James D. Julia’s October 9–11 firearms auction grossed $8.3 million with auctioneer James D. Julia attributing the success to several factors: pedigree, diversity, quality and rarity.
Session I, Monday, began with a diverse offering of early firearms; a decorative flintlock pistol with figured stock, marked “H. Ellis” ($4/6,000) that brought $33,350. A rare combination German Wheelock and fuse lock dated 1603 with ivory inlay realized $25,875 and a rare Ames Model 1842 percussion revenue service pistol ($4/6,000) went out at $6,325.
Session I also included the noted Jay Huber Collection of Remington firearms. This collection included a Remington Model 4 American Boy Scout rifle with bayonet and original hang tag ($2/3,000) that sold for $5,520.
Shortly after Huber decided to consign his collection to Julia’s, his good friend, Roy Marcot also an avid Remington collector and scholar, consigned his select collection of Remington long arms. Marcot’s exhibition quality, factory engraved Remington rolling block military rifle with silver presentation plaque ($7/10,000) realized $12,650.
Session II began on Tuesday and was the largest session of the three. A rare Walsh Colt short Navy revolver ($8/10,000) was one of the first few lots sold and went out at $16,675. A small select grouping of rare Colts from the collection of the late, Colt dealer and collector Paul Sorrell included a cased Colt Paterson 1st Model ring lever rifle that realized $155,250. The very next lot was an engraved Colt cased London dragoon once owned by US President Richard Nixon when he was a young lawyer. The gun, sold once before in the Locke auction, realized $74,750 this time. Also from the Sorrell Collection was a refinished cased Texas Paterson #5 revolver ($125/175,000) that sold for $161,000.
Shortly before the auction a private individual contacted Julia’s about two 1st Model Colt dragoons and a baby dragoon. The guns, essentially never used, were in extraordinary condition. The three guns sold for $254,150 — the most expensive of which was one of the Colt dragoons, which went out at $138,000; a new world record for an engraved Colt dragoon. A rare Confederate Columbus Armory carbine ($85/95,000) sold for a solid $86,250.
Julia’s broke the world record it set a few years ago for the most expensive battle flag ever sold at auction with an early 1863 Army of Northern Virginia battle flag of the 23rd Georgia Infantry ($100/200,000) that sold for $161,000. Another rare late addition to the auction was a Confederate 1st National presentation flag of the Putnam Light Infantry of Georgia. The flag had descended through the same family since the war ($25/50,000) and brought $43,125.
Cartridge boards included a rare Union Metallic Cartridge Company cartridge board for “Black Box” ammo that fetched $28,750. A rare Winchester cartridge board, Model 1879 formerly in the famous Eldon Owens Collection ($22,5/28,500) sold for $30,475.
The Dr James Goforth Collection of Winchester rifles included a rare, deluxe engraved Winchester Model 86 rifle with carved wood at $51,750. The prize of the collection however was a rare engraved and gold inlaid deluxe Winchester Model 86 caliber 45-70 ($50/100,000); inscribed to “George W. Larue, 1895.” A prolonged bidding battle resulted in a final sale price of $92,000.
Dr Glen Marsh’s collection of rare Bullard long rifles was the largest offering of Bullard rifles ever offered at public auction and achieved strong enthusiastic bidding. The most expensive of the Bullards offered was a rare Bullard Deluxe Schutzen-style single shot target rifle ($7,5/12,500) that brought $22,425.
Session III started with a bang with D.G. Edwards’ Springfield military rifles. This collection, together with other Twentieth Century military long arms included some rare examples such as the Springfield Armory Model 1903 rod bayonet ($30/40,000) that sold for $52,325.
A WWII military lot included hats from Generals Eisenhower, Nimitz, Wainwright, Doolittle and others ($38/45,000) attracted much interest, bringing $103,350.
Shotgun highlights included a cased pair of Holland & Holland royal ejector, double barrel 20-gauges at $60,950; a Boss, best quality 12-gauge for $31,600 and a scarce Parker AAHE 20 gauge for $34,500.
For more information, www.juliaauctions.com or 207-453-7125.
