HOLLAND and HOLLAND 'THE ROYAL' GUNMAKER: THE COMPLETE HISTORY. By Donald Dallas. First edition.

2003 1st edition. Large 4to (232 x 307mm). Ppxvi,301. Colour and b/w photographs, colour and b/w illustrations, bibliography, foreword by Roger Mitchell. Green boards, spine titled in gilt.

"In May 1885, Holland and Holland advertised their new trade mark, 'The Royal' - intended to apply to their best guns and rifles only. 'Royal' guns and rifles have been in production since that date, the choice of the name symbolising the excellence of the firm's output. And yet, gunmaking played no part in the early history of Holland and Holland. The founder of the firm, Harris Holland was a musician and entrepreneur with an interest in live pigeon shooting. Turning this interest into a business venture, he began to retail guns in the 1830's. His nephew Henry Holland joined the business in 1860 and made an outstanding contribution to the field of gunmaking with 47 patents to his name. Several of these inventions are still in use today - the 1883 Royal hammerless action, the 1904 belted rimless cartridge case and the 1922 self-opening mechanism. In 1876 the uncle and the nephew created a partnership and Holland and Holland was born. By this time, rifle making had become the speciality of the firm, their prowess ...obvious to all after winning every class in The Field rifle trials of 1883." Chapters include:- Musical prelude; The tobacconist and the gunmaker; Harris Holland muzzle-loaders; 98 New Bond Street; Early Holland breech-loaders; 'Winners of all The Field Rifle Trials, London 1883'; From retail to manufacture; The Colonel commands; New premises, new direction; 'The barrels must kiss'; Holland and Holland guns and rifles. Numerous appendices include:- The Holland family tree; Holland and Holland gun and rifle sales in the 19th century; The dating of Holland and Holland serial numbers; Milestones in the history of Holland and Holland; Trade labels; Holland and Holland trade marks and brand names; The diversity of Holland and Holland guns and rifles; The gunmakers and staff of Holland and Holland; Component suppliers 1907-30; Holland and Holland patents; Cartridges developed and introduced by Holland and Holland.