GUN SPRING 2018
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 3/21/2018
GREAT ARCHIVE OF 7 EARLY LETTERS AND EPHEMERA FROM OLIVER WINCHESTER AND RICHARD GATLING.1) 2-pg ALS by Richard Jordan Gatling (1818-1903) on Gatling Gun Company stationery with nice vignette of open bbl Gatling gun on carriage. This letter written October 31, 1881 deals with purchase of patents concerning Pratt & Whitney Company and the trials of a 1.45" Cal. gun taking place soon. 2) R. J. Gatling 1-pg ALS, written May 14, 1889 on Gatling Gun Company stationery, boldly signed on request for signature. 3) 1-pg ALS by Oliver F. Winchester (1810-1880) on Winchester Repeating Arms Company stationery with large vignette of factory. This letter dated January 24, 1874 written to Colt concerning receipt of pistol gauges and cartridges. He states "WE WILL SEND YOU A BOX OF CARTRIDGES AS SOON AS WE CAN GET THEM OUT". This is a most interesting letter tying Winchester and Colt cartridges interchangeably as being used in Colt and Winchester products. 4) 1-pg Oliver Winchester ALS, like previous letter, on similar letterhead dated May 3, 1878 again to Colt Firearms concerning opening a central depot on Broadway in New York "WHERE WE PROPOSE TO KEEP A FULL LINE OF MILITARY GOODS, INCLUDING PISTOLS; WILL YOU PLEASE SEND US YOUR LOWEST PRICES AND MOST FAVORABLE TERMS ON WHICH YOU WILL FURNISH US...". 5) 1-pg on Winchester Repeating Arms stationery, dated August 15, 1877, to the Sharps Rifle Company concerning their purchase of bullets. 6) Printed advertisement in form of a letter on Henry's Patent Repeating Rifle stationery, 11" x 8-1/2" with facsimile signature of Oliver F. Winchester describing the new Henry rifle and its improvements over Volcanics. 7) 1911 Winchester letter to dealer in Philadelphia. SIZE: PROVENANCE: The spectacular collections of Ray Bentley featuring the finest and rarest deluxe antique Winchesters in the world. CONDITION: Letters are very good to fine overall. Creases at folds, minor acid burn and foxing. Two cracks at folds on the 1889 Gatling letter. 53094-190 JS (3,000-4,000)