Historical Arms and Armours
Content of this Page
This page and its subsidiary pages describe Historical Arms that were recently sold at auction by registered auction houses.
ArtHitParade is not selling, offering or purchasing any commercial product whatever it is. This content is offered for a purpose of cultural and historical information.
See also : Blade and armour Firearms II Ancient England Wild West Colt 1836-62 Later Colts Revolution and Empire Egypt Garment
Chronology : 1460-1479 1800-1809
ArtHitParade is not selling, offering or purchasing any commercial product whatever it is. This content is offered for a purpose of cultural and historical information.
See also : Blade and armour Firearms II Ancient England Wild West Colt 1836-62 Later Colts Revolution and Empire Egypt Garment
Chronology : 1460-1479 1800-1809
Pax Romana in Britannia
2010 SOLD 2.3 M£ including premium
Buried for nearly 2,000 years in the ground of Cumbria, an outstanding parade headset was discovered a few months ago by a metal detector. It is in very good condition.
Cumbria, later Cumberland, is the north-west of England (Britannia), on the border of Scotland (Caledonia). From 875AUC, this territory was protected in the north by the Hadrian wall.
The era of Pax Romana is unique in world history: between the reigns of Augustus and Trajan, the Roman domination was total, without invasion and with limited civil wars. This political success that spans over a century is based on a strong network of garrisons located throughout the borders of the Empire.
Our helmet is necessarily subsequent to the conquests of Vespasian, begun in 824AUC. Christie's dates it to the late first century or to the second century of our calendar.
It is an equipment for parade or sport, not a military helmet. It is composed of two parts. The bronze Phrygian shaped cap is topped by a griffin crest where streamers could be tied. The face mask bearing the likeness of a young man is in tin plated bronze.
This lot is estimated £ 200K, for sale by Christie's in London on October 7. It is shown in the press release shared by Artdaily. As usual in this group, subtract 753 years to convert the Roman calendar dates in the usual system.
POST SALE COMMENT
This beautiful witness to the ancient history of England was worth better than its estimate, and had aroused local passions before the auction. It was sold £ 2.3 million including premium.
The image is shared on Wikimedia with attribution : Portable Antiquities Scheme from London, England [CC BY 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)]
Cumbria, later Cumberland, is the north-west of England (Britannia), on the border of Scotland (Caledonia). From 875AUC, this territory was protected in the north by the Hadrian wall.
The era of Pax Romana is unique in world history: between the reigns of Augustus and Trajan, the Roman domination was total, without invasion and with limited civil wars. This political success that spans over a century is based on a strong network of garrisons located throughout the borders of the Empire.
Our helmet is necessarily subsequent to the conquests of Vespasian, begun in 824AUC. Christie's dates it to the late first century or to the second century of our calendar.
It is an equipment for parade or sport, not a military helmet. It is composed of two parts. The bronze Phrygian shaped cap is topped by a griffin crest where streamers could be tied. The face mask bearing the likeness of a young man is in tin plated bronze.
This lot is estimated £ 200K, for sale by Christie's in London on October 7. It is shown in the press release shared by Artdaily. As usual in this group, subtract 753 years to convert the Roman calendar dates in the usual system.
POST SALE COMMENT
This beautiful witness to the ancient history of England was worth better than its estimate, and had aroused local passions before the auction. It was sold £ 2.3 million including premium.
The image is shared on Wikimedia with attribution : Portable Antiquities Scheme from London, England [CC BY 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)]
Mamluk - A Damascened Shirt of Mail
2015 SOLD for $ 2.3M including premium
The shirt of mail is used to protect the body of the warrior against the blades of the enemy. Worn as any other shirt, this armor remains lightweight thanks to its structure as a pattern of metal rings in iron or steel. Luxury models are decorated with riveted plates that can be inlaid.
On December 5 in Rock Island IL, Rock Island Auction Company sells a Mamluk shirt of mail and plate, lot 1262estimated in excess of $ 200K.
The weaving of this garment is the simplest and most effective model where each ring is linked with its four surrounding rings. The coat opens from the front side. At the front and back of the garment, the plates are inlaid with a gilding of koftgari type.
Inscriptions are difficult to read, but the reference to the Mamluk Sultan Qaitbay seems indisputable. It was probably created for the sultan himself or one of his riders. A similar armor assigned to the same reign is preserved at the Topkapi Museum in Istanbul. Qaitbay ruled Egypt from 871 to 901 AH, during the last quarter of the 15th century of our calendar.
This piece is in a very satisfactory condition for its age. A few rings and a few plate rivets are missing or twisted. About 60% of the koftgari is present with a particularly good conservation on the front of the shirt.
On December 5 in Rock Island IL, Rock Island Auction Company sells a Mamluk shirt of mail and plate, lot 1262estimated in excess of $ 200K.
The weaving of this garment is the simplest and most effective model where each ring is linked with its four surrounding rings. The coat opens from the front side. At the front and back of the garment, the plates are inlaid with a gilding of koftgari type.
Inscriptions are difficult to read, but the reference to the Mamluk Sultan Qaitbay seems indisputable. It was probably created for the sultan himself or one of his riders. A similar armor assigned to the same reign is preserved at the Topkapi Museum in Istanbul. Qaitbay ruled Egypt from 871 to 901 AH, during the last quarter of the 15th century of our calendar.
This piece is in a very satisfactory condition for its age. A few rings and a few plate rivets are missing or twisted. About 60% of the koftgari is present with a particularly good conservation on the front of the shirt.
15th century Egyptian armor sells for $2.3 MILLION at Rock Island Auction Company! https://t.co/kwbnILDoSg pic.twitter.com/NWDEVlDcdo
— Rock Island Auction (@RIAuction) December 9, 2015Nasrid - An Ear Dagger
2010 SOLD 3.7 M£ including premium
When we fought with knives, the dagger was particularly dangerous, with its short blade that allowed a movement of great precision.
It had also to protect the hand, and the ear dagger was appreciated by hunters and soldiers. In this model, the guard consists of two flat disks (the "ears") confronting on both sides of the handle.
A refined specimen is for sale on October 6 in London by Sotheby's. Coming from Nasrid Spain, this piece has been made in the 9th century AH, more than 500 years ago. The final defeat of the Nasrids by Ferdinand and Isabella was in 1492 of our calendar.
With a total length of 30 cm, it is finely damascened with scenes of hunting and with cartouches including Kufic-style inscriptions. This lot is estimated £ 600K.
POST SALE COMMENT
The bidders confirmed the beauty and rarity of this piece, well beyond the price estimated by the auction house. This dagger was sold £ 3.7 million including premium.
It had also to protect the hand, and the ear dagger was appreciated by hunters and soldiers. In this model, the guard consists of two flat disks (the "ears") confronting on both sides of the handle.
A refined specimen is for sale on October 6 in London by Sotheby's. Coming from Nasrid Spain, this piece has been made in the 9th century AH, more than 500 years ago. The final defeat of the Nasrids by Ferdinand and Isabella was in 1492 of our calendar.
With a total length of 30 cm, it is finely damascened with scenes of hunting and with cartouches including Kufic-style inscriptions. This lot is estimated £ 600K.
POST SALE COMMENT
The bidders confirmed the beauty and rarity of this piece, well beyond the price estimated by the auction house. This dagger was sold £ 3.7 million including premium.
1628 A Mughal Kard
2019 SOLD for $ 3.4M including premium by Christie's
narrated in 2020
Nothing is too good for the Mughal emperors of India. Prince Salim, who succeeds Akbar, is known as Jahangir which means the possessor of the world. The most capable of his sons, who succeeds him in 1628 CE after a short civil war, immediately takes the reign name of Shah Jahan, the king of the world.
On June 19, 2019, Christie's sold at lot 387 for $ 3.4M including premium from a lower estimate of $ 1.5M a kard which attests to the cosmopolitan character of Mughal art.
The kard is a belt knife made of a straight blade with a handle but without a guard. The example sold by Christie's is 30 cm long overall including a hardened steel blade and a 11 cm handle. The gold inlays on the top side of the blade are Persian in style.
The handle is of an extremely rare type, which has not revealed its secrets. It is made of very pale green jade, which the Mughals imported from China. Its terminal serving as a pommel is a head carved in the round, with a ruff. This head is unusual in Hindu art but corresponds to the taste of Europeans, who did not work with jade.
A human head above the scabbard of a dagger appears in a posthumous image of Jahangir, showing the prince before his accession to the throne. A similar attribute also exists on an image recalling the youth of Shah Jahan. There is no reason to suppose that the blade and the handle were prepared at the same time. We will retain the hypothesis of an assembly carried out in the transition phase between these two emperors. The color of the jade seems consistent with this assumption.
The realistic head of the juvenile-looking character suggests that he was enough beloved by a high Mughal dignitary, perhaps an emperor, to be displayed on his belt. No hypothesis is proposed concerning his identity. I suggest this is the posthumous portrait of a brother or son of an emperor. The ruff is unexplained.
On June 19, 2019, Christie's sold at lot 387 for $ 3.4M including premium from a lower estimate of $ 1.5M a kard which attests to the cosmopolitan character of Mughal art.
The kard is a belt knife made of a straight blade with a handle but without a guard. The example sold by Christie's is 30 cm long overall including a hardened steel blade and a 11 cm handle. The gold inlays on the top side of the blade are Persian in style.
The handle is of an extremely rare type, which has not revealed its secrets. It is made of very pale green jade, which the Mughals imported from China. Its terminal serving as a pommel is a head carved in the round, with a ruff. This head is unusual in Hindu art but corresponds to the taste of Europeans, who did not work with jade.
A human head above the scabbard of a dagger appears in a posthumous image of Jahangir, showing the prince before his accession to the throne. A similar attribute also exists on an image recalling the youth of Shah Jahan. There is no reason to suppose that the blade and the handle were prepared at the same time. We will retain the hypothesis of an assembly carried out in the transition phase between these two emperors. The color of the jade seems consistent with this assumption.
The realistic head of the juvenile-looking character suggests that he was enough beloved by a high Mughal dignitary, perhaps an emperor, to be displayed on his belt. No hypothesis is proposed concerning his identity. I suggest this is the posthumous portrait of a brother or son of an emperor. The ruff is unexplained.
1778 Presented by Lafayette to Washington
2002 SOLD for $ 2M including premium by Christie's
narrated in 2020
On January 19, 2002, Christie's sold a historic souvenir for $ 2M including premium, lot 463 : a pair of saddle pistols donated by Lafayette to Washington, and later owned by President Jackson.
The involvement of the Marquis de La Fayette in the American Revolution is inextricably linked to his admiration for George Washington. The two men had met in August 1777, two months after Lafayette's arrival in America. The young French officer then participated in the difficult episodes of Brandywine and Valley Forge.
Lafayette knows that he has the means to help Washington. After the official alliance between France and the Americans, he returned temporarily to France in 1779 to contribute to propaganda and send reinforcements, spending at that time $ 200,000 on his personal fortune.
The steel mounted pistols inlaid with silver and gold are signed by Jacob Walster, a gunsmith operating in Saarbruck (Saarbrucken), little documented but whose competence is attested by the supply of a pair of pistols to King George III. La Fayette probably made this acquisition while he was garrisoned in Metz, between August 1775 and June 1776. The gift was probably made in 1778.
Transferred by inheritance from Washington to one of his nephews, these historic pieces are offered by the son-in-law of the nephew to Andrew Jackson in 1824 in testimony of support for his first presidential campaign, where he was overcome by John Quincy Adams. When he died, Jackson bequeathed the pistols to the son of Lafayette, who had also been a godson of George Washington. They will remain in Lafayette's family until 1958.
The involvement of the Marquis de La Fayette in the American Revolution is inextricably linked to his admiration for George Washington. The two men had met in August 1777, two months after Lafayette's arrival in America. The young French officer then participated in the difficult episodes of Brandywine and Valley Forge.
Lafayette knows that he has the means to help Washington. After the official alliance between France and the Americans, he returned temporarily to France in 1779 to contribute to propaganda and send reinforcements, spending at that time $ 200,000 on his personal fortune.
The steel mounted pistols inlaid with silver and gold are signed by Jacob Walster, a gunsmith operating in Saarbruck (Saarbrucken), little documented but whose competence is attested by the supply of a pair of pistols to King George III. La Fayette probably made this acquisition while he was garrisoned in Metz, between August 1775 and June 1776. The gift was probably made in 1778.
Transferred by inheritance from Washington to one of his nephews, these historic pieces are offered by the son-in-law of the nephew to Andrew Jackson in 1824 in testimony of support for his first presidential campaign, where he was overcome by John Quincy Adams. When he died, Jackson bequeathed the pistols to the son of Lafayette, who had also been a godson of George Washington. They will remain in Lafayette's family until 1958.
later Qianlong - Imperial Hunting Parties in Rehe
2016 SOLD for £ 2M including premium
The Chinese invented gunpowder but their regular use of firearms was surprisingly slow. When Kangxi appreciates the superiority that the cannon can bring to his armies, he relies on the European technologies obligingly brought to his court by the Jesuits.
Kangxi creates a nature reserve for the exclusive use of imperial hunting in the vast territory of Rehe. As anything from Kangxi, this choice is wise. Rehe is located between Manchuria from where the Qing were coming and Mongolia whose alliance was politically valuable for the consolidation of the new dynasty.
Qianlong is like his grandfather an avid hunter who often stays in Rehe where he welcomes foreign diplomats in his yurt in a less formal surrounding than in Beijing. His Mongol friends are using arrow and spear. The emperor knows easily to display his own superiority as the bullet from his musket reaches more distant animals. Qianlong is a skilled shooter.
On November 9 in London, Sotheby's sells a rare matchlock musket with the imperial mark of Qianlong, lot 100 estimated £ 1M, which is probably the only example in private hands.
This deluxe firearm was manufactured by the imperial workshops. An undeciphered inscription may be the name of the gunsmith. This piece was identified in period as the best in its class by a control mark certifying it as Supreme Grade Number 1.
It is not dated but could have been made in the last years of the reign. Same as for clocks, the imperial craftsmen were reproducing the European techniques. The Chinese musket has similarities with a British firearm presented in Rehe by Lord Macaulay to Qianlong for celebrating his 80th anniversary in 1793 of our calendar.
Please watch the video shared by Sotheby's.
Kangxi creates a nature reserve for the exclusive use of imperial hunting in the vast territory of Rehe. As anything from Kangxi, this choice is wise. Rehe is located between Manchuria from where the Qing were coming and Mongolia whose alliance was politically valuable for the consolidation of the new dynasty.
Qianlong is like his grandfather an avid hunter who often stays in Rehe where he welcomes foreign diplomats in his yurt in a less formal surrounding than in Beijing. His Mongol friends are using arrow and spear. The emperor knows easily to display his own superiority as the bullet from his musket reaches more distant animals. Qianlong is a skilled shooter.
On November 9 in London, Sotheby's sells a rare matchlock musket with the imperial mark of Qianlong, lot 100 estimated £ 1M, which is probably the only example in private hands.
This deluxe firearm was manufactured by the imperial workshops. An undeciphered inscription may be the name of the gunsmith. This piece was identified in period as the best in its class by a control mark certifying it as Supreme Grade Number 1.
It is not dated but could have been made in the last years of the reign. Same as for clocks, the imperial craftsmen were reproducing the European techniques. The Chinese musket has similarities with a British firearm presented in Rehe by Lord Macaulay to Qianlong for celebrating his 80th anniversary in 1793 of our calendar.
Please watch the video shared by Sotheby's.
1800 The Marengo Sabre of Napoléon
2007 SOLD for € 4.8M including premium by Osenat
narrated in 2020
The Battle of Marengo takes place on June 14, 1800, 25 Prairial an VIII of the Revolutionary Calendar. The First Consul, Napoléon Bonaparte, leads the Italian campaign. The battle begins with a surprise attack by the Austrians. Bonaparte understands the gravity of the situation and provides the necessary assistance to his endangered army. His action is spectacular and decisive, providing France with the final victory in that war.
Bonaparte immediately understood the advantage of this feat of arms for his personal prestige and for his political future. On May 5, 1805 Bonaparte, who had become Emperor Napoléon I in the meantime, had a throne installed for a military parade on the battlefield. He presides over this ceremony, dressed in the same way as on the day of the battle.
Also in 1805, Napoléon presented his youngest brother Jérôme with the glorious sabre which he had brandished at Marengo. Jérôme, 20 years old, had just returned from the United States where he had married, thwarting the ambition that the emperor could have for him. Napoléon broke this marriage by an imperial decree on March 11, 1805. Having henceforth consolidated his image of a magnificent warrior, he may have used this arm to encourage Jérôme's new military career in his service.
The sabre remained until 2007 with the descendants of Jérôme. Classified as a French monument historique in 1978, it was sold for € 4.8M including premium by Osenat on June 10, 2007. Please watch the video shared by Interencheres.
This arm had been produced by Nicolas-Noël Boutet, the manager of the arms factory in Versailles. The blade has an oriental shape and is decorated with etching. The main fittings for the sabre and its scabbard are in solid gold. The pommel is a Jupiter head in gold.
Bonaparte immediately understood the advantage of this feat of arms for his personal prestige and for his political future. On May 5, 1805 Bonaparte, who had become Emperor Napoléon I in the meantime, had a throne installed for a military parade on the battlefield. He presides over this ceremony, dressed in the same way as on the day of the battle.
Also in 1805, Napoléon presented his youngest brother Jérôme with the glorious sabre which he had brandished at Marengo. Jérôme, 20 years old, had just returned from the United States where he had married, thwarting the ambition that the emperor could have for him. Napoléon broke this marriage by an imperial decree on March 11, 1805. Having henceforth consolidated his image of a magnificent warrior, he may have used this arm to encourage Jérôme's new military career in his service.
The sabre remained until 2007 with the descendants of Jérôme. Classified as a French monument historique in 1978, it was sold for € 4.8M including premium by Osenat on June 10, 2007. Please watch the video shared by Interencheres.
This arm had been produced by Nicolas-Noël Boutet, the manager of the arms factory in Versailles. The blade has an oriental shape and is decorated with etching. The main fittings for the sabre and its scabbard are in solid gold. The pommel is a Jupiter head in gold.
1825 The Tribute by Lafayette to Bolivar
2016 SOLD for $ 1.8M including premium
The marquis de La Fayette discovered liberty alongside Washington during the American War of Independence. He was just 20 years old.
Despite a major activity during the French Revolution, he was unable to turn his passion into a viable political program. Hostile to the nobles but not to the monarchy, he changed the spelling of his name to Lafayette.
The Americans have not forgotten this foreigner who had been a hero of their independence. He finally realizes at 67 his dream to visit again the United States. He is honored like a head of state and his tour is triumphant, from July 1824 to September 1825.
Lafayette admired Simon Bolivar. In October 1825, he enthusiastically accepts a request from the Washington family to send to El Libertador some souvenirs from the former President. A gorgeous pair of flintlock pistols by Boutet in a case dated 1825 is a personal gift by Lafayette to Bolivar, probably through the same shipment.
This pair of silver mounted pistols is estimated $ 1.5M for sale byChristie's in New York on April 13, lot 36.
Another pair of pistols made by the same manufacturer was owned by Bolivar during his stay in Paris between 1804 and 1806. It was sold for $ 1.7 million including premium by Christie's on 17 November 2004.
I invite you to watch the video shared by Christie's :
Despite a major activity during the French Revolution, he was unable to turn his passion into a viable political program. Hostile to the nobles but not to the monarchy, he changed the spelling of his name to Lafayette.
The Americans have not forgotten this foreigner who had been a hero of their independence. He finally realizes at 67 his dream to visit again the United States. He is honored like a head of state and his tour is triumphant, from July 1824 to September 1825.
Lafayette admired Simon Bolivar. In October 1825, he enthusiastically accepts a request from the Washington family to send to El Libertador some souvenirs from the former President. A gorgeous pair of flintlock pistols by Boutet in a case dated 1825 is a personal gift by Lafayette to Bolivar, probably through the same shipment.
This pair of silver mounted pistols is estimated $ 1.5M for sale byChristie's in New York on April 13, lot 36.
Another pair of pistols made by the same manufacturer was owned by Bolivar during his stay in Paris between 1804 and 1806. It was sold for $ 1.7 million including premium by Christie's on 17 November 2004.
I invite you to watch the video shared by Christie's :
1847 Colt Walker for Trade
2018 SOLD for $ 1.84M including premium
Samuel Colt's meeting with President Polk in December 1846 is decisive for the restart of his business. The government orders to the inventor 1,000 Single Action Revolvers for the use of the Regiment of Mounted Riflemen, two per man with no attrition.
Colt no longer has a production line and the revolvers are manufactured in 1847 by Eli Blake in Whitneyville CT. Once the government order is honored, the same team builds 100 additional pieces numbered from 1001 to 1100, to use attrition components manufactured by Blake and also to anticipate the transfer of the machinery and tools from Whitneyville to the new Colt plant in Hartford CT.
The first non-governmental units are presented to contributors. The pair 1001-1002 is offered in June 1847 to Jack Hays, the Texas Ranger officer who had understood the operational advantage of using Colt's patented inventions. The pair 1009-1010 is attributed to Samuel Walker, the young captain who had been delegated by Hays to discuss with Colt their ideas for technical improvements. Walker died in action in October 1847 and the model, military and civilian, was nicknamed Colt Walker in his honor.
Civilian revolvers are available through the trade. The serial number 1022 is purchased by a Danish sea captain to a retailer in New York City. It is the only one of the first commercial series to still be housed in its original case and it is accompanied by a guarantee of authenticity handwritten by Samuel Colt himself. It retains 50 to 60% of its bright blue finish.
This piece often described in the specialized literature is estimated $ 800K for sale by Rock Island Auction Company in Rock Island IL on April 13, lot 60.
Please watch the video shared by the auction house.
Colt no longer has a production line and the revolvers are manufactured in 1847 by Eli Blake in Whitneyville CT. Once the government order is honored, the same team builds 100 additional pieces numbered from 1001 to 1100, to use attrition components manufactured by Blake and also to anticipate the transfer of the machinery and tools from Whitneyville to the new Colt plant in Hartford CT.
The first non-governmental units are presented to contributors. The pair 1001-1002 is offered in June 1847 to Jack Hays, the Texas Ranger officer who had understood the operational advantage of using Colt's patented inventions. The pair 1009-1010 is attributed to Samuel Walker, the young captain who had been delegated by Hays to discuss with Colt their ideas for technical improvements. Walker died in action in October 1847 and the model, military and civilian, was nicknamed Colt Walker in his honor.
Civilian revolvers are available through the trade. The serial number 1022 is purchased by a Danish sea captain to a retailer in New York City. It is the only one of the first commercial series to still be housed in its original case and it is accompanied by a guarantee of authenticity handwritten by Samuel Colt himself. It retains 50 to 60% of its bright blue finish.
This piece often described in the specialized literature is estimated $ 800K for sale by Rock Island Auction Company in Rock Island IL on April 13, lot 60.
Please watch the video shared by the auction house.
We are proud to announce that the catalog for our April Premiere Firearms Auction is now online, ready for viewing and bidding. This promises to be a most exciting sale. https://t.co/Fcy6hjousK pic.twitter.com/wpQNyyvrOT
— Rock Island Auction (@RIAuction) March 3, 2018
1880-1881 the Colt that killed Billy the Kid
2021 SOLD for $ 6M by Bonhams
From 1878 in New Mexico, the Lincoln County War is a conflict without mercy between gangs for the control of cattle and horses. The very young Billy the Kid, a robber from the age of 16, a murderer for any reason and a federal fugitive, went to be one of these gang leaders. He used several names in his short life, all of them in relation with his family.
In November 1880, Pat Garrett is elected sheriff of the county. Although his term was to begin on January 1, he immediately obtains a commission to pursue Billy the Kid within the limits of the county. On December 13 a $ 500 bounty is posted by the governor for the capture of the outlaw.
On December 23 Billy the Kid and his whole gang are captured by Garrett and his men. Sentenced to hang, Billy escapes from custody on April 28. While in jail his notoriety had raised through the local gazettes.
Garrett is not yet awarded with the bounty. On July 14, in search for the fugitive, he discusses the issue with a ranch owner. Around midnight a man enters the room in the dark. Garrett will state that he had recognized the voice of Billy the Kid. He fires twice and kills the man.
The revolver that killed Billy the Kid is a Colt Single Action Army made in 1880, taken near new by Garrett when he arrested the gang on November 23. It was sold for $ 6M from a lower estimate of $ 2M by Bonhams on August 27, 2021, lot 11.
The corpse was certified by the local justice of the peace but the reward was not paid to Garrett. He managed to respond to the rumors that he had been unfair. His biographical account of Billy the Kid co-authored by an itinerant journalist was considered as factual in period. It contributed to transform that ferocious but enigmatic desperado into the major folk hero of the Wild West.
A doubt still subsists on who was killed by Garrett on July 14. On July 28 a local newspaper reported that the outlaw had allowed his beard to grow and had stained his skin brown to look like a Mexican. Dead or alive, the mythic gang leader never resumed his criminal industry.
In November 1880, Pat Garrett is elected sheriff of the county. Although his term was to begin on January 1, he immediately obtains a commission to pursue Billy the Kid within the limits of the county. On December 13 a $ 500 bounty is posted by the governor for the capture of the outlaw.
On December 23 Billy the Kid and his whole gang are captured by Garrett and his men. Sentenced to hang, Billy escapes from custody on April 28. While in jail his notoriety had raised through the local gazettes.
Garrett is not yet awarded with the bounty. On July 14, in search for the fugitive, he discusses the issue with a ranch owner. Around midnight a man enters the room in the dark. Garrett will state that he had recognized the voice of Billy the Kid. He fires twice and kills the man.
The revolver that killed Billy the Kid is a Colt Single Action Army made in 1880, taken near new by Garrett when he arrested the gang on November 23. It was sold for $ 6M from a lower estimate of $ 2M by Bonhams on August 27, 2021, lot 11.
The corpse was certified by the local justice of the peace but the reward was not paid to Garrett. He managed to respond to the rumors that he had been unfair. His biographical account of Billy the Kid co-authored by an itinerant journalist was considered as factual in period. It contributed to transform that ferocious but enigmatic desperado into the major folk hero of the Wild West.
A doubt still subsists on who was killed by Garrett on July 14. On July 28 a local newspaper reported that the outlaw had allowed his beard to grow and had stained his skin brown to look like a Mexican. Dead or alive, the mythic gang leader never resumed his criminal industry.
The Early West, our upcoming auction on 27 Aug, features one of the most iconic weapons of the American Wild West — the gun that killed 19th century outlaw #BillytheKid.
— Bonhams (@bonhams1793) July 22, 2021
h/t @Reuters
