November 7-8, 2018 Edged Weapons, Armor, & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/7/2018
This powder horn has a curved body of 15" overall and features a brass spout, faceted and molded with a brass threaded plug. The butt is of slightly convex wood and still retains over 30" of its original leather strap, fastened to butt with three iron rose head nails. The main body of the three stage horn depicts six frock-coated Marines with tricorn hats, flintlock muskets and D-guard swords hanging from their left sides. It also depicts a ship of war with five guns showing on the left side and another larger ship of war with nine guns showing on its left side. One brig and the other a cutter. Other designs include a running buck, a soldier firing a flintlock musket, the walls of a fort, a socket bayonet, a belt axe and a spontoon (pole arm). Standing in front of the deer is a man with a tomahawk. The professionally engraved inscription reads "LT + SIMON * IEFFERDS (OF WELLS/ AGE 23Y) *~ HIS HORN/ MADE AT LEBANON MARCH the : 9 DAY: 1759 : ~ I POUDER/ WITH MY * BROTHER/ BAUL : A : HEROLIKE * DO/ CONKURE * ALL". This is probably the earliest known powder horn that is definitively American and Marine. This horn can be seen online in the photograph but The Navel History and Heritage Command. It was once the property of the Ashley Halsey, Jr. collection. Simon Jefferds, Sr. was born in 1739 in Wells, York County, Maine and died in the same place in 1801. CONDITION: Very good. The main body retains a light honey patina with some light carrying wear and a few minor marks from use. Brass spout retains a dark, uncleaned and original patina. Sling with some crazing to surface. From the collection of Jason Roselius.
Item Dimensions: 13 - 1/2" L.