"ST. JLLICHMANN IN WIEN" gold inlaid on top of the barrel at the breech, "JLLICHMANN" inscribed on the right sideplate and "IN WIEN" on the left sideplate. These bellows air guns were generally made in the late 1700s to mid-1800s, and were used primarily for indoor target shooting. Their basic feature is a conical bellows hidden in the hollowed-out wooden buttstock. Information related to these can be found on pages 213-214 of "Blue Book of Airguns, Thirteenth Edition" with this exact gun photographed on page 214. This bellows air gun has a tip-up smoothbore octagon barrel measuring at approximately .28 caliber/7 mm (possibly for use with 6.5 mm darts with a hair tail) that loads from the breech and releases with a lever located on the right sideplate. Dovetail mounted hooded blade front and notch rear sights on the barrel, tang mounted peep sight, and mounted with a walnut stock with a checkered forend and deeply cut floral relief carvings. Floral scroll pattern engraving on the upper tang, side plates and various brass fittings. A silver oval inscription plate located on the bottom of the forend shows a noble crown with five pearls above a "CS" monogram. Circular brass collection tag marked "R.D. BEEMAN/PRIVATE/COLLECTION/2144" hanging from the trigger guard Provenance: The Dr. Robert D. Beeman Collection

Fine, retains 40% original blue finish with nearly all of the gold inlay on the barrel with smooth gray and brown patina on the balance and some scattered areas of light pitting, strong case colors visible on the upper tang with strong traces of case colors and smooth gray patina on the remainder of the casehardened surfaces, and sharp engraving. The stock is very fine with some scattered light handling marks and defined edges and carvings. The tip-up barrel and trigger function, otherwise mechanically untested.