*SCARCE PRE-WW II ENGRAVED WALTHER PP SEMI-AUTO PISTOL.

*SCARCE PRE-WW II ENGRAVED WALTHER PP SEMI-AUTO PISTOL. SN 236280p. Cal. 7.65 mm (32 ACP). Blue finish with 3-3/4″ bbl, eagle “N” proof on bbl with serial number on right side of frame in usual position. Pistol has full coverage, beautiful, well-executed foliate & floral arabesque pattern engraving with fine shaded background. Fitted with highly figured, thumb rest, carved & checkered French walnut grips. Accompanied by a brown leather belt holster, probably for another pistol. Also accompanied by a small string tag inscribed “Given to Ben Miller by Count Folke Bernadotte 1946”.___ Ben Miller was Dr. Frank Miller’s father & was a world traveler & big game hunter who traveled throughout Europe & Africa & therefore would have been in a position to have met someone such as Count Bernadotte. A Google search disclosed that Folke Bernadotte was nephew of the Swedish King & during WWII helped save thousands of Jews during the Holocaust fleeing Nazi occupied Denmark into Sweden. As the war was ending he organized a convoy of white buses into Germany to rescue concentration camp prisoners, saving 20,000 before the end of the war and transporting them back to Sweden & another 10,000 in the month after the end of the war. In 1948 with the Jewish occupation of Palestine he became first UN mediator ever dispatched to negotiate a peace. His plans for peace between Israel & Palestine was rejected by both sides & on Sept. 17, 1948 he was assassinated by an Israeli gang. The Israeli commander who approved & signed off on the hit is alleged to have been none other than Yitzak Shamir who later became Prime Minister of Israel. How Ben Miller became associated with Count Bernadotte is unclear but they were both active during the same period & conceivably could have crossed paths on one of Mr. Miller’s hunting safaris.____ Another pistol also being sold in this auction, a custom artillery Luger owned by Albert Speer also from the Dr. Frank Miller Estate Collection is also alleged to have been given to Ben Miller by Count Bernadotte. PROVENANCE: Dr. Frank Miller estate collection. CONDITION: Extremely fine. Overall retains virtually all of its custom blue finish with only sharp edge wear. Grips are outstanding retaining most of their orig finish. Mechanics are crisp, bright shiny bore. Holster shows heavy wear with some loose stitching on spare magazine pouch. 4-36214 JR302 (2,000-3,000)

Auction: Firearms - Fall 2008

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
	1161	$2,875.00	SCARCE PRE-WW II ENGRAVED WALTHER PP SEMI-AUTO PISTOL. SN 236280p. Cal. 7.65 mm (32 ACP). Blue finish with 3-3/4″ bbl, eagle “N” proof on bbl with serial number on right side of frame in usual position. Pistol has full coverage, beautiful, well-executed foliate & floral arabesque pattern engraving with fine shaded background. Fitted with highly figured, thumb rest, carved & checkered French walnut grips. Accompanied by a brown leather belt holster, probably for another pistol. Also accompanied by a small string tag inscribed “Given to Ben Miller by Count Folke Bernadotte 1946”.___ Ben Miller was Dr. Frank Miller’s father & was a world traveler & big game hunter who traveled throughout Europe & Africa & therefore would have been in a position to have met someone such as Count Bernadotte. A Google search disclosed that Folke Bernadotte was nephew of the Swedish King & during WWII helped save thousands of Jews during the Holocaust fleeing Nazi occupied Denmark into Sweden. As the war was ending he organized a convoy of white buses into Germany to rescue concentration camp prisoners, saving 20,000 before the end of the war and transporting them back to Sweden & another 10,000 in the month after the end of the war. In 1948 with the Jewish occupation of Palestine he became first UN mediator ever dispatched to negotiate a peace. His plans for peace between Israel & Palestine was rejected by both sides & on Sept. 17, 1948 he was assassinated by an Israeli gang. The Israeli commander who approved & signed off on the hit is alleged to have been none other than Yitzak Shamir who later became Prime Minister of Israel. How Ben Miller became associated with Count Bernadotte is unclear but they were both active during the same period & conceivably could have crossed paths on one of Mr. Miller’s hunting safaris.____ Another pistol also being sold in this auction, a custom artillery Luger owned by Albert Speer also from the Dr. Frank Miller Estate Collection is also alleged to have been given to Ben Miller by Count Bernadotte. PROVENANCE: Dr. Frank Miller estate collection. CONDITION: Extremely fine. Overall retains virtually all of its custom blue finish with only sharp edge wear. Grips are outstanding retaining most of their orig finish. Mechanics are crisp, bright shiny bore. Holster shows heavy wear with some loose stitching on spare magazine pouch. 4-36214 JR302 (2,000-3,000) Auction: Firearms - Fall 2008 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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