A pistol owned by British explorer Captain James Cook, who first claimed Australia for Britain nearly 2½ centuries ago, sold yesterday for Aus$219,600 (€170,000).
The brass pistol, an early 18th century Continental Flintlock holster pistol with a 13-bore barrel, was one of a rare handful of personal effects remaining from the explorer. At Leski Auctions the gun went to a private buyer in Victoria, Australia.
Cook reached the coast of Australia in April 1770, the first recorded European to encounter the continent’s eastern coast. – (Reuters)
