Original 17th Century English Portable Accounts Desk for Albany, N.Y. with Flintlock Holster Pistol by Collumbell Stored Inside Original Items

Original Item: One of a Kind Set. This is a fantastic piece of Early American history! A very nice desk, marked ALBANY on the lid, with loads of patina! It also has a very nice Flintlock holster pistol attached stored on the underside of the lid.

The desk is a typical 17th century English portable accounts desk, with a sloping lid, measuring 27″ x 17 1/2″ x 13″ in size. It comes complete with four internal drawers with the correct “tear drop” shaped brass pulls, two of which are period replacements. There is also an easily missed lower drawer for paperwork, measuring 22″W x 16″D x 2 1/4″. The exterior oak paneling features carved designs, and show that a piece approximately 6″ x 6″ was replaced on the front side. This indicates that the lock was once replaced in the past, and the new lock still has the correct key. The desk is topped with a hinged sloped lid, showing wonderful old butterfly wrought iron hinges.

Carved across the lid is the town name of ALBANY, together with an engraved heart above. Inside this are the initials D P over 170 / 6, which could be a date. Please note: there has never been a town / city in Great Britain named “Albany”. It exists as part of the title given by King Charles II of England to his younger brother, “The Duke of York & Albany”.

Founded by Henry Hudson for the Dutch East India company in 1609, it became the second oldest chartered city in the U.S. in 1686 once the Duke of York and Albany became King James II.

The pistol inside the desk is a very fine English flintlock holster pistol, which has some lovely mountings, mostly made of iron with some lovely engraving. It does have a beautiful silver side plate showing stands of arms, as well as a silver grotesque mask on the bottom of the butt cap. The back of the wrist bears a rather elaborate silver escutcheon bearing the monogram W P.

The lock is marked with COLLUMBELL, for mid 18th Century maker David Collumbell of London. He was apprenticed to Gerrett Johnson, 1712 (IR) Gunmaker, King Street, Westminster, allowed to bin apprentice. He was in the London Gunmakers Company, 1734-56, and worked at Parliament Street, Westminster, 1763. He then became a Gunmaker to Ordnance in 1756, and the East India Co. in 1761.

It is fitted with a 10″ .65″ smooth bore barrel, which is marked COLLUMBELL LONDON on the top, and still shows visible proofs on the breech end. From what we can see, they are the CROWN / GP “Gunmakers Proof” and the CROWN / V “Viewed” Proofs from the Gunmaker’s Company of London Proof House. The lock functions well, holding at half cock and firing at full. The pistol is in great shape, and fits perfectly into the mounting on the underside of the lid.

So, who were W.P. and D.P.? Possibly a father and son? They were presumably very trusted representatives of the English Investors who sponsored the early years of the city. Whatever the answer may be, this set is still a fantastic piece of history.

Ready to research and display!

Specifications: 

Year of Manufacture: circa 1810
Caliber: .65″ Pistol
Ammunition Type: Lead Ball & Powder
Barrel Length: 10 inches
Overall Length: 16 inches
Action: Flintlock Side Action
Feed System: Muzzle-Loaded

NOTE: International orders of antique firearms MUST be shipped using UPS WW Services (courier). USPS Priority Mail international will not accept these. International customers should always consult their country’s antique gun laws prior to ordering.