Rock Island Auctions Press Release [via PRNewswire]
Direct descendants of early Mormon Church leader Brigham Young will place the patriarch’s personal Colt revolver up for sale as the flagship item at an Illinois firearms auction held at the end of this month. It is estimated to sell between $550,000 – $850,000. “This is an iconic piece of Americana,” says RIAC President Kevin Hogan. “Its direct ties to the settling of the West, and to the early Mormon Church are incredible. Frankly, we’re fortunate this piece isn’t already housed in a museum. It is an unrivaled opportunity to own a newly discovered national treasure.” Brigham Young . . .
holds a prominent place in both American and Western history for leading the Mormon exodus across the United States, founding Salt Lake City, serving as the first governor of the Utah Territory, and establishing what would eventually become Brigham Young University and the University of Utah. He succeeded Latter Day Saint Founder Joseph Smith as the second ever president of the church.
The revolver is personally inscribed to Young and was presented to him by what was then the largest firearms dealer west of the Mississippi, H. E. Dimick & Co. It comes to Rock Island Auction from the direct descendants of Brigham Young and is accompanied by an unimpeachable letter of provenance from Young’s great-grandson.
The gun is certain to endear itself to collectors with its high condition and engraving executed by Gustave Young, the most prominent 19th Century firearms engraver, but the combination of those factors and the historic, iron-clad provenance is what earns this small revolver its hefty estimate.
Other historic items in the sale include a Winchester rifle presented to the man who captured Geronimo, a Colt revolver belonging to a pioneering Texas cattle baron, several revolvers decorated by Tiffany & Co., and a uniform attributed to War of 1812 hero Commodore Perry.