This is an interesting issue of the Army Navy Journal from March 31, 1883 with the front page featuring two great ads of the improved Colt Gatling Gun aka Gatling Gun Company of Hartford, Conn.  and the Remington Lee Magazine rifle.  Original ads for Colt Gatlings are few and far between as this market was never geared towards civilian sales.  The ad notes that with the improved non-gravity fed magazine system, the gun can be fired at all angles at the rate of 1200 shots per minute.  Interestingly enough, it also states that since the new magazine doesn't depend on gravity, the gun can be fire upwards at a high degree so as to deliver mortar fire or drop bullets into entrenched positions.  This is something the military has weapon systems for today but its hard to imagine that due to these improvements, this was a possibility 125 years ago during the days of the Wild West.  The Remington Lee ad stated that J.W. Frazier is the Sole Agent located on 290 Broadway, N.Y.  However, just below the ad is another one from Hartley and Graham stating they have 5,000 Bolt Action Remington Lee Magazine Rifles with bayonets boxed and ready for immediate shipment in .433 Spanish Caliber....Hmmmm......was this a military contract that went sour? 

There are also a good number of additional ads inside from Cannons to spurs, uniforms, dry goods, helmets, etc.  The articles cover a great deal of announcements pertaining to professional military officers...moving, taking new assignments, as well as some obituaries of Civil War soldiers.  There are articles that make mention of General Sherman's activities, his approaching retirement in the War Dept, attending West Point Graduations, as well as General Sheridan, etc.  There are also some articles on international military affairs from abroad.  An interesting read to say the least!

Overall condition is generally good although the binding is getting separated and the last couple of ad pages are loose.  The paper is in very good shape however and has only yellowed slightly.  Judging from the indentions of the ink, this looks as though it was printed on a very old style hand-operated press.  This Journal probably had a somewhat limited circulation amongst Army and Naval officers and wasn't printed in great quantities like other publications.

Item# 0578

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