The May 2012 Collector’s Series Sale
1438 1438
Civil War: Samuel Gardiner American inventor; devised an exploding bullet for use against ammunition wagons; the United States purchased 110,000 of them, but soldiers (including Confederates, who had captured at least 10,000 rounds) used them against enemy personnel, notably at the Battle of Gettysburg; condemned as “barbarous” by Gen. US Grant, they were later outlawed. Important Document Signed “Saml. Gardiner,” 3 pages, legal folio, New York, November 19, 1861. An agreement between the inventor and Robert J. Hubbard, in which Gardiner, having “invented a new and useful improvement and invention in the forming and designing of an Explosive projectile, called an Explosive Bullet, or shell or Ball for Muskets, Rifles and Cannons, and an Explosive or detonating powder to be used therewith and a new fuze in form and substance also to be used in connection with the above...has heretofore filed in the Office of the Commissioner of Patents” sells to Hubbard a 1/8 share in the patent rights on the bullets in consideration of $500, including 1/8 of any money received in a contract with the United States government to purchase the shells. Signed by both men at close, with notarization on verso of last page. Minor edge wear, overall VG. Gardiner’s bullet was ingeniously fused to detonate 1.25 seconds after being fired, and was made in at least two calibers, .58 for the standard Union rifle and .52 for Sharps carbines. He offered them to the US government in June 1862 and was given a contract that November. Only 20,000 of the smaller caliber were issued, making them prized rarities for collectors of genuine Civil War ammunition. (photo)
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Est. 2,000-3,000