Auction Details
Day 1:
Roger McCarthy served 30 years in the CIA (1952-1982). During his tenure, he held several positions including Case Officer, Regional Officer in Charge, Deputy Chief of Station and Chief of Station. He served in numerous countries: Japan, Thailand, India, Nepal, Vietnam, Peru, Burma and Laos. He was one of the early and few paramilitary trainers that trained many foreigners for a variety of operations. These operations took place in Indonesia, Korea, Tibet, Vietnam & Laos.
Most notably, Mr. McCarthy headed a top secret CIA Tibetan Program called "ST CIRCUS", in which the group trained Tibetan Freedom Fighters in paramilitary and intelligence gathering techniques in preparation for parachuting them back into Tibet in order to conduct operations against the Chinese communist forces. In 1959, Tibetan trainees were primarily responsible for the dramatic escape of the Dalai Lama out of Tibet and into India in order to prevent the Chinese from kidnapping him. These trainees became the Dalai Lama's personal escort to freedom.
People later claimed that the CIA were responsible for the Dalai Lama's escape, but McCarthy insisted that was not the case. He clarified this in his history Tears of the Lotus. According to McCarthy, in 1959, the situation in Lhasa (Tibet's capital and the home of the Dalai Lama), was dire. It was surrounded by 40,000 PLA Chinese troops. They made every indication that they were preparing to kidnap the Dalai Lama. It was the Tibetans, previously trained by the CIA, who took it upon themselves to sneak the Dalai Lama out of Lhasa under the cover of darkness and devise an escape route to India. During the journey, the Tibetan radio team contacted the CIA.
The CIA asked if Indian border officials had been advised ahead of time. They had not. It was only then that the CIA assisted in a crucial way. They were able to get the Indian government to approve asylum for the Dalai Lama, prior to his arrival. This was crucial, since by that time, the PLA were in hot pursuit and were only one day behind His Holiness. Any bureaucratic holdup at the border would have allowed the Chinese enough time to catch up with the Dalai Lama, kidnap him and kill him.
The items for auction were collected by Mr. McCarthy during his travels abroad. The majority of these items are not only authentic, but they are very old and some of their origins are unknown. Some of these were given to Mr. McCarthy by various foreign government officials.
Day 2:
Two notable collections on this day. The Delwyn Gage Montana Art Collection, and Firearms from the Collection of Michael Westergard.
Indian Artifacts, Baskets, Pots, Arrowheads, Dolls, Beadwork, Navajo Rugs, Blankets, Textiles, Stone Tools, Kachinas, Paintings, Navajo and Zuni Jewelry, Squash Blossoms.
Artwork: Bob Scriver, Taylor Lynde, Jay Jung, Jose Trujillo, David Ewart, Tom Saubert, Margo Petterson, Tom Sander, David Shaner, Dee Barnes, Newman Myrah, Connie Robinson, Marla Edmiston, William Bailey, Frank Hagel, and many more.
Firearms: Taurus, Colt, Ruger, Cimarron, Sig Sauer, Smith & Wesson, Remington, Browning, Winchester, Armalite, JP Sauer, Springfield, Sharps, Dillon Reloading Press/Dies, Tons of Brass, Ammo, and much more.
Notable guns include: Custer Battle Serial Number Group 1873 Trapdoor Carbine, Winchester Pre 64 Model 70 Super Grade .375 H&H, German Luger in original holster, Ruger Deerstalker, Colt Model 1889 Navy Carried by Montana Sheriff, Ballard, Spencer Repeating Carbine, Sharps 1863 Carbine, Remington New Army, Documented RNWMP Colt New Service, Sharps 1874 Business Rifle, Colt 1877 Single Action Army.