A fascinating, early 18th century Continental Flintlock Holster pistol, which was previously owned by British explorer Captain James Cook (1728-1799), is to auction in Australia on February 14.
The Godefroi Corbau Le Jeune-made gun is estimated to achieve between A$100,000 and A$200,000 ($104,565-209,057) ahead of the highly anticipated sale.
 The sale is set to take place on the 234th anniversary of Cook's death |
Cook was a British explorer, navigator, cartographer and captain in the Royal Navy, who is credited with claiming Australia for the British in 1770.
Cook was killed in Hawaii on February 14, 1799 and the forthcoming sale is set to take place on the 234th anniversary of his death.
Reputed to have said: "Ambition leads me farther than any other man has been before me, but as far as I think it is possible for man to go", Captain Cook is famous for having lived a life without limits, leaving behind him a rich legacy of geographical and scientific knowledge.
Guns with notable past owners have previously performed well at auction. The two guns that were retrieved from the bodies of Bonnie and Clyde brought $504,000 in September 2012 - representing a 5.95% pa return on the $100,000 collector Robert Davis paid for the guns in 1986.
Here at Paul Fraser Collectibles we currently have this fantastic collection of historical artefacts relating to the seafaring career of Admiral Lord Nelson.
For more from the world's auctions, please sign up for our free weekly newsletter.
