June 9-10, 2017 Premier Firearms
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 6/9/2017
This finely decorated prospector's pick, circa 1903, was made by John Cox. Cox was a master craftsman who learned his trade while serving a life sentence for murder in Canon City Prison in Colorado. He specialized in making spurs for 40 years, with the "Vallejo Star" being his trademark. This pick, known by collector's as the "Governor's Pick", was a special order piece commissioned by Warden John Cleghorn for presentation to Jesse F. McDonald, who was elected to the Colorado Governor's Office in 1903. He was also the former Mayor of his hometown of Leadville. He was the founder of the Colorado Mining Association. His detailed portrait is featured on the handle, along with Theodore Roosevelt and Henry M. Teller, both close friends of McDonald's. Teller was a six-term U.S. Senator from Colorado. All three depictions are in relief and finely engraved with accurate detail. The handle also features a portrait of the Governor's wife, Colorado wildlife depictions, and a dancing Senorita playing guitar. The head has four engraved silver inlays on each side, including one with an elk, a bull chasing a Chinese man, a police officer chasing a Chinese man, two with flowers, and two with bees. Excellent condition, as refinished, showing some minor wear and scattered light marks. The pick remained in the Warden's Office until 1953, when it was nearly thrown away during a remodeling of the prison. The warden apparently retired to Arizona and took it with him. He used it in his garage to stir paint and after his death, his grand daughter saved it and cleaned the paint off. It was then purchased in 1991 by the former owner. This is one of the finest presentation picks known.