This historic Winchester Model 1895 rifle was presented to U.S. Yellowstone Park Ranger Harry E. Miller by Prince Albert I of Monaco. The large silver oval presentation plaque is on the right side of the buttstock and reads, "PRESENTED TO/Ranger Harry E. Miller/U.S. FOREST SERVICE/BY/Prince Albert I of Monaco/OCT. 13 1913." The left side of the magazine has a hand marked inscription: "Prince Albert I of Monaco/to/Harry E. Miller-Forest Ranger" and "Oct-13-1913." The rifle was manufactured in 1913 (according to the Winchester Collectors Association) and is chambered in the highly desirable .405 WCF big game caliber. It features raised dovetail blade and elevation adjustable notch sights, standard Winchester markings including the factory oval proofs, and smooth straight grip stock fitted with a checkered steel shotgun style buttplate. Prince Albert I of Monaco toured the United States in 1913. A Lexington, Kentucky, newspaper quoted the Prince as saying that "before anything else, I want to go West and shoot big game." His chance to hunt big game came while visiting Wyoming as the guest of Mr. A.A. Anderson, owner of the Palette Ranch. Years earlier the Prince and Anderson were students in Paris. Never one to miss out on a grand PR stunt, famed Wild West showman Buffalo Bill offered to host the hunt near his lodge, Pahaska Tepee, located near Yellowstone National Park's east entrance. A camp, nicknamed Camp Monaco, was selected about 15 miles north of Cody's lodge, and U.S. Yellowstone Ranger Harry E. Miller oversaw the two week royal hunt. The Camp Monaco site was marked with an elaborate carving on a tree by royal artist Louis Tinayre, and today the carving is on displayed at the Buffalo Bill Historical Center. According to curator of the Buffalo Bill-Western History Gallery John Rumm, "Albert's visit marked the first time that a European ruler had visited the United States. Although his visit was scientific and personal — it wasn't diplomatic — that tree became significant of another ruler coming to the county and honoring the United States with his presence." The Prince harvested a bear, an elk and a deer and left in awe at Yellowstone's grand majesty. The prince expressed his gratitude for putting on the hunt by presenting Ranger Miller with this Model 1895. One hundred years later in 2013, Prince Albert II celebrated the centennial of his great, great grandfather's hunt by visiting the Buffalo Bill Historical Center at Cody and presenting the first ever Camp Monaco Prize for biodiversity research in the Yellowstone region. Comes with five original large format 8x14 inch silver gelatin photos of Buffalo Bill, the Prince and his entourage and Ranger Miller, two original photos of the Camp Monaco carving, a circa 1950 photo of Ranger Miller posing with his gun collection which includes this Model 1895, Ranger Miller's U.S. Department of Agriculture notebook containing the personally penned autographs and mailing address of Prince Albert I plus those of his entourage, and copies of secondary source material related to the 1913 hunt and its centennial.

Fine. The barrel, magazine and lever retain 75% original blue finish and the receiver and takedown collar retain light to moderate amounts of original blue finish, otherwise mostly a smooth brown patina. The wood is also fine with minor dings and scratches. Mechanically excellent. A highly historic royal presentation Winchester Model 1895 rifle worthy of any private or public collection!