EXTREMELY RARE CASED ROYAL PERSIAN PRESENTATION COLT MODEL 1877 DA LIGHTNING REVOLVER.

EXTREMELY RARE CASED ROYAL PERSIAN PRESENTATION COLT MODEL 1877 DA LIGHTNING REVOLVER. SN 9281. Cal. 38 Colt. Nickel finish with 4-1/2″ bbl, half moon front sight and 2-line address with etched panel on left side. Left side of frame has 3-line patent dates and the caliber is stamped on left rear web of trigger guard. Revolver is mounted with rampant Colt hard rubber grips pencil numbered to this revolver inside each grip. Accompanied by its orig black Moroccan leather hinged lid case with royal blue velvet lining embossed in gold on the lid “SYND ULLEE MEERZA”. Inside the lid has a Colt Pall Mall label and the bottom is compartmented for the revolver, a pewter Dixon oiler, an empty box of Winchester 38 Colt ammunition with line drawing of a Lightning revolver on the top label. An orig Colt cleaning rod/screwdriver and its orig bore bristle brush with twisted wire handle. Front of case has a mortised brass lock and a functioning key. The revolver compartment is very rare with contoured partition around the trigger guard and grip frame. Rear of case has two sewn handle tabs which are broken with the orig handle inside. This case is extremely unusual and seldom encountered, probably used only by the Colt London office for extremely special and royalty presentations. This revolver was sold as part of the estate of the late Dr. Richard C. Marohn at the Oct. 16, 1996 Butterfield & Butterfield Auction. Accompanying this revolver is the Dec. 1980 issue of Gun Report which contains a 7-1/2 page article by Dr. Marohn regarding this very pistol. The article includes photographs of the revolver in the case as found today along with photograph of the top of the case and the rear of the case with the handle still attached. Dr. Marohn states in the article that there are no Colt records for this revolver and there is no definitive information regarding the name on the lid however his research disclosed that there was an individual who became the Sultan of Zanzibar by the name of “Seyyid Ali” who ruled from 1890-March 5, 1893. He was the son of Seyyid Said bin Sultan Ahmed who was the ruler of the Kingdom of Oman which had formerly been part of Persia (Iran). There are numerous instances of near-Eastern and middle-Eastern names being “Anglisized” with sometimes comical results. This appears to be one of the instances where “Seyyid” became “Synd” and “Ali” became “Ullee”. The third name on the case “Meerza” is literal and in Persian means “born of the Amir” or “nobly born” and when placed at the end of a name means “crown prince”. Seyyid Ali, whose father is noted above, was one of his 101 children born to one of his 70 concubines. His full name was Seyyid Ali bin Said. He ascended to the throne in 1890 when his brother, Khalifa, who was the ruler, died suddenly at age 36. Seyyid Ali’s reign was also short and filled with turmoil as he was apparently an uneducated weak leader. Although there is no definitive proof that this revolver was presented to Seyyid Ali, the argument presented by Dr. Marohn is reasonably convincing and makes sense when explained as he did in his article. PROVENANCE: Chris Anderson Collection; Dr. Richard C. Marohn Collection. CONDITION: Revolver is extremely fine plus, appears to be unfired. Overall retains 98-99% strong orig nickel with only a minor spot or two on the bbl and some roughness on the front strap. Grips are crisp with only faint diamond point wear. Screws and top & back edge of hammer retain virtually all of their orig factory fire blue. Even the firing pin is still blue. Mechanics are fine, brilliant shiny bore. Case has three separated corners in the lid and shows moderate edge wear with the aforementioned broken handle tabs but overall retains about 90% strong orig finish. Interior is lightly faded & soiled with sound partitions. Label is yellowed and lightly stained with some foxing. Cartridge box is fine, lightly stained and faded. Other accessories are fine. Altogether a rare set. The likelihood of encountering another such cased set is pretty remote. 4-42515 JR184 (8,000-12,000)

Auction: Firearms - Fall 2011

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
	2087	$0.00	EXTREMELY RARE CASED ROYAL PERSIAN PRESENTATION COLT MODEL 1877 DA LIGHTNING REVOLVER. SN 9281. Cal. 38 Colt. Nickel finish with 4-1/2″ bbl, half moon front sight and 2-line address with etched panel on left side. Left side of frame has 3-line patent dates and the caliber is stamped on left rear web of trigger guard. Revolver is mounted with rampant Colt hard rubber grips pencil numbered to this revolver inside each grip. Accompanied by its orig black Moroccan leather hinged lid case with royal blue velvet lining embossed in gold on the lid “SYND ULLEE MEERZA”. Inside the lid has a Colt Pall Mall label and the bottom is compartmented for the revolver, a pewter Dixon oiler, an empty box of Winchester 38 Colt ammunition with line drawing of a Lightning revolver on the top label. An orig Colt cleaning rod/screwdriver and its orig bore bristle brush with twisted wire handle. Front of case has a mortised brass lock and a functioning key. The revolver compartment is very rare with contoured partition around the trigger guard and grip frame. Rear of case has two sewn handle tabs which are broken with the orig handle inside. This case is extremely unusual and seldom encountered, probably used only by the Colt London office for extremely special and royalty presentations. This revolver was sold as part of the estate of the late Dr. Richard C. Marohn at the Oct. 16, 1996 Butterfield & Butterfield Auction. Accompanying this revolver is the Dec. 1980 issue of Gun Report which contains a 7-1/2 page article by Dr. Marohn regarding this very pistol. The article includes photographs of the revolver in the case as found today along with photograph of the top of the case and the rear of the case with the handle still attached. Dr. Marohn states in the article that there are no Colt records for this revolver and there is no definitive information regarding the name on the lid however his research disclosed that there was an individual who became the Sultan of Zanzibar by the name of “Seyyid Ali” who ruled from 1890-March 5, 1893. He was the son of Seyyid Said bin Sultan Ahmed who was the ruler of the Kingdom of Oman which had formerly been part of Persia (Iran). There are numerous instances of near-Eastern and middle-Eastern names being “Anglisized” with sometimes comical results. This appears to be one of the instances where “Seyyid” became “Synd” and “Ali” became “Ullee”. The third name on the case “Meerza” is literal and in Persian means “born of the Amir” or “nobly born” and when placed at the end of a name means “crown prince”. Seyyid Ali, whose father is noted above, was one of his 101 children born to one of his 70 concubines. His full name was Seyyid Ali bin Said. He ascended to the throne in 1890 when his brother, Khalifa, who was the ruler, died suddenly at age 36. Seyyid Ali’s reign was also short and filled with turmoil as he was apparently an uneducated weak leader. Although there is no definitive proof that this revolver was presented to Seyyid Ali, the argument presented by Dr. Marohn is reasonably convincing and makes sense when explained as he did in his article. PROVENANCE: Chris Anderson Collection; Dr. Richard C. Marohn Collection. CONDITION: Revolver is extremely fine plus, appears to be unfired. Overall retains 98-99% strong orig nickel with only a minor spot or two on the bbl and some roughness on the front strap. Grips are crisp with only faint diamond point wear. Screws and top & back edge of hammer retain virtually all of their orig factory fire blue. Even the firing pin is still blue. Mechanics are fine, brilliant shiny bore. Case has three separated corners in the lid and shows moderate edge wear with the aforementioned broken handle tabs but overall retains about 90% strong orig finish. Interior is lightly faded & soiled with sound partitions. Label is yellowed and lightly stained with some foxing. Cartridge box is fine, lightly stained and faded. Other accessories are fine. Altogether a rare set. The likelihood of encountering another such cased set is pretty remote. 4-42515 JR184 (8,000-12,000) Auction: Firearms - Fall 2011 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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