According to page 184 of David Baker and Roger Lake's "Paradox: The Story of Col. G.V. Fosbery, Holland & Holland, and the Paradox Volume One", only 69 8-bore Paradox guns were completed. This gun is pictured and described on page 189. The book also shows a photo of the original ledger page for the gun, which indicates the gun was ordered for a Sir H. Tichborne in November 1891 and lists many of features ordered, including the lack of a cheekpiece, the pistol grip stock, the sideclipped action, and the back action design. Sir Henry Alfred Tichborne (1866-1910) was part of the controversial Tichborne Case in the 1860s-1870s and was declared the 12th Baronet Tichborne. His hunting adventures abroad are mentioned in "After Big Game in Africa and India" in "The Century Magazine" in 1897. This gun was purchased by Norman Blank from the Pasadena Gun Shop Inc. on February 4th, 1957. It was built with blued steel barrels featuring a beaded blade front sight and folding 50 yard rear sight on the flat partially matted solid rib, "HOLLAND & HOLLAND. 98. NEW BOND STREET. LONDON" and "'PARADOX' FOSBERY PATENT" signed on the right and left respectively, front sling swivel, chambers with a single extractor, and period London black powder proof marks on the flats. The barrels are fitted to the massive Jones underlever back action which displays exceptional extensive floral scroll engraving surrounding "HOLLAND & HOLLAND" signatures on the lockplates and "CHARGE 8 TO 10 DRAMS CASE 3 1/2 INCHES" on the left side of the action for the charge weight. The engraving continues onto the underlever, both of the rebounding hammers, both tangs, and the triggerguard. The gun is fitted with an attractively figured and multi-point checkered forend which has engraved casehardened fittings and a pistol grip stock which has a casehardened and engraved grip cap, "H.T" in the gold oval, rear sling swivel, and a recoil pad. Length of pull 14 1/8 inches. Weight 15 lbs. 8 oz. Provenance: Sir Henry Alfred Tichborne; Pasadena Gun Shop Inc.; The Norman R. Blank Collection

Very fine overall, retaining 85% original blue finish on the barrels with a plum hue, some loss mostly towards the muzzles, some spotting and oxidation on the barrels, 50% of the original case colors with a coat of protective varnish on the action, and the balance of the metal showing a fine grey patina. The rifling at the muzzle is excellent with little or no wear. The wood is fine with some varnish loss, a few dings and scratches, damage to the recoil; pad, and mostly crisp checkering. Mechanically excellent. A great chance to own a rare big bore Paradox gun absent from most collections!