Autograph of Samuel Colt

Samuel Colt 2x Signed ALS: He Ships Wine From Europe to NJ "care of Messers More + Baker 'Gun merchants'"

A 1p autograph letter twice signed by American firearms inventor Samuel Colt (1814-1862), the first time as "Saml Colt" at the conclusion of the letter; and the second time initialed as "S.C." along the top margin of the integral address leaf. July 27, 1849. Offenburg im Baden on the Rhine, Germany. On bifold paper. The inner pages are blank. The integral address leaf, also engrossed by Colt, features remnants of a red wax seal, and several manuscript and hand-stamped philatelic markings. Expected wear including flattened folds, wrinkles, and scattered stains. Two small holes on the first page affecting a total of four words have been discretely professionally repaired. Scattered holes and closed tears affecting the integral address leaf. Else very good. 8.625" x 11.25."

Samuel Colt wrote this letter to George Williams Pomeroy (1799-1856), his friend and former business associate. Colt had undertaken his third trip to Europe in the Spring of 1849, arriving in London in May. Like on previous trips to Europe, Colt's objectives for international travel were twofold: to protect his American firearms patents abroad; and to drum up business in an expanded marketplace, often through presentation gifts. Colt presented custom engraved gun models to important political, administrative, and military leaders of the day in Italy, Hungary, and the Middle East including Giuseppe Garibaldi, Lajos Kussuth, and Turkish Sultan Abdul Mejid I. Colt's marketing to VIPs often resulted in limited batch firearms orders.

Colt's travel itinerary of 1849 is outlined in William B. Edwards's biography, "The Story of Colt's Revolver: the Biography of Samuel Colt" (New York: Castle Books, 1953). On this journey, Colt traveled to London, Paris, Liège, Prussia, Vienna, Hungary, and Constantinople. In this letter to Pomeroy, Colt states that he is in "Offinburg in Barden on the Rine," almost certainly Offenburg im Baden on the Rhine, and that he is bound for "Frankfort on the Mane," likely Frankfort am Main. Edwards writes that Colt ventured "south, along the pleasant Rhine valley, climbing to the hills of the Tyrols. He passed through Innsbruck, and Salzburg where the hills sang with the music of Mozart, then on along the valley to Wien…(Chapter 34, "Continental Capers," p. 255.)

Colt wrote in full, with original spelling and punctuation:

"Offinburg in Barden

on the Rine July 27. 49.

My Dear George

I have barly time to tell you that I am in the land of the living yet. I am on my way from Rionner [?] via Barvaria Switserland +c for Paris + London which place I hope to reach in all the fore part of August. There is a good many things to see on the way.

I have just purchaced a box + small cash of wine to be sent to me at N.J. care of Messers More + Baker 'Gun merchants' + I have repetedly bough + sent things befor to that address, if any thing [re]aches the custom house (T[re?] Dept.) on which heavy deetis are to b[e paid] file a request my sousignees to leave [--] in the ware house until I return for my special attention -

Good luck to you old boy I cant stop to spin a long yarn as the cars are wating to take me to the Stumbote on the Rine. I am now bound Frankfort on the Mane

Truly yours

Saml Colt

I hope when I get to London to find a letter or two from you

S.C."

No reference to "Messers More + Baker 'Gun merchants'" could be found outside of this letter, but we can assume Colt knew this firm through his firearms dealings.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.