GUN FALL 2016
The live portion of this session begins on Tuesday, October 4, 2016.
EXTRAORDINARILY RARE AND UNIQUE ENGRAVED BOOK CASED COLT MODEL 1862 PERCUSSION REVOLVER PRESENTED BY SAMUEL COLT TO U.S. SECRETARY OF WAR JOHN B. FLOYD'S WIFE.COLTPOLICE781.36IVORYCal 36. Long considered the rarest of all Colt casings, this extraordinarily rare gold embossed, red Moroccan leather covered case bears inscriptions from Samuel Colt to Mrs. John B. Floyd, January 1st, 1861 just after he had resigned December 29th, 1860. Ironically, Colt had gifted John B. Floyd with almost every model in his arsenal, because as Secretary of War he was responsible for purchasing many of Colt's arms for the military. John Floyd was a staunch Secessionist who had previously been governor of Virginia and soon would be a Confederate General, he would die before the war ended in 1863. Colonel Colt being such a brilliant businessman no doubt thought this present would help him receive orders from the seceding Southern states and indeed many Colt's were shipped south prior to Fort Sumter. Julia's sold several of Floyd's guns over the years including exceptional Colt revolving rifle lot #1154 in March, 2008. This pistol was made in standard configuration 1st year production, blue and color case hardened with 4-1/2" rnd bbl, brass pin front sight, engraved in script "SAMl COLT". Left side of frame is marked with a small engraved "COLTS PATENT" in 2-lines. Cyl is standard, rebated with and half-fluted for 5 chambers. The silver-plated brass trigger guard & backstrap contain a full checkered, 1-pc "certifiable antique elephant ivory" grip. Revolver is beautifully engraved in foliate vine pattern with pearled background, in style made famous by Gustav Young with about full coverage on the frame and sides of the hammer. Engraving extends up the sides of the bbl with each scroll on the bbl terminating in Mr. Young's human face figures, one bearded with fez. Several scrolls on the frame terminate in flower blossoms and the hammer has an animal's head on each side of the nose. Backstrap is engraved in Mr. Young's distinctive foliate arabesque patterns top and bottom with 2-line inscription in center "To Mrs. John B. Floyd / From Col. Colt". Accompanied by it's extraordinarily rare, incredible original book casing that measures 10-1/2" x 6-3/4" x 2", covered in red Moroccan leather with gold embossing on both covers and the spine. The spine is embossed "COLT / ON THE CONSTITUTION / HIGHER LAW & / IRREPRESSIBLE CONFLICT" and further down is the inscription "DEDICATED / BY THE AUTHOR / TO / MRS. JOHN B. FLOYD". Bottom of the spine "JANY 1st, 1861". The covers are have fabulous gilt vignettes of American patriotism including eagles, stars, George Washington, Columbia, Liberty cap, American Indians and more; banners reading "PEACE", "INDEPENDENCE", "PLENTY", "ART", "SCIENCE" and "E PLURIBUS UNUM". Hinged lid is secured by a unique brass book latch. Interior is green velvet lined and compartmented in the bottom for the revolver, a single sided "COLTS PATENT" eagle & stars flask, a blued steel bullet & ball "COLT'S PATENT" mold with sprue cutter marked on the right side "36P", a tin of Eley's caps with green label and sealed packet of orig Colt's Cartridge Works combustible envelope cartridges along with some loose balls. Book casings such as found here are only known to a very few exclusive collectors and of those extremely few remain in this fine condition. No doubt this is the most important historical Colt book casing known. PROVENANCE: Ex-John B. Floyd family; Ex-Sally Ann Brock Putnam; Ex-Norm Flayderman Collection, 1970; Ex-Bill Turner Collection; Ex-Bobby Smith Collection, Lawrenceburg, Tennessee; Pictured on pg. 125 Flayderman's "Guide to Antique American Firearms", 2007; The Esteemed Collection of Steve Ardia. CONDITION: Revolver is all matching. Gun is crisp retaining traces of original finish in protected areas with balance a fine silver/gray with light pitting. Backstrap and trigger guard retain 95% original silver plating. "Certifiable antique elephant ivory" grips are well fit, exhibiting light ivory patina. Mechanically gun functions well with crisp bright rifling in bore. Case is very fine with only light crackling on the hinge and some light chipping and wear on the edges. Casing surface overall retains most of its gilding with light scuffing and soiling, all embossing is crisp and easily discerned with minor cosmetic defects, a well executed about 1" chip repair to bottom right edge of spine which affects only a portion of decorated border but no text. Flask retains about 95% of its original finish with light scratching and 3 dents on reverse. Mold is very fine, retaining over 80% of its original blue finish. Cap tin and cartridge pack are fine. 49631-32 JS (80,000-150,000)