This impressive presentation quality embellished Girardoni repeating air pistol was manufactured sometime after 1799 and is signed "Girardony" (spelled with a "y" in this case) on top of the barrel, with "JC" and "in Wien" signed on the lockplate. This exact example is pictured and described on page 601 of the book "Blue Book of Airguns, Thirteenth Edition" in which the book boldly states, "Only two Girardoni air pistols are known to us." in reference to the fact that this pistol is physically signed with the inventor/maker's name unlike the limited examples of Girardoni system pistols made by different makers. The book further states, "The lower image shows a superbly made, gold-plated, silver inlaid, deeply engraved pistol on the Girardoni system but with Contriner styling. Its elegant construction suggests an important, perhaps royal, customer." and further, "The lock on this gun clearly shows a 'JG'. One of Bartolomeo Girardoni's sons was named Johann Girardoni. This suggests, as was previously not known, that Johann, described as especially talented and trained by his father in technical skills, may have been involved in the production of Girardoni repeating airguns-perhaps in the Contriner shop in Vienna, after his father's death in 1799." The Girardoni (sometimes spelled "Girandoni") is easily the most famous early air rifle (pistol in this case) or windbuchse largely thanks to the fact that for many years it has been associated with Lewis & Clark and their famous Corps of Discovery Expedition. It is widely believed that they either had a Girardoni or a very similar design by Isaiah Lukens of Philadelphia. The Girardoni was designed by Bartolomeo Girardoni around 1779 and is also significant as one of the first widely used repeating martial arms, with a magazine tube on the right side of the barrel for use with lead balls and a breech block that is able to be pressed sideways against spring pressure for loading/repeating capability. The rifles were notably used by Austrian sharpshooters from 1787-1815. Because the air tanks took around 30 minutes of pumping by hand to bring to full pressure, the riflemen had assistants that repressurized the reservoirs initially and later also had more efficient wagon mounted pumps. "Wind guns" had several advantages over conventional firearms including that they were quieter, smokeless, quicker to reload, and relatively unaffected by rain. They also required less cleaning since they did not require corrosive black powder. This attractive example is chambered in approximately .35 caliber/9 mm and features an octagon barrel with silver inlaid floral designs on top behind the signature, fine twelve-groove rifling, dovetail mounted blade front sight, notch rear sight fixed on top of the frame, a walnut stock and a leather wrapped metal stock reservoir. Features an attractive high quality deeply cut engraved martial motif in an oval on the gold finished brass frame depicting a shield, arrows and floral designs. Floral and border engraving on gold finished brass components, iron sideplate, trigger guard and lock with martial motifs on the latter two. Circular brass collection tag marked "R.D. BEEMAN/PRIVATE/COLLECTION/478" hanging from the trigger guard. More information on Girardoni air guns can be found on pages 598-601 of "Blue Book of Airguns, Thirteenth Edition" in which page 601 explains that Girardoni occasionally signed his name in period documents with either an "i" or a "y" on the end as seen on this pistol. Provenance: The Dr. Robert D. Beeman Collection

Exceptionally fine and highly attractive, exhibiting bright iron surfaces with a few patches of minor pitting, nearly all of silver inlay, 97% of the stunning bright gold finish on the brass components, and absolutely sharp and distinct engraving and markings overall. The walnut stock is also very fine with some scattered light pressure marks, a few small cracks on either side at the front of the forend, and defined edges. The leather is very good some light age related wear and some absent sections around the top and on the bottom. Mechanically fine. Rock Island Auction Company is very pleased to offer this extraordinary presentation grade embellished Girardoni pistol, one of only two known as actually signed with the inventor/maker's name, right out of the well-known Dr. Robert D. Beeman collection!