This cased revolver has it all: it is an early first year Model 1855 revolver, it was factory engraved by Master Engraver Gustave Young and factory inscribed from Samuel Colt to a historically significant and influential U.S. politician in the antebellum era, it is cased and includes the original accessories, it remains in exceptionally fine condition, and is has remained in the family of the original recipient for 164 years! The back strap has the simple but significant inscription: "Hon Edward Everett/From/Col Colt." All revolvers presented by Samuel Colt are valued historical artifacts, but this one is especially significant. An included statement from his descendant notes that Edward Everett (April 11, 1774-January 15, 1865) "is most well know[n] as 'the other speaker at Gettysburg.' Edward Everett was chosen to deliver the main oration at the dedication of the National Cemetery at Gettysburg on the day that Abraham Lincoln delivered his monumental Gettysburg Address. The next day he wrote to Lincoln: 'I should be glad, if I could flatter myself, that I came as near to the central idea of the occasion in two hours, as you did in two minutes.'" Lincoln responded thus: "Hon. Edward Everett. My dear Sir: Your kind note of to-day is received. In our respective parts yesterday, you could not have been excused to make a short address, nor I a long one. I am pleased to know that, in your judgment, the little I did say was not entirely a failure. Of course I knew Mr. Everett would not fail; and yet, while the whole discourse was eminently satisfactory, and will be of great value, there were passages in it which transcended my expectation. The point made against the theory of the general government being only an agency, whose principals are the States, was new to me, and, as I think, is one of the best arguments for the national supremacy. The tribute to our noble women for their angel-ministering to the suffering soldiers, surpasses, in its way, as do the subjects of it, whatever has gone before. Our sick boy, for whom you kindly inquire, we hope is past the worst. Your Obt. Servt. A. Lincoln" Everett's descendant also notes that Everett was one of the greatest orators in American history and was known as "America's Greatest Orator," "Cicero of America," and "Apostle of the Union." Lincoln alluded to this well-known fact when he noted "Of course I knew Mr. Everett would not fail..." At the time this revolver was made, Everett had fairly recently resigned from his seat in the Senate where he represented Massachusetts as a Whig and was engaged primarily as an orator. Many of his speeches in the 1850s were about George Washington, and he is credited with using funds raised from these events to preserve Washington's home, Mount Vernon, as a historic site. He opposed the extension of slavery into the U.S. western territories, but like many, he was also supremely concerned about maintaining the union. He resigned on May 12, 1854, citing his health, in response to the contentious debate around the Kansas-Nebraska Act. The act was introduced by Stephen A. Douglas and ended the Missouri Compromise and thus effectively opened all of the West to slavery by leaving it to the residents of each territory to decide the issue for themselves. Everett's term as a Senator lasted from March 4, 1853 to June 1, 1854, and he served on the Foreign Relations Committee and the Committee on Territories. Everett was the son of a reverend and developed his oratory talents at Harvard as well as in his early professional years as a pastor in Unitarian Brattle Street Church in Boston and as a professor of Greek literature at Harvard. He earned a philosophical doctorate from the University of Göttingen in 1817 and is believed to be the first American awarded a Ph.D. Ralph Waldo Emerson was among his students. He was President of Harvard University from February 1846 to December 1848. During his political career he also served as: a representative for Massachusetts' 4th District in U.S. House of Representatives from March 4, 1825 to March 3, 1835, Governor of Massachusetts from January 13, 1836 to January 18, 1840, U.S. Minister to the United Kingdom from December 16, 1841 to August 8, 1845, aid to U.S. Secretary of State Daniel Webster until Webster's death in 1852, and U.S. Secretary of State under President Millard Fillmore from November 6, 1852 to March 4, 1853. He also ran for Vice President on the Constitutional Union Party ticket in 1860 with John Bell and thus ran against Lincoln though in essence the 1860 election was split north and south between the Republicans and Northern Democrats in the North and the Constitutional Union Party and the Southern Democrats in the South. The Constitutional Union Party was a moderate party and hoped to hold the country together. They ran on the mottos: "Liberty and Union Now and Forever One and Inseparable. No North, No South, No East, No West, Nothing but the Union." and "The Union, the Constitution and the enforcement of the laws." At the time this revolver was presented, Abraham Lincoln was at a crossroads in his political career and the country was tearing apart at the seams. Blood had already been spilled in Kansas over the issue of slavery. The antislavery faction won in Kansas and did again at the national level under Lincoln. The ultimate victory in the name of national unity and freedom came at a great cost. Everett was selected by David Wills, the man who purchased the 17 acres that became the Gettysburg National Cemetery, to give a speech at its dedication. After meticulous research, Everett detailed the battle and the sacrifice of thousands of men who gave all in service to their country over the course of around two-hours on November 19, 1863. Though Everett's speech has been overshadowed by Lincoln's famous Gettysburg Address and is too long to reprint here, it is well worth reading (see online at Voices of Democracy: The U.S. Oratory Project). No one at that time yet knew that by the tide of the war had finally turned in favor of the Union. The revolver has extensive and finely engraved scroll patterns on the barrel, loading lever, and frame. There are animal head designs on the sides of the frame near the grip; these were popular with Master Engraver Gustave Young whose shop served as Colt's main engraving contractors in 1853-1869. A revolver of this importance would have been engraved by the master himself, and the hammer has eight dots below the knurling indicating it required eight days for Young to complete these intricate engraving patterns. The back strap is inscribed "Hon Edward Everett/From/Col Colt" in fine script. The barrel has a German silver post front sight and "}{COLTS/PATENT}{ADDRESS SAML COLT/HARTFORD CT. U.S.A. }{" roll-stamped on top. The top strap is grooved and has a tighter notch at the rear which serves as the rear sight. The cylinder has "COLTS PATENT/No 281" and the Indian and settler battle scene. The serial number is also visible on the bottom of the barrel and on the butt. The hammer and loading lever are casehardened, and the barrel, cylinder, and frame have the high polish blued finish. The grip is deluxe figured walnut with a high polish "piano" varnish finish. The case is relatively plain and matches those with other Samuel Colt presented Model 1855 revolvers. The interior is lined with red fabric and is fitted to the revolver and the included accessories which are: a "COLTS/PATENT" and "R" marked brass bullet mold with cavities for both round ball and conical bullets and no sprue cutter, an Eley Bros. cap tin with caps "Made expressly for/COLT'S PAT/Belt and Pocket/Pistols," Colt patent powder flask with the eagle and shield motif over crossed revolvers and "E. PLURIBUS. UNUM." on one side, and an L-shaped screwdriver. Also includes is a portrait of Everett signed: "Rev. Dr Frothingham/with the affectionate regards of Edward Everett. Boston 4 Dec. 1855." There is also a clipping with a quote from Everett about the U.S. Postal Service on the back. Also includes the books "Metrical Pieces, Translated and Original" by N.L. Frothingham (1855, signed by Frothingham inside), "Edward Everett: Orator and Stateman" by Paul Revere Frothingham (1925), "The Eloquence of Edward Everett: America's Greatest Orator" by Richard A. Katula (2009), and "Apostle of Union: A Political Biography of Edward Everett" by Matthew Mason (2016).

Excellent with 95% plus bright original high polish blue and vivid casehardened finish overall. There are some minor scratches, light cylinder rotation lines, slight fading to an even brown patina around the nipples, and small spots of slight finish loss on the back strap near the inscription. The inscription, engraving, markings, and cylinder scene remain crisp. The grip is also excellent and has essentially all of the original varnish, beautiful figure, and very minimal wear from mostly resting in the case. Mechanically excellent. The case is very fine and has mild age and storage related wear including some fading of the lining, some minor splits at the corners of the dividers, and a split on the bottom. The accessories are also very good and have very minor age and storage related wear. The portrait has some minor staining of the print and moderate wear on the frame. The older books are good and have mild wear for their age, and the newer books are very good to near new. This is an absolutely incredible set that has everything private collectors and institutions look for: historical significance, rarity, quality, high condition, and provenance. This is one of the most significant newly discovered Colt percussion revolvers we have ever had the pleasure of bringing to auction for the first time.