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LOT 1277
Documented Historic Presentation Cased Pair of Exhibition
Quality Elaborately Gold Inlaid/Embellished Geerinckx
Percussion Dueling Pistols Presented to Colonel Herbert Taylor
Siborne, British Member of the European Commission of the
Danube, by the Government of the Republic of France
-A) Geerinckx Percussion Pistol - NSN, 45 cal., 9 1/2 inch part
octagon bbl., gold/gray finish, ebony stock. This exceptional pair
of Parisian pistols from Geerinckx’s inscribed presentation case
indicates they were presented by the French Republic to Colonel
Herbert Taylor Siborne in 1879 for his work as the British delegate
to the European Commission of the Danube. The pistols are classic
Parisian dueling/target pistols in form with approximately .45 caliber
rifled barrels equipped with dovetailed bead front sights, fluted mid
sections, “GEERINCKX SUCR DE GAUVAIN A PARIS” in gold on top of
the barrels, and raised multi-color gold scroll and border designs. The
top of the barrels at the breech are marked “1” and “2” respectively,
and the same is repeated on the standing breeches which feature
fixed notch rear sights. The locks and mounts also feature raised
multi-color gold scrollwork, and the balance of the finish is French
gray. The ebony stocks have full-coverage geometric carving. The pair
comes in a very attractive presentation case with brass inlays, purple
velvet lining with gild Geerinckx markings and foliate scrollwork
inside the lid, and a suite of accessories with gold scrollwork and
ebony coordinating with the pistols. The case also features a leather
outer cover. The case lid features the presentation inscription:
“OFFERT/par le Gouvernement/de la Republique Francaise/a Mr.le
Colonel H. T. SIBORNE/Delegue/de Sa Majeste Britannique/a la
Commission Europeeene/du Danube/Janvier 1879.” The inscription
translates from French to “’Presented by the government of the
French Republic to Monsieur Colonel. H. T. Siborne delegate of his
Britannic Majesty to the European Commission of the
Danube January 1879.”
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