Manufactured in 1882, this is a truly incredible example of 19th century American, exhibition quality, deluxe firearms art from the shop of the legendary Master Engraver Cuno A. Helfricht and the Colt Patent Firearms Co., which is inscribed to arguably the most prominent figure in Hartford and Connecticut politics of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Morgan Gardner Bulkeley (1837-1922). This revolver is pictured and described on p. XLIV of "The Book of Colt Engraving Vol. II" by R.L. Wilson, who discovered the revolver still in the possession of descendants of Morgan Bulkeley. These Colt New Police "Cop & Thug" revolvers are scarce in their own right with only around 3,500 to 4,000 made, but the level of engraving, the inscription, and the history of this particular example truly makes it a Colt, Hartford, State of Connecticut, and American treasure. In the included letter from R.L. Wilson, he notes that discovering this historic revolver was one of the thrills of his career in gun collecting, that engraved specimens of these revolvers are "extreme rarities", and that it is "the most prized of the 'Cop & Thug' New Police Colt revolvers". It is with pleasure, we here at Rock Island Auction Company offer it to the public for the first time. Manufactured in the first year of production, the revolver shows the very best, deluxe engraving being produced by Cuno Helfricht and his shop of Colt engravers. Sutherland and Wilson note in "The Book of Colt Firearms" that examples of engraving and casings among the New Police Model revolvers are an extreme rarity, making this exceptionally engraved and cased example a true "holy grail" among Colt collecting. It shows about three-quarter coverage engraving, featuring very finely executed floral scroll with punch-dot backgrounds on all of the major components, which R.L. Wilson attributes to the master Helfricht himself. In addition to the scroll, there are detailed border, dot, and wavy line patterns, a saltire at the top of the back strap, triangular fan designs at the front edges of the cylinder, and detailed bands at the muzzle and on the rear edge of the cylinder. The back strap is presentation inscribed with "Morgan G. Bulkeley, Mayor/CITY of HARTFORD" and "from a friend/AUG.24 '82'". It truly represents a Helfricht masterpiece and stands tall among all works of American firearms art of the 19th century. The top of the barrel is marked with the standard two-line address, while the model and caliber marking are on the left in an acid etched panel surrounded by engraved scrollwork. The matching serial number is marked on the butt as well as inside both grip panels, hand carved and ink-filled inside the left and in pencil inside the right. It is fitted with the standard blade front and frame-top groove rear sights. It is also fitted with a pair of deluxe, smooth pearl grips with the left panel having been intricately carved with the coat-of-arms of Hartford, Connecticut. It is housed in a deluxe presentation case attributed by Wilson as made by Alfred Teweles which is leather wrapped on the exterior, interior of the lid lined with purple silk, and lower half fitted for the revolver, lined with purple velvet, and containing a cleaning rod and compartment with cartridges. There is a silver presentation plaque mounted in the lower half of the case bearing the same inscription as found on the revolver. Morgan Gardner Bulkeley was born in East Haddam, Connecticut, in December of 1837, and ten years later his family moved to Hartford. His father was a local judge who is noted as founding both the Connecticut Republican Party and the Aetna Life Insurance Co., while his mother is noted as being a distant relative of the famous J.P. Morgan. Unlike his older brother, who graduated from Yale, Morgan appears to have been a poor or unmotivated student, with no record of graduating even from high-school, and instead moved to New York to learn the retail trade with relatives on the Morgan side. Both he and his brother served in the Civil War, Morgan only briefly in a home guard unit, while his brother Charles served with the 1st Connecticut Heavy Artillery, dying of disease in 1864. Bulkeley appears to have returned to Hartford sometime around 1872, and in 1874 he is noted as a major share holder and the president of a professional baseball team, the Hartford Dark Blues. In 1876, a new baseball league called the National League was formed and Bulkeley was chosen as president, which he served as for one year. In 1875 and 1876, he served on the Hartford Common Council, in later 1876 became an alderman, and in 1878 lost a bid to be mayor of Hartford. In 1879, Bulkeley became the third president of the Aetna Insurance Company which his father had helped found, and served in that role until 1922, increasing the value of the company dramatically. By 1880, Bulkeley had secured enough votes, many of which from Irish immigrants (some claim through bribery), and was elected mayor of Hartford. He took over an running an annual excursion to a seaside resort for the poor of the city, financing it from his own pocket, and in 1882 was again elected mayor. An article from 25 August 1882 in the "Hartford Courant" details one of these very excursions as well as the presentation of this revolver. The article notes that around 1,300 people of all manner of disability, race, religion, age, and ethnicity were loaded onto a train and taken to the seaside at Fenwick for a day of enjoyment. It goes on to state that just as the train had started, a woman whose name was unknown approached Major Woods, another dignitary on the journey, and handed him a case with instructions to present it to Mayor Bulkeley. The article notes that "The revolver is one of the finest of the Colt's manufacture, with chased silver mountings and pearl stock, on which is engraved the city's coat-of-arms..." as well as mentioning the inscription in detail. It would appear that, at the time it was given, the presenter of the revolver remained anonymous, and unfortunately, they remain a mystery to this day. One possibility is certainly Richard Jarvis, who was president of the Colt Patent Firearms Company at the time. Bulkeley served as mayor of Hartford until 1888, having run for Governor of Connecticut in 1886, but being defeated. In 1888, he won the governorship, with most sources stating he spent most of his time with his Aetna Company presidential duties, rather than being governor. In 1890, he ran for reelection but was not nominated by his party. However, due to a lack of clear majority in the ensuing election and a stalemate among the legislature, Bulkeley remained in office. One of the officials whose election was approved was the Democratic comptroller, who subsequently padlocked the executive offices at the capitol building in an attempt to keep out the Republican governor and officials he believed had been beaten. On 21 March 1891, Bulkeley discovered the locked door and had it opened with a crowbar, leading to a nickname that stuck with him, "the Crowbar Governor". Bulkeley left the governorship in 1893 and decided his next step was to run for U.S. Senate, running against Joseph R. Hawley in 1893 and 1899, who, interestingly enough was the presenter of a beautiful pair of Colt revolvers also in this auction, Lot 1137. In 1896, Bulkeley was put forward as a candidate for Vice-President alongside William McKinley, but finished third. In 1905, Hawley died two weeks after leaving office, leading to Bulkeley being elected to the senate, with one of his first official duties being to attend Hawley's funeral. Bulkeley served in the U.S. Senate until 1911. During his tenure as president of the Aetna Company, it became the largest insurance company in the nation, and Bulkeley spent his vast wealth in many philanthropic pursuits. On 6 November 1922, he died after a short illness at the age of 84. In 1937, Bulkeley was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame for being the first president of the national league. Bulkeley biographer Kevin Murphy summed up "the Crowbar Governor" and described his life as, "Beyond the dreams of most men—and for the greater part of his long life—he completely controlled his world. With courage and political savvy, Morgan Bulkeley hopscotched from great success in business and laudable accomplishments in community affairs to the realization of some rather robust political dreams." Included with this magnificent revolver and its case is a copy of Kevin Murphy's book "Crowbar Governor: The Life and Times of Morgan Gardner Bulkeley", a Bulkeley Vice Presidential campaign ribbon and two buttons, two medallions, a Grand Army of the Republic commander ribbon, a National Baseball Hall of Fame card featuring Bulkeley, a copy of a letter signed by Bulkeley and a copy of a photo of him, as well as a copy of the letter from R.L. Wilson regarding the cased revolver and the story surrounding it. Also includes a binder of related information, letter from Morgan G. Bulkeley to the Governor of Massachusetts in 1892, original Aetna documents, checks, The Kellog & Bulkeley Co. document from 1881, letter from William McKinley to James F. Rhodes, William McKinley signed White House card, and research information. Provenance: Morgan G. Bulkeley and Descendants; The R.L. Wilson Collection; The Fred Sweeney Collection; The George S. Lewis Jr. Collection