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LOT 10
Highly Desirable, Well Documented and Historic Union Metallic
Cartridge Co. Cartridge Display Board - Manufactured in the late
19th century, cartridge boards such as this were a great complimentary
advertisement provided to sporting goods stores by cartridge
manufacturers to hang in their shops, giving consumers a physical
representation of the wide range of cartridges they provided. One of these
boards is clearly shown hanging in the well-known photograph of the
interior of J.P. Lower & Sons’ shop in Denver, and other examples would
have hung in other gun shops around the country as promotional items.
This specific board is documented as having belonged to the legendary
and eccentric early New Hampshire gun collector and dealer Carl B. Shiffer,
better known as “Shiff the Gunman”, and likely hung amongst the hoard of
antique arms in his eclectic home/shop. Shiff appears to have been born
in New Hampshire in 1878 and spent most of his life there, despite many
stories and legends surrounding him involving his life on the Western
Frontier. This impressive board includes cartridges ranging from the tiny BB
cap up to the massive 4 gauge cartridge and 1 inch Nordenfelt. Centered
around a central diamond shaped image depicting a herd of deer and the
“U.M.C.” logo. The frame features the attractive U.M.C. trademark and Union
Metallic Cartridge Co. carved banners at the top and bottom respectively.
It measures approximately 41 3/8 x 54 3/8 inches overall. Included with
this board is extensive documentation including letters from Shiff himself
to R.S. Quigley Jr., who purchased the board from Shiff. A photograph of
the board with matching wear patterns is included with a letter discussing
the sale, and Shiff’s eccentric personality is very clear in his writing. Copies
of an article from the February 2024 issue of “Man At Arms” are included,
which illustrates the odd and legendary life of Shiff, who was one of
the grandfathers of antique gun collecting. Another included copy of a
note states the another owner of the board (Mr. Behring) states that the
1 inch Gatling cartridge was replaced with a 1 inch Northfield cartridge
and the paper-patched .50 caliber bullet on the right side is an incorrect
replacement.
CONDITION: Fine, showing an attractively aged patina overall with the
background of the board showing significant browning and the cartridges
a dark aged patina. The frame shows a similar aged patina with most of the
enamel remaining on the carved banners. Glass is absent. These cartridge
boards are becoming more rare in any condition, especially with rich gun
collecting history like this one!
Provenance: “Shiff the Gunman”; The Richard S. Quigley Collection;
The Behling Collection; Property of a Gentleman.
Estimate: 25,000 - 37,500
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