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Wilson in “The Colt Engraving Book Volume 1” states that
Furman “operated a firearms dealership at 281 Broadway, New
York City, successor to Lamberson & Furman.” The New York
directory for 1888 listed “Furman Howard C. guns, 281 B’way, H
133 W. 41st.” Trow’s City Directory that year listed Lamberson,
Furman & Co. at the 281 Broadway address. The following year
neither are listed, and Furman is later listed as a broker. An
included copy of a letter on Lamberson, Furman & Co. letterhead
dated February 13, 1890, is signed by H. C. Furman and deals
with a receipt for 100 shares of Silver King Stock. Lamberson was
invited by Lyman J. Gage, Chairman of the Finance Committee
of the World’s Fair, to make preliminary organizations for the
famous World’s Columbian Exposition in 1893 in Chicago and
served as superintendent of subscriptions raising $5,000,000.
It is quite possible the revolver was displayed at the Exposition
Universelle of 1889 in Paris before being presented to President
Gonzalez. Many of Nimschke’s finest pieces were commissioned
for the World’s Fairs, and the revolver’s engraving and inlay work
certainly places it among the finest firearms engraved in the
19th century. Colt displayed firearms and engines at the fair. In
1879, Gonzalez had received another notable high art firearm,
the famous Le Page-Moutier double barrel shotgun presented
to him by the French president which was also likely previously
displayed at international expositions.
The history of the revolver after it returned from Mexico is
detailed in an included statement from Tom Power in 2012. He
indicated the revolver was brought out of Mexico by Enrique E.
Guerra of Texas who was a friend of Mexican President Manuel
Gonzalez’s family and that it remained in his collection until
1988 when he sold it to Jack Slaughter. Slaughter displayed the
revolver and offered it to Brig Pemberton shortly thereafter,
but Brig and Louise Pemberton did not acquire the revolver
for several more years. In the meantime, it was purchased
by Ray Bentley who displayed it at the Colt show in 1992. It
was then purchased by Richard Ellis. From Ellis it passed to
Dr. Joseph Murphy and then was sold by Murphy to Brig and
Louise Pemberton via dealer Marty Lane and has remained in
their collection until now. The Nimschke pulls from the revolver
were purchased by Richard Ellis from Dr. Richard C. Marohn as
documented in an included July 5, 1995, receipt. Dr. Marohn
owned Nimschke’s scrapbook, files, loose pulls, and other items,
and he notes in an included letter that he had planned a future
publication on Nimschke. Unfortunately, that publication was
never completed. The pulls were passed along with the revolver
to Dr. Murphy and then to Brig and Louise Pemberton.
CONDITION: Excellent with crisp engraving and markings, bright
gold inlays, bright niter blue on the screw, hammer, and trigger,
slight patination of the otherwise bright sides of the hammer,
90% plus bright original high polish blue finish, fading to an
even brown patina mostly on the grip straps, faint drag lines
on the cylinder, and generally only minimal age and handling
related wear overall. The grips are also excellent and display
distinct embossed designs, crisp checkering, light aged patina
mainly on the butt, and minimal handling wear. The holster is
also very fine with minor wear, including some verdigris on the
silver. Black beauty is a once in lifetime, collection
defining masterpiece.
Provenance: Mexican President Manuel Gonzales;
The Enrique E. Guerra Collection; The Jack Slaughter
Collection; The Ray Bentley Collection; The Richard Ellis
Collection; The Joseph Murphy Collection; Marty Lane;
The Brig & Louise Pemberton Collection.
Estimate: 650,000 - 950,000
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