A German 'Wedding Gift' Presentation Grade Adolf Hitler's 'Mein Kampf' Published in 1939. Presentation & Personally Signed by Dr. Wiard Bronleewe Burgomeister & SA District Leader of Peine

Presented for the wedding of Kurt Wachholz to Margarete gebr. Vogt after some research apparently Kurt Wachholz was a German SS-Hauptscharführer who died by execution after capture in around 1969 in East Germany

Adolf Hitler Mein Kampf Wedding Edition, being an excellent condition example with cream hardboard covers having gilt tooled town emblem and the spine being blue leather covered with gilt tooled details. Inside page with printed page and inked details from the local official and dated 14th 1939, just six weeks after the start of WW2. Published by the official publisher of the NSDAP. The book also bears a facsimile signature of Adolf Hitler beneath his photograph, on the inside frontispiece, and the signed presentation certificate to the marrying couple from the Burgomeister. Originally when SS men were married the book may have been contained in a carved wooden SS box, some surviving boxes do exist but their definitive connection to the Wedding presentation Mein Kampf is unrecorded.

Leather bound with cream covers. Given just six weeks after the beginning of WW2 by the Burgermiester Dr. Wiard Bronleewe of Peine. Bearing the state crest of arms of Piene on the front cover. Condition very good to excellent. Mein Kampf ("My Struggle") is an autobiographical manifesto by Nazi leader Adolf Hitler, in which he outlines his political ideology and future plans for Germany. Volume 1 of Mein Kampf was published in 1925 and Volume 2 in 1926. The book was edited by the former Hieronymite friar Bernhard Stempfle, who was murdered during the Night of the Long Knives.

Hitler began dictating the book to his deputy Rudolf Hess while imprisoned for what he considered to be "political crimes" following his failed Putsch in Munich in November 1923. Although Hitler received many visitors initially, he soon devoted himself entirely to the book. As he continued, Hitler realized that it would have to be a two-volume work, with the first volume scheduled for release in early 1925. The governor of Landsberg noted at the time that "he Hitler hopes the book will run into many editions, thus enabling him to fulfill his financial obligations and to defray the expenses incurred at the time of his trial."

The lawyer Dr. Wiard Bronleewe joined the NSDAP in 1933 at the age of 36. Four years later he was appointed First Deputy Mayor of the city of Peine. After Mayor Erich Krüger was killed in an accident on a trip to the battlefields of the First World War, he took over his office. In addition, he was a member of the NSDAP district leadership in Peine as district office manager for local politics.

In his dual role as mayor, who was able to make all important decisions independently according to the "Führer principle", and member of the NSDAP district leadership, he was responsible for implementing the increasingly radical National Socialist policy during the war years. He played a particularly important role in the persecution of the Jewish community. In 1941 he planned to "level the Jewish cemetery and make it available to the public". His knowledge of the finality of the deportation of the Jewish population is shown by the fact that in early 1942 he coordinated the process of "distributing Jewish housing".

His behavior at the end of the war is controversial, when negotiations with the Americans succeeded in surrendering Peine without a fight and thus saving it from a feared bombing. Some reports describe him as a rather passive participant who had to be pressured to surrender the city, while others see him as the driving force of events, a view that he himself promoted.

Deposed by the Allies in 1945, he became active again in political parties and various associations in 1947, including the German Party. Bronleewe was a member of the Peine City Council again in 1952; after lengthy disputes, including legal ones, over his NSDAP past, he was able to become a city councillor and thus deputy city director in 1954. As a department head, he headed the legal department and social affairs. In 1957, he was promoted to senior city councillor. He retired in 1962 and lived in Peine until his death in 1976. Bronleewe's rapid rise to prominence in Peine politics and administration after 1945 is exemplary of the rapid integration of former NSDAP members, even when they had held leading positions of responsibility.

Photo in the gallery of Mayor Dr. Wiard Bronleewe giving a speech in front of the Peine town hall, 1940. in his full SA political leader uniform.

Another photo in the gallery of Kurt Wachholz in the uniform of SS-Hauptscharführer.

We also have another 'Mein Kampf', a regular English Edition, 'My Struggle' published by Hurst and Bracket Ltd. London, in 1938/9. Please enquire for details  read more

Code: 25521

A Most Rare 18th-19th Century Nepalese Battle Kora With Highly Unusual Distinctive Flared Gold Inlaid Blade and Inside Cutting Edge and Skull Crusher Pommel

An exceptional example intended for both warfare and sacrifice, the hilt with guard and pommel in the form of flattened spheres, retaining all their original polish. The robust blade of characteristic form, with brass ferrule intact, expanding toward the cusped and obliquely-angled tip and sharpened on the convex edge. Grip retains original velvet fabric covering with silver wire binding applied.

The blade is beautifully engraved, including a sunburst and an armoured arm holding a kora in the hand.
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The Kora is possibly the oldest form of sword of the Gurkhas and it may well be that their phenomenal military success was largely due to their possession of such a terribly effective weapon." 'Kora,' has an inner cutting edge, with which those who use it skilfully are enabled to cut a foe in two at a single blow." Its appearance reminds of the European Sabre but instead of curving upwards (back) it has a wide tip, a forward curved blade, single edged on its concave side, the latter two characteristic sit shares with the Kukri knife. When used correctly the forward curved blade concentrates the power/energy of the strike to the curved area thus allowing more force to be utilised at the point of contact in each blow. It is designed with its practical application in mind, to chop/slash and not for Classical fencing, yet its usually light enough if the need arises.

Like Nepal, the Kora & Kukri are strongly associated with the Gurkhas and was firstly illustrated in Col. William Kirkpatrick's work "An Account of the kingdom of Nepal” published in London, 1811 based on his travels in 1793 to Nepal. There both the Kukri and Kora is for the first time illustrated to the wider worlds public. The Kora was traditionally used warfare and personal protection, but also played and still plays a function in the religious sphere where it is used to behead sacrificial animals in one blow, otherwise believed to bring bad fortune and the sacrifice is considered useless. Thus both a skilled man and a formidable blade is needed, the Kora certainly passes the criteria!.

Photo 10 in the gallery is of the Bagbhairab Temple, Kirtipur, Kathmandu, Nepal. They are Koras used from the battle of Kirtipur during the 1760`s.  read more

Code: 25517

A Very Good, Original, Napoleonic Wars Period, Imperial Russian Romanov Cavalry Sabre Engraved With The Russian Double Eagle Crest. French Invasion and Retreat From Moscow Period of 1812

Probably 18th to early 19th century from the era of Catherine the Great to Czar Alexander Ist. Russian campaign sabre from the 1812 Russian campaign, Borodino, Smolensk and Moscow. In the cossack sasqua style, worn with the blade cutting side up. With walrus tooth hilt and engraved quillon bearing the Russian Romanov double crowned twin headed eagle crest with two cyrillic letters English equivalent M E within a shield. Leather scabbard with chequered decoration and wire decorative seaming at the throat.
A little known fact about the Napoleon's campaign into Russia is that Napoleon’s army actually lost more men on the way to Moscow than on the way back. The heat, disease, battle and desertion meant that by the time the Russian capital was seen on the horizon he had lost half his men. Nevertheless, what was important to the Corsican General was that he had reached the city. Battles at Smolensk and Borodino along the way had been costly and hard-fought, but nothing Tsar Alexander had done had been able to halt the Imperial juggernaut in its tracks though he had managed to extricate most of the Russian army intact from the fighting. In September the exhausted and bloodied Grand Arm?e reached Moscow with its promise of food and shelter, but it was not to be. So determined were the Russians to resist the invader that they burned their own old and beautiful capital in order to deny its uses to the French. Camped in a burned and empty shell, Napoleon dithered about whether to remain over the bitter winter or claim victory and march home. He was mindful of earlier campaigns into Russia such as that of Charles XII of Sweden a century earlier and made the fateful decision to return to friendly territory rather than face the snows without adequate shelter.

When it became clear that the Russians would not accept a favourable peace, Napoleon marched his troops out of the city in October. It was already too late. As the once-great army trudged across the empty vastness of Russia, the cold set in, as early as the French generals could possibly have feared. And that was the least of their worries. The horses died first, for there was no food for them. Then after the men ate them they started dying too, for all the supplies in Moscow had been burned a month earlier. All the time, hordes of cossacks harassed the increasingly bedraggled rearguard, picking off stragglers and making the survivor’s lives a constant misery. Meanwhile, Alexander ? advised by his experienced generals refused to meet Napoleon’s military genius head-on, and wisely let his army dribble away in the Russian snows. Astonishingly, by the time the remnants of the Grand Armee reached the Berezina river in late November it numbered just 27,000 effective men. 100,000 had given up and surrendered to the enemy, while 380,000 lay dead on the Russian steppes. 89.5 cm long overall  read more

Code: 20830

A Superb Solid Sterling Silver Cigarette & Cigar Box, Early H.M. Queen Elizabeth IInd Period With The Crest of the Royal Borough of Windsor, & The Castle

Presented to officers of the Household Cavalry, the mounted bodyguard of her Late Beloved Majesty, Queen Elizabeth IInd, in 1965 at Windsor Castle. Silver Birmingham hallmarked by William Neale & Son Ltd (their mark from 1909). William Neale & Son Ltd
Birmingham, 1933 hallmark. Firm established by William Neale in 1850 in Birmingham. Later the firm became William Neale & Sons as a partnership of William Neale Sr., William Neale Jr. and Arthur Neale, building new premises at 29 Warstone Lane, Birmingham (1896). In 1905, the firm was converted into a limited liability company under the style of William Neale & Sons Ltd moving in 1910 at 34 Cox Street, St. Paul's Square, Birmingham. In 1941,

The Arms of the Borough as shown upon the silver box are officially recorded in the College of Arms as having been entered in 1566 at the Visitation of Berkshire made in that year by William Hervey Clarenceux, King of Arms, in the following form:

Per fesse Argent and Vert a Stag's Head caboshed of the first in chief between the attires Sable an Escutcheon of France Modern and England quarterly in base a Castle Wall with three Towers also Argent in the central tower a open Port with Portcullis raised Or.

Origin
Arms entered (without tinctures) at the Visitation of 1532; Confirmed with tinctures at the Visitation of 1566;

The castle is, of course, a reference to Windsor's famous royal fortress, and the stag's head recalls that the Windsor Great Park around the town formed a hunting ground for the Norman kings. The shield depicts the old 1405-1603 Royal Arms and is appropriate as New Windsor is a Royal Borough.

The Freedom Of Windsor: The freedom of the Royal Borough of Windsor was given to the Household Cavalry at a special ceremony held in the home Park, Windsor Castle, today. Immediately following this ceremony the Household Cavalry exercised their right by marching through the town of Windsor with bands plkating. Armoured cars from the Lifeguards took part in the parade. May 05, 1965.

Gross weight 22.8 ozs approx 6.75 inches x 4.65 inches x 2 inches. Hallmarked silver lined with cedarwood interior.  read more

Code: 25511

A Superb 'Valet de Pied a la Maison' Footman's Livery Frock Coat, in Dark Blue Velvet, Silk Damask, Silver Bullion and Fine Lace, With Handmade Cut-Steel Marquesite Buttonning

Such beautiful examples of the finest and elaborate clothing is considered very much a fabulous piece of object d'art, with museum collections displaying many such surviving pieces of now long gone finery with much attention to the their fine detail, their craftsmanship, tailoring and beauty. In stunning condition. Any well considered location for such a stunning piece could only be improved by such an admirable piece. A 19th century form footman’s livery frock coat, the dark blue velvet coat with five pairs of re-made 2” wide silver braided bands to front and similar double braided bands to flared pointed cuffs, reverse of coat pleated and cut to waist with banded tie and two large, pierced, cut handmade steel marquesite buttons. Black bow at rear of neck, collar and cuffs have finely worked white lace with matching cravat. The fine quality burgundy coloured damask waistcoat with floral and foliate worked decoration and six 1” wide braided silver bands en suite with coat. A false pocket flap on each side similarly trimmed with braid. Six dark metal waistcoat buttons of floral openwork design have star marquesite button centres. The whole in very good condition due to perfect storage. Male servants were paid more than female servants (because they were expected to support a wife and children) and footmen were something of a luxury and therefore a status symbol even among the servant-employing classes. They performed a less essential role than the cook, maid or even butler, and were part only of the grandest households. Since a footman was for show as much as for use, a tall footman was more highly prized than a short one, and good looks, including well-turned legs, which were shown off by the traditional footman's dress of stockings worn below knee breeches, were an advantage. Footmen were expected to be unmarried and tended to be relatively young; they might, however, progress to other posts, notably that of butler. One 19th-century footman, William Tayler, kept a diary which has been published. He was, in fact, married; but kept his marriage secret from his employers and visited his family only on his days off.

Once a commonly employed servant in great houses, footmen became much rarer after World War I as fewer households could by then afford retinues of servants and retainers. The position is now virtually a historic one although servants with this designation are still employed in the British Royal Household, wearing a distinctive scarlet livery on state occasions.The first footman was the designation given to the highest-ranking servant of this class in a given household. The first footman would serve as deputy butler and act as butler in the latter's absence, although some larger houses also had an under-butler above the first footman.

In a larger household, various footmen might be assigned specific duties (for which there might be a traditional sequence), such as the silver specialist. Usually the footmen performed a range of duties which included serving meals, opening and closing doors, carrying heavy items, or moving furniture for the housemaid to clean behind. The footmen might also double as valets, especially for visiting guests. As with all 19th century form clothing it is a small size.  read more

Code: 20940

A Fabulous, Original, Incredibly Rare Wild West 1876 Winchester Repeating Rifle. With 22 inch Carbine Barrel, 2nd Model With Sliding Dust Cover. Probably The Most Famous & Historical American Rifle In The World. A License Free Antique Collectors Item

A much sought after Winchester Repeating Rifle of the Wild West Era, of 'man-stopper' bore, the huge 50 cal. One of the very few original Winchester repeating rifles that is allowed to be owned due to its rare obsolete calibre, as a collector's item, and non-deactivated and can be owned and displayed in one's home without any form of licence or restriction. Fully operational condition. A wonderful original collectors item, incredibly rare and near impossible to find anywhere in the European and British market. It is perfectly possible it may be impossible to have an opportunity to find and acquire such a rare example quite like it ever again in England.

The 'Big Brother' of the Winchester '73. A very scarce antique collector's piece. Probably the most famous Repeating Rifle in the world.The big Winchester was arguably President Theodore 'Teddy' Roosevelt's favourite gun. Two photos in the gallery show Buffalo Bill and Teddy Roosevelt both with their Winchesters. For information only not included.

The Winchester Model 1876, or Centennial Model, was a heavier-framed rifle than the Models 1866 and 1873, chambered for full-powered rifle cartridges suitable for big-game hunting, rather than the handgun-sized rimfire and centrefire rounds of its predecessors. While similar in design to the 1873, the 1876 was actually based on a prototype 1868 lever-action rifle that was never commercially produced by Winchester.

Introduced to celebrate the American Centennial Exposition, the Model 1876 earned a reputation as a durable and powerful hunting rifle. Four versions were produced: a 22-inch (56 cm) barrel Carbine, a 26-inch (66 cm) barrel Express Rifle with a half-length magazine, a 28-inch (71 cm) barrel Sporting Rifle, and a 32-inch (81 cm) barrel Musket. Standard rifles had a blued finish while deluxe models were casehardened. Collectors identify a first model with no dust cover, a second model with a dust cover rail fastened by a screw, and a third model with an integral dust cover. Total production was 63,871 including 54 One of One Thousand Model 1876s and only seven of the One of One Hundred grade.

Originally chambered for the new .45-75 Winchester Centennial cartridge (designed to replicate the .45-70 ballistics in a shorter case), the Model 1876 also had versions in .40-60 Winchester, .45-60 Winchester and .50-95 Express; the '76 in the latter chambering is the only repeater known to have been in widespread use by professional buffalo hunters.

The Canadian North-West Mounted Police used the '76 as a standard long arm for many years with 750 rifles purchased for the force in 1883; the Mountie-model '76 carbine was also issued to the Texas Rangers. Theodore Roosevelt used an engraved, pistol-gripped half-magazine '76 during his early hunting expeditions in the West and praised it. A '76 was also found in the possession of Apache warrior Geronimo after his surrender in 1886 Large .50 Calibre, no license required, and not deactivated, as this calibre is declared obsolete by HM Home Office .
Photo in the gallery of Alchesay (1853-1928), a very significant and historical figure in Apache history. Chief of the White Mountain Apache people; Scout under Army General George Crook; Advocate for his people; Peace Negotiator between the Army and his friend, Chiricahua Apache leader Geronimo.


Famous and infamous westerners known to have used the Model 1876 include President Teddy Roosevelt, Johnny Ringo (Tombstone), Charlie Bowdre (Lincoln County War), Major Frank Wolcott (Johnson County War), John "Liver Eating" Johnston upon whom the movie character "Jerimiah Johnson" was based, and Granville Stuart (Montana rancher and vigilante). Teddy Roosevelt was photographed with one of his 1876 rifles. He liked the 1876 better than English double rifles. In the movie “Tom Horn” Steve McQueen uses a Model 1876. As it takes a rare, obsolete, centre fire cartridge, this rifle is not required to be deactivated or indeed a license needed in order to own or collect it.

A Winchester “One of One Thousand” Deluxe Model 1876 was one of the world's most valuable rifles which was placed in auction, sale price: $891,250.

Good lever action, fully functioning and operational, & with a light hammer throw. Overall in good condition, with average age and wear commensurate for its age and use in the historical Wild West.  read more

Code: 24962

A Beautiful & Incredibly Impressive Original Antique Omani Silver Al Saidi 'Royal' Khanjar, Just The Type As Was Presented To The Famed Lawrence of Arabia Over 100 Years Ago

A rare and complete example of an Omani Sa'idiyyah khanjar, a Royal Khanjar with the distinctive ‘7 Rings’ to denote its owner is a person of high status, comprising of an all silver scabbard and hilt. Decorated in intricate silver filigree wirework with a pattern similar to the 'tree of life'.
Also known as the Jambiya, daggers of this quality were almost always usually custom made for presentation. Lawrence of Arabia had several very similar ones presented to him, they were his favourite dagger, and he was frequently photographed wearing them. One picture is a portrait of Lawrence with his silver Jambiya, near identical to this one. Information only not included Silver, usually more often than not, coin silver, not English hallmarked silver. The jambia, a curved Islamic dagger, is the main customary accessory to the clothing worn by Arabian men. For centuries the people of South Arabia have inherited the their jambiahs from generation to generation. There are several theories about the origin of the Jambia. There are historical facts, concerning the existence of the Jambia revealing that it used to be worn at Sheban times, in the Himiarite kingdom. They take the statue of the Sheban king (Madi Karb 500 bc ) as proof. This statue, which was discovered by an American mission in Marib in the 1950s, was found to be wearing a Jambia.
Since The most expensive and famous jambiya was purchased by Sheikh Naji Bin Abdul-Aziz Al-Sha'if, who was able to pay US $1 million for one prized and ancient piece. This jambiah had a historical importance, belonging to Imam Ahmed Hamid Al-Din, who ruled Yemen from 1948 to 1962. The Imam's most precious possession was transferred to Sheikh Hussein Al-Watari, who in turn sold it to Sheikh Al-Sha'if.
According to Sheikh Muhammad Naji, the son of current owner of the most precious jambiah, his father?s prize is the most expensive and famous one in the country. Its cost was made so high because it is one of the best jambiahs ever made by Al-Saifani, and a piece of history, as well.
The second highest price ever paid for a jambiah was for the one that Sheikh Ahmed Hamid Al-Habari sold to Sheikh Abdullah Bin Hussein Al-Ahmar for £440,000 GBP.


A picture in tha gallery from the 1950's shows a khanjar being given to a British member (Colonel Watson) of the Trucial Oman Levies

for reference see
Ernst Hieke; Zur Geschichte des Deutschen Handels Mit Oastafrika Teil, 1 Wm Oswald & Co, page 40 1939
Robert Elgood; The Arms and armour of Arabia
Approx 27 cm top to bottom  read more

Code: 23903

A fabulous Chinese Export Chinoisserie Black Lacquer and Gold Large Tea Caddy Chest of the Finest Quality, King George IIIrd, circa 1800's from the Estate of a 23rd Foot, Royal Welsh Fusiliers Peninsular War and Waterloo Officer George Fielding

An antique finest quality Chinese export hand gilded Chinoiserie tea chest caddy with hinged lid, and interior lidded pewter container, for the most precious tea, and made for the European market. Possibly made in Foo Chow.

Not only is the exterior stunningly decorated in the Chinoiserie style, the interior pewter container’s lid is exquisitely engraved to match, with another fabulous and highly elaborate oriental scene of figures and countryside. The lacquer shows scenes of a typical Southern Chinese scholar's garden with people in it, all done in black and gold. Surrounding these scenes are typical Chinese decorative motifs incorporating several auspicious symbols..

This is a superlative tea chest, and note that its exceptional size makes it a most rare type of tea 'chest' size caddy. It is hand crafted with hand painted chinoiserie gilt and ebonized black lacquer. It is painted on all sides with multiple figures, pagoda and palace gardens, with additional geometric and floral designs. It retains its original hand engraved pewter lidded tea casket; It has 2 carrying handles on the sides. It also has most satisfying heft in its weight. The lid’s gilding is worn as to be expected, but all the remaining 4 faces are in excellent near mint condition, as is the interior and the tea casket. The inner lid area contains the monogram of George Fielding, ‘G F’, a British army officer and a Peninsular War and Waterloo veteran, for whom it was commissioned. Captain George Fielding, of the 23rd Regiment of Foot, the Royal Welsh Fusiliers, was a veteran of the Battle of Waterloo who was wounded at the battle, and who resided at Startforth Hall, Startforth, County Durham.

Captain Fielding served in the Peninsular War from Aug 1811 to April 1814, at Aldea de Ponte, Badajoz, Cuidad Rodrigo, Nive, Toulouse, & Orthez. He died in Bath in 1830.

Chinoiserie, so called from 'Chinois' the French for Chinese, was a style inspired by the finest art and design imported from China, Japan and other Asian countries in the 18th century. At its height in Britain from the mid 18th century, this fanciful style relied more on the designer's and craftsman's imagination than on accurately portraying oriental motifs and ornament.

In it earliest days the tea it contained would have been valued by today’s standard thousands of pounds so one can understand why its container should be so fine and a superb work of art in it’s own right. In England in the 1700s, tea was an incredibly expensive commodity. To keep it safe, people would store it in a tea Chest or tea box, which eventually became known as a tea caddy (the word caddy is derived from the Malay "Kati", a unit of weight by which tea was sold). As tea was too expensive to risk leaving in the presence of servants, the caddy in which it was stored would generally be kept in the drawing-room. Subsequently, the tea caddy became an important & fashionable accessory for the home. Tea Caddies were made in a huge variety of styles and materials..

In the manufacture of lacquer-ware the lightest kinds of wood are used. After planing, the surface is covered with a coating of grasscloth fibre and Broussonetia paper, and a mixture of pigs' or buffaloes' gall and pulverised old red sandstone serves as a priming. The article is then placed in a dark room, and a coating of the prepared lacquer laid on with a brush and allowed to dry; and according to the fineness of the ware these coatings are repeated from 3 to 15 times. When the hut coat is dry the articles are painted and gilded. The lacquer, sap of the Vemix vemieiaf used in Canton, is imported from Szechuen or Kiangsi. The gold colouring (a solution of gold leaf in glue water) is laid on with lye of potash ; red is native cinnabar, pink a varnish prepared from Carthamus and green is formed by a mixture of hartall and indigo. Nearly all the lacquer-ware is manufactured in Canton, but magnificent specimens, far exceeding the Canton ware in beauty, colour and fineness are turned out at Foochow. They are made by a single family, said to be of Japanese origin, who brought the secret over with them and have retained it ever since.

From: Catalogue of the Chinese Imperial Maritime Customs Collection
at the United States International Exhibition, Philadelphia, 1876
Inspectorate General of Customs, 1876

13.5 inches x 9.75 inches x 8 inches  read more

Code: 23900

A Wonderful 18th Century French Small-Sword of Parcel Gilt and Blued Steel A Simply Stunning Museum Grade Piece

A sword that is certainly worthy of a finest collection of all forms of object d'art, antiquities, antiques and militaria.
Likely made at Versailles, at the royal workshops, by a royal swordsmith of King Louis XVIth, such as the master swordsmiths of the king, Lecourt, Liger or Guilman. A very finest grade sword of the form as was made for the king to present to favoured nobles and friends. He presented a similar sword to John Paul Jones see painting in the gallery now in the US Naval Academy Museum.

Three near identical swords to this now reside in the Metropolitan A simply superb small-sword, with stunningly engraved chiselled steel hilt, overlaid with pure gold over a fish-roe background,, decorated with hand chiselled scenes in the rococo Italianate renaissance style depicting various hunting scenes, of hunting hounds and game birds. The multi wire spiral bound grip is finest silver, in with Turks head finials. The blade is in the typical trefoil form, ideal for the gentleman's art of duelling. The degree of craftsmanship of this spectacular sword is simply astounding, worthy of significant admiration, it reveals an incredible attention to detail and the skill of it's execution is second to none. Other similar swords are in also in the British Royal Collection and in Les Invalides in Paris. Trefoil bladed swords had a special popularity with the officers of the French and Indian War period. Even George Washington had a very fine one just as this example. For example of the workmanship in creating this sword for such as the King and Marie Antoinette we show the keys for the Louis XVI Secretary Desk (Circa 1783) made for Marie-Antoinette by Jean Henri Riesener, one of the worlds finest cabinetmakers, and whose works of furniture are the most valuable in the world. The steel and gold metalwork key for Marie Antoinette's desk, is attributed to Pierre Gouthoire (1732-1813), the most famous Parisian bronzeworker of the late eighteenth century who became gilder to the king in 1767. This sword bears identical workmanship and style to that magnificent key. This is the quality of sword one might have expected find inscribed upon the blade 'Ex Dono Regis' given by the King. Very good condition overall, with natural aged patination throughout. This painting, entitled John Paul Jones and Louis XVI, by the American artist Jean Leon Gerome Ferris depicts John Paul Jones and Benjamin Franklin at the court of Louis XVIth and being presented a similar sword now in US Naval Academy Museum.
39.1/4 inches long overall.  read more

Code: 23138

1924 LZ126 Zeppelin Medal . The Flight Of The LZ 126 (ZRIII) To America (USS Los Angeles, USN) Record 81 Hours Medal 1924. Dr. Hugo Eckener, High Grade Silver

1924 LZ126 Zeppelin Medal, stunningly bright condition.
By Lauer of Nuremberg. A silver coin/medallion issued to commemorate the arrival in the USA of Zeppelin LZ-126 from the manufacturer in Friedrichshafen, Germany. It was built in 1924 with the original designation LZ-126 and given over to the US as part of war reparations. There she was commissioned into the US Navy and redesignated ZR-III (USS Los Angeles). The Zeppelin remained in service until 1932 and was finally dismantled in her hangar in 1939, having been the longest serving rigid airship ever operated by the USN.
Made in .990 grade silver, 33mm in diameter with a portrait of Dr. Hugo Eckener on one side and Zeppelin in flight over land and sea. Inscribed with caption "Amerikafahrt Des LZ126 / ZRIII 1924" and with flight details from Friedrichshafen to Lakehurst. Dr. Eckener was manager of the Luftschiffbau Zeppelin during the inter-war years, and was commander of the famous Graf Zeppelin for the majority of its record-setting flights, including the first airship flight around the world, making him the most successful airship commander in history.

The airship's hull had 24-sided transverse ring frames for most of its length, changing to an octagonal section at the tail surfaces, and the hull had an internal keel which provided an internal walkway and also contained the accommodation for the crew when off duty. For most of the ship's length the main frames were 32 ft 10 in (10 m) apart, with two secondary frames in each bay. Following the precedent set by LZ 120 Bodensee, crew and passenger accommodation was in a compartment near the front of the airship that was integrated into the hull structure. Each of the five Maybach VL I V12 engines occupied a separate engine car, arranged as four wing cars with the fifth aft on the centerline of the ship. All drove two-bladed pusher propellers and were capable of running in reverse. Auxiliary power was provided by wind-driven dynamos.


Medallion is engraved '990' silver content to rim. Very nice condition.  read more

Code: 23601