Lot 213
Gatling, Richard J (1818-1903) Inventor best known for the Gatling Gun, a hand-cranked, rapid-fire weapon with six (later increased to ten) revolving barrels which he invented in 1862. The gun was used in nearly every armed conflict for the next fifty years. Gatling opened The Gatling Gun Company in Hartford, Connecticut in the mid 1860s; ten years later, it was sold to the Colt Company, but Gatling continued to invent. In 1943, the U.S. Government named a destroyer, the USS Gatling, in his honor.
Autograph Letter Signed "R.J. Gatling" on Gatling Gun Company letterhead, 1 p, 11x8½", Hartford, Conn., 18 Mar. 1886. Fine; some bleed to signature. To "My Dear Welles," regarding a letter Gatling had received from a Mr. Yeates and which he was forwarding [not present] to Welles. In part: "I think under the circumstances, we should send Yeates a Draft for say $200 to enable him to keep up expenses &c. It will be to the Co.'s interest to do this favor for him. Six--(perhaps 8)--of the gov.t guns will be boxed & shipped this week so the co. will soon be in funds." The Army purchased 100 model 1885-1887 Gatling guns.
Estimated Value $1,500 - 2,000.
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