December 13-15, 2022 Collectible Firearms & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/14/2022
Lot consists of two pairs of Lilly irons. (A) Scarce original pair. Locked closed. Unmarked. CONDITION: Very good. Light scattered surface rust. Otherwise good black surface. No key. (B) Reproduction pair. Uniform overall shallow pitting. Locked closed. No key or internal bolt. CONDITION: Good. These are associated with the US Navy of the late 1850s to late 1860s and are well known from their appearance in some photographs of the Lincoln conspirators while held aboard US Navy vessels. Research has not conclusively identified the inventor, sometimes said to be one John Horace Lilly or a military officer or NCO named Lilly, Lillie, or Lily, (Army, Navy, or USMC) and is often poetically said to have died while restrained by his own invention.
Item Dimensions: Longest: 12"