Catalog Auction info Auction #129 - Two-Day Sale, March 27th & 28th (#129) 03/27/2021 9:00 AM EDT Closed Starts Ending 03/27/2021 9:00 AM EDT Auction Info Lot #71 Exceptional and Important Ornate Double Percussion Shotgun Made in Tribute to the Prince Imperial Napoleon IV on the Occasion of His Birth Click image to enlarge PreviousNextSimilar Items Lot closed - Sold Price (Including Buyer`s Premium):$31,200 Estimate: $20,000 - $30,000 Description Description: Bernard barrels numbered 9178, 20 Ga., 26 1/4'' Albert Bernard barrels showing what appear to be unfired mirror-bright bores. This exceptional shotgun was made in the year 1856 and is so-dated on its underside by Bernard, built to honor the Prince Imperial, Napoléon Eugène Louis Jean Joseph Bonaparte, only son of Charles-Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte, Napoleon III. The barrels show all of their exquisite two-tone brown damascus chain-style twist pattern with subdued concave ribs top and bottom. They are exceptionally embellished with gold inlays showing two diminutive gold bands at each muzzle, matching precisely at the breeches, with the crest of the Prince Imperial exquisitely engraved on each tube above the charge areas. The center of the rib is neatly gold inlaid ''HOMMAGE AU PRINCE IMPERIAL'' flanked by intertwining foliate oak leaf and acorn scroll. The breeches show all their original bright color case-hardening and the ribbed nipples show lovely pale blue and appear as though a nipple has never been placed on either. The tang shows all of its original lovely color case-hardening and has open foliate engraving along with a wonderful gold inlaid engraved bust of Napoleon III, father of the Prince Imperial, surrounded by light rococo bordering. The lockplates are very interesting in that they have an ingenious safety built into each hammer and are marked by their inventor or maker ''Invention/Forget/a Gournay''. Much like the pivoting safety bars we see on German and Prussian guns, which are designed to stop the forward movement of the hammer when the muzzles are upward, as would happen when one loses their footing and falls, the hammers each are machined for a small ball bearing which, when the muzzles are straight up or further backward, roll forward and will stop the hammer short of accidental ignition, contacting two small protrusions at the rears of the tang fences. The locks themselves are wonderful retaining all their original color case-hardening with lovely quality open flowing scroll overall, with very nice engraved gold inlays on both the lock flats and flat sides of hammers, each with martial panoplies. The ramrod tailpipe, wedge escutcheons and triggerplate show original case-hardening and the same excellent open scroll, the triggerplate and pipe with pineapple-like chiseled extensions. The guard is very French in architecture and shows lovely original blue and engraving with two gold inlays, a crown surmounting the Prince Imperials initials, ''LNE'', monogramed in fancy script (Napoléon Eugène Louis), or combination thereof; with another martial panoply along the long tang. The smooth steel buttplate shows nearly all of its bright high-polish blue with the heel and tang engraved and showing a gold inlaid panoply of arms. The French walnut stock rates very fine with exquisite grain throughout and fine squarish fat-top chequering at the wrist accented with carved borders, with neat fleur-di-lis to the rears of the dropper points of the flats. There are light tiny dings and handling marks about the surface from the years and the butt shows ''case impressions'' left and right from dampened fabric of a gun case or similar; they could doubtless be buffed smooth or otherwise easily rectified by a wood man who knew his business. The locks are crisp and positive and operate as well as the day they were made and the original ramrod with patch-pull end is included. Otherwise unmarked, we must assume that the maker was Monsieur Forget, although he cannot be readily located, Albert Bernard being a maker of barrels. Included with the arm are 3 period cabinet photos of Napoleon III himself, Empress Eugenie with the Prince Imperial and the third being the happy family of all three. Only one has the trademark of photographic dealer E&HT Anthony, Broadway, New York City; Napoleon III is somewhat faded but the other two remain vivid. Possibly made as a gift upon the occasion of his birth for presentation to the family, it is clearly a fitting ''hommage'' to the Prince Imperial. Certainly no one would expect anyone other than the Prince himself to be toting a shotgun afield with the crest of the Prince Imperial inlaid in gold upon the breeches. A very stunning arm fitting of the finest collection of embellished arms, made to commemorate the birth of the Prince Imperial, a birth celebrated throughout France but which ended in the Prince Imperial's tragic death at the hands of the Zulu in June 1879. (3I9670-429) {ANTIQUE} [David & Lore Squier Collection] (20,000/30,000) Categories: firearm Terms and conditions TERMS & CONDITIONS OF SALE The following paragraphs represent the terms under which all sales by Amoskeag Auction Company, Inc. are conducted. Bidding on any item in the sale indicates the bidder’s full acceptance and understanding of all terms and conditions of sale. Amoskeag Auction Company, Inc. has taken great care in the preparation of the descriptions in this catalog. Although we believe everything in the descriptions to be true, we do not guarantee any part of any description. We recommend that the bidders view the items in person and form their own opinions as to condition, originality, origin, etc. Amoskeag Auction Company, Inc. will consider all requests for refunds. If a customer is unhappy with a purchase, we will be happy to discuss a remedy with them. All requests for refunds must be made within 30 days of the sale date. Therefore, it is important that absentee bidders pay for their items in a timely fashion. All requests for refunds received after 30 days of the sale date will not be considered. Amoskeag Auction Company, Inc. reserves the right to reject any bid in order to protect our consignor’s interests. PAYMENT POLICY All invoices are payable upon receipt. Amoskeag Auction Company, Inc. will accept cash, check, wire transfer, MasterCard, Visa, Discover and American Express as payment for items purchased. Online payment is available for buyers directly through the online invoicing process. 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Non-resident individuals from states without waiting periods may take possession of long guns on day of sale after completing the proper forms and successfully completing a NICS check. If you reside in a state with a waiting period, your items will need to be shipped to a dealer in your state. No modern handguns will be delivered to non-resident individuals. All modern handguns purchased by non-resident individuals will need to be delivered to or shipped to an FFL holder in the buyer’s home state. Buyer is responsible for any and all shipping charges and all items must be paid for on day of sale. Bidders should be familiar with their local and state laws as Amoskeag Auction Co., Inc. will not be responsible for any parties purchasing items which may not be possessed in, or shipped to their state of residence. Some states have restrictions on transfers to C&R License holders, study your state and local laws before bidding. If you are the winning bidder of an item that you find does not comply with your state’s laws, you will still be required to pay your invoice, Amoskeag Auction Co. will then re-offer the arm on your behalf. FIREARM CLASSIFICATION: ANTIQUE - no paperwork required MODERN - Post-1898 firearm which requires an FFL or 4473 with corresponding successful background check in order to be delivered. C&R - for firearms that fall under the ATF Curio & Relics licensing and if purchased by a person with a “C&R License” no paperwork is required. NOTE: Items that meet the age requirements but have been altered from their original configuration may NOT be delivered on a C&R License. SAFETY WARNING Amoskeag Auction Company, Inc. does not warranty the safety of any article it sells. Therefore, it is imperative that, before you use any firearm, purchased here or anywhere else, you have it examined by a qualified gunsmith to determine whether or not it is safe to use. 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NOTE: Phone bids MUST be arranged by 5:00pm ON THURSDAY prior to the sale. • All absentee/telephone bidder invoices are mailed within a few days of the sale, on-line invoices are issued by end of business on the Tuesday following the sale; all invoices are due upon receipt. Invoices are to be paid either by cash or check, or by credit cards listed above. All items not paid for within 20 business days from sale date shall be considered abandoned as well as any deposit that was made on those items and Amoskeag Auction Company, Inc. shall have sole discretion as to their disposal.
