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== *81 1885-86: Satellite Paris - 29 rue du Faubourg, Saint-Honoré, Paris? TEXT ==

*81 1885-1886: Satellite Paris address at 29 rue du Faubourg, Saint-Honoré, Paris?

Sometime in early 1885 Reilly apparently opened a small satellite branch of 2 rue Scribe, Paris at 29 rue du Faubourg, Saint-Honoré, Paris for a short time. Attached are some geographical notations on this alleged branch:
. . . . .Map of rue du Faubourg:*81a
. . . . .Contemporary photo of rue du Faubourg.*81b
. . . . .Photo of 29 rue du Faubourg:*81c

Five different gun case labels have been found with this address. The rue du Faubourg labels are generally in the classic post 1861 Reilly format but are not scolloped (edit: a sixth has been found with scollops). They feature the usual main 16, New Oxford Steet address with the 277 Oxford street branch; the rue du Faubourg address is located where 2 rue Scribe had been for 17 years. The labels illustrate the 1867 Paris medals in the upper left hand corner and the 1884 London International Exposition medals in the right. This seemingly dates these labels and correspondingly the existence of this shop from late 1884 after the International Health exhibit to early 1885.*81d



The scroll work on the rue du Faubourg label is different from that on the classic pre-1885 Reilly label and seems to precede the scroll later used on the stand-alone 16, New Oxford Street label with no Paris address issued after August 1885. Attached are comparisons of the three labels.*81e
. . . . . . . . . ._____________________
. . . . . . . . . |. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
. . . . . . . . . |. . . .Reilly Label. . . . .|
. . . . . . . . . |. . . . scroll work . . . . |
. . . . . . . . . |____________________|

One of the labels appears on SN 26880, a gun dated to Feb 1885.*81f However, this label was also is found in a case housing SN 22432, dated 1880 and bought by a man who died in 1882 (the label obviously was added later, possibly after a repair).*81g

There is an argument as to whether rue du Faubourg existed after Reilly closed 2 rue Scribe late July 1885. The argument is summarized below:

. . .-- Evidence against the existance of rue du Faubourg after 31 July 1885 closure of 2 rue Scribe:
. . . . .- No newspaper advertisements for this branch exist. It should have been publicized by Reilly had it been more than a transient sales shop.
. . . . .- No extant guns have thus far been found with this address on their ribs.
. . . . .- After July 1885 there is no mention of “Paris” in any of the Reilly advertisements in the mass popular daily papers.

. . .-- Evidence for the existence of rue du Faubourg after July 1885.

. . . . .- There are five extant labels carrying this address.



. . . . .- It was a prestigious location - Coco Chanel's apartments were above it in another century.*81h In addition to very fashionable Paris shops, Some Parisian gun makers had factories/workshops/show rooms on rue du Faubourg. The road was also the heart of the English speaking community living in Paris a la “Belle Époque” including the home of the British ambassador to France. A sales-shop in that area would seem to be a logical Reilly commercial decision. But it would have been advertised.

. . . . .- There are three extant Reilly guns serial numbered after the closure of 2 rue Scribe - which have "Paris" on their barrels. Two of these are a SxS pair built on the Scott "triplex" system. Counter argument: The guns or barrels could have been labeled before the closure of 2 rue Scribe and used a year later.*81i

. . . . .-There are magazine advertisements stretching into 1887 for Reilly at "Paris." Counter argument: Some of these are long term advertisements that were not changed over a several years.*81j

. . . . .- A series of brief paid-for ads appeared in the January-February 1886 London press touting a win at the Monte Carlo pigeon shoot by Italian champion pigeon shooter Giuseppe Guidicini using a Reilly with the rue du Faubourg address per the pigeon gun chapter above. (see chapter *75 above) The paid for articles were likely placed by Reilly; at the time he had no compunction about advertising a rue du Faubourg address; whether this was for prestige (Paris) or because he was indeed still in Paris is yet to be determined.*81k

A review of Parisian government records will likely solve this mystery. There are yearly surveys of businesses per street in Paris during this period and postal records are also available both of which should illustrate the existance of a Reilly Armurier at rue du Faubourg from circa early 1885 to early-mid-1886. However, the records are not on line and so far the French archives located in Paris have not been helpful. The lack of advertising for the shop is perplexing and this matter will continue to be looked into.

(Edit: There is a growing suspicion that Reilly may have had no store at all at 29 rue du Faubourg and that this was only an "accomodation address," perhaps using the address of an English tailor located at the site.*81l. Reilly was not above such subterfuges. Paris postal directories should solve this mystery).

= *80 1885-86: Satellite Paris - 29 rue du Faubourg, Saint-Honoré, Paris? END TEXT =