April 24-25, 2019 Extraordinary, Sporting, & Collector Firearms
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 4/25/2019
Lot consists of: Item (A) Original framed pen and ink drawing of the United States Arsenal, Springfield, Massachusetts; viewed from the north, from the sketchbook of Lieutenant Colonel James Gilchrist Benton, Commanding Officer 1866 - 1881. Benton is a listed American artist who actively sketched and painted throughout his career. While stationed at the San Antonio Ordnance Depot in Texas from 1849-1852, he sketched Spanish missions, Texas battlefields, and other Texas subjects. Many of these sketches were used by New Orleans painter Charles Smith in his painting entitled "Moving Panorama of Texas and California." Benton's sketches survive in the collection of the Amon Carter Museum in Fort Worth, Texas. He was a meticulous draftsman as well. This drawing was taken amongst the loose sheets of its original folder labelled with Benton's name and rank from the stock of the late antiquarian Rockwell Gardner. Drawing measures 22" x 10-1/2". Professionally framed to 29" x 18". Benton graduated from West point in 1842 and was appointed 2nd Lieutenant of Ordnance; he was an instructor at West Point in 1857, and in 1861 he was assistant to the Chief of Ordnance. In 1863 he was ordered to the command of Washington Arsenal, and promoted to Colonel in 1865. The Springfield rifle Models 1866, 1868, 1873 and 1879 were made under his direction. He was in command of the National Army of Springfield in 1866 until his death in 1881. He published numerous Ordnance instruction manuals. It is a fabulous drawing in excellent condition but does have some light centerfolds. Item (B) Small book titled "Marco Paul's Travels and Adventures and the Pursuit of Knowledge", Springfield Armory, published in 1845. Item (C) Harper's New Monthly Magazine, July 1852, Volume V "The Armory at Springfield". Item (D) "The National Armories: A Review" booklet, 1852, published by Springfield Armory. Item (E) Booklet dated 1820. Item (F) Printed letter from the secretary of war. Item (G) Loose booklet "The National Armories to the Honorable George T. Davis, Member of Congress, From Massachusetts, replying to his speech in the House of Representatives on the 3rd and 11th of January, 1853 on the question of changing the superintendent of the Armories from military to civil". Item (H) Book, sans cover, dated 1854 with regards to the superintendents of National Armories. Item (I) Hard cover book titled "Manufacturers at National Armory 1872-1877". 75 pages of costs of manufacture. Some water stains at bottom.