley’s Bros. caps, two spare nipples and five orig sealed packets of combustible cartridges. Inside the lid is a small card, inscribed in period ink script, “From Colts Patent / Fire Arms Company / $—.00 / 5 1/2 inch Police/Pearl Stock.” The price has been obliterated but there is little doubt that this was the orig price card from the Metropolitan Fair in 1864. Colt presentation revolvers are not uncommon, however organizational presentations such as this one are extremely rare especially given the complete deluxe treatment as found on this set. Additionally accompanied by reprints of two photos, one of which is probably the Armory mentioned above and the other the building on Union Square. Both have “Metropolitan Fair” in large letters prominently displayed with the latter photograph showing numerous men & women in formal attire entering the building with horses & carriages in the foreground. The Armory picture appears to have several soldiers in uniform in the front. Additionally accompanied by an orig issue of the April 9, 1864 edition of Harper’s Weekly which cover is of “THE METROPOLITAN FAIR BUILDINGS ON 14TH STREET, NEW YORK” with an article about the fair and also mentions the building on Union Square. Page 228 in this publication has an etching of the Metropolitan Fair buildings on Union Square which depicts numerous people in formal attire entering the building. There are also drawings of Maj. Gen. John Dix who was the President of the Metropolitan Fair and Rev. Henry W. Bellows who was President of the U.S. Sanitary Commission. Page 229 is entirely devoted to the U.S. Sanitary Commission with vignettes of ladies nursing wounded soldiers. PROVENANCE: Dr. Joseph A. Murphy Collection; Herb Glass CONDITION: Very fine, all matching including wedge & grips. Bbl retains about 30% glossy orig blue with balance flaked, not worn, to a light patina. Frame & hammer retain most of their orig case colors, strong & bright, slightly darkened on top edge of hammer. Cyl retains about 50% glossy orig blue with balance flaked to a light patina. Back strap is cleaned over the inscription area to gray metal color with strong blue at top & butt strap. Trigger guard retains thin orig blue, stronger in sheltered areas, gray on front strap with light pitting. Grips are extraordinary with a minor chip on right toe, otherwise are sound with great fire & color. Mechanics are crisp, brilliant shiny bore with one spot of light pitting. May be unfired. Case is completely sound with faded oil cloth on bottom, lightly to moderately faded interior with very light soil. All accessories are exceptionally fine and appear to be unused. Cartridge packets are crisp. Photos are fine. Newspaper is slightly yellowed and a little brittle with worn back edge but appears to be completely intact. 4-36493 JR129 (150,000-225,000)

Auction: Firearms - Fall 2009

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
	2156	$143,750.00	EXTRAORDINARY CASED ENGRAVED PRESENTATION COLT MODEL 1862 POLICE PERCUSSION REVOLVER. SN 14302. Cal. 36. Blue & color case hardened with 5-1/2″ rnd bbl, brass pin front sight and 1-line address. Cylinder is usual fluted 5-shots with blued steel grip frame containing a most unusual set of 2-pc pearl grips. Grips, as noted, are genuine pearl in two pieces with a most unusual mounting system which consists of the retaining screw through steel escutcheons with an ivory block in the middle that has two locating pins and pin recesses in each grip. Ivory block is pencil numbered to the revolver. Left grip is slightly raised carved in the pattern of a stand of flags with liberty cap, a rifle with bayonet and a star around the escutcheon. Right grip is engraved with oak leaves & acorns and a star around the grip escutcheon. Frame, bbl, back strap, trigger guard & hammer are wonderfully engraved by Master Engraver Gustave Young with full coverage foliate arabesque patterns on the frame which extend over the bbl lug. Several of the scrolls terminate in flower blossoms. Hammer is deluxe engraved with a wolf head on each side of the hammer nose and foliate arabesque patterns down the sides. Top of the back strap has Mr. Young’s typical fan pattern with foliate arabesque patterns elsewhere. Back strap is inscribed, in very fine period script engraving, “Metropolitan Fair N.Y. / from Colts Pt F.A. Mfg Co / Hartford Conn. March 28. 1864”. Accompanied by a 1957 dated letter to renowned collector/dealer Herb Glass, on New York Historical Society letterhead, over the signature of James J. Heslin, curator/historian, wherein he states that the Metropolitan Fair in New York opened April 4, 1864 in the 22nd Regiment Armory on West 14th Street and in a building on Union Square. The fair was held for the Sanitary Commission in order to raise money for their work supplying clothing & supplies to Union soldiers in the Civil War. Mr. Heslin states that the fair was a great success and netted in excess of $1,000,000.00. While he could not state with certainty that this revolver was one of the items donated, but given the inscription and the date in the inscription there is little doubt that it was part of the proceedings. This revolver is pictured in full color, two exposures, on p. 54 of Fine Colts The Dr. Joseph A. Murphy Collection, Wilson. The caption for these photographs and for the Root revolver on the preceding page, which is nearly identically inscribed with the date March 28, 1864, states that Mrs. Samuel Colt, her sister Miss Jarvis, the wife of Gov. Holley and Miss Olmstead were in attendance at the Connecticut booth. This lends further credence that this revolver and the Root were in fact donated at that time for that event. Accompanied by its orig spectacular rosewood casing with burgundy velvet lining compartmented in the bottom for the revolver, a spectacular presentation quality, high gloss finish, 2-cavity steel bullet mold with “COLTS PATENT” sprue cutter, marked on the right side “36P”, an equally high gloss finish nipple wrench, a sgl sided “COLTS PATENT” eagle flask, a full lacquered tin of Eley’s Bros. caps, two spare nipples and five orig sealed packets of combustible cartridges. Inside the lid is a small card, inscribed in period ink script, “From Colts Patent / Fire Arms Company / $—.00 / 5 1/2 inch Police/Pearl Stock.” The price has been obliterated but there is little doubt that this was the orig price card from the Metropolitan Fair in 1864. Colt presentation revolvers are not uncommon, however organizational presentations such as this one are extremely rare especially given the complete deluxe treatment as found on this set. Additionally accompanied by reprints of two photos, one of which is probably the Armory mentioned above and the other the building on Union Square. Both have “Metropolitan Fair” in large letters prominently displayed with the latter photograph showing numerous men & women in formal attire entering the building with horses & carriages in the foreground. The Armory picture appears to have several soldiers in uniform in the front. Additionally accompanied by an orig issue of the April 9, 1864 edition of Harper’s Weekly which cover is of “THE METROPOLITAN FAIR BUILDINGS ON 14TH STREET, NEW YORK” with an article about the fair and also mentions the building on Union Square. Page 228 in this publication has an etching of the Metropolitan Fair buildings on Union Square which depicts numerous people in formal attire entering the building. There are also drawings of Maj. Gen. John Dix who was the President of the Metropolitan Fair and Rev. Henry W. Bellows who was President of the U.S. Sanitary Commission. Page 229 is entirely devoted to the U.S. Sanitary Commission with vignettes of ladies nursing wounded soldiers. PROVENANCE: Dr. Joseph A. Murphy Collection; Herb Glass CONDITION: Very fine, all matching including wedge & grips. Bbl retains about 30% glossy orig blue with balance flaked, not worn, to a light patina. Frame & hammer retain most of their orig case colors, strong & bright, slightly darkened on top edge of hammer. Cyl retains about 50% glossy orig blue with balance flaked to a light patina. Back strap is cleaned over the inscription area to gray metal color with strong blue at top & butt strap. Trigger guard retains thin orig blue, stronger in sheltered areas, gray on front strap with light pitting. Grips are extraordinary with a minor chip on right toe, otherwise are sound with great fire & color. Mechanics are crisp, brilliant shiny bore with one spot of light pitting. May be unfired. Case is completely sound with faded oil cloth on bottom, lightly to moderately faded interior with very light soil. All accessories are exceptionally fine and appear to be unused. Cartridge packets are crisp. Photos are fine. Newspaper is slightly yellowed and a little brittle with worn back edge but appears to be completely intact. 4-36493 JR129 (150,000-225,000) Auction: Firearms - Fall 2009 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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