This carbine from 1874 along with the very similarly non-factory engraved and inscribed musket in previous lot are inscribed "His
Excellency the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Spain/Count Villagonzalo" on top of the frame and "Saint Petersburg" on the upper
tang in Cyrillic. The left side plate features the coat of arms of the Count of Villagonzalo, and the right side plate features a Spanish
grandee coronet over "V". The barrel bands, frame, hammer, lever, and buttplate feature scroll engraving. It features a blade
front sight on the upper barrel band, a notch and folding leaf rear sight, the address and King's improvement patent marking
inscribed on top of the barrel, a saddle ring, the serial number marked behind the trigger, and a smooth walnut forearm and
carbine buttstock with empty stock compartment. The case has a coronet and "V" inside the lid. Don Mariano Miguel Maldonado
y Dávalos, 7th Count of Villagonzalo and 6th Marquis of Scala, (1851-1921) was a noted Spanish nobleman, diplomat, and art
collector and was appointed as the Spanish representative in St. Petersburg in 1891 and ambassador in 1896. He became a friend
of Tsar Nicholas II and was mentioned in his diaries and received the Grand Cross of St. Alexander Nevsky in 1899, making him a
member of the Russian nobility.
More Information:
Collectors sheet
This carbine from 1874 along with the very similarly non-factory engraved and inscribed musket in previous lot are inscribed "His
Excellency the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Spain/Count Villagonzalo" on top of the frame and "Saint Petersburg" on the upper
tang in Cyrillic. The left side plate features the coat of arms of the Count of Villagonzalo, and the right side plate features a Spanish
grandee coronet over "V". The barrel bands, frame, hammer, lever, and buttplate feature scroll engraving. It features a blade
front sight on the upper barrel band, a notch and folding leaf rear sight, the address and King's improvement patent marking
inscribed on top of the barrel, a saddle ring, the serial number marked behind the trigger, and a smooth walnut forearm and
carbine buttstock with empty stock compartment. The case has a coronet and "V" inside the lid. Don Mariano Miguel Maldonado
y Dávalos, 7th Count of Villagonzalo and 6th Marquis of Scala, (1851-1921) was a noted Spanish nobleman, diplomat, and art
collector and was appointed as the Spanish representative in St. Petersburg in 1891 and ambassador in 1896. He became a friend
of Tsar Nicholas II and was mentioned in his diaries and received the Grand Cross of St. Alexander Nevsky in 1899, making him a
member of the Russian nobility.
More Information:
Collectors sheet
