This historic Colt revolver was manufactured in 1860 early in the presidency of Benito Pablo Juarez Garcia (1806-1872), and the left side of the grip is inscribed as presented to him by Sebastian Lerdo de Tejada, then a leading Republican figure and later Juarez's successor. The case lid escutcheon is also inscribed "Benito Juarez" in script. The inscription to one of the a Mexican president from his future successor makes this beautiful Colt one of the most historically significant firearms in Mexican history, especially given President Benito Juarez remains a national hero thanks to his defense of Mexican independence and the constitutional republic. The revolver features stunning factory engraving composed of elaborate interlacing foliate scrollwork with beaded backgrounds and floral accents. This style was popularized under primary engraving contractor Gustave Young in latter half of the 1850s and continued on by other German immigrant engravers through the end of the percussion era. Unlike many of the factory engraved Colts of the era, the scrollwork features interesting foliate designs in a wider variety of shapes giving the revolver a particularly distinct look and appeal. The hammer features the classic dog or wolf head motif. The barrel has a dovetailed blade front sight and the one-line "-ADDRESS SAML COLT HARTFORD, CT.-" address. A "2" is stamped on the left side of the barrel lug. The cylinder has the iconic Naval Battle of Campeche roll-scene. The left side of the frame has "COLT'S/PATENT" hand inscribed in an open panel formed by the engraving. The matching serial number is seen on the cylinder, loading lever (3347), barrel, frame, trigger guard, and toe of the back strap. The factory apostrophe marking is found by the numbers on the barrel, frame, trigger guard, and back strap designating the revolver for engraving/special finishing. The right side of the grip has a large rendition of the Mexican coat of arms in heavy gold featuring the distinctive golden eagle clutching a rattlesnake in its beak and claws while perched on a cactus. The snake and eagle have turquoise eyes. The left side of the grip is inscribed "Al siste/Lic. Benito/Juarez/respetuosamente/Sebastian/Lerdo de/Tejada" with black enamel providing contrast. The inscription translates to "To Lic. Benito Juarez respectfully Sebastian Lerdo of Tejada." "Lic." is an abbreviation for "Licenciado" (Graduate/Bachelor/Licensed) reflecting his law degree. The rosewood presentation case's lid features an inlaid brass plaque inscribed "Benito Juarez." The interior is lined in red velvet and contains a Colt L-shaped combination nipple wrench and screwdriver, double sided martial pattern powder flask with slanted charger, a blued "COLT'S/PATENT" dual cavity ball/bullet mold, and a few balls and bullets. The revolver is illustrated and discussed on page 127 as item 77 in "Samuel Colt Presents" by R.L. Wilson in 1961 and also listed on page 288 in Appendix A. The book indicates the set was "Lent by Mr. John S. duMont." The revolver is also featured on pages 80-83 of "Colt Pistols: 1836-1976" by Wilson and Hable where the grip embellishment is noted as "likely of native origin, embellished after the gun had gone 'South of the Border'" and that the cased revolver "was presented to Juarez by Tejada sometime during his presidency..." Rock Island Auction Company sold the consecutive revolver in May 2019 which featured very similar engraving and a grip of the same style but without additional embellishment. Included documentation indicated "Navy SN93348 was found in Mexico many years ago with no documentable provenance. It was in private hands in Texas until 1996." By 1860, Juarez had risen from a 3 year old orphan of native Zapotec ancestry to become the most powerful figure in the Mexican Republic. He completed a law degree at the Institute of Sciences in Oaxaca and then entered politics on the local level as a councilor in Oaxaca in 1831 and then became a state level congressional deputy the following year. By 1852, he was governor of the State of Oaxaca. He became the leader of the reform movement (La Reforma). He was in exile in New Orleans in 1853, but when Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna was overthrown in 1855 and Juan Alvarez became president, he served as Mister of State and Minister of Justice. The new Mexican Constitution of 1857 included many reforms, including new restrictions on the power of the Catholic Church and clergy within Mexico. The Juarez Law prohibited legal privileges for individuals or institutions such as the clergy and Catholic Church and ended special courts, and the Lerdo Law associated with Sebastian Lerdo de Tejada's elder brother Miguel, barred the civil and ecclesiastical institutions from owning real estate aside from those building used for services and institution. These provisions and others led to significant opposition by the Catholic Church and Conservatives. Juarez, by then the President of the Supreme Court, and President of Congress Isidoro Olvera were taken prisoner, but they were later freed. President Ignacio Comonfort fell from favor resigned and left for exile in the United States leaving Juarez as the legal president of Mexico in late January 1858 and soon as the leader of the Liberal forces in the Reform War. The war ended with the Liberals victorious but the country's finances in disarray. In 1861, Juarez was officially constitutionally elected president and returned to Mexico City. While not documented, it may have been at this time that he was presented this revolver by Sebastian Lerdo de Tejada to celebrate his election and the success of the Liberals more broadly. He is known to have been very close with the president and one of his most influential allies. Like Juarez, Lerdo de Tejada had risen from a orphan to earning a law degree and entering Liberal politics and became a leader within the reform movement. He served as the President of the Chamber of Deputies in 1861-1863 and was later Minister of Foreign Affairs, of the Interior, and of Justice in Juarez's cabinet and also became President of the Supreme Court making him next in line for the presidency. His elder brother Miguel Lerdo de Tejada had served as Minister of Finance under Santa Anna and Comonfort but resigned in protest when Juarez became president and initially resisted suspending payments on Mexico's foreign debts. When he ultimately suspended debt payments for a period of two years, England, Spain, and France responded by sending troops to Mexico to recover the debt. The Spanish and English stayed only briefly as they quickly realized that Napoleon III of France intended to install Maximilian of Austria as emperor in Mexico. Juarez continued to fight on against the French and conservative forces even after Maximilian was installed in Mexico City from his stronghold in Paso del Norte (now Ciudad Juarez). The United States opposed European intervention under the Monroe Doctrine and diplomatically supported the Mexican Republicans over the Imperial/Conservative forces. Napoleon III announced the beginning of the withdrawal of his troops in 1866 leaving Maximilian in a perilous situation. Juarez and his allies then defeated and captured Maximilian. He was convicted of conspiring to overthrow the constitutional government of the Mexican Republic and was executed by firing squad in May 1867. Some have said Lerdo de Tejada was instrumental in convincing Juarez to have Maximilian executed to show the world that Mexicans would not allow foreigners to control their country. In 1870, he suffered a stroke and lost his wife, but he successfully ran for re-election the following year. Despite controversies relating to five proposed constitutional amendments, Juarez was re-elected in 1871. Sebastian Lerdo de Tejada and General Porfirio Diaz ran against him. Though he won re-election, Diaz and others opposed his rule leading to renewed civil conflict. Juarez died in 1872 from a heart attack while still trying to restore peace. Upon his death Sebastian Lerdo de Tejada became president. Like Juarez, he became president due serving as president of the Supreme Court. He granted Diaz amnesty in an attempt to restore peace, but Diaz rebelled against Lerdo de Tejada after his re-election in 1876. Lerdo de Tejada was declared to have won the election, but the courts led by Jose Maria Inglesias ruled that the election had been fraudulent. Lerdo de Tejada was driven into exile in 1877 and died in New York City in 1889. While Lerdo de Tejada is little remembered today, Benito Juarez remains among the most popular and iconic leaders in Mexican history and is considered a national hero for leading the Liberals to victory both against the Conservatives during the Reform War and from foreign occupation during the Second French Intervention in Mexico as well as for his dedication to establishing Mexico as a modern democratic republic with protections for the rights of people. His most famous quote remains: "Entre los individuos, como entre las naciones, el respeto al derecho ajeno es la paz." (Among individuals, as among nations, respect for the rights of others is peace.) Provenance: From Sebastian Lerdo de Tejada to Mexican President Benito Juarez; The John S. duMont Collection; The Andrew Singer Collection