EXTREMELY IMPORTANT AND HISTORIC PAIR OF SOUTHERN AGENT MARKED DERINGERS INSCRIBED TO R.E. LEE.

EXTREMELY IMPORTANT AND HISTORIC PAIR OF SOUTHERN AGENT MARKED DERINGERS INSCRIBED TO R.E. LEE. It is a rare occasion, indeed, when anything related to Confederate General Robert E. Lee, one of America’s most famous military leaders comes to market. This offering is an extremely fine pair of Philadelphia Deringers, .41 caliber with 3-1/8” barrels marked “Wolf & Durringer/Louise KY/Agents on the top barrel flats. “Deringer/Philadelphia” is marked on each of the lock plates. The left flat of each barrel is proof marked with a “P” in a sunburst-like cartouche. The barrels were once decorated with gold to simulate Damascus steel. All furniture is German silver. The trigger guards are stamped “2” and “3” respectively near the toe. On each there is a shield shaped escutcheon inset in the stock behind the barrel tang each with period engraved inscription “R.E. Lee/Va”.

Accompanying these two historic Deringers are three letters dated 1933. The first is from a coin dealer in St. Louis offering these inscribed pistols to another dealer. The letter also states that they had been owned by him at an earlier time and sold around 1913 subsequently re-purchasing them in 1933. Furthermore the letter states that they …”belong to Gen. Lee when as an officer in the U.S. Army he was stationed in this part of the country at about the period of the Mexican War.” A letter dated two days later from a New York coin dealer offers these pistols to a customer for $125.00 cash. About one month later there is a handwritten note between the same two reducing the price to $110 (in the very depths of the depression).

The agents Wolf & Durringer appear in the Louisville Kentucky City Directories and there are references to their business as early as 1845. This fine pair of Deringers likely date to the 1850-1855 period. These pistols were actually manufactured by Henry Deringer in Philadelphia, ordered in quantity by this Kentucky dealer and subsequently marked with their name as “agents.” Throughout the career of Robert E. Lee many citizens, soldiers, officers, politicians and friends showered him with gifts of honor and gratitude. Evidence of this is most certainly seen in important museum collections throughout America whose collections have letters and objects presented to Lee. A rare opportunity to acquire a fine pair of high quality and condition southern marked Deringers inscribed to one of America’s most prominent leaders. CONDITION: Extremely fine. The pair retains approximately 95% of the flecked brown finish on the barrels and dark casehardening on the breech plugs, lock plates and hammers. None of the gold decorative elements remain. The German silver furniture is fine with little signs of wear. The varnish on both stocks is worn slightly around the grips and one has a small hairline crack running forward from the left barrel key escutcheon. 4-49249 CW (10,000-50,000)

Auction: Firearms - Fall 2003

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
	525	$48,875.00	EXTREMELY IMPORTANT AND HISTORIC PAIR OF SOUTHERN AGENT MARKED DERINGERS INSCRIBED TO R.E. LEE. It is a rare occasion, indeed, when anything related to Confederate General Robert E. Lee, one of America’s most famous military leaders comes to market. This offering is an extremely fine pair of Philadelphia Deringers, .41 caliber with 3-1/8” barrels marked “Wolf & Durringer/Louise KY/Agents on the top barrel flats. “Deringer/Philadelphia” is marked on each of the lock plates. The left flat of each barrel is proof marked with a “P” in a sunburst-like cartouche. The barrels were once decorated with gold to simulate Damascus steel. All furniture is German silver. The trigger guards are stamped “2” and “3” respectively near the toe. On each there is a shield shaped escutcheon inset in the stock behind the barrel tang each with period engraved inscription “R.E. Lee/Va”. Accompanying these two historic Deringers are three letters dated 1933. The first is from a coin dealer in St. Louis offering these inscribed pistols to another dealer. The letter also states that they had been owned by him at an earlier time and sold around 1913 subsequently re-purchasing them in 1933. Furthermore the letter states that they …”belong to Gen. Lee when as an officer in the U.S. Army he was stationed in this part of the country at about the period of the Mexican War.” A letter dated two days later from a New York coin dealer offers these pistols to a customer for $125.00 cash. About one month later there is a handwritten note between the same two reducing the price to $110 (in the very depths of the depression). The agents Wolf & Durringer appear in the Louisville Kentucky City Directories and there are references to their business as early as 1845. This fine pair of Deringers likely date to the 1850-1855 period. These pistols were actually manufactured by Henry Deringer in Philadelphia, ordered in quantity by this Kentucky dealer and subsequently marked with their name as “agents.” Throughout the career of Robert E. Lee many citizens, soldiers, officers, politicians and friends showered him with gifts of honor and gratitude. Evidence of this is most certainly seen in important museum collections throughout America whose collections have letters and objects presented to Lee. A rare opportunity to acquire a fine pair of high quality and condition southern marked Deringers inscribed to one of America’s most prominent leaders. CONDITION: Extremely fine. The pair retains approximately 95% of the flecked brown finish on the barrels and dark casehardening on the breech plugs, lock plates and hammers. None of the gold decorative elements remain. The German silver furniture is fine with little signs of wear. The varnish on both stocks is worn slightly around the grips and one has a small hairline crack running forward from the left barrel key escutcheon. 4-49249 CW (10,000-50,000) Auction: Firearms - Fall 2003 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.

.red{fill:#B50938;} .white{fill:#FFFFFF;} .blue{fill:#005596;}