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1835-1912 Reilly Case-Trade label Analysis

A CASE FOR LABELS

Ive looked at every Reilly case label Ive been able to find and there is a case to be made that case labels can help dating a gun or at least understand what was going on in the company at the time. Of course case labels can be easily changed out; cases are relined;, replaced and an awful lot of sellers who have original case labels just dont photograph the label.

Following are several different labels that look to have been used by Reilly from pre 1847 to 1903 (when they moved from 277 to 295 Oxford Street). Ive tried to pick examples that were authentically original and not-surprisingly, some of these came out of pistol/revolver or air-cane cases - obviously those cases were left in hall-cupboards of the rich and werent being carted off into the woods in the rain. This compilation may not mean much, unless it does. And there are often some pretty neat inscriptions on original labels such as serial numbers, dates, prices, Sanskrit writing. Note: Most of the labels after 1848 which are probably authentic are rectangular with scolloped corners. I'm not ready to call every paper label without scollops "reproductions" but again most (not all) originals have that feature.

If anyone has other labels out therephotographs would be much appreciated, especially for the 1850s era when those mysterious stamps appeared and now need to be interpreted (edit: Mystery SOLVED) and anything from about 1880-87 - the labels which reference royalty.

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.............Pre-1847 - J.C. Reilly, 316 High Holborn
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1). Pre 1847; No gun serial number (Air Cane)
Comment: This label has the 316 High Holborn Address. Note that Reilly identifies himself as Gun Maker. The is the only existing 316 High Holborn label I've found.



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.............1847 - Move to 502 New Oxford Street
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May 1847. S/N 8463;
Rib: Reilly, New Oxford Street, London
Label: Joseph C.Reilly,
Gun Maker
502 Oxford Street;
Removed from Holborn



Nov/Dec 1847 S/N: 8578
Rib: J.C. Reilly, 502 New Oxford Street, London
Label: Joseph Charles Reilly,
Gun Maker
502 New Oxford Street London.
Removed from Holborn



1847 S/N: 7201
Rib: Joseph Charles Reilly, 502 New Oxford Street, London
Label: Joseph Charles Reilly,
Gun Maker
502 Oxford Street
Removed from Holborn
Comment: The J.C. - 7000 series with Removed from Holborn.



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.............1848-C1855? Reilly, Gun Maker, 502 New Oxford Street
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This is the generic Reilly label after their move to 502 New Oxford Street: They were proud of this building and featured it on their labels. These labels were on guns and on air canes. It also probably reflects the business acumen of EM Reilly - his father used plain, almost business-card-like labels; this one is more professional.

Looks like French handwritten numbers on the label. 640 Piece francs or Pierre Freres? G9291210 (no idea what the number means - they look like numerals written in sub-continent style):



Air Cane label from same era.



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.............C1855?-1859? Reilly, Gun Maker, 502 New Oxford Street with stamps
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At some point two stamps were added to the above label on either side of London. There are four examples of this. They refer to his having exhibited at the 1851 Crystal Palace industrial exposition in London and the 1855 Paris Universalle. If a gun has this label, and it is original...it is 1855-1859.

.............London 1851 Bronze Medal"..................................................Napoleon III prize from the 1855 Paris Universelle:



And there is a French phrase "Fusils a bascule" on the label which means "Center Break (breech loading) long guns" reflecting the impact Casimir Lefaucheux had at the 1851 Crystal Palace Exhibition. Lang put out the first British breech loader in 1853 on Lefracheux's system...upgraded...a pretty shameless invasion of a patent and by 1855, Reilly is advertising the guns (in French) along with "improved breech loaders," which may apply to other patents coming current at the time such as Prince's 1855 patent.

This first label below comes from an amazing four barrel muzzle loader made for the India Market probably in mid-1850's. It has "Exposition Medal London" and "Prize Medal Paris" . Sanscrit writing on the label...




Last edited by Argo44; 09/11/18 12:46 PM.
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