These pistols are lavishly ornate and in keeping with presentation pistols by top English makers in the early 19th century with "Oriental" influences in design following Napoleon's conquests in Egypt and Syria. The "j" date mark among the Birmingham silver hallmarks on the trigger guards date the gold plated silver furniture on these pistols to 1807, and the pistols are likely from Elizabeth Bennett of London in 1803-1809 when she succeeded her husband John upon his death. The left side of each of the barrels in the octagonal breech section is inscribed "ROBERT PATTERSON, Phila.," and the silver wrist escutcheons are inscribed with "HC" or possibly "HG" in script. The pair were listed as "Dueling Pistols. . .said to have been presented to Major Gen. R. Patterson by the Prince of Monaco" when they were sold in 1932 as part of the "Valuable Collection of Rare, Early American Fire Arms Formed by Mr. George K. Erben, Rosemont, Pa." (catalogue included). The pistols are certainly in keeping with other opulently ornamented pistols owned by the European aristocracy in the early 19th century, and the initials on the escutcheons might be for Prince Honore IV (1758-1819) or his brother Honore V (1778-1841). Major General Robert Patterson (1792-1881) was an officer during the War of 1812, Mexican-American War, and Civil War and was a wealthy and well-connected Philadelphia businessman. An newspaper article from March 18, 1924, is within the case and also provides details on his life as does his lengthy obituary in "The Times" from Philadelphia. Patteron's family was banished from Ireland when he was a young boy due to his father's insurrectionist activities and moved to the U.S. He lived in Philadelphia and served in the 2nd Pennsylvania Militia as a captain and colonel and then a captain in the U.S. Army during the War of 1812. He returned to the Pennsylvania Militia after the war and led the militia in putting down insurrections in Philadelphia. He established himself very successfully and broadly in business and had holdings in the North and South, including a sugar plantation in Louisiana and thirty cotton mills in Pennsylvania. He was a major general in the Pennsylvania Militia when the Mexican-American War began and took command of the 2nd Division of Volunteers and served under Generals Zachary Taylor and Winfield Scott. He was wounded at the famous Battle of Cerro Gordo. As time went on, his business holdings and connections continued to expand as did his political power. The news clipping notes that his home "contained many treasures of interesting association with notable personages at home and abroad." Among his friends was Joseph Bonaparte when he was in the U.S. in exile, who had a dining set given to his friend by his brother Napoleon. His home regularly hosted the Aztec Club, which he was president of for thirty-three years and was formed by officers from the Mexican-American War, and he also hosted presidents and other dignitaries such as Black Hawk and Keokuk of the Sauk and Mesquakie and the emperor of Brazil. With the outbreak of the Civil War, he returned to the militia as a major general and took command of the Department of Pennsylvania and the Army of the Shenandoah but left the service with an honorable discharge on July 27, 1861, after the Union's costly and embarrassing defeat at the First Battle of Bull Run. Patterson was blamed for failing to retake Harpers Ferry and for failing to prevent the Confederates from consolidating their forces at Bull Run. Two of his sons, Francis E. Patterson and Robert Emmet Patterson, were brigadier generals during the war, and the third, William H. Patterson, was a colonel. Major General Patterson published "A Narrative of the Campaign in the Valley of the Shenandoah in 1861" in 1865 and returned to his businesses and served as the president of the Aztec Club from 1867 until his death in 1881. The Historical Society of Pennsylvania purchased his grand home in central Philadelphia and remains on the same site to this day. Patterson was known as a lover of flowers which makes the decoration of the pistols particularly fitting. The smoothbore officer's pistols feature gold bands at the muzzles, floral engraving along the length of the three-stage barrels which were accented with gold wash, "-LONDON-" marked on top of the octagonal breech sections, platinum vent liners, fixed blade and notch sights, gold plating on the upper tangs and borders of the locks which have floral and martial motifs, niter blue on the balance of the lock plate, mostly raised relief martial patterns on the silver furniture, and extensive silver wire and inlays along the full lengths of the stocks consisting of scrolls, bouquets, wreaths, flags, arms, musical instruments, a heart with a bow, arrow, quiver, and torch on the bottom between the ramrod pipe and trigger guard finial. The case has wine colored lining, a screwdriver, cleaning rod, jag, and ball mold.

Fine with 70% plus gold remaining on the upper tang and strong gold remaining within the engraving on the lock along with patches of bright original niter blue under the cock, aged patina on the balance of the lock, areas of strong gold finish on the silver furniture concentrated in the relief areas such as the trigger guard bow and aged patina on the balance of the silver, traces of gold and otherwise lighter gray patina with some slight mottled discoloration on the barrel, repairs at the forend tip on the right, only a few tiny pieces of inlay absent, a small crack to the left of the trigger guard tang, and general light marks and scratches. Mechanically fine. The relined case is very good and has minor age and storage related wear such as mild scratches and crazing, and detached key hole escutcheon and right latch stud.

See "A."

Fine with 70% plus gold remaining on the upper tang, traces of gold in the engraving on the barrel, strong gold within the engraving on the borders of the lock, strong patches of bright original niter blue under the cock and pan, aged patina on the balance of the lock, strong gold on the silver furniture within the relief designs (especially on the side plate), aged patina on the balance of the silver, light gray patina and some slight mottled discoloration on the majority of the barrel, a small sliver absent from the forend tip on the right, some filler on the opposite side, few tiny pieces of inlay absent, and general minor wear such as some scattered marks and scratches. Mechanically fine. This is a beautiful pair of early 19th century pistols owned by an influential Philadelphia businessman and veteran officer of the War of 1812, Mexican-American War, and Civil War. Provenance: Dr. Gerald Klaz collection.