A VERY RARE AND IMPORTANT PAIR OF SILVER AND GOLD INLAID AMERICAN FLINTLOCK DUELING PISTOLS BY JAMES HASLETT: MADE FOR JEROME-NAPOLEON BONAPARTE, YOUNGEST BROTHER OF NAPOLEON AND KING OF WESTPHALIA (1807-1813) CIRCA 1803.

These very fine American flintlock dueling pistols are unusually large having 10 inch octagonal barrels rather than the usual 9 and are 15.25 inches overall. The barrels have silver foresights, gold banded breeches, and a large heavy silver inlay with an arrow and ribbon, the ribbon engraved Baltimore. Additionally there is a gold sunburst issuing from the rear breech band. The locks are signed Haslett, bolted and finely engraved, cocks and frizzens en suite all featuring characteristically Haslett quality. The gold lined pans are rainproof and frizzens are roller bearing. The half stocks are of American walnut and finely checkered with silver wedge escutcheons and forend caps. The triggerguards are spurred with pineapple finials and finely engraved. The silver thumbpieces are period engraved GEROME (sic) BONAPARTE. These duelers are not only intimately associated with the history of both America and France but with one of the great romances of the 19th century. Girolamo, later Jerome Bonaparte served in the French Navy until he left for America at the age of 19. He won the heart of Elizabeth “Betsy” Patterson, the 18 year old daughter of millionaire Baltimore ship-owner, William Patterson. They married on December 24th, 1803. Neither the elder Patterson nor the Emperor Napoleon was pleased at this marriage. In 1805 the Emperor sought an annulment and Elizabeth who was pregnant took ship to France so her child would be born on French soil but the Emperor barred her ship from French harbors so she went on to London. Presumably Elizabeth had her husband’s Haslett pistols in her baggage and stored them with Lloyds until her return to Baltimore. Jerome was crowned King of Westphalia in 1807 and following the Emperor’s fall returned to the United States in 1814. Jerome’s grandson, Charles served as Theodore Roosevelt’s Secretary of the Navy and as his Attorney General. The Maryland Historical Society specifically refers to Elizabeth’s father William’s enmity towards Jerome Napoleon: “But the most egregious offense for Mr. Patterson was covering his new son-in-law’s extensive debts. There were bills for tailors, shoemakers, carriages, and pistols.” The reference to pistols can only be for the present pistols as James Haslett was the only maker of superb London or Parisian quality pistols in the city of Baltimore in 1803. James Haslett trained under the great Irish gunsmith, Robert McCormick of Belfast and Dublin prior to making rifles for the Philadelphia maker also named Robert McCormick. Haslett moved to Baltimore in 1803, opening a shop at 64 North Gay Street at “The Sign of the Golden Gun.” Haslett brought all the latest refinements from Dublin and London and may be justly regarded as the finest gunsmith working in America at the time. CF The magnificent set of Haslett dueling pistols sold by James D. Julia on October 15th as lot 2301 for $195,500.00. The Jerome Bonaparte Haslett flintlock dueling pistols are the most historically important pair of pistols to be offered since Christie’s sale of Simon Bolivar’s Boutets on November 18th 2004 (1,687,000 with premium). The Bonaparte pistols offered here have a more romantic story, powerful United States association, and a stronger provenance as Jerome (Gerome) Napoleon’s name is engraved on the thumbpieces. Together with the Lloyds’ wooden case one cannot ask for better provenance. PROVENANCE: Duane Broderson, Martin B. Retting. Los Angeles. Collection of Dr. Douglas Sirkin. CONDITION: The pistols are in good relatively untouched condition throughout with all small lock parts original, little or no original finish, but crisp overall. The wood stocks are fine with no noticeable repairs and minor wear to the extremely fine checkering. The rammers are old replacements. Jerome Napoleon’s Haslett pistols are together with their period wooden storage/shipping box, bearing a wax seal, and tape marked LLOYDS BANK LIMITED in good original condition. 4-49789 (25,000-50,000) – Lot 2366

Auction: Firearms - Spring 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
	2366	$40,250.00	A VERY RARE AND IMPORTANT PAIR OF SILVER AND GOLD INLAID AMERICAN FLINTLOCK DUELING PISTOLS BY JAMES HASLETT: MADE FOR JEROME-NAPOLEON BONAPARTE, YOUNGEST BROTHER OF NAPOLEON AND KING OF WESTPHALIA (1807-1813) CIRCA 1803. These very fine American flintlock dueling pistols are unusually large having 10 inch octagonal barrels rather than the usual 9 and are 15.25 inches overall. The barrels have silver foresights, gold banded breeches, and a large heavy silver inlay with an arrow and ribbon, the ribbon engraved Baltimore. Additionally there is a gold sunburst issuing from the rear breech band. The locks are signed Haslett, bolted and finely engraved, cocks and frizzens en suite all featuring characteristically Haslett quality. The gold lined pans are rainproof and frizzens are roller bearing. The half stocks are of American walnut and finely checkered with silver wedge escutcheons and forend caps. The triggerguards are spurred with pineapple finials and finely engraved. The silver thumbpieces are period engraved GEROME (sic) BONAPARTE. These duelers are not only intimately associated with the history of both America and France but with one of the great romances of the 19th century. Girolamo, later Jerome Bonaparte served in the French Navy until he left for America at the age of 19. He won the heart of Elizabeth “Betsy” Patterson, the 18 year old daughter of millionaire Baltimore ship-owner, William Patterson. They married on December 24th, 1803. Neither the elder Patterson nor the Emperor Napoleon was pleased at this marriage. In 1805 the Emperor sought an annulment and Elizabeth who was pregnant took ship to France so her child would be born on French soil but the Emperor barred her ship from French harbors so she went on to London. Presumably Elizabeth had her husband’s Haslett pistols in her baggage and stored them with Lloyds until her return to Baltimore. Jerome was crowned King of Westphalia in 1807 and following the Emperor’s fall returned to the United States in 1814. Jerome’s grandson, Charles served as Theodore Roosevelt’s Secretary of the Navy and as his Attorney General. The Maryland Historical Society specifically refers to Elizabeth’s father William’s enmity towards Jerome Napoleon: “But the most egregious offense for Mr. Patterson was covering his new son-in-law’s extensive debts. There were bills for tailors, shoemakers, carriages, and pistols.” The reference to pistols can only be for the present pistols as James Haslett was the only maker of superb London or Parisian quality pistols in the city of Baltimore in 1803. James Haslett trained under the great Irish gunsmith, Robert McCormick of Belfast and Dublin prior to making rifles for the Philadelphia maker also named Robert McCormick. Haslett moved to Baltimore in 1803, opening a shop at 64 North Gay Street at “The Sign of the Golden Gun.” Haslett brought all the latest refinements from Dublin and London and may be justly regarded as the finest gunsmith working in America at the time. CF The magnificent set of Haslett dueling pistols sold by James D. Julia on October 15th as lot 2301 for $195,500.00. The Jerome Bonaparte Haslett flintlock dueling pistols are the most historically important pair of pistols to be offered since Christie’s sale of Simon Bolivar’s Boutets on November 18th 2004 (1,687,000 with premium). The Bonaparte pistols offered here have a more romantic story, powerful United States association, and a stronger provenance as Jerome (Gerome) Napoleon’s name is engraved on the thumbpieces. Together with the Lloyds’ wooden case one cannot ask for better provenance. PROVENANCE: Duane Broderson, Martin B. Retting. Los Angeles. Collection of Dr. Douglas Sirkin. CONDITION: The pistols are in good relatively untouched condition throughout with all small lock parts original, little or no original finish, but crisp overall. The wood stocks are fine with no noticeable repairs and minor wear to the extremely fine checkering. The rammers are old replacements. Jerome Napoleon’s Haslett pistols are together with their period wooden storage/shipping box, bearing a wax seal, and tape marked LLOYDS BANK LIMITED in good original condition. 4-49789 (25,000-50,000) – Lot 2366 Auction: Firearms - Spring 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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A VERY RARE AND IMPORTANT PAIR OF SILVER AND GOLD INLAID AMERICAN FLINTLOCK DUELING PISTOLS BY JAMES HASLETT: MADE FOR JEROME-NAPOLEON BONAPARTE, YOUNGEST BROTHER OF NAPOLEON AND KING OF WESTPHALIA (1807-1813) CIRCA 1803.