Help with Elliot's Derringer False Book/Case

[straw_dog]

First of all, I'm not going to lie to anybody. I'm trying to sell a piece that I inherited. It's a Remington Elliot's Ring Derringer marked 1860 & 61. It's in pretty nice shape but not great. A friend would like to buy it. The neat thing is that it lives in a 1765 French book of piety exercises that's been hollowed out and carefully lined with fancy paper to make a nice and sneaky storage space. The book/box was seems to be pretty old and is rubber-stamped "Made in France" on the title page. It's certainly not modern. I took the set to a gun dealer and he told me to be careful because the box might be worth as much as the gun. Does anybody have any knowledge of books like these? If so, would you care to speculate on an asking price for just the book?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[ForumAdmin]

Since this is a handmade item it's not only it's condition but how well it's made. Worth as much as the gun maybe true depending how good the gun is. The first thing for even and estimate it would require some photo's of the gun and the book..

[straw_dog]

Images...

[remington600]

I think since this is homemade then there really is no value unless it was made by someone important, and you can proove it. You may find a collector that may just think its so neat that he would be willing to pay a little more just to get you to sell, but those people will come in small numbers.

[LJ Rice]

I basically agree with the other reply, what you have here is probably "curiosity" value, unless you can prove some notoriety for the maker or some specific history. Now if its me, I like this sort of stuff, so I'd keep it as a very cool artifact.

Now, assuming this is a legit book... you would probably have been better off if they hadn't cut out the pages, depending on the edition. A quick look says it was first published in 1745. I would check out a book expert, see if it can be determined if this is a first edition... frankly, that sort of information for someone who likes curiosities, such as myself, would go a ways in pumping up the potential value. Find out its edition and any other information that might be useful in this respect. If it was a cheap reprint, well... value goes down. I'm sure you get the idea.

A copy of this book (or at least I think they are the same) is selling for 452 euro, but I see no picture of it.

Hope any of that helps!

Lee

[Story]

If anyone was curious about the original, uncut text, here it is -
http://books.google.com/books?id=A5GUnh ... t&resnum=2

[Oldfalguy]

Lyon: Antoine Boudet, 1719. First edition 12mo. (10),800pp. Contemporary full calf. Spine in six compartments with raised bands; ornately gill. A very good copy in a lovely contemporary binding. The author, Jean Croiset (1656-1738) was for a long time rector at the Jesuit novitiate of Avignon, where he became famous as a director of consciences. The volume is one of twelve published at different times from 1712- 1720, one for each month of the year, and so this would constitute the tenth volumes in the series. Croiset is regarded as one of the great masters of the spiritual life. These meditations proved quite popular and were many times reprinted. Very good Hardcover (Item ID: 17311)

Its for sale $200 so there is one value-

[remington600]

I don't think that value could be used as a comparison here.