This cased pair of Colt Brevete Dragoon revolvers has gold damascene decoration and relief carved grips. According to the included letter from M. Prithviraj from the Rajmahal Palace Office in Jaipur, the gold caligraphic inscription on the right side of each revolver barrel lugs indicates the revolvers were the property of the Maharaja of Jaipur. The last four letters, "G.C.I.E.", are believed to indicate "Grand Commander of the Indian Empire." The letter provides dates for two later Maharajas, but Prithviraj did not have the dates for the gun when he provided the information. Maharaja Ram Singh II (1835-1880) was the son of Maharaja Jai Singh III (1819-1835). He was given the titles of Knight Grand Commander of the Most Exalted Order of the Star of India and Counsellor of the Empress in 1877. It is likely that this pair of revolvers were presented to the Maharaja by Prince Albert during his visit to the Rajasthan capital in 1853. Back in our December 2011 auction we sold another revolver presented by the Prince to the Maharaja with similar designs. Sawai Ram Singh II (1835-1880) became Maharaja shortly after he was born due to his father's death. In 1853, he would have only been in power for a couple of years as Jaipur was controlled by a council of regency until the Maharaja came of age in 1851. During his reign he promoted road construction, irrigation, and education. The city's three colleges were initiated under his reign which included a school for girls. He also fostered friendships with the English Royal Family. In 1853, when Prince Albert, husband of Queen Victoria, visited the Jaipur as part of his tour of India the entire city was painted pink to welcome him. The rest of the royal party also reunited in the city and Albert is said to have enjoyed a game of polo. When Prince Edward VII visited in 1876, the city was again painted pink and Prince Albert laid the corner stone of what is now the Albert Hall Museum in Jaipur. The city has been known as the Pink City ever since and many government buildings and private homes remain painted pink as part of tradition. The barrels, loading levers, frames, cylinders, hammers, and screw heads of both revolvers are fully covered with the intricate, flawlessly executed gold damascene work. The decoration is fully equal to that on the Hartford Dragoon serial number 529 illustrated on page 119 of "THE BOOK OF COLT ENGRAVING" by R.L. Wilson which Wilson describes as "the finest known example of gold damascene decoration on a Colt percussion revolver". The brass trigger guard and back strap of each revolver are gold plated and almost completely covered with intricate floral engraving. The revolvers are fitted with carved grips that are decorated with floral engraving and borders that matches the decoration on the trigger guards and back straps. The revolver markings and serial numbers are covered by the damascene work and engraving. However, the London "Crown/CP" and "Crown/V" proof and inspection marks remain visible on the left side of each barrel lug and above the cylinder chambers. The revolvers are complete with a British style mahogany case with brass reinforcement screws in the lid. The case has a dark green baize lining. The case has nine compartments and contains: (1) a bag shaped powder flask marked: "G &J.W. HAWKSLEY/SHEFFIELD" with adjustable charger marked: "1, 7/8", and "3/4 drams", (2) brass bow-leg double cavity bullet mold marked "COLT'S/PATENT" on the sprue cutter and "S" on the right block, (3) L-shaped combination screwdriver/nipple wrench, (4) Dixon pewter oil bottle, (5) two 250 count tins of Eley percussion caps with blue and green paper labels, and (6) packet of seamless skin cartridges for the Colt Army pistol. Colt percussion revolvers with gold damascene decoration are rare and intimately associated the 19th century British Empire and British colonial India.

Very fine as period custom embellished. The revolvers display flawless workmanship. The intricate damascene decoration is in excellent condition and shows minimal wear. The percussion nipples on both revolvers are free from flash pitting. The gold plating on the trigger guards and back straps shows no significant wear. The grips have a mellow cream-colored patina and the relief engraving is sharp. Revolver "A" has a repaired crack and one small chip in the left butt. There is a hairline crack on the right rear of the butt on Revolver "B" and the grip is loose. Both revolvers have crisp actions that function well. The case is in fine condition. The exterior has only very minor storage marks and the green baize lining remains in excellent condition and shows very little wear. The case lacks a cleaning rod and two compartments may originally have been fitted with lids. The powder flask is in very fine condition and retains approximately 80% of the brown lacquer and gold-plated finish. The bullet mold is in excellent condition with minimal wear. Both cap tins are in fine condition. The oil bottle has some discoloration on the body but remains in good condition. The cartridge packet has been opened and two cartridges are missing. This is a rare and magnificent double cased set of Colt Brevete Dragoon revolvers with some of the finest gold damascene engraving on any firearm owned by the Maharaja of Jaipur and likely given to him by the English Royal Family.

As described in A.

As described in A.