I have an interesting story (to me anyway) ! About 10 years ago I wanted to buy a good pair of duelling pistols in their case, After quite a while a pair came up at Sothebys from memory, so I went to look at them, estimate was about 15kGBP if I remember correctly. They were exquisite, almost certainly unfired in their French style case which was also immaculate, I left a reserve bid and went on my way. Then I got a call from Sothebys, the monogrammed oval on the case was initialled and Sothebys had found the pair was made for Napoleans brother !! needless to say I didnīt get them, they were bought by a big museum in France for GBP60k (which if you think about the provenance doesnīt sound too bad). What made me laugh was that I use all my guns so had Sothebys not discovered what they did, I would be hoiking one of those pistols around the country behind the house trying to shoot rabbits with it ! (unsuccesfully of course  )
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Re: Cased pair of Howdah pistols