GUN SPRING 2018
The live portion of this session begins on Wednesday, March 21, 2018.
IMPORTANT AND HISTORIC DOUBLE BARREL PERCUSSION SHOTGUN PRESENTED TO INFAMOUS "BOSS TWEED" CONSPIRATOR JOHN J. BRADLEY APRIL 1858.JOSEPH MANTONPERCUSSIONNSN12GACal. 12ga. If this gun could only talk and tell us why this simple mid-grade engraved Liege dbl bbl 12 ga percussion shotgun was presented by sixteen listed New York City aldermen with a contemporary German silver repair to broken forestock held by seven brass screws. This gun looks much like a Manton Muzzleloader, however the maker is unknown. Presentation as seen in photos was expertly etched in raised relief on buttplate that was then Sheffield plated and reattached. This gun must have had some historic memorialization to Bradley and to the other aldermen presenters. The etching, presentation, and plating most likely cost more than the cost of this gun in 1858. John J. Bradley (1831-1891) owned a livery stable at the corner of 4th Ave and 18th St. He was a long time New York local politician, serving as a State Senator for a total of seven years. Bradley was often the subject of newspaper articles including a wonderful Oct 31, 1871 New York Times article titled "Respectable John J. Bradley"'. "It seems inconceivable that at this time of day, anybody endorsed by Tammany Hall should be able to secure a single vote on the ground of his 'respectability'. John J. Bradley is not only endorsed by the Ring of public plunderers, but his election is of the most vital importance for the perpetuation of their rule. His greed in securing the spoils of office is only equaled by the rapacity of TWEED for extra-official plunder. And yet this man, who is not ashamed to extract at least 200,000 a year from a depleted Treasury for his services....". Bradley joined the Tammany Hall when quite young, and was never indicted retiring back to his livery business and staying away from politics the last years of his life. CONDITION: Good to very good overall. Presents well with presentation buttplate and German silver shield repair to forearm. Iron is overall brown/grey with staining and pitting. Stock other than break is sound, retaining much of its orig varnish, hand-worn patina, scattered cosmetic defects. Buttplate which was silver-plated retains 98% orig silver with some bubbling. Mechanically sound, with clear smooth bores. 51745-1 JS (2,500-3,500)