April 24-25, 2019 Extraordinary, Sporting, & Collector Firearms
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 4/25/2019
This rare 1890 cartridge board was originally designed to provide a striking visual display of the diverse Winchester ammunition line. Dimensions of the board are 42-1/2" x 29-1/2" image size in its original oak frame with gold gesso lining which is 51" x 37-1/2". The board image is printed on wood grain cardboard with art vignettes, one by A.B. Frost in the left wing of the “W” which consists of a hunter and Indian guide in Hudson Bay Co. blanket coats. The right wing of the “W” depicts a Frederic Remington style vignette of a cowboy using an 1873 or 1876 rifle shooting, using his dead horse as a barricade. The bottom center depicts two hanging ducks. Top center of the board has the large red and gold “WINCHESTER” logo. Board contains 142 metallic cartridges plus five brass shot shells and seven paper shot shells, plus six glass top primer and cap boxes with the massive .70-150 cartridge at the apex of the center of the “W”. Over the years these bullet boards were subjected to the ravages of time and tinkerers. The rare .70-150 cartridge has been replaced long ago by contemporary reproduction as has the .50-70 Gov't cartridge. Board also has two replaced shotshells at bottom center. Mounted in its original flat oak frame with gold gesso inner frame and has its original paper covering on the back with Winchester’s label on the back exhorting the owner to display it prominently. CONDITION: Good to very good. Overall retains a rich aged patina which partially obscures the artwork and lettering but does not detract from the overall appearance of the board. Several small nicks and abrasions are evident and an area of gold leaf loss is evident at bottom inner liner. The paper patches on some of the bullets are very dark and yellowed and some are chipped. The cartridges are mostly dark and smoke covered but may clean much better. Frame is fine. Backing paper is also dark and yellowed and two or three cartridges have been reattached. Rear label is intact and legible. A careful conservation by a competent and knowledgeable person could bring this board back to bright colors.
This is not a standard shippable item and will require 3rd party shipping or pickup arrangements to be made.