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Coming up at the Holts Auction.

http://auctions.holtsauctioneers.com/asp...128&image=0

A SUBSTANTIAL 4-BORE BREECH-LOADING SPORTING-RIFLE, UNSIGNED, MODEL 'ROLLING-BLOCK', no visible serial number,
Belgian, circa 1880, with massive tapering two-stage 33in. barrel, block and blade fore-sight, the rear-sight elevating on an elliptical scale, heavy slab-sided receiver with reinforced nocksform, rotating breech-block operated via a handle on the right hand side, central hammer, walnut straight-hand butt-stock with rubber heel-plate (perished) and splinter fore-end with large iron barrel-band, shallow pitting to exposed iron surfaces, weight approximately 22 1/2lbs.

Provenance: This rare and behemothic rifle is of the same type as carried by Morton Stanley during his time in Africa for use against elephant. Stanley's own rifle survives and is held by the National Rifle Association's museum at Fairfax, Virginia.

Other Notes: "Dr. Livingstone I presume?"

Henry Morton Stanley, a Welsh-born journalist turned African explorer working for the New York Herald, uttered the question on the shores of Lake Victoria in 1872 on meeting the missionary Dr. Livingstone who the world had assumed lost in 'Darkest Africa'. Finding him was the journalistic coup of that decade and this adventure was the start of Stanley's career as an explorer, his greatest achievements being the mapping of the River Congo; the settlement of the Congo basin on behalf of Leopold, King of the Belgians and the search for Emin Pasha.

Estimate £5,500-7,500

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