Product Details
ALEXr. HENRY
A FINE AND RARE .360 BLACK POWDER EXPRESS BEST QUALITY SINGLE-BARRELLED FALLING-BLOCK PARK RIFLE, serial no. 4967,
25in. black powder only round barrel with Henry patent rifling, block-mounted open sights with two folding leaf sights for 100, 150 and 200 yards and gold sighting lines, block-mounted gold bead fore-sight, barrel engraved 'ALEXr. HENRY, EDINBURGH AND LONDON.', miniature action with matt top engraved 'PATENT NO. 1776', non-rebounding cranked back-action lock with bolted dolphin hammer, action and furniture with fine border and acanthus scroll engraving, retaining some original colour-hardening, 14 3/4in. highly-figured pistolgrip stock with cheekpiece, sling swivels, horn pistolgrip-cap and with engraved steel heel and toe plates, bolstered fore-end with Henry fore-end tip, weight 4lb. 15oz., in its brass-cornered oak and leather full length case with morocco leather interior, gold-tooled red leather label and with many accessories including matching serial numbered bullet mould, the case exterior with ornate punched borders and marked 'COMTE A de VOGUE'
Provenance: Laurent Charles Arthur, Comte de Vogüé, was born 6th November 1858 into the noble French family that could trace its ancestry directly back to 1084.
The Comte was the son of Charles Louis and Cerise de Vogüé, after private schooling he was sent to the Ecole Spéciale Militaire de Saint-Cyr. He fought in the Franco-Prussian war of 1870 and his leadership and bravery won him the Légion d'honneur.
He married Mary Herménégilde de Contades in Cannes in the January of 1882 and she bore him two sons.
Arthur de Vogüé died in Paris on 5th December 1924.
Other Notes: We are kindly informed by the makers that this Lot was completed as a miniature express rifle of best quality, circa 1880.
Estimate £8,000-12,000