The included copy of a notarized letter from John F. Bayard indicates this pistol was owned by Thomas Francis Bayard Sr. (1828-1898), a Democrat who served as United States Attorney for Delaware, a senator from Delaware from 1869 to 1885, then U.S. Secretary of State under President Grover Cleveland from March 1885 to March 1889, and finally as U.S. ambassador to Great Britain from 1893 to 1897. He opposed laws and amendments against discrimination. Bayard was in Philadelphia working in partnership with William Shippen in 1854-1858. Carl Daniel Tanner (1791-1858) was a gunmaker in Hannover from 1829 until his death in 1858. The smoothbore barrel has two silver bands at the muzzle, a blade front sight, "TANNER. HANNOVER." in gold inlay on top, silver and gold bands at the breech, and essentially full coverage scroll engraving on the balance. The breech is also gold and silver banded and engraved and has "B" marked on top indicating it was the second gun from a pair of pistols. The upper tang has an adjustable notch rear sight, and it and the other components, aside from the escutcheons, have full coverage engraving consisting mainly of scrollwork along with some martial and animal motifs and silver and gold inlays. The trigger guard is spurred. The stock has a checkered wrist.

Fine. Metal finely engraved with bright gold inlays, dark patina on the silver, and mostly smooth dark brown on the balance. The engraving is distinct. The stock is very good and has minor wear in the crisp checkering and some general light scratches and dings. Mechanically fine.