THE GOLDEN WEST AUCTIONS

Auction Details

The Golden West Sale encompasses three sessions of auctions covering some of the most important historical western material from the Gold Rush periods of California, Nevada and Colorado. The material has been assembled from many of the great western collections, as well as original material handed down within Gold Rush families, held intact for over 100 years.
Session A of the Golden West Sale encompasses the annual WESTS (Western States Token Society) token auction. This year the highlight is clearly and unarguably the finest Western Indian Trader, Fort & Territorial collection ever assembled at public auction. The more than 500 lot sale contains dozens of R9 and R10 tokens, many of which have not seen the light of day in at least four decades. Some ephemera also is included from Indian Trader sites. Indian Trader tokens are an important form of money exchanged between Indians and Anglos in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Trading Posts were a way of life in the isolated outposts of the western plains and mountains, swapping furs, rugs, coats and other items for food stuffs and equipment. There has never been a sale of this magnitude and importance. The end of this sale will include a comprehensive collection of Naval tokens never before offered and with NO ESTIMATES or MINIMUM BID REQUIREMENTS, as this offering will set the pricing precedent for naval tokens.
Session B encompasses many of the popular collecting categories. It includes a strong photograph collection of American saloon interiors, saloon ephemera and Gold Rush region saloon tokens, also known as Pioneer Minor Coinage. Part of the saloon section includes a large collection of the ultra-rare Good-for mirrors, one of the rarest forms of money, many with pictorial representations of the fabulous “gay-90’s” saloon girls, as well as advertising mirrors. This is the largest mirror offering since the Rosa sale of 1988. Most of the mirrors are so rare that only one to three specimens of each are known. The session will be rounded out by a collection of So-called dollars and Hibler Kappen related material, $50 slug facsimiles, Chopmarked coins, Golden Gate International Exposition Medals and more. Much of this section is from the well-known Bill Weber Collection.
Session C The highlight of the sale is certainly the newly discovered Washington Nugget, a nearly 100 ounce nugget (and several others) found in an unmined section of the Omega-Malakoff Tertiary Channel in February, 2010 that made national news. The nuggets are accompanied by two large original nineteenth-century bullion scales (Christian Becker, New York; Henry Troemner, Philadelphia), It is accompanied in the sale by some masterful original Gold Rush art, inclusive of a spectacular and early rendition of a miner, several broadsides- a miner in lithographic form, panoramic views of mining communities, a number of original Currier & Ives prints of the Gold Rush and Salt Lake City, stage coach pieces, and the Alaska 1893 Yukon/Alaska Miners Union Banner.
A massive Gold Rush banking collection covers the 1850’s through 1860’s in California and Nevada, with what is probably the largest Gold Rush period banking collection ever offered publicly. It contains more than 100 different Bills of Exchange, a form of the first circulating currency on the West Coast. A wonderful and large collection of Gold Rush banking documents augments this fine collection, along with original leather gold pokes and money belts.
Some of the highlights of the Gold Rush Collection are documents from the original 1910 San Francisco sale of the estate of James King of William, documents signed by Adolph Sutro, California coiner F. D. Kohler, and others. A very rare letter book from Nevada mining and railroad magnate Hume Yerington from the mid-1860’s contains incredible information about his life prior to his railroad successes.
A large collection of US Mint ephemera is included, including rare bullion receipts, photographs, lithograph, gold coin and other coin bank bags, as well as rare Carson City gold and silver coins. Accompanying the Mint ephemera is a section of California Counters and rare California Gold Rush tokens.
Choose Your Layout > Switch to Grid View Switch to List View
Tuscarora,NV - Elko County - 1889 - Tuscarora Trading Company Stock :2662 - Tuscarora,NV - Elko County - 1889 - Tuscarora Trading Company Stock :
Holabird-Kagin Americana
Tuscarora; Tuscarora Trading Company; incorporated January 1889; issued 1/28/89 for 5 shares to George W. Peltier. Printed by Crocker & Co., S.F...
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 250.00 - 500.00
Sold to 8***8 for (125.00 + 21.88BP) = 146.88
 
Details...Bookmark
Virginia City,NV - Storey County - 1863 - Colorado Gold and Silver Mining Company Stock *Territorial2663 - Virginia City,NV - Storey County - 1863 - Colorado Gold and Silver Mining Company Stock *Territorial
Holabird-Kagin Americana
Virginia Mining District. Incorporated in 1863. Cert. #411, issued to A.C. Chapman for 15 shares. Signed b y G. Armstrong, president, and John C. Leco
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 600.00 - 900.00
Sold to 3***2 for (800.00 + 140.00BP) = 940.00
 
Details...Bookmark
Virginia City,NV - Storey County - March 11, 1864 - Consolidated Grass Valley and Napoleon Company S2664 - Virginia City,NV - Storey County - March 11, 1864 - Consolidated Grass Valley and Napoleon Company S
Holabird-Kagin Americana
Incorporated in 1863. Cert. #624, issued to A.C. Chapman for 25 shares. Signed by H.B. Corsito, president, and Thos. Barclay, secretary. Vignette at c
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 500.00 - 900.00
Sold to 3***2 for (500.00 + 87.50BP) = 587.50
 
Details...Bookmark
Virginia City,NV - Storey County - August 24, 1863 - Consolidated Grass Valley and Napoleon Company2665 - Virginia City,NV - Storey County - August 24, 1863 - Consolidated Grass Valley and Napoleon Company
Holabird-Kagin Americana
Incorporated in March 1863. Cert. #463, issued to Thomas Power for 5 shares. Signed by H. B. Corsito, president, and by Thos. Barclay, secretary. Vign
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 500.00 - 900.00
Sold to 3***2 for (600.00 + 105.00BP) = 705.00
 
Details...Bookmark
Virginia City,NV - Storey County - 1879 - Flowery Mining District Stock Certificates :2666 - Virginia City,NV - Storey County - 1879 - Flowery Mining District Stock Certificates :
Holabird-Kagin Americana
Lot of three certificates: 1) Flowery Mining Company, incorporated on September 11, 1878 in Storey County, Nevada. Certificate No. 1240 issued to E. C
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 500.00 - 1,000.00
Sold to F*******d for (300.00 + 52.50BP) = 352.50
 
Details...Bookmark
Virginia City,NV - Storey County - July 1864 - Gold Hill Front Lodes on the Comstock Range, Map *Ter2667 - Virginia City,NV - Storey County - July 1864 - Gold Hill Front Lodes on the Comstock Range, Map *Ter
Holabird-Kagin Americana
By N. Wescoatt. Printer: Oakley and Tompson in Boston shortly after the July 1864 survey date. This is a rectangular folio map, 24 x 14.5.” The scal
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 300.00 - 500.00
Sold to 5***3 for (150.00 + 26.25BP) = 176.25
 
Details...Bookmark
Virginia City,NV - Storey County - January 13, 1865 - Gould and Curry Silver Mining Co. Stock :2668 - Virginia City,NV - Storey County - January 13, 1865 - Gould and Curry Silver Mining Co. Stock :
Holabird-Kagin Americana
Incorporated June 27, 1860. Cert. No. 3172 issued to D.R. Patten for 4 shares. Signed by Secr. J.M. Shorwell and Pres. Alphery Bull. One brown 25 cent
Bidding Has Concluded
Start Price : 500.00 | Estimate : 1,000.00 - 1,500.00
 
 
Details...Bookmark
Virginia City,NV - c1875 - Mining  & Telegraphic Code Book :2669 - Virginia City,NV - c1875 - Mining & Telegraphic Code Book :
Holabird-Kagin Americana
Original copy of McNeill's book Mining and General Telegraphic code, undated, but c1875, printed by Whitehead, Morris & Co. London, 807pp pl...
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 200.00 - 400.00
Sold to 8***8 for (150.00 + 26.25BP) = 176.25
 
Details...Bookmark
Virginia City,NV - 1884, 1887, 1888, 1889 - Nevada Stocks for Outlying Claims Adjacent to the Comsto2670 - Virginia City,NV - 1884, 1887, 1888, 1889 - Nevada Stocks for Outlying Claims Adjacent to the Comsto
Holabird-Kagin Americana
Lot of four. 1)Alta Silver Mining Company. Stock measures 9 ½’’x 4’’. Incorporated May 14, 1872 in the state of California. Stock no. 22327 is...
Bidding Has Concluded
Start Price : 200.00 | Estimate : 400.00 - 600.00
 
 
Details...Bookmark
Virginia City,NV - Storey County - 17 September 1875 - Sutro Letter :2671 - Virginia City,NV - Storey County - 17 September 1875 - Sutro Letter :
Holabird-Kagin Americana
From Jno. Clinton, Sec. of the Popular Gas Machine Manufacturing Company of Virginia City, Nevada to Adolph Sutro Esq. asking him to bring it to the a
Bidding Has Concluded
Start Price : 100.00 | Estimate : 200.00 - 400.00
 
 
Details...Bookmark
Virginia City,NV - Storey County - 1871 - Sutro Tunnel Company Stock Certificate :2672 - Virginia City,NV - Storey County - 1871 - Sutro Tunnel Company Stock Certificate :
Holabird-Kagin Americana
Comstock mining district. No. 785 issued to A.H.R Schmidt for one share on June 3, 1871. Signed by Samuel Merritt as President and W.K. Van Alen as Se
Bidding Has Concluded
Start Price : 1,000.00 | Estimate : 2,000.00 - 3,000.00
 
 
Details...Bookmark
Virginia City,NV - Storey County - 1855-1895 - Van Deusen, Arthur ~ California Gold Rush and Comstoc2673 - Virginia City,NV - Storey County - 1855-1895 - Van Deusen, Arthur ~ California Gold Rush and Comstoc
Holabird-Kagin Americana
Group of 11 detailed manuscript letters averaging about 4 pages each. These letters were written by E. B. Towl and Arthur Van Deusen. There is an init
Bidding Has Concluded
Start Price : 1,000.00 | Estimate : 2,000.00 - 3,000.00
 
 
Details...Bookmark
Virginia City,NV - 1915 - Wells Fargo & Co. Shipper's Forwarding Receipt Book :2674 - Virginia City,NV - 1915 - Wells Fargo & Co. Shipper's Forwarding Receipt Book :
Holabird-Kagin Americana
Original receipt book, about 5 x 9", app. 50pp, for packages shipped. The WF agent Mr. Henry signed for the packages at right. The destination ...
Bidding Has Concluded
Start Price : 100.00 | Estimate : 200.00 - 400.00
 
 
Details...Bookmark
Virginia City,NV - Storey County - 1885 - Virginia and Truckee Railroad Company Framed $1000 Bond, S2675 - Virginia City,NV - Storey County - 1885 - Virginia and Truckee Railroad Company Framed $1000 Bond, S
Holabird-Kagin Americana
Framed Bond No. 79 for $1000. Gold leaf frame measures 23.5" wide x 19.5" tall. Issued to Thomas Bell in 1874. Signed by Wm. Sharon as Pre...
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 400.00 - 700.00
Sold to 9***1 for (425.00 + 74.38BP) = 499.38
 
Details...Bookmark
Virginia City,NV - Storey County - March 8, 1864 - York Gold & Silver Mining Company Stock *Territor2676 - Virginia City,NV - Storey County - March 8, 1864 - York Gold & Silver Mining Company Stock *Territor
Holabird-Kagin Americana
Virginia Mining District. Incorporated in Nevada in 1863. Cert. #53, issued to A.C. Chapman for 20 shares. Signed by R.M. Daggett, president, and by A
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 800.00 - 1,500.00
Sold to p********n for (1,050.00 + 183.75BP) = 1,233.75
 
Details...Bookmark
Washoe County,NV - December 8, 1864 - Washoe United Consolidated Gold & Silver Mining company Limite2677 - Washoe County,NV - December 8, 1864 - Washoe United Consolidated Gold & Silver Mining company Limite
Holabird-Kagin Americana
Incorporated in Nevada and England in 1862. Cert. #512, issued to Henry Thomas Marshall in 1864 for 5 shares. Signed by the British Directors and Sec
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 500.00 - 1,000.00
Sold to p********n for (200.00 + 35.00BP) = 235.00
 
Details...Bookmark
Virginia City,NV - Wells Fargo & Co. Agent's Gun and Holster :2678 - Virginia City,NV - Wells Fargo & Co. Agent's Gun and Holster :
Holabird-Kagin Americana
Original Smith & Wesson Sn 20429 pistol with original holster. The leather holster has the number "38" stamped on the front and back, ...
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 500.00 - 1,000.00
Sold to p******k for (425.00 + 74.38BP) = 499.38
 
Details...Bookmark
White Pine,NV - Ely County - August 3, 1869 - White Pine Mill and Mining Company of Nevada Stock :2679 - White Pine,NV - Ely County - August 3, 1869 - White Pine Mill and Mining Company of Nevada Stock :
Holabird-Kagin Americana
Incorporated in Pennsylvania in 1868. Cert. #330, issued to Jacob Rheem in 1869 for 40 shares. Signed by Jos. H. Black, President, and by Stephen Mill
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 300.00 - 500.00
Sold to p********n for (200.00 + 35.00BP) = 235.00
 
Details...Bookmark
NY - 1880, 1881 - Bald Mountain Mining Company Stocks :2680 - NY - 1880, 1881 - Bald Mountain Mining Company Stocks :
Holabird-Kagin Americana
Lot of two. 1) Bald Mountain Mining Company. Incorporated in New York. Measures 11 ¼’’ x 7 ¼’. Cert. #1013. Issued to Alfred Peckham o...
Bidding Has Concluded
Start Price : 150.00 | Estimate : 300.00 - 400.00
 
 
Details...Bookmark
Elmira,NY - Chemung County - April 18, 1864 - Elmira Silver Bullion Company of Nevada Stock Certific2681 - Elmira,NY - Chemung County - April 18, 1864 - Elmira Silver Bullion Company of Nevada Stock Certific
Holabird-Kagin Americana
Nevada, April 18th, 1864, 15 Shares, issued and never cancelled. Black border and vignettes of miners hitting spike in middle, dog on lower left and a
Bidding Has Concluded
Start Price : 200.00 | Estimate : 400.00 - 600.00
 
 
Details...Bookmark
OH - April 29, 1865 - Dayton Mining Company- Boston Stock :2682 - OH - April 29, 1865 - Dayton Mining Company- Boston Stock :
Holabird-Kagin Americana
Stock certificate number 5 from the Dayton Mining Company in Boston, Massachusetts issued to Henry W. Kimball for 200 shares of capital stock on April
Bidding Has Concluded
Start Price : 150.00 | Estimate : 300.00 - 800.00
 
 
Details...Bookmark
Baker City,OR - Baker County - March 22, 1873 - James W. Virtue Banking House :2683 - Baker City,OR - Baker County - March 22, 1873 - James W. Virtue Banking House :
Holabird-Kagin Americana
Lot of two letters/notices from the Banking House of James W. Virtue. The first is a note written in September of 1872 on 7” x 5.25” ruled paper with
Bidding Has Concluded
Start Price : 500.00 | Estimate : 1,000.00 - 1,500.00
 
 
Details...Bookmark
Milwaukie,OR - Clackamas County - Mar/Apr 4, 1855 - Milwaukie, Or. Correspondence` :2684 - Milwaukie,OR - Clackamas County - Mar/Apr 4, 1855 - Milwaukie, Or. Correspondence` :
Holabird-Kagin Americana
A 4-page handwritten letter to Susan D. Carey (San Jose, CA) from her "Uncle Joseph". Notice of a sent daguerreotype that "will arriv...
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 500.00 - 1,000.00
Sold to 8***8 for (250.00 + 43.75BP) = 293.75
 
Details...Bookmark
Philadelphia,PA - Philadelphia County - 1885 - Barber, Charles E. Letter :2685 - Philadelphia,PA - Philadelphia County - 1885 - Barber, Charles E. Letter :
Holabird-Kagin Americana
Hand written letter from the superintendent’s office at the United States mint branch in Philadelphia. This letter was written by Colonel Oliver C. Bo
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 500.00 - 1,000.00
Sold to 8***8 for (300.00 + 52.50BP) = 352.50
 
Details...Bookmark
SC - January 18, 1867 - Sutton Gold Mining Company Stock Certificate :2686 - SC - January 18, 1867 - Sutton Gold Mining Company Stock Certificate :
Holabird-Kagin Americana
Incorporated in New York. Cert. # 25, issued to E.S. Wright for 250 shares. Signed by President E.S. Wright and by Treasurer R.S. Russell. Three vigne
Bidding Has Concluded
Start Price : 200.00 | Estimate : 400.00 - 800.00
 
 
Details...Bookmark
El Paso,TX - El Paso County - December 23, 1868 - First Mortgage Bond on Railroad Land, to John C. F2687 - El Paso,TX - El Paso County - December 23, 1868 - First Mortgage Bond on Railroad Land, to John C. F
Holabird-Kagin Americana
A document written in French, which loosely translates as: United States of America, State of Texas, First Mortgage Bond on Land of the Railroad Compa
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 300.00 - 500.00
Sold to 8***8 for (150.00 + 26.25BP) = 176.25
 
Details...Bookmark
Price,UT - Carbon County - c1892 - Mining Town Photograph Rare Canyon :2688 - Price,UT - Carbon County - c1892 - Mining Town Photograph Rare Canyon :
Holabird-Kagin Americana
Photograph measures 8 ¼’’x 5’’ and 8 ½’’ 5 ¼’’ on tan matte. Medium contrast and focus is sharp. Left side of the photo has a large ...
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 400.00 - 600.00
Sold to r******8 for (200.00 + 35.00BP) = 235.00
 
Details...Bookmark
Salt Lake City,UT - Salt Lake County - c1880 - Eagle House Photograph :2689 - Salt Lake City,UT - Salt Lake County - c1880 - Eagle House Photograph :
Holabird-Kagin Americana
Image of the Eagle House, part of the building housing S.P. Teasdel's Dry Goods, with about 30 people and a horse-drawn carriage parked out fron...
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 300.00 - 600.00
Sold to r******l for (300.00 + 52.50BP) = 352.50
 
Details...Bookmark
Salt Lake City,UT - Salt Lake City County - Utah Stereoviews by C.R. Savage :2690 - Salt Lake City,UT - Salt Lake City County - Utah Stereoviews by C.R. Savage :
Holabird-Kagin Americana
Lot of two items: 1) image of a man and horse in a field in the foreground, with a fence separating the open space from Salt Lake City in the backgrou
Bidding Has Concluded
Start Price : 250.00 | Estimate : 500.00 - 1,000.00
 
 
Details...Bookmark
Salt Lake City,UT - Salt Lake County - Zion Co-Operative Mercantile Stereoview :2691 - Salt Lake City,UT - Salt Lake County - Zion Co-Operative Mercantile Stereoview :
Holabird-Kagin Americana
Stereoview shows several horsedrawn carriages in front of the Zion Co-operative Mercantile Institution building. The card measures 7" x 4"...
Bidding Has Concluded
Start Price : 150.00 | Estimate : 300.00 - 500.00
 
 
Details...Bookmark
Seattle,WA - 1909 - Gold Camp Saloon Token :  Genuine - 5151599-0052692 - Seattle,WA - 1909 - Gold Camp Saloon Token : Genuine - 5151599-005
Holabird-Kagin Americana
Dance Hall & Gambling House. Alaska-Yukon Pacific Exposition Souvenir Token. A mining camp simulating the Alaska-Yukon mining camps was built a...
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 500.00 - 1,000.00
Sold to 9***6 for (800.00 + 140.00BP) = 940.00
 
Details...Bookmark
Clark's Fork,WY - April 25, 1877 - Eastern Montana Mining & Smelting Co. Stock :2693 - Clark's Fork,WY - April 25, 1877 - Eastern Montana Mining & Smelting Co. Stock :
Holabird-Kagin Americana
Incorporated May 23, 1876. No. 261 issued J.W. Granis for 50 shares. Signed by J.D. Caman, Secr. And Pres. Vignette at right of underground mine opera
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 250.00 - 350.00
Sold to p********n for (120.00 + 21.00BP) = 141.00
 
Details...Bookmark
Mexico,July 31, 1912 - Cuyutlan Gold Mines Company, Stock Certificate :2694 - Mexico,July 31, 1912 - Cuyutlan Gold Mines Company, Stock Certificate :
Holabird-Kagin Americana
Incorporated in Maine. Cert. #927, issued to J.C. Grenfell, Esq. for 250 shares. Signed by President William Peyton Dunham and Asst.Treasurer C. Bruc
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 300.00 - 500.00
Sold to l******n for (100.00 + 17.50BP) = 117.50
 
Details...Bookmark
Peru, Lima,April 30, 1868 - Peruvian Commemorative Railroad Medal :2695 - Peru, Lima,April 30, 1868 - Peruvian Commemorative Railroad Medal :
Holabird-Kagin Americana
Heretofore unknown Peruvian railroad medal. Possible discovery piece. Measures 1 and 1/4," cast in silver. It was struck a few days before Henr...
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 300.00 - 500.00
Sold to r******e for (225.00 + 39.38BP) = 264.38
 
Details...Bookmark
Peru, Lima,c1870s - Peruvian Commemorative Railroad Medals :2696 - Peru, Lima,c1870s - Peruvian Commemorative Railroad Medals :
Holabird-Kagin Americana
Lot of three. The first [Meiggs railroad commemorative coin listed here], 51 millimeters in diameter, 4mm thick, is dated January 1, 1870. It was
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 1,000.00 - 1,500.00
Sold to r******e for (1,100.00 + 192.50BP) = 1,292.50
 
Details...Bookmark