Holland & Holland has a long history building guns for influential and important people, with this pair, proofed in London in 1988, constituting a true pair built for legendary Formula One driver Nigel Ernest James Mansell. Mansell is one of the most successful Formula One drivers of all time, racing for Lotus, Williams, Ferrari, and back to Williams at which time he won the 1992 Formula One World Championship and also claimed the 1993 CART Indy Car World Championship title. To this day Mansell remains the only driver to simultaneously hold both of these illustrious titles. Mansell retired from Formula One in 1995 and has been named to the International Motorsports Hall of Fame, The Motorsports Hall of Fame (U.S.A.), the Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame, as well as a Commander of the Order of the British Empire, to this day, remaining a household name to racing fans around the world. Each gun in the pair was built with blued steel chopperlump barrels featuring a single nickel bead sight on the smooth concave solid rib which is engraved "Royal de Luxe" ahead of a flourish of scroll engraving surrounding a gold inlaid "1" or "2" and a single band of light scroll engraving at the breech. The barrels are signed "HOLLAND & HOLLAND" and 33. BRUTON STREET, LONDON." on the right and left tubes respectively, show an import mark on the underside beneath the forend, and bear London proof marks on the flats indicating 2 3/4 inch chambers which are equipped with automatic ejectors. The barrels of each gun are fitted to a beautifully brushed bright assisted-opening sidelock action which has been beautifully adorned with near full coverage floral scroll engraving surrounding "HOLLAND & HOLLAND" signature banners on the tail of the locks as well as a trio of finely engraved game scenes before spilling off of the action onto the toplever which bears a gold "1" or "2", the trigger guard, and both tangs, the bottom of which has the serial number inlaid in gold. On gun "1" the scenes depict a yellow Labrador standing in front of a fence in a field on the left, the right has the yellow lab running through a field, and the underside has busts of the yellow lab along with a black lab companion. Gun "2" has a black lab standing in a field on the left, the black lab laying in the grass on the right, and busts of the black and yellow lab together on the underside. All four lockplates are signed "P. COGGAN" at the bottom beneath the scene for world renowned English Master Engraver Phil Coggan who graced these fine guns with his work. The guns both feature intercepting sears, a right hand rolled trigger guard, double triggers, gold centerlined cocking indicators on either lockplate, and a tang mounted automatic safety with gold inlaid "SAFE" indicator. Each gun also shows matching serial numbers on the underside of the lockplates along with light scroll engraving on the internals and York & Wallin maker's marks. The guns are both fitted with a beautifully figured and dual line bordered multi-point checkered semi-beavertail forend with brushed bright forend irons engraved to match along with a gold "1" or "2" on the Anson button pushrod release. Each gun's straight hand stock shows gorgeous figure and features the same checkering, teardrop carved drop points, a diamond cross section at the wrist, blank gold inscription oval, and a checkered bare butt. Included is a trunk style double gun takedown case with canvas cover showing the initials "N.E.J.M." and containing oiler, canister (with four extra strikers), and assorted cleaning rod heads (rod absent). Barrel and stock measurements (R/L): bore diameter nine inches from the breech both proofed and measured at .728 inches; choke constriction .009/.018 inches; minimum wall thickness .030/.028 inches; 1 7/16 inch drop at comb; 2 3/16 inch drop at heel; 15 1/16 inch length of pull; slight cast-off; weight 6 lbs. 9 oz.

As described in "A". Barrel and stock measurements (R/L): bore diameter nine inches from the breech both proofed and measured at .728 inches; choke constriction .008/.018 inches; minimum wall thickness .030/.031 inches; 1 7/16 inch drop at comb; 2 3/16 inch drop at heel; 15 1/16 inch length of pull; slight cast-off; weight 6 lbs. 9 oz. Provenance: The Collection of Nigel Ernest James Mansell; A Private Collection