A SCARCE .177 VENOM CUSTOM WEIHRAUCH HW98 AIR-RIFLE, serial no. 1671536, for 2007, with heavy 16in. blued barrel, no provision for open sights, blued air-chamber with machined rail for a telescopic sight and applied Venom decal of two entwined cobras (rubbed), brass extended safe, Venom tuned action, beech half-stock with adjustable comb and heel-plate, stippled grip panels to the pistol-grip and fore-end, milled slots in the fore-end, polished brass trigger guard and special set-back trigger, polished stainless screws, the whole appearing little used.

Composed of several subsidiaries, the Drouot Group is a major player in the art market. Hôtel Drouot, located in the heart of Paris, has been the world's largest public auction center since 1852. 15 salerooms are available to more than 70 auction houses. The emulation generated by an annual offer of 230,000 artworks from 21 major specialities - from Antiquity to street art - attracts some 3,000 visitors every day. The Group's digital platform, Drouot.com, offers digital sales - Live auctions (live broadcasting and participation in auctions), Online-only auctions (dematerialised auctions) and Buy Now sales (sales of lots at fixed prices). Nearly 2 million items are offered annually by 600 auction houses. Auction news is reported every week in La Gazette Drouot, the leading weekly magazine for the art market and culture published by Auctionspress.