Parker catalogue estimate?

[stumpstalker]

A friend has asked if I can find out the value of a Parker catalogue his friend owns.

The first photo below looks like the Parker catalogue cover sheet illustrated on lower left of Figure 17.4 on page 748 of THE PARKER STORY, which would date it circa 1889.

The photo of the first page, inside, illustrates a hammer gun, consistent with the second photo below, possibly a back cover sheet?

I will be suggesting a PGCA Membership, whatever the intentions are. For a $40 expense he could offer on the PGCA Forum, to members.

[stumpstalker]

one more photo

[Bill Murphy]

The Parker Story describes various catalogs by dimensions as well as color. Let us know what you find.

[stumpstalker]

My friend says it is about 40 pages and measures roughly 6 x 9. This accords with Parker catalogue #17, as per THE PARKER STORY (page 730), at a length of 39 pages and dimensions of 5 5/8 x 9 ¼ .

I have asked him via email if there is DATE EVIDENCE consistent with #17, as per THE PARKER STORY, by the two phrases relating to the hammerless gun, “After 27 years.", and "16 months trial". If so, that would nail it down, wouldn’t it?

[Dean Romig]

Within a couple of years I would think Russell.

I have examined and photographed the same catalog and could find nowhere where a date or year were mentioned except to winning medals in the 1881 expositions... which really tells us nothing more than the catalog is post-1881.





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[Bill Murphy]

Does the color of the cover match anything in TPS?

[stumpstalker]

Originally Posted by Bill Murphy

Does the color of the cover match anything in TPS?

Bill:

Only, thus far, what I say about it in the second sentence of my first post.

But for a more reliable determination, I have put forward queries. I do not know yet where the owner of the catalogue is located, but his friend (who is also my friend) does live near me. I’m the only guy of the three involved who has THE PARKER STORY for reference. Maybe a “live” meeting could be arranged, pandemic-be-damned. Heck, I’m all for busting-out.

For accurate dating of Parker promotional material, I can see from the extensive list in THE PARKER STORY that identifying exact color is vital.

I have stressed that point in my queries, as very similar-looking colors could be ascribed to a photo image of his catalogue, which is what we have illustrated in my first post. Those similar and easy to be confused colors used by Parker in promotional material include, Buff; light buff; Brown; Brown leather; Brown cloth; light tan; dark tan; dark brown; taupe; light taupe; and pinkish tan. (I have left out all the green; red and blue variants.)

We enthusiasts await answers.

[Dean Romig]

Man that's tough to determine between the colors you listed Russell, especially considering the fact of discoloration through ageing.

The one I examined several years ago is certainly discolored...

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[stumpstalker]

Dean:

Those photos of yours show considerably aged (patinated) paper.

As for the catalogue in question: both the owner and my friend add that the cover is tan/beige, and not gold-colored; there is a price sheet in it for Damascus barrels; and the “A”-grade is listed at $300.

I am still asking if the date-indicative phrases that I culled from TPS, regarding catalogue # 17, are present.

[Dean Romig]

Looks to be the same catalog Russell.

And yes, this catalog was not well cared-for prior to landing in my friend's collection.

It is interesting that a twenty bore was offered in the hammer guns but not in the hammerless models.

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