catalog D rarity & value

Aussie Collector · #1 09-29-2013, 09:08 PM

There was a catalog D in excellent condition on ebay for $195.
It was sold within 12 hours of being listed.
This is the only one I have ever seen for sale ,are they rare and hard to get?
What are these usually worth or sell for?
The listing was 380732540151

frankynohankypanky · #2 09-30-2013, 07:06 AM

They are scarce, and for someone interested in S&W paper, $195 is not unreasonable. I paid $160 for my fine condition copy perhaps 2-3 years ago.

Although ebay cannot be considered an accurate guide to value, the fact that it was there for a short time is an indication that someone thought it a worthwhile purchase.

The SCSW 3rd edition, published 2006, suggests a value of $100.

Frank S.
SWCA 2052.

handejector · #3 09-30-2013, 08:35 AM

Part of the popularity is the cover. It is the last/ONLY catalog with real colorful artwork on it. The only thing close is Three Pirates a few years earlier. After D, they got relatively drab.

JSR III · #4 09-30-2013, 08:50 AM

The other fact, like most S&W boxes or paper, is that they don't age well. The further we get away from publication date, the harder it is to find examples in very good to excellent condition. Repeated handling, finger oils, gun oils and air all take there toll on old paper.

That in addition to Lee's comments above that it's just a very cool looking catalog compared to many of the others adds to its price. Contact member Don Mundell (clubgunfan) as I believe he had several for sale at the last gunshow I attended.

opoefc · #5 09-30-2013, 01:24 PM

JSRIII, Are you warning us that Don's back to printing up piles of old S&W catalogs again? Ed

Club Gun Fan · #6 09-30-2013, 10:07 PM

Ed
Yes I am. The only difference is, I replaced my picture with the guy fighting the mountain lion. I'm the one with the hairy upper lip.

Aussie Collector · #7 10-01-2013, 06:11 AM

Thanks for the replies.
With the comments on the nice color cover I take it all the catalogs that fall into this category are up there as the dearest and hardest catalogs to obtain, well, apart from 1800s. I do also like the color cover catalogs, the 2 I have are in the highest 3 I have paid for a catalog.

While there are a few very knowledgeable catalog authorities contributing here can you tell me if these are the only colorful cover catalogs?
1913 - Pirates
1915 - Mountain lion (3/4 front page)
1917 - Mountain lion (full front page)
1920 - Last cartridge (bear)

With regards to the 3 Pirates catalog I have seen 2 different covers, 1 with solid boarder around the picture the other with a dashed (lllllllllllll) boarder. Can someone comment on the diffrences?

Cheers.

Club Gun Fan · #8 10-01-2013, 08:43 AM

I have 4 of the "PLUNDERS, OLD AND NEW" catalogs. All four have the hash marks you describe. I never knew the borders were different.
I have included all four descriptions from the inventory listing of all my catalogs. The difference in the "D" catalog full cover and the 3/4 cover is not only the size, but, the large one is in spanish. The title of the Spanish catalog is CATALOGO "S". It was published around 1913.
I hope this helps.

1) TITLE: PLUNDERS, OLD AND NEW

DATE PUBLISHED: 1913 *

PUBLISHER: Seaver-Howland Press
93 Broad Street
Boston, Mass.

COVER: Full color lithograph picture of 3 pirates, painted by Philip Lyford.
The title Smith & Wesson appears on the bottom, in silver, color of main body of catalog is white.

SIZE: 7" X 10".

NUMBER OF PAGES: 32, 29 pp.
DESCRIPTION OF CONTENTS: PAGE 1 is the title page.
Page 2 is blank.
Page 3 shows S & W logo, the address and trade mark.
Page 4 shows four pictures of parts of the machine shop.
Page 5 starts the text of the story of Smith & Wesson's superiority. This continues until page 11
Page 12 & 13 cover the .35 automatic and its function.
Page 14 covers the operation of the jointed frame revolvers.
Page 15 covers the .32 double action revolver.
Page 16 covers the .38 double action revolver (five shot perfected).
Page 17 covers the hammerless safety revolvers operation.
Pages 18, 19 & 20 cover the .32 & .38 safety hammerless.
Page 21 covers the operation of the hand ejecting mechanism
Pages 22, 23, 24, 25 & 26 cover the standard hand ejectors of that time
Page 27 covers the .22 single shot perfected new target pistol supplied only in 10" and blued.
Page 28 covers special target sights
Pages 29 & 30 cover all special notes and guarantee.

* Included is a folded, pink price list dated February 1st, 1914. It is glued onto page 31 which is blank. Unfolded it measures 8" x 9-3/4" Glued onto page 32 is the pink 5 1/4" x 6" single sided advertisement for the new target pistol the .22 Single Shot Perfected. Glued on page 33 is a single page, white flyer for the 22-32 heavy frame target revolver, priced at $17.50

2) TITLE: PLUNDERS, OLD AND NEW

DATE PUBLISHED: 1913 *

PUBLISHER: Seaver-Howland Press
93 Broad Street
Boston, Mass.

COVER: Full color lithograph picture of 3 pirates, painted by Philip Lyford.
The title Smith & Wesson appears on the bottom, in silver, color of main body of catalog is white.

SIZE: 7" X 10".

NUMBER OF PAGES: 32, 29 pp.
DESCRIPTION OF CONTENTS: PAGE 1 is the title page.
Page 2 is blank.
Page 3 shows S & W logo, the address and trade mark.
Page 4 shows four pictures of parts of the machine shop.
Page 5 starts the text of the story of Smith & Wesson's superiority. This continues until page 11
Page 12 & 13 cover the .35 automatic and its function.
Page 14 covers the operation of the jointed frame revolvers.
Page 15 covers the .32 double action revolver.
Page 16 covers the .38 double action revolver (five shot perfected).
Page 17 covers the hammerless safety revolvers operation.
Pages 18, 19 & 20 cover the .32 & .38 safety hammerless.
Page 21 covers the operation of the hand ejecting mechanism
Pages 22, 23, 24, 25 & 26 cover the standard hand ejectors of that time
Page 27 covers the .22 single shot perfected new target pistol supplied only in 10" and blued.
Page 28 covers special target sights
Pages 29 & 30 cover all special notes and guarantee.
Pages 31 & 32 are blank.
* Included is a folded, pink price list dated May 1st, 1914. It is glued onto page 32 which is blank. Unfolded it measures 8" x 9-3/4".

3) TITLE: PLUNDERS, OLD AND NEW

DATE PUBLISHED: 1913 *

PUBLISHER: Seaver-Howland Press
93 Broad Street
Boston, Mass.

COVER: Full color lithograph picture of 3 pirates, painted by Philip Lyford.
The title Smith & Wesson appears on the bottom, in silver, color of main body of catalog is white.

SIZE: 7" X 10".

NUMBER OF PAGES: 32, 29 pp.

DESCRIPTION OF CONTENTS: PAGE 1 is the title page.
Page 2 is blank.
Page 3 shows S & W logo, the address and trade mark.
Page 4 shows four pictures of parts of the machine shop.
Page 5 starts the text of the story of Smith & Wesson's superiority. This continues until page 11
Page 12 & 13 cover the .35 automatic and its function.
Page 14 covers the operation of the jointed frame revolvers.
Page 15 covers the .32 double action revolver.
Page 16 covers the .38 double action revolver (five shot perfected).
Page 17 covers the hammerless safety revolvers operation.
Pages 18, 19 & 20 cover the .32 & .38 safety hammerless.
Page 21 covers the operation of the hand ejecting mechanism
Pages 22, 23, 24, 25 & 26 cover the standard hand ejectors of that time
Page 27 covers the .22 single shot perfected new target pistol supplied only in 10" and blued.
Page 28 covers special target sights
Pages 29 & 30 cover all special notes and guarantee.
Pages 31 & 32 are blank.
* Included in a 7" X 10" envelope is a folded, pink price list dated October 1st, 1914, unfolded it measures 8" x 9-3/4" Also included is a single page, ivory colored flyer for the 22-32 heavy frame target revolver, priced at $17.50

4) Title of catalog: PLUNDERS, OLD AND NEW

DATE PUBLISHED: 1913 *

PUBLISHER: SEAVER-HOWLAND PRESS
93 BROAD STREET
BOSTON, MASS.

COVER: Lithographed picture of 3 pirates, painted by Philip Lyford. Words Smith & Wesson appears on bottom, in silver, color of main body of catalog is white

SIZE: 7" X 10"

NUMBER OF PAGES: 24*

DESCRIPTION OF CONTENTS: Page 1 Shows Title of Catalog (See Above)
Page 2 Is Blank
Page 3 Shows S & W logo the address and trade mark.
Page 4 shows four pictures of parts of the machine shop.
* pages 5 through 11 have been cut out. This section detailed the manufacturing of the hand-ejector. An explanation for it's removal is that it detailed the process in such a fashion that a competitor could duplicate their process and build their own revolver as good as a Smith & Wesson.
The text page 12 & 13 cover the .35 automatic and it's operation.
Page 14 covers the operation of the jointed frame revolvers.
Page 15 covers the .32 double action revolver.
Page 16 covers the .38 double action revolver (five shot perfected).
Page 17 covers the hammerless safety revolvers operation.
Pages 18, 19 & 20 cover the .32 & .38 safety hammerless.
Page 21 covers the operation of the hand ejecting mechanism
Pages 22, 23, 24, 25 & 26 cover the standard hand ejectors of that time
Page 27 covers the .22 single shot perfected new target pistol supplied only in 10" and blued.
Page 28 covers special target sights
Pages 29 & 30 cover all special notes and guarantee.
Pages 31 & 32 are blank.
* Included is a folded, pink price list dated February 1st, 1915.

Aussie Collector · #9 10-01-2013, 10:30 AM

Thanks Don. You weren’t aware of the solid boarder type, that’s me I notice the minute things and usually miss the obvious. I didn’t realise there were so many versions, I had notes on 2 covers these with or without pages 5 – 8 (thanks to your help on another thread) and the Spanish version.
I have included a picture showing the solid boarder cover and page detail as it (appears) different to those you describe, the differences being from page 9 to 11 and the printers details on page 32. I have copied your format in case you want to keep the details. I think I should add that this catalog I obtained from Budapest, although if it were an export version I would not expect the price list, who knows.

COVER: Full color lithograph picture of 3 pirates, painted by Philip Lyford.
The title Smith & Wesson appears on the bottom, in silver, color of main body of catalog is white.
SOLID BOARDER AROUND PICTURE
SIZE: 7" X 10".

NUMBER OF PAGES: 32.

DESCRIPTION OF CONTENTS: PAGE 1 is the title page.
Page 2 is blank.
Page 3 shows S & W logo, the address and trade mark.
Page 4 shows four pictures of parts of the machine shop.
Page 5, 6, 7, 8 missing
Page 9 Target Shooting, continued to top of page 10.
Page 10 Ammunition
Page 11 Smokeless Powder
Page 12 & 13 cover the .35 automatic and its function.
Page 14 covers the operation of the jointed frame revolvers.
Page 15 covers the .32 double action revolver.
Page 16 covers the .38 double action revolver (five shot perfected).
Page 17 covers the hammerless safety revolvers operation.
Pages 18, 19 & 20 cover the .32 & .38 safety hammerless.
Page 21 covers the operation of the hand ejecting mechanism
Pages 22, 23, 24, 25 & 26 cover the standard hand ejectors of that time
Page 27 covers the .22 single shot perfected new target pistol supplied only in 10" and blued.
Page 28 covers special target sights
Pages 29 & 30 cover all special notes and guarantee.
Page 31 blank.
Page 32 printers details in lower right corner
* Included is a folded, pink price list dated February 1st, 1915.

Aussie Collector · #10 10-11-2013, 06:00 AM

I just noticed that the 2 plunders on McKune's web site are both the solid border type.