This special limited edition, hardbound catalog was produced after the Julia firearms auction of October 6, 2009. This special hardbound catalog deals only with the collection of the late Herbert G. Wellington, Jr. which included the famous Col. Archibald Rogers “A.R.” Winchester rifles. Colonel Rogers was a personal friend of Teddy Roosevelt, he was an avid outdoorsman and reported to have made 26 big game hunting trips to American West over a 24 year period in time. Much of these excursions discussed in his book “Hunting American Big Game”, published in 1869. He was accompanied by on many of his trips, by his personal friend Theodore Roosevelt who relates to hunting trips with Rogers in his book “Hunting the Grisly”. Rogers and Roosevelt were founding members of the renowned “Boon & Crockett Club” which exists today and records world records of known big game species. Notable in the collection was an engraved gold inlaid Model 1876, caliber 45-75 which had a tremendous recoil. The collection also included another very similar Winchester rifle, a Model ’73 Deluxe with fabulous Alrich engraving and gold inlay in caliber .44WCF. The rumor was that his friend Roosevelt convinced him of the need of the large bore 45-75, but the recoil was very distasteful and according to verbal history, Rogers ordered the ’73 which would have much reduced recoil.
The Julia Auction Company, which handled this 58-lot collection, was world renowned for their quality firearms auctions and for many years regularly handled more high-end, rare and valuable firearms than any other auction house in the world.  This catalog was a special auction hard bound catalog produced in limited number.  The catalog is absolutely gorgeous, and Julia’s catalogs were generally considered the finest in the industry. A brief look at this catalog clearly indicates why they were held in such high regard. It is filled with color images and close-ups.  Each lot carries a definitive description, including size, etc. together with an estimated presale estimate.  Only a limited number of these hardcover catalogs were produced. 60 Pages. SIZE: Approx. 8-3/4” x 11-1/4”. CONDITION: As new, never used.