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J. (1851) Young Sold at Auction Prices

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Sep. 08, 2012
Magnificent, Historic Colonel Samuel Colt Presentation to His Friend and Business Associate Captain J.J. Comstock, Gustave Young Deluxe Engraved, Cased, Model 1851 Navy Revolver
Est: $150,000 - $300,000
Estimate: $150000 - 300000 Presented before you is one of the most important and historic Colt percussion revolvers ever to be offered for public sale. This cased revolver embodies all the characteristics of an investment grade collectable firearm: beauty, intrigue, rarity, desirability, and unparalleled historical significances. This revolver carries with it a certain "freshness", as it has never before been published. Let it be known that this revolver serial number 30523 has remained unknown to mainstream collectors, authors and historians. Until now, the only fact known about this revolver was that it appears on a hand written work ledger from the Gustave Young shop dated June 3, 1854 which is illustrated on page 93 of The Colt Book of Engraving Volume I. by Wilson. In the hand written ledger this pistol appears independent on the bottom of page and is listed as "Navy Pistol No. 30523 "Fine" 7 days....4hours." The books author, noted Colt historian and firearms expert R.L. Wilson states "Also recorded (on the work ledger) were die cutting, inscriptions, and Navy number 30523, which was probably gold inlaid". A search for this particular revolver has been carried out by the most advanced and knowledgeable Colt Collectors for decades. Only now has the mystery been solved with its discovery, and Rock Island Auction Company is very proud to offer for sale "Colonel Samuel Colt's Honeymoon Navy" presented "By the Inventor" to his friend Captain J.J. Comstock of the U.S. Mail Steamship Baltic. This revolver tells a fascinating tale of America's first industrial tycoon, Colonel Samuel Colt, and his relationship with one of the 19th centuries most noted navigators and sea captains, Joseph Jesse Comstock. Born February 7, 1811, Joseph Comstock took to the sea at the very young age of 15 and never looked back. By his 30's Captain Comstock had assumed command of some of the 19th century's most celebrated sailing vessels including the U.S. Massachusetts as well as the U.S. Steamship Baltic for which this revolver is inscribed. The Baltic was launched on February 5, 1850 and was a 282 foot steamship constructed for $750,000.00 equipped with a single smoke-stack and three fixed square-rigged masts for auxiliary power. At the time of her construction the U.S. Baltic was the most technologically advanced and most luxurious ship of its kind. In fact, the U.S. Baltic was the Blue Riband trophy holder; the fastest passenger vessel crossing the Atlantic from Britain to the United States, from August 16, 1851 until April 29, 1856. The Baltic broke her original speed record set in 1851 on a trip from Liverpool to New York City from June 28 to July 7, 1854 with a total voyage time of 9 days, 16 hours, and 52 minutes both times under the command of "Captain Comstock". As a commander of a large luxurious passenger steamship, the fastest of its era, he made an abundance of acquaints and friends catering to the industrial and social elite, politicians, and royalty such as Horace Greeley, Samuel F. B. Morse and Governor Thomas H. Seymour among others. Another such passenger who frequented Captain Comstock's vessel on several occasions is he who many consider the father of the American Industrial Tycoons, Colonel Samuel Colt. It was onboard the S.S. Baltic that Colt crossed the Atlantic on his 1856 honeymoon with Elizabeth Hart Jarvis Colt. On this same trip, the couple attended the coronation of Czar Alexander II. Colt had previously visited Russia with Mr. & Mrs. Edward N. Dickerson when it is thought Colt presented the famed Gold Inlayed Pocket, Navy & Dragoon Revolvers of Colt lore. On this 1856 trip, Colt had recently been appointed as "Attaché to the American Legation" in Russia by then Ambassador Thomas H. Seymour, the former Governor of Connecticut and Colts long-time friend. One of his business cards as such remains in the casing.The history of Comstock and his ship "The Baltic" didn't stop there. At the outbreak of the Civil War, the Baltic and her sister ship the Atlantic were leased by the U.S. Government to be used as transport ships. In early 1861 President Abraham Lincoln gave future Assistant Secretary of the Navy Gustavus Fox a temporary appointment in the Navy and sent him with a small fleet led by the steamer Baltic to the relief of Fort Sumter. Fox could not relieve the fort before the Confederate bombardment forced its surrender, but afterwards he brought away the garrison. Major Robert Anderson historically announced the surrender of Fort Sumter aboard the Baltic; STEAMSHIP BALTIC, OFF SANDY HOOK, April 18, [1861]10:30 a.m. - via New York. To; Hon. S. Cameron, Secretary of War, Washington"Having defended Fort Sumter for thirty-four hours, until the quarters were entirely burned, the main gates destroyed by fire, the gorge walls seriously injured, the magazine surrounded by flames and its do... More Information
Rock Island Auction Company
Nov. 13, 2011
Audubon, John James (1785-1851), Wild Turkey, Female & Young, 8vo plate from The Birds of America, Philadelphia, J.T. Bowen, plate 2...
Est: $200 - $300
Audubon, John James (1785-1851), Wild Turkey, Female & Young, 8vo plate from The Birds of America, Philadelphia, J.T. Bowen, plate 288, unframed, (minor brown shadow from tissue, light edge browning).
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