Description:

RICHARD J. GATLING (1818 - 1903) was an American inventor best known for his invention of the Gatling gun, considered to be the first successful machine gun, in 1862. His invention remains in wide use today in many different applications. GATLING WRITES COLT, ON THE RAREST GATLING LETTERHEAD, ARMING EX-SAMURAI Fine content and association manuscript signed letter on his excessively rare "Office of the Gatling Gun Company" illustrated letterhead picturing a Gatling gun, 1p. 4to., Hartford, Nov.24, 1877. In part: "...Please pack the Tripods in ordinary boxes (not tin-lined) and mark them: Kaitakushi, Tokio, Japan. Care Japanese Counsel [sic], San Francisco, Cal. We will send instructions for shipping...waiting to hear from New York..." Boldly signed by Gatling as President, mounted to an archival board, in very fine condition. On August 11, 1877 the Japan Weekly Mail reported: "...the Kaitakushi Department recently received from America 5,000 Remington rifles, also some Gatling guns..." The Kaitakushi Department was charged with resettling ex-samurai whose feudal lords had opposed the Meiji forces and whose domains were therefore abolished. These samurai were sent to the northern Japanese islands and here are armed to protect against Russian incursions. The rarity of this letterhead is legendary - only three or four are known to exist.

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November 14, 2018 10:00 AM EST
Elkton, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $499 $20
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 + $10,000