Famed London gunmaker Joseph Egg (1775-1837) was the nephew of Durs Egg and is particularly noted for his fine over-and-under pocket pistols, affectionately known to collectors as "Baby Eggs." This example is truly extraordinary both in terms of its condition and its provenance, the first owner being Prince George Augustus Frederick (1762-1830) while Prince of Wales and Prince Regent circa 1818 prior to his being crowned King George IV. Egg is also known to have made other pistols for Prince Frederick Augustus (1763–1827), Duke of York and Albany, and members of the aristocracy. A similar pistol from the W. Keith Neal Collection is illustrated in W. Keith Neal & D.H.L. Back, "British Gunmakers: Their Trade Cards, Cases, and Equipment", plates 348-349, and a pair from the J.F. Hayward Collection is held in the Collections of the Victoria & Albert Museum, London (accession number: M.2802&A-1931). Rock Island Auction Co. sold one of the later pistols with percussion cap ignition in 2019. Many of George IV's fine firearms were held within the Carlton House Armoury and remain in the Royal Collection at Windsor. With blued tapering octagonal barrels, the upper barrel is signed "-J*EGG*LONDON-" in gold with a silver blade front sight and a gold band and gold clouds inlaid at the breech end. The lower barrel is inscribed "No 1 Piccadilly London" and is inlaid with dual gold bands at the breech end. Each barrel is smoothbore and has a platinum-lined vent, and a blued ramrod with checked tip is fitted to the left side. The standing breech features a notch rear sight, floral patterns, and a feline mask. Each flat beveled lock plate is signed "JOS- EGG- PATENT" and features a rainproof priming-pan, scroll and sunburst engraving, external mainspring that also serves as the frizzen spring, a sea serpent design on the base of the elegantly shaped cock and sliding blued safety catches. The right lock fires the upper barrel, and the left fires the lower barrel using a single trigger. The silver trigger-guard and pommel-cap have fine foliate engraving. The pommel is surmounted by a gold cap engraved with the Royal coat of arms, and the gold wrist escutcheon is engraved with a coronet. The figured walnut butt has a finely checkered grip. The pistol is housed in a velvet-lined leather case with gilt borders and a "POTEFER/GAINIER/Quai de L'horloge No 73/A PARIS." marked label. Purchased by Norman R. Blank from the Wilfrid Ward Collection at Christie’s, 27 October 1993, lot 91. Provenance: King George IV; The Wilfrid Ward Collection; The Norman R. Blank Collection

Excellent with 98% plus original blue finish on the barrels with a few slight spots of minor oxidation staining, bright gold, light aged patina on the silver, bright platinum vent liners, vibrant blue on the springs, top-jaws and jaw-screws, attractive case colors, right cock professionally repaired, firing wear on the frizzens, and light handling and storage wear. The stock is also excellent and has crisp checkering. Mechanically fine. The case is fine with minor age and storage related wear mainly on the exterior which has been sunned along with some contact staining on the lining. This is a truly extraordinary pistol. These distinctive "Baby Egg" pistols are always desirable, but the pocket pistol of the future King George IV is truly special.