Product Details
THOMAS BOSS, LONDON
AN EXCEPTIONAL AND RARE CASED PAIR OF 15-BORE TUBE-LOCK SPORTING-GUNS, serial no's. 688 & 689,
for 1846, with browned 30 1/2in. damascus barrels, the top-ribs signed 'THOMAS BOSS 73 ST JAMES'S STREET, LONDON' together with the number '1' or '2' respectively, silver bead fore-sights, scroll engraved rib-end to the colour-hardened squared patent breeches, inlaid platinum rectangular poincons with 'THOMAS BOSS LONDON' in raised letters to the top of each breech-plug, platinum lines, platinum lined vents, fully border and scroll engraved top-tangs, borderline and scroll engraved colour-hardened bar-action locks signed 'THOMAS BOSS', angled and fenced anvils with spring-loaded 'tweezer' tube retainers, scroll engraved hammers with shielded noses, figured walnut chequered half-stocks, drop-points carved behind the locks, blued iron heel-plates with game and scroll engraved heel-spurs, silver oval escutcheons engraved with a monogram and the crown of an Earl, scroll engraved serial numbered trigger-guard tangs, border engraved trigger-guard bows with central engraving of a hunting dog, tapered pineapple finials, fully scroll engraved ramrod throats and original mahogany brass-mounted ramrods, both guns retaining a good proportion of original finish TOGETHER WITH their manufacturers two-tier oak storage case, compartmented and lined in green baize, the outer lid with circular escutcheon with matching monogram and crown, the inner lid with Thomas Boss parchment trade label, the back upper interior edge of case inlet with small brass rectangles stamped with the serial numbers of the guns, the case complete with a number of period accessories including a leather bandolier shot flask, a copper-bodied powder flask, a nickel-plated and a glass oil bottle, an adjustable charge scoop and a nipple-key plus other sundry cleaning items
Provenance: This pair of shotguns were built for George Vane-Tempest, 5th Marquess of Londonderry and styled Viscount Seaham after 1823.
He was born 26th April 1821 to Charles Vane, 3rd Marquess of Londonderry and his second wife and was educated at Eton before going up to Balliol College, Oxford. With his formal education completed, Viscount Seaham purchased a Lieutenancy in February 1845 and was commissioned into the 1st Life Guards where he remained until May 1848. Away from the Army, he stood as Conservative M.P. for Durham North, a seat he held until 1854 when he succeeded his father as Earl Vane and entered the House of Lords. Vane-Tempest's half-brother died without issue in 1872 he succeeded to the marquessate and the family estates in England and Ireland.
He married Mary Cornelia Edwards, daughter of Sir John Edwards, in August 1846 and they resided at Plas Machynlleth, his wife's family seat. Here they had six children with their first son, Charles Vane-Tempest-Stewart becoming the 6th Marquess of Londonderry on the death of his father in November 1884.
Their third son, Lord Hubert Lional Henry Vane-Tempest, more commonly known as 'Bertie' Vane-Tempest, was a fine and prolific shot and one of the best-known characters of the great shooting parties of the late 19th and early 20th Century.
Literature: The Lot is accompanied by a letter from the makers stating:
"Pair Boss Tubelock Shotguns, Serial Nos 688 & 689.
I can confirm that the above pair of guns were manufactured in 1846. Unfortunately I do not have the original gun order record for this pair but I do have the name of Viscount Seaham in the Boss numbers ledgers associated with the serial numbers. The tubelock was used between 1846 - 1850 by Boss, although late to use that design, it proved to be a very reliable mechanism but only approximately 22 guns were made by Boss with tubelocks and only 5 pairs listed within the total of 22 guns."
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Estimate £15,000-20,000