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.
NV - 1972-1986 - Nevada Magazine Calendars :3567NV - 1972-1986 - Nevada Magazine Calendars :
Lot of 14 Nevada Magazine calendars, including 9 Scenic Engagement Calendars from 1972 still enclosed in plastic (11 x 8 1/2"). One calendar ea...
Start Price : 50.00 | Estimates : 100.00 - 150.00
NV - 1983 - Nevada Post Offices, An Illustrated History :3568NV - 1983 - Nevada Post Offices, An Illustrated History :
By Garnett, James and Paher, Stanley. Hardcover, 176 pages including many illustrations. Published by Nevada Publications, Las Vegas, Nevada, 1983. Be
Start Price : 12.00 | Estimates : 25.00 - 75.00
Sold for (13.00 + 2.28) x 1 = 15.28
NV - 1880 - Nevada Steam Transportation Co. Memoranda :3570NV - 1880 - Nevada Steam Transportation Co. Memoranda :
Original 1880 prospectus. It has a vignette of the train on the top, occupying 1/3 of the document page. Possibly unique. Lot of two documents, one pr
Start Price : 100.00 | Estimates : 200.00 - 400.00
Sold for (150.00 + 26.25) x 1 = 176.25
NV - Nevada Stocks Group 1902-19343571NV - Nevada Stocks Group 1902-1934
Collection of 4. 1)Amalgamated Nevada Mining Company. Five hundred shares to Roscoe Howell on 28 February 1912. Signed by the Secretary and Preside
Start Price : 50.00 | Estimates : 100.00 - 200.00
NV - Nevada Stratigraphy Papers (5) :3572NV - Nevada Stratigraphy Papers (5) :
Lot of five publications. Includes: The Ash-Flow Tuffs of western Nevada (1984); Basin Range Structure in the Great Basin--autographed (1923); Studies
Start Price : 25.00 | Estimates : 50.00 - 100.00
Sold for (25.00 + 4.38) x 1 = 29.38
NV - 1940-1981 - Nevada Themed Books :3573NV - 1940-1981 - Nevada Themed Books :
Lot of five Books: First, The Nevada Adventure A History. Fifth Edition By James W. Hulse. Illustrations by Don Kerr. University of Nevada Press. Re
Start Price : 50.00 | Estimates : 100.00 - 150.00
NV - c1920 - Nevada's Golden Stars, Book :3574NV - c1920 - Nevada's Golden Stars, Book :
Nevada’s Golden Stars: A Memorial Volume. Designed as a gift from The State of Nevada to the Relatives of those Nevada Heroes who died in the World
Start Price : 50.00 | Estimates : 100.00 - 150.00
Sold for (65.00 + 11.38) x 1 = 76.38
NV - c1870 - Nevada-Utah County Map :3575NV - c1870 - Nevada-Utah County Map :
This colored full-page map was drawn and engraved by W.H. Gamble of Philadelphia. The map is taken from an atlas, as it is numbered page 49. Printed a
Start Price : 50.00 | Estimates : 100.00 - 175.00
NV - 1953 - North Star Mines Brass Die :3576NV - 1953 - North Star Mines Brass Die :
A heavy circular brass die that appears to be for use in embossing a seal on a stock certificate. It reads: North Star Mines Incorporated/ Incorporate
Start Price : 25.00 | Estimates : 50.00 - 75.00
Sold for (25.00 + 4.38) x 1 = 29.38
NV - NV National Guard Uniform Button :3577NV - NV National Guard Uniform Button :
NV - NV National Guard Uniform Button :
Start Price : 38.00 | Estimates : 75.00 - 100.00
NV - Lander County - 1878 - Phenix Silver Mining Company Stock Certificate :3578NV - Lander County - 1878 - Phenix Silver Mining Company Stock Certificate :
Incorporated in Lander County, Nevada, on January 3, 1871. Certificate No. 3074, issued for 30 shares to Latham & King, Trustees. Datelined San Franci
Start Price : 100.00 | Estimates : 200.00 - 300.00
NV - c1902 - Pocket Map by Rand McNally :3579NV - c1902 - Pocket Map by Rand McNally :
Titled: "Rand McNally & Co's Indexed County and Township Pocket Map and Shippers' Guide of Nevada. Accompanied by a New and Original Compilatio...
Start Price : 100.00 | Estimates : 200.00 - 300.00
Sold for (100.00 + 17.50) x 1 = 117.50
NV - March 17, 1918 - Poems of a Nevada Pioneer Book :3580NV - March 17, 1918 - Poems of a Nevada Pioneer Book :
Poems of a Nevada Pioneer Benefit of the Red Cross and Our Dear Soldier Boys by Charles H. Rulison. Produced by A. Carlisle & Co. of Nevada of the Ne
Start Price : 20.00 | Estimates : 40.00 - 60.00
NV - 1919-1956 - Railroad Books :3581NV - 1919-1956 - Railroad Books :
Lot of two Books: First book is titled, State of Nevada Biennial Reports of the Railroads and Public Service Commissions of Nevada 1917-1918. By. J.F
Start Price : 50.00 | Estimates : 100.00 - 200.00
Sold for (50.00 + 8.75) x 1 = 58.75
NV - Southwest Museum Papers, Numbers 4 & 5 :3582NV - Southwest Museum Papers, Numbers 4 & 5 :
Lot of two, includes: 1) Archeological Explorations in Southern Nevada, Number 4. Soft covered, 126 pages including photographs, tables, and illustrat
Start Price : 38.00 | Estimates : 75.00 - 100.00
Sold for (38.00 + 6.65) x 1 = 44.65
NV - 1978 - Sutro, Adolph, A Biography :3583NV - 1978 - Sutro, Adolph, A Biography :
Adolph Sutro: A Biography, 1978 by Robert E. Stewart JR. And M.F. Stewart, hardcover.
Start Price : 30.00 | Estimates : 60.00 - 90.00
NV - 1906 - The Sage Brush Parson, Book :3584NV - 1906 - The Sage Brush Parson, Book :
By A.B. Ward. Little, Brown, & Company Publishing, 1905. New York Times Review excerpt attached to inside cover. Green cloth on cover, no dust jacket,
Start Price : 25.00 | Estimates : 50.00 - 150.00
NV - U.S. President-Related Publications, Including NV Autograph :3585NV - U.S. President-Related Publications, Including NV Autograph :
Lot of three, includes: 1) The First Battle: The Story of the Campaign of 1896 by Bryan, William Jennings. Hardcover, 629 pages including several phot
Start Price : 125.00 | Estimates : 250.00 - 500.00
NV - Unusual Ephemera :3586NV - Unusual Ephemera :
Lot of unusual Nevada ephemera from the early twentieth century. Items include the following: chopsticks; small souvenir metal trays for varied Nevada
Start Price : 25.00 | Estimates : 50.00 - 200.00
NV - Feb. 10, 1863 - White and Murphy Letter *Territorial* :3587NV - Feb. 10, 1863 - White and Murphy Letter *Territorial* :
A full size letter datelined, "San Francisco February 10th 1863. Office White & Murphy by Gold and Silver Mining Co." This letter is in co...
Start Price : 100.00 | Estimates : 200.00 - 400.00
Sold for (100.00 + 17.50) x 1 = 117.50
NV - 1912-1913 - Young Engineers in Nevada, Two Book Set :3588NV - 1912-1913 - Young Engineers in Nevada, Two Book Set :
The Young Engineers in Nevada, 1912 by H. Irving Hancock & The Young Engineers in Nevada, 1913 by H. Irving Hancock. Each is a hardcover copy and cons
Start Price : 20.00 | Estimates : 40.00 - 80.00
Aurora,NV - Mineral County - 1940-1980 - Assorted Nevada Periodical Articles :3589Aurora,NV - Mineral County - 1940-1980 - Assorted Nevada Periodical Articles :
Lot of assorted articles on Nevada mining, ghost towns, and events. These articles come from various newspapers and magazines ranging from the 1940’s
Start Price : 12.00 | Estimates : 25.00 - 50.00
Aurora/Fletcher,NV - 1890-1912 - Aurora/Fletcher Cover Collection :3590Aurora/Fletcher,NV - 1890-1912 - Aurora/Fletcher Cover Collection :
Lot of 14. 1) Double ring seal Aurora, NV. 1890. Addressed to Mrs. A. Pettibone (Bodie, CA). One green 2 cent cancelled stamp. 2) Single ring seal Aur
Start Price : 75.00 | Estimates : 150.00 - 300.00
Sold for (225.00 + 39.38) x 1 = 264.38
Austin,NV - Lander County - November 15, 1864 - Kent's Patent Improved Process For Saving Gold and S3591Austin,NV - Lander County - November 15, 1864 - Kent's Patent Improved Process For Saving Gold and S
This is a four page informational flyer involving a new process to reduce and recover gold and silver ore when it occurred in fresh sulfides. Kent's L
Start Price : 100.00 | Estimates : 200.00 - 400.00
Austin,NV - Sept. 20, 1927 - Magna Gold Mines Co. Stock :3592Austin,NV - Sept. 20, 1927 - Magna Gold Mines Co. Stock :
No. 6 issued to B.Y. Hardy for 1000 shares. Vignette of three miners in tunnel with hydraulic equipment. Blk with gold underprint on crème. 10....
Start Price : 12.00 | Estimates : 25.00 - 50.00
Sold for (12.00 + 2.10) x 1 = 14.10
Austin,NV - Lander County - 1920s - Nevada Central Railroad Collection :3593Austin,NV - Lander County - 1920s - Nevada Central Railroad Collection :
Lot of eight items that include: a 1932 Annual Pass; 6 monthly locomotive inspection and repair reports dated 1920s; 2 railroad telegraphs; and anothe
Start Price : 50.00 | Estimates : 100.00 - 200.00
Sold for (50.00 + 8.75) x 1 = 58.75
Austin,NV - Lander County - March 9, 1880 - Nevada Silver Mining and Mill Company Stock :3594Austin,NV - Lander County - March 9, 1880 - Nevada Silver Mining and Mill Company Stock :
Reese River Mining District. Incorporated in Illinois. Cert. #375, issued to James D. Gibhir in 1880 for 1000 shares. Signed by J.S. McKenney, Preside
Start Price : 50.00 | Estimates : 100.00 - 200.00
Austin,NV - Lander County - 1876, 1884, 1901 - Northern NV Checks :3596Austin,NV - Lander County - 1876, 1884, 1901 - Northern NV Checks :
Lot of three Austin, NV checks, the items are as follows: 1) Check from the Austin and Reese River Transportation Company, August 1867 signed by D.B.
Start Price : 25.00 | Estimates : 50.00 - 60.00
Austin,NV - Lander - May 22, 1869 - Ogden, Moran L. Letter :3597Austin,NV - Lander - May 22, 1869 - Ogden, Moran L. Letter :
Sent to Allen A. Curtis, believed to be the assayer for letters No. 133@139 (24 silver bars in value of $30,136.41 and associated payments. Signed by
Start Price : 75.00 | Estimates : 150.00 - 250.00
Battle Mountain,NV - Lander County - Battle Mountain Gold Company Stock Certificate :3598Battle Mountain,NV - Lander County - Battle Mountain Gold Company Stock Certificate :
Battle Mountain, NV. Lander County. Battle Mountain Mining District. Incorporated under the laws of the State of Nevada, 1985. Certificate No. 66156 i
Start Price : 50.00 | Estimates : 100.00 - 200.00
Boulder City,NV - Clark County - Publications :3599Boulder City,NV - Clark County - Publications :
Lot of three. 1) Phil Swing and Boulder Dam by Moeller, Beverly Bowen. Hardcover, 199 pages, indexed, with several photographs and illustrations (Pahe
Start Price : 12.00 | Estimates : 25.00 - 40.00
Boulder City,NV - Clark County - c1930s - RPC :3600Boulder City,NV - Clark County - c1930s - RPC :
An RPC with 5 small photos of the dam and one larger birds eye view of Boulder City, probably taken shortly after the dam’s completion in the 1930s.
Start Price : 25.00 | Estimates : 50.00 - 100.00
Bullfrog,NV - Nye County - c1905-1910 - Bullfrog Collection of Ephemera :3601Bullfrog,NV - Nye County - c1905-1910 - Bullfrog Collection of Ephemera :
Lot of about 24 pieces. These include: 1910 Letter and cover to Campbell, Metson and Brown, Attorneys in Tonopah, regarding the Guisti estate, from th
Start Price : 75.00 | Estimates : 150.00 - 250.00
Sold for (80.00 + 14.00) x 1 = 94.00
Bullfrog,NV - Nye County - c1907 - Bullfrog Ephemera :3602Bullfrog,NV - Nye County - c1907 - Bullfrog Ephemera :
Lot of seven pieces related to Bullfrog. Included are: Market Review newspaper, dated July 15, 1906 in Goldfield (Vol. II, No. 11); a cover from the f
Start Price : 50.00 | Estimates : 100.00 - 150.00
Sold for (50.00 + 8.75) x 1 = 58.75
Bullfrog,NV - Nye County - 1906 - Mining Documents :3603Bullfrog,NV - Nye County - 1906 - Mining Documents :
Lot of five items. 1) Checkbook for Bullfrog Bank and Trust Company. Includes 32 pages, blank, with three checks following each deposit/balance sheet.
Start Price : 50.00 | Estimates : 100.00 - 200.00
Sold for (50.00 + 8.75) x 1 = 58.75
Caliente,NV - 1906-1931 - Lincoln County Ephemera Group :3604Caliente,NV - 1906-1931 - Lincoln County Ephemera Group :
This lot of assorted ephemera dates between 1906 and 1931. This assortment of items includes the following: miscellaneous documents and letters addre
Start Price : 50.00 | Estimates : 100.00 - 150.00
Carson City,NV - Ormsby County - 1874 - Annual Report of the Controller of the State of Nevada :3605Carson City,NV - Ormsby County - 1874 - Annual Report of the Controller of the State of Nevada :
W.W. Hobart, State Controller. Charles A.V. Putnam, State Printer, 1874. Made up of 12 "Exhibits," including "Receipts into the Treas...
Start Price : 25.00 | Estimates : 50.00 - 100.00
Sold for (25.00 + 4.38) x 1 = 29.38
Carson City,NV - Ormsby County - 1976 - Carson City ~ 1875 Centennial In Review :3606Carson City,NV - Ormsby County - 1976 - Carson City ~ 1875 Centennial In Review :
Facts, Fashions & Families of the Commemorative Year. Edited and published by the staff of The Retired Senior Volunteer Program, The Carson River Basi
Start Price : 8.00 | Estimates : 15.00 - 30.00
Carson City,NV - Carson City Vintage Postcards :3607Carson City,NV - Carson City Vintage Postcards :
Lot of five Chromolithographic Postcards without borders. Each postcard is in full color, highly detailed and measures 3 ½” x 5 ½”. Each p...
Start Price : 25.00 | Estimates : 50.00 - 75.00
Carson City,NV - Carson City - 1959-1975 - Carson Valley Region Mining Publications :3608Carson City,NV - Carson City - 1959-1975 - Carson Valley Region Mining Publications :
Lot of four Carson Valley Region mining publications. Included are the following works: A Peep at Washoe & Washoe Revisited, 1959 by J. Ross Browne, 2
Start Price : 38.00 | Estimates : 75.00 - 150.00
Sold for (38.00 + 6.65) x 1 = 44.65
Carson City,NV - Ormsby County - 1884 - Chilled Car-Wheel Grinding Co. Stock Certificate :3609Carson City,NV - Ormsby County - 1884 - Chilled Car-Wheel Grinding Co. Stock Certificate :
Incorporated November, 1879. Certificate # 72, issued to G.F. Ford for 100 shares on April 4th, 1884. Signed by H.M. Yerington as President and G.F. F
Start Price : 100.00 | Estimates : 200.00 - 300.00
Sold for (100.00 + 17.50) x 1 = 117.50
Carson City,NV - Ormsby County - 1946 - Greenhalgh Service Station Calendar :3610Carson City,NV - Ormsby County - 1946 - Greenhalgh Service Station Calendar :
From "Al Greenhalgh Shell Service," a 7 1/2" x 9 1/2" lithograph entitled "Prize Winners." Numbered 7686, the image is...
Start Price : 25.00 | Estimates : 50.00 - 100.00
Carson City,NV - Ormsby County - January 6, 1900 - Mammoth Footprints Photograph :3611Carson City,NV - Ormsby County - January 6, 1900 - Mammoth Footprints Photograph :
Very nice photo of mammoth footprints in a tunnel leading from the courtyard of the Nevada State Prison in Carson. Photograph measures 3 1/4”x3 1/4”,
Start Price : 38.00 | Estimates : 75.00 - 100.00
Sold for (150.00 + 26.25) x 1 = 176.25
Carson City,NV - Ormsby County - 1893 - Nevada at the World's Fair, Accompanied by Illustrations of3612Carson City,NV - Ormsby County - 1893 - Nevada at the World's Fair, Accompanied by Illustrations of
Copyright 1893, by Yerington, J.A., Carson City, Nevada. Published by The Albertype Co., N.Y. Approx. 7 x 4 1/4", soft cover, 14 pages with ill...
Start Price : 50.00 | Estimates : 100.00 - 200.00
Carson City,NV - 1936-2004 - Nevada Magazine :3613Carson City,NV - 1936-2004 - Nevada Magazine :
Lot of 155 Nevada Magazine issues dating from 1936 through 2004. Nevada Magazine was introduced in 1936 as Nevada Highways and Parks Magazine. Nevada
Start Price : 38.00 | Estimates : 75.00 - 150.00
Carson City,NV - Ormsby County - 1901-02 - Nevada State Surveyor-General and Controller Reports, 1903614Carson City,NV - Ormsby County - 1901-02 - Nevada State Surveyor-General and Controller Reports, 190
Lot of three publications from the State of Nevada. 1) Two copies of the Biennial Report of the Surveyor-General and State Land Register, 1901-1902, b
Start Price : 25.00 | Estimates : 50.00 - 100.00
Sold for (35.00 + 6.13) x 1 = 41.13
Carson City,NV - Ormsby County - 1879-1899 - Northern Nevada Checks :3615Carson City,NV - Ormsby County - 1879-1899 - Northern Nevada Checks :
Lot of five checks from Carson City and Dayton, NV and represent the Dayton Lodge and the Carson City Savings Bank. The checks from Carson City Saving
Start Price : 25.00 | Estimates : 50.00 - 60.00
Sold for (25.00 + 4.38) x 1 = 29.38
Carson City,NV - Ormsby County - 1867-1876 - Savage Mine Company Checks :3616Carson City,NV - Ormsby County - 1867-1876 - Savage Mine Company Checks :
Lot of six checks in relation to the Savage Mine Company. Of the checks 3 were directly issued from the Savage Mines Company. 2 are from 1867 and were
Start Price : 25.00 | Estimates : 50.00 - 100.00
Sold for (25.00 + 4.38) x 1 = 29.38
Carson City,NV - Ormsby County - 1946 - Service Station Calendar :3617Carson City,NV - Ormsby County - 1946 - Service Station Calendar :
From Al Greenhalgh Shell Service, Carson City, NV, 1946. Mounted on cardstock with small calendar stapled to bottom center of base. Illustration of bo
Start Price : 38.00 | Estimates : 75.00 - 100.00
Carson City,NV - Consolidated Municipality of Carson City - January 9, 1900 - Wells Fargo & Co Expre3618Carson City,NV - Consolidated Municipality of Carson City - January 9, 1900 - Wells Fargo & Co Expre
Wells Fargo & Co Express Consignees Receipt. Receipt for the Bullion and Exchange Bank in Carson City, NV for transportation of $2500.00 in silver coi
Start Price : 100.00 | Estimates : 200.00 - 300.00