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“CARTRIDGE AND RIFLE PICTURE” LABELED BOX -
WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS COMPANY .44 CALIBER CENTER
FIRE CARTRIDGES FOR THE WINCHESTER RIFLE MODEL 1873 , ca
1880: Manufactured by the Winchester Repeating
Arms Co., this empty box bears the very collectable
“Cartridge Picture” dark green label, which features an
image of the cartridge with the legend “.44 WINCHESTER
MODEL 1873” superimposed on the cartridge. The box was
opened by carefully cutting through the exterior wrapper
on both ends and one long side, leaving the other long
side intact to act like a hinge. By opening the box in
this manner, the labels on the end and side panels were
not defaced. The top label is complete and legible,
showing minor wear and no loss of the label’s image, and
still retaining the bright label coloring. One side
label bears the image of the Model 1873 Rifle over the
“Winchester Repeating Arms Co.” banner, and the other
side label bears the Winchester guarantee, specifically
stating these cartridges are for the MODEL 1873 Rifle,
making no mention of the later Model 1892 as do the
later guarantees, which indicates this box predates the
1890’s. One end label bears the complete legend
“WINCHESTER .44 CALIBER C.F. MODEL 1873”. The other end
of the box has lost the top half of the end panel that
was attached to the top of the box, however the
remaining portion of the end label bears the majority of
the image of the cartridge, with “44 WCF” visible on the
head stamp of the cartridge and “WINCHESTER MODEL 1873”
still legible on the cartridge case. The box is
otherwise complete, retaining its shape with sharp
corners and edges and no disfiguring or crushing. These
early boxes, full or empty, survive at a much lower rate
than do the rifles and are actively sought to complete a
Western Frontier display with an early 1873 Winchester
Rifle. Easily shipped including overseas destinations,
and available at a fraction of the far more expensive
full boxes, this box is a good buy. $250
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