THE GOLDEN WEST AUCTIONS 2011 Mar 16 (UTC-7 : PDT/MST)

Each session will be held at different locations, Sacramento, California, 95815, United States
Browse & Bid Online: www.icollector.com
Thumbnail 2000 Jacksonville,CA - Tuolumne County - April 5, 1854 - Adams & Co Daily Report : Start Price: 250.00High Bid: 200.00Estimate: 500.00 - 750.00 This completed daily report for Jacksonville, CA provides values of ingots on hand at $ 730.00, Small Coins worth $13.00, Gold Dust of ¾ ounce, Amounts Exchange Sold since last Steamer at $600, Checks drawn totaling $49.00, Amount to Depositors at $573.00. The total of good remitted was $ 2669.00 and received was $705.50. Jacksonville, CA in Tuolumne County was named for Colonel Aldan Apollo Moore Jackson, for whom the town of Jackson in Amador County was also named. The U.S. Bureau of the Census lists 252 inhabitants in 1851. The Mining Bureau Report reported the gold output for the Jacksonville District had exceeded $9 million. Blank reverse. The left side contains minor discoloration and torn edges. Fine Condition.
Thumbnail 2001 San Francisco,CA - February 8 ,1854 - Adams & Co Assay Receipt No. 416 : Start Price: 1,250.00Estimate: 2,500.00 - 3,500.00 The assay results are printed on thin blue Adams & Co ledger measuring 7 ¾” x 9 ¾” ¾.” The names of Adams & Co. and those of Curtis, Perry & Ward are preprinted on the “form.” However, Curtis, Perry, & Ward have been lined out and Kellogg & Richter written in above. Curtis, Perry & Ward managed the new US Assay Office In San Francisco for John Moffat, and later ran it independently after he retired. They produced the exceptionally famous octagonal $50 slugs, and later, after tremendous political turmoil following the unexpected death of President Andrew Jackson and subsequent appointment of President Millard Fillmore, were finally allowed to make $10 and $20 coins. The trio sold their equipment to the US Mint, where it was installed in the new United States Branch Mint at San Francisco that opened for business in 1854. Ephemera from this short-lived mint and assay operation is exceptionally rare. The depositor was A.A. Van Grulder Esq. Signed “Adams & Co by Woods.” Woods refers to I.C. Woods who would eventually lead the company into bankruptcy. Assay results were the following: Weight before melting: 2,050 dwt. Loss in melting: 54 dwt. Nett: 1,996 dwt. Fineness: .866. Commission: 2¼ per cent or $40.20. Nett proceeds: $1,746.40. There are several arithmetic problems written on the lower left side, slight discoloration along the left edge and creases from previous folds. The reverse is blank. Very Good to Fine Condition.
Thumbnail 2002 San Francisco,CA - January 3, 1855 - Adams & Co Assay Receipt No. 169 : Start Price: 1,250.00Estimate: 2,500.00 - 3,500.00 The assay results are printed on thin blue Adams & Co ledger measuring 7 ¾” x 9 ¾”. The names of Adams & Co. and those of Curtis, Perry & Ward are preprinted on the “form.” However, Curtis, Perry, & Ward have been lined out and Kellogg & Richter written in above. Curtis, Perry & Ward managed the new US Assay Office In San Francisco for John Moffat, and later ran it independently after he retired. They produced the exceptionally famous octagonal $50 slugs, and later, after tremendous political turmoil following the unexpected death of President Andrew Jackson and subsequent appointment of President Millard Fillmore, were finally allowed to make $10 and $20 coins. The trio sold their equipment to the US Mint, where it was installed in the new United States Branch Mint at San Francisco that opened for business in 1854. Ephemera from this short-lived mint and assay operation is exceptionally rare. The depositor’s name is Alex McDonald, and is written directly above the assay results which are: weight before melting 2,000 dwt, Loss in melting 30 dwt, Netts 1,970 dwt. Fineness .892, Commission 2 ¼ per cent or $40.86. Nett proceeds: $1,775.40. The bottom is signed by Hamden for Adams & Co. Several creases throughout most prominently along the top and diagonally through the center: no foxing. Edges are uncompromised. From the Ford Collection. R7. Very Good Condition.
Thumbnail 2003 San Francisco,CA - May 23, 1854 - Adams & Co Daily Report : Start Price: 100.00High Bid: 50.00Estimate: 200.00 - 400.00 This unused daily report sheet is in immaculate condition. This blue paper document has categories for the following: "Ingots on hand, Small Coin, Gold Dust, Amount Exchange sold since Last Summer, Checks drawn this day, Amount due Depositors, and Remissions." The reverse is dated May 23, 1854. This important sheet shows how the circulating money in California in 1854 were four items: gold ingots, coins, gold dust and exchanges. Two small folds visible on the reverse. 10" x 7 1/2". Very Rare. Excellent Condition.
Thumbnail 2004 AZ - September 23, 1881 - Arivaca Milling & Refining Co. Laboratory & Assay Receipt : Start Price: 550.00Estimate: 1,100.00 - 2,000.00 Assay receipt for samples from the Californie Mine submitted by J.A. Fawcett. The samples averaged about $218 per ton silver and totaled $241.17. Signed by M.L. Geronld. The vignette is of a large mill scene. This certificate may be in reference to the California Mine at Oro Blanca, which was very active in the 1870’s and early 1880’s. This piece is in Fine condition with some creasing and light stains. Very Rare. Three known. From the John J. Ford, Jr. Collection.
Thumbnail 2005 AR - 1897-1944 - Arizona Assay Receipts : Start Price: 200.00High Bid: 100.00Estimate: 400.00 - 500.00 Lot of 10 Arizona assay documents covering roughly 45 years of assaying services by Arizona Ore Sampling Works (Kingman, AZ), Merrimac Mining Co. (Chloride, AZ), unissued Cedar Valley Gold and Silver Mining Co. (Cedar, AZ), Copper Queen Consolidated (Douglas, AZ), Selby Smelting and Lead Co. (Pearce, AZ), Bill and Jack (Wickenburg, AZ), Old Dominion Company (Globe, AZ), Wickenburg Ore Market (Wickenburg, AZ), Unissued R.V. McAllister (Kingman, AZ), Arizona Assay Office (Phoenix, AZ). Latter torn at left. Others in good condition. Varying sizes 6" x 9.5" to 8.5" x 11".
Thumbnail 2006 New York,NY - c1900 - Assay Circular Document : Start Price: 100.00High Bid: 50.00Estimate: 200.00 - 400.00 Eimer & Amend Assay Circular. This 16 page catalog of assay equipment all illustrated. Very fine.
Thumbnail 2007 San Francisco,CA - Sept. 19, 1885 - Bank of California Bullion Receipt : Start Price: 125.00High Bid: 160.00Estimate: 250.00 - 450.00 No. 642/3 bullion receipt. X-rare (1-3 known) probably R8. Receipt issued for bullion bar submitted to the bank for payment. Receipt for an ingot valued at $1648.37. Bank charged $10.50 for freight and $8.90 for assay. May be related to Comstock though names at top left: "Gillespie and Childs" could be from another area fo the West.
Thumbnail 2008 San Francisco,CA - September 26, 1863 - Bell, G. W. Assay Office Memorandum of Deposit : Start Price: 500.00High Bid: 850.00Estimate: 1,000.00 - 1,500.00 Lot of two: #1: No. 3588 Memorandum of Gold Bullion Deposited by Brumagem & Co., with the following assay results: Weight before melting 101.40 oz, After Melting 99.19 oz, Fineness .928, Value $1,902.81, less discount of $9.13, $2.65 Assay Fees, $28.36 W.H. Ladd & Co. on a Commission of 1 ½ %. Net Value: $1,862.64. W.H. Ladd & Co. was a prominent banking firm located at Downieville in Sierra County, CA. Printers: Towne & Bacon, 10 ½ x 5 ¼,” on crème colored paper with dull red print. This document is lightly soiled and stained and has the usual folds and foxing with some minor tears along bottom edge. From the Bell Collection. #2: No. 3266 Memorandum of Gold Bullion, January 20, 1868; deposited by C.S. Maguire. Bullion tax noted.
Thumbnail 2009 San Francisco,CA - October 27, 1863 - Bell, G. W. Assay Office Memorandum of Deposit : Start Price: 125.00High Bid: 200.00Estimate: 250.00 - 450.00 Memorandum of deposit by I. H. Dall and assay of “4 Silver Bars” No. 1451, 1452, 1453, 1454 listing weights, fineness, and dollar values of each. Total Value: $6,768.75. Dall's Mill was in Virginia City. The Dall’s Mill, Land’s Mill and at least a dozen others were small, independent mills that processed ore under contract with the mining companies. This was an early form of what we call today “custom mills”, whereby mining companies can take their ores to these mills to crush, treat and remove precious metals. In the early 1860s, this was the accepted and customary system - especially on the Comstock, where this system was used to great extent in the first decade of production, However, the mills were only as good as the operator. In some cases, near-surface high grade ores were mined, such as those at the Ophir and Gould & Curry, and sent to one or more different custom mills. If the operator was no good, they would receive next to nothing, even though the assays indicated high grade ore. Those mill operators usually only lasted a few weeks to months, until they were “found out.” During the Highway 50 widening project, circa 1991, a batch of very high grade tailings from the Dayton area, about ten tons, was received at our facility at the Flowery Mine. This unique batch of tailings ran about 10 ounces per ton gold and 100 ounces per ton silver. These were clearly some of the very early tails produced from one of the custom mills, and in this case, all of the ore ran through the mill and out the tail race, waiting for us to find it 130 years later.
Thumbnail 2011 San Francisco,CA - 1863/1864 - Bell, G. W. Assay Office Memorandums : Start Price: 500.00High Bid: 750.00Estimate: 1,000.00 - 2,000.00 Lot of six. Deposited by the Savage Mining Company to different mills on the Comstock. 1) G. W. Bell Assay Office, San Francisco, CA 3-Mar 1864; assay receipt for two sacks of mostly silver from Bassets Mill. Weight of amalgam received, 1,682.50 ounces, for a total value of $3,066.73. Signed by G.W. Bell as a duplicate. Foxing along left margin. 2) G. W. Bell Assay Office, 512 California Street, San Francisco, CA 15-Feb 1864; Memorandum of deposit for assay by Land Bros., of “2 Sacks” listing the “Weight of Amalgam Received” as 2443 oz. The amalgam is melted, refined, and poured into two Bars No. 2568 and No.2569 with Weights, Fineness of gold and silver recorded for each bar and a total Dollar Value for both bars of $4347.34.Some tearing on the left side. 3) G. W. Bell Assay Office, 512 California Street, San Francisco, CA 18-Feb 1864 Memorandum of deposit for assay by Booths, of “3 Sacks” listing the “Weight of Amalgam Received’ as 2674 oz. The amalgam is melted, refined, and poured into two Bars. No. 26001 and No. 26002, with Weights, Fineness of gold and silver given for both bars and having a total dollar value for the two of $4,600.29. 4) G. W. Bell Assay Office, 512 California Street, San Francisco, CA 31-Oct 1863 Memorandum of deposit for assay by Comet, of “2 Sacks” listing the “Weight of Amalgam Received” as 2100 oz. The amalgam is melted, refined, and poured into two Bars. No. 1742 and No.1743 with Weights and Fineness of gold and silver listed for each bar and a Total Dollar Value of $3,160.35. 5) G. W. Bell Assay Office, 512 California Street, San Francisco, CA 27-Oct 1863 Memorandum of deposit for assay by Marysville of “1 Sack” listing the “Weight of Amalgam Received” as 1275 oz. The Amalgam is melted and refined and poured as Bar No 1690, Weight 1255.80 oz, Fineness .954 Silver and .036 Gold, with a total dollar value of $2,483.58. 6) G. W. Bell Assay Office, 512 California Street, San Francisco, CA 27-Oct 1863 Memorandum of deposit by I. H. Dalls and assay of “5 Bars” No. 16185, 1686, 1687, 1688, and 1689 listing weights, fineness, and dollar values of each. Total Value: $6,558.74. Some damage on left side.
Thumbnail 2013 Virginia City,NV - Storey County - July 12, 1864 - Bell, G.W. Memorandum Assay of Retorted Silver Am Start Price: 125.00High Bid: 110.00Estimate: 250.00 - 500.00 Memorandum Assay of submitted materials by Savage Mining Company. The bar was assayed by the G.W. Bell Assay Office, located in San Francisco. Of all the Comstock Mines only two were able to break in to the private sector: The Savage Mining Company and The Gould & Curry. The items assayed were 1 sack of amalgam and 2 silver bars. Assay dates July 12, 1864. Signed by G.W. Bell as a duplicate. Small page piece missing in lower left edge. No vignettes. Overall fine condition.
Thumbnail 2014 Weaverville,CA - 1853-1854 - Blake, FW Signature, Rhodes & Lusk Express : Start Price: 750.00Estimate: 1,500.00 - 2,500.00 Collection of four different Rhodes pieces. 1) No 305. Dec. 27, 1853. Signed by famous assayer and expressman FW Blake. Fancy border at left. Paid to the order of PM Eden $400. Endorsed on reverse. 2) No 70. Aug. 1, 1853. Issued to Todd Jones for $250. Endorsed on reverse. Two small vignettes: 1) Ship surrounded by floral scene, 2) Lady on chariot, angel with star shaped torch. 3) No. 1325. Nov. 27, 1854. Issued to Pierce Delap & Co. For $300. 4) No. 1173. Aug. 16, 1854. Issued to John Chellis for $200. Endorsed on reverse. Expressman for Rhodes and Lusk is the first noted position held in California by FW Blake. He later would become an assayer in Weaverville and would open a bank there. The FW Blake Bank building, one of the era's few fireproof brick buildings (c.1856) is still standing. For additional information on Blake, see lot of Blake & Co. receipts. Fine.
Thumbnail 2015 Silver City,ID - Owyhee County - Dec. 3 1871 - Blake & Co. Assay Receipt *Territorial* : Start Price: 1,000.00High Bid: 1,700.00Estimate: 2,000.00 - 3,000.00 Memorandum of Crude Bullion deposited at the Assay Office of F. Blake & Co. on December 3, 1871. Number 2817 submitted by Owyhee Mining Company (Poorman Dump). The weight before melting: 791.00 oz., weight after melting: 777.30 oz. Fineness and value of gold: 027, value of gold: $433.81; fineness of silver: 972, value of silver: $976.83; Net value: $1410.64. Charges: $2.00 and $8.79 for a total of $10.79. Certificate is signed “Blake and Co.” Measures 11” X 5.75” in a mottled, handsome frame measuring 16.75” X 11.” Double-matted in ivory and black. This Blake and Co. was owned by Frank W. Blake, the cousin of Gorham Blake of S.S. Central America fame. After arrived in California from Boston in 1852, Frank settled in Weaverville for seven years, where he eventually opened his own express company. Documents from Blake's Weaverville Express business can be found elsewhere in this sale. After two years in Sacramento, Frank moved to Carson City for a year, only to leave for Unionville, NV, the “Land of Silver.” By 1863, F.W. Blake was issuing assay certificates and serving as mining secretary for several local corporations. He remained in Unionville until 1866, when he left for Silver City, in southern Idaho, where new gold camps were springing up. He set up a successful assay office and was soon the owner of a jewelry store and additional real estate [Holabird, 2008, 467]. “During its ‘heydays’, Silver City had about a dozen streets, seventy-five businesses, three hundred homes, a population of around 2,500, twelve ore-processing mills, and was the Owyhee County seat from 1866 to 1934” [http://www.historicsilvercityidaho.com/]. Several claims were in the vicinity, while the Poorman claim, rediscovered on September 13, 1865, was the subject of litigation and confrontation. The discoverers of a nearby claim, Hays and Ray, argued that the Poorman was located on their claim. The Poorman Company, aware this was true, claimed the Poorman was “separate and parallel” [Wells, 1983, 35]. Following a legal battle, on September 24th a physical confrontation took place. According to the Owyhee Avalanche, “The respective belligerents occupied a line about 100 feet long, with a brush and grass fire raging in hurricane of dust and smoke, there seemed an excellent prospect for promiscuous use of powder and lead on a minute’s notice” [Wells, Gold Camps and Silver Cities, 1983, 36-7] The Poorman defenders built a “fort” of logs, with the battle ending in a stalemate. A judge, accused as having been bribed, eventually ruled the Poorman was part of the Hays and Ray claim [Wells, 1983].
Thumbnail 2016 San Juan,CA - Nevada County - April 11, 1860 - Block & Furth Bankers Business Card : Start Price: 200.00Estimate: 400.00 - 600.00 This is a business card size purchase receipt for gold dust purchased. It is from little known northern Mother Lode region gold dust dealer and banker. The receipt is datelined North San Juan, April 1860. “Bought of (?)” 19 oz, 10 dwt, at $18.75 for an amount totaling $366.12. It is from Block & Furth Bankers. It may be the only card of its type extant. North San Juan was an important mining camp near Nevada City and Grass Valley.
Thumbnail 2017 Austin,NV - Lander County - April 16, 1868 - Boalt & Stetefeldt Assay Office : Start Price: 500.00High Bid: 600.00Estimate: 1,000.00 - 2,000.00 No. 3392. This is an exceptionally rare, R7 perhaps even R8 assay certificate from the John J. Ford Collection. The source of this ore was the Rough & Ready Mine in the Amador District near Austin, and the sample was deposited by Captain S. Kidd. The ore was fairly rich, worth $279.67 per ton. The certificate itself is certainly one of the most attractive of the early western certificates for a number of reasons. First of all, the certificate number is engraved in a vignette of an ingot at the upper left. This engraving is very important as it shows how ingots were punched on their face with serial numbers spaced out on two of their thin sides. Further, it shows two assay chips in diametrically opposed corners. The 5 cent adhesive Nevada revenue stamp at left bears the initials “B&ST” an abbreviation of Boalt and Stetefeldt. About the time this assay certificate was issued the Manhattan Silver Mining Company began a massive consolidation of mines around Austin. As they mined deeper ores, they encountered fresh silver sulfide minerals, which were difficult to reduce. This firm created a new ore reduction process through a new type of furnace known as the Stetefeldt furnace, which allowed a number of mines to economically process high grade silver ores. The Stetefeldt furnace became commonplace throughout the west when high grade unoxidized ores were encountered. John H. Boalt was a distinguished lawyer and native of Ohio. He was born March 29, 1837 and graduated from Amherst College. He was qualified as a mining and mechanical Engineer at Heidelberg and Freiberg and was a lieutenant in the Civil War. He amassed a fortune in Nevada as one of the executives for Stetefeldt Furnace Co which owned a new process for reducing ores. In addition he was a District judge for Lander County; his term ended in 1871. Overall in very fine condition.
Thumbnail 2018 Boulder,CO - Boulder County - 1870, 1882 - Boulder Agency Boston Colorado Smelting Co. Assay Receipt Start Price: 100.00High Bid: 75.00Estimate: 200.00 - 500.00 Two Item lot. Assay receipts from the Boston and Colorado Smelting Company at the Boulder Agency. The first receipt dates October 3, 1870. It is signed by H.R. Wolcott. The ore was all high grade, yielding between 125 and 78 ounces per ton. The total was valued at $1427.34 for 4 samples. The reverse is blank. Second is an assay receipt dating July 28, 1882. It is for assayed sacks of gold ore from Sunshine, CO: it was an estimated $20.62 per ton. It is signed by assayer E. Williams. The reverse has purple and black writing in the middle. Boston and Colorado Smelting Company was founded by Nathaniel P. Hill, a student and teacher of chemistry at Yale and Brown Universities. He migrated to Black Hawk, Colorado to research and develop more efficient smelting techniques. He opened Boston Colorado Smelting in 1867. It was such a success that he had to open another office in Argo, North Denver in 1878. Hill later entered politics where he was a senator from 1879-1885. Both items in good condition.
Thumbnail 2019 Denver,CO - Denver County - August 18, 1879 - Burlingame, E.E. Assay Office and Chemical Laboratory Start Price: 125.00High Bid: 100.00Estimate: 250.00 - 500.00 “Certificate of Assay” No. 4/109 For a J.L. Cunningham for a sample valued at having 12oz. of silver valued at $13.20. Burlingame’s office was located at 219 Sixteenth Street opposite the Inter Ocean hotel in Denver, CO. E.E. Burlingame was involved as one of the primary assayers in the Colorado area beginning at the time of the Pike’s Peak Gold Rush in 1859. Burlingame's first assay office appears to have been in Colorado Springs in 1878. Then, in 1879 he opened his assay office in Denver which was arguably one of the most successful of the Denver assayers lasting until at least 1906. Certificate has a simple blue border text. There is an intricate pattern-style vignette as a background for the space to write the assay number. The reverse side has a rendition of claims that were from the assayed specimen’s origin: they were drawn freehand. This receipt is in Very Good condition and has no flaws other than previous creases from the owner’s folds.
Thumbnail 2020 Tonopah,NV - Nye County - June 12, 1907 - Butler, Jim Mining Co. Assay Document : Start Price: 75.00High Bid: 50.00Estimate: 150.00 - 300.00 Daily cash report. Orange half page paper with black and pink ink. Nothing hand written - all stamped. Document shows that the Tonopah Banking Corporation had 8753 deposits and 10645 withdrawn checks, with an overdraft of 1892. Great condition with slight color fading to the left. Gold and silver rich ore was discovered by Jim Butler, stumbling upon Nevada's second richest silver strike in history. Some sources say he had picked up a stone to throw at his run-away donkey and noticed its weight difference. No photograph available.
Thumbnail 2021 Caliente,NV - Lincoln County - 1930 - Caliente Assays and Correspondence : Start Price: 50.00Estimate: 100.00 - 200.00 Lot of four assay certificates and accompanying correspondence addressed to E.C.D. Marriage in Caliente, from the American Smelting and Refining Co. in Salt Lake City, regarding the attached assay certificates from the Union Assay Office.
Thumbnail 2022 San Francisco and Los Angeles,CA - 1893-1944 - California Assay Collection : Start Price: 100.00High Bid: 50.00Estimate: 200.00 - 400.00 Lot of 13 assorted assay items from San Francisco, Los Angeles and Red Mountain California. First, 5 assay reports from the Kelly Mine in Red Mountain, California dated October 4, 1941. They are all printed on pink paper and signed by F.A. Slenncons. All have ring holes on top near the title. 2) An unissued Report of Production Source of Bullion Ore number 328003. 3) A 2 item assay receipt number 194. . Smelter sampling for the Goldfield Consolidated Mine. This is a scarce assay report for one of the most important post 1900 gold mines. A pencil note at the bottom indicates the ores were from the Combination & Mohawk mines, two of the richest mines at Goldfield, both very fine. 4) Advertising page from an unknown directory. 5) A letter from Arthur B. Foote in Grass Valley, CA addressed to Fred F. Cassidy in Nevada City, CA. The letter is in regards to assayed white mineral and other tailings. 6) Two memorandums from the John Taylor & Co in San Francisco dates April 4, and November 9, 1893. Both measure 8” x 7.25” and have a vignette of the Assayers Materials Mine & Mill Supplies Building on the Union Foundry Block located at 63 First Street San Francisco. 7) An August 20, 1924 check from The Braun Corporation for $4.24 to Chas A. Reno in Goldfield, NV. The center has a round circular “paid” stamp. As a whole the lot is in Fine condition.
Thumbnail 2023 Virginia,NV - Storey County - December 31, 1893 - California and Virginia Mining Co Report of Ore As Start Price: 100.00High Bid: 75.00Estimate: 200.00 - 400.00 Assay report of the consolidated California and Virginia Mining Company from Virginia, Nevada December 31, 1893. The sample is described as “Savage Battery Dec 31st/ ‘Settler.’” The total estimated value for all the gold and silver was approximately $24.50. There are no penned signatures on the assay receipt. In lieu of signatures, there are the typed names Gen. R.P. Keating and F.E. Fielding: Assayer. There are two small holes in the center of the “description of sample” section, and some slight page discolorations on the right edge. These two mines were the largest producers of the Comstock. Overall Fine Condition.
Thumbnail 2024 Virginia City,NV - Storey County - 1884 - 1890 - Chollar and Potosi Assorted Assay Forms : Start Price: 200.00High Bid: 200.00Estimate: 400.00 - 600.00 Four different assay forms from this important Comstock mine. 1) Sample of ore deposited by Savage 24 October 1884, Battery and Settler, excellent paper condition; 2) Sample ore deposited by Savage Rock Point Mill, June 1888, Battery and Settler, written on the back "June 88 Battery Assay, June 1st," Very good condition; 3) Sample of ore deposited by Savage Mining Company 10 January 1892 by C. W. Meyers, has a small hole in the center, otherwise the paper quality is excellent; 4) Sample of ore Deposited by Savage Mining Co. 26 June 1893, Battery and Settler, signed by Meyers excellent condition; Sample of ore deposited by Savage Mining Co. 27 Sept. 1890, for Battery and Settler signed by C. W. Meyers, in excellent condition.
Thumbnail 2025 Central City,CO - Clear Creek and Giplin Counties - August 12, 1868 - Colorado Assay Office Assay Re Start Price: 250.00High Bid: 275.00Estimate: 500.00 - 1,000.00 No. 23C181 First known as part of the Kansas and Nebraska Territories, Colorado held territory status from 1861 until 1876 when it was incorporated into the Union as a state. Central City was founded in 1859 and considered “The Richest Square Mile on Earth” during the Pikes Peak Gold Rush (later known as the Colorado Gold Rush). Placer mining was initial preferred method of mining; however it was replaced by underground lode mining around 1863. The specimen in the receipt was assayed for William A. Brown, which came from a lode near the Montana Mining District. The specimen was assayed as having an estimated 12oz of silver per 2000lbs and 10dwts of gold per 2000lbs. There is small vignette of a miner in the lower left corner and a blank space reserved for a postal stamp. The dimensions of the assay receipt are 7.75” x 4.5”. In general, this receipt is in Very Fine condition.
Thumbnail 2026 Virginia City,NV - Storey County - Decmeber 30, 1893 - Consolidated Virginia Mining Company Ore Assa Start Price: 100.00Estimate: 200.00 - 400.00 Lot of 2. #1) December 30, 1893. Reads in typed lettering “For: Gen R.P. Keating and F.E. Fielding, Assayer. This 8” x 5.5” inch assay receipt has two items in the “descriptions of sample” column. 1) Savage Battery Dec. 30 and ‘Settler’. Both items total a net value of $26.20. The reverse is blank, although, when held up to the light, a reverse “Eureka” can be read which is imbedded in the paper. #2) Stock certificate for the Consolidated Virginia Mining Company. The stock is small, only measuring 9.25” x 4.25”. It has an orange ornate border and a company logo on the left side. The certificate was issued in Virginia City on January 14, 1946. It certified that “Zeb Kendall, Mrs. Zeb. Kendall & A.L. Kendall tenants in common or the survivors thereof” were entitled to 1,000 shares of capital stock. It is signed by WJ Henley and Zeb Kendall. It was cancelled in October 1952 in Reno Nevada. There are two large purple stamps on the obverse to confirm. The reverse was initially signed by all beneficiaries.The Kendall family is an important family to Nevada mining history. It consisted of brothers and cousins that were both mining engineers and promoters for two generations. Their outstanding work on the Comstock and at Tonopah produced much ore. Lot as a whole is in fair condition.
Thumbnail 2027 Grass Valley,CA - Nevada County - May 12, 1867 - Delano, A. Banker, Memorandum of Gold Dust Purchase Start Price: 150.00High Bid: 200.00Estimate: 300.00 - 600.00 Business card sized receipt. Deposited by Elam Biggs. 10 oz, 11 dwt at $20.00 per oz. Total $211. Signed by A. Delano. Handwritten on the reverse “Chlorine (?) No. 7 Chlorine, Bar 10.11.0 @ $20 = $211.00 May 12 1872
Thumbnail 2028 Grass Valley,CA - Nevada County - Feb 6, 1873 - Delano, A. Assay Receipt : Start Price: 125.00High Bid: 325.00Estimate: 250.00 - 400.00 Issued to Elam Biggs for 11oz gold dust. ($151.) Signed by A. Delano. 3.5" x 2.5". Fine. Alonzo Delano was a forty-niner, coming to San Francisco in 1849 and working as a correspondent for the Pacific News, one of the first Gold Rush newspapers. Delano’s articles were often humorous, possibly an inspiration to Mark Twain and Bret Harte, according to some historians. Penned "Old Block", he wrote in the early California humorist style and was Grass Valley's first treasurer. He owned, in partnership, Massachusetts Hill Quartz Mine and was influential in its development. Delano soon moved to Grass Valley, where he became a Wells Fargo Express agent and shortly afterwards graduated to the banking business on his own. He was also an agent for Adams and Co. When Adams failed Delano called the depositors and told them to come get their gold, according to Cross in Financing an Empire.
Thumbnail 2029 Columbia,CA - Tuolumne County - 1901-1902 - Densmore Cons G.M. CO. : Start Price: 100.00Estimate: 200.00 - 400.00 Lot of Two. The first is an assay receipt for two gold bars dated July 4, 1902. The first bar weighed approximately 190oz. and the second bar weighed approximately 194.5 oz. The total value for both of the gold bars was valued at $4497.93. The second is a Reduction works report for the month of February, Dated March 5, 1901. This covers the ores and tailings. There are also figures for the values of how much was produced. For instance the actual value for bullions produces was $870.26. Both documents measure 5 1/2” x 13” and have been previously folded. Columbia was one of hundreds of settlements established during the gold rush years. Located in the heart of the Mother Lode, Columbia was a mile wide network of gold bearing quartz that extended 120 miles along the western edge of the Sierra Nevada from Mariposa north to Georgetown. Columbia yielded $87 million in gold at 1860's prices (Ref: columbiacalifornia.com). Overall fine condition
Thumbnail 2030 Tonopah,NV - Nye County - Dec. 7, 1907 - Desert Mill Assay Documents : Start Price: 75.00High Bid: 50.00Estimate: 150.00 - 300.00 Lot of 34. One is a full page blue paper with black and pink ink. 3/4 of the way filled out. Title reading "Desert Power & Mill Company Bullion Assay" is crossed out with "Desert Mill Report of W. Of Co Check Assay" written in script next to the title. "RECEIVED" stamp on the bottom. Signed on the reverse by Mr. Charles. Excellent condition, with only two creases. No tears, nicks, stains, or fading. 3 other light blue colored documents, faded with stains and slight yellowing, all used. The rest of the documents on beige paper with stains yellowing around the edges. All endorsed at the bottom, most read G.M. Noah. Overall condition is good. The Desert Power & Mill Company was incorporated in 1905, which managed a mill for ores treatment. It was the major mill for the ores from Tonopah. Later, the Esmeralda Power Co (inc. 1907), operated a steam plant which generated electricity for the mine. By 1910 the company was expanding by looking at different types of metals as well. By 1916 the company went international, properties in Colorado, Canada and even Nicaragua.
Thumbnail 2031 Austin,NV - Lander County - May 17, 1867 - First National Bank of Nevada Assay Office Receipt : Start Price: 500.00High Bid: 600.00Estimate: 1,000.00 - 2,000.00 This document illustrates how intertwined all of the various businesses of the period were with mining. Fairchild, the publisher of this form and the owner/editor of the Austin newspaper Reese River Reville, was a California Gold Rush miner. A partner with Daggett and a lifelong friend of historian and employee Myron Angel of Austin who later wrote the History of Nevada. Fairchild ended up in Placerville where the family ran a drugstore. No.1024 Assay certificate for mill pulp deposited by the Manhattan Silver Mining Co. through their agent Alan Curtis, also an officer of this bank. This form was printed by J.D. Fairchild & Co., of the Daily Reveille Office, and signed by John R. Murphy, Assayer. There is a detailed ornate vignette of a side view of lady liberty on the left side. Think black border and old English title script. Overall value of the silver in the assayed pulp was an estimated $120.05. The reverse is signed by John R. Murphy and dated May 17, 1867. Fine condition.
Thumbnail 2032 Sacramento City,CA - March 10, 1851 - Freeman & Co. Freight Receipt : Start Price: 150.00High Bid: 170.00Estimate: 300.00 - 600.00 No. 1381 Marked duplicate. The amount received was insured by Adams & Co from San Francisco. Signed by JM Furman. There is a list of all Adams & Co offices on the left. 3 3/4" x 6 3/4". Reverse is Blank. Delicate. Very Fine Condition.
Thumbnail 2033 Forest Hill,CA - Placer County - Garrison, John G., Gold Dust Deposit Receipt : Start Price: 175.00High Bid: 180.00Estimate: 350.00 - 750.00 Lot of two. One dated October 17, 1865, the other dated August 8, 1866. Forest Hill was a rich gold region immediately to the east of Auburn, California. Today it is perhaps best remembered by collectors because of the wonderful archive of Kellogg and Humbert bullion receipts that parallel the S.S. Central America gold ingots. Garrison is not listed in Bancroft. These receipts are R7.
Thumbnail 2034 Shasta,CA - June 2, 1852 - Gold Dust Manuscript Receipt : Start Price: 150.00High Bid: 140.00Estimate: 300.00 - 500.00 An 1852 assay receipt for a sample of gold dust. The “package said to contain 43.5oz and one dollar and seventy five cents in dust.” Dated June 2nd. Singed by Burton & M[Cartz]. Originally made from a larger piece of lined paper, this is the bottom section; If this was the original receipt without the rest of the paper then condition is Good.
Thumbnail 2035 Gold Hill,NV - Storey County - August 18, 1889 - Gold Hill Assay Office Memorandum of Bullion Deposi Start Price: 100.00High Bid: 100.00Estimate: 200.00 - 400.00 August 19, 1889 Memorandum of Golf Bar Deposited for Assay at the Gold Hill Assay Office with corresponding letter. The assay receipt is for two gold bars numbered 1012 and 1013 submitted by the Washoe Mill Justice Company. The combined total for both gold bars was valued at $5,201.24. The receipt is signed by assayer W.S. James. The corresponding letter is also from the Gold Hill Assay Office and is also written by assayer W.S. James and addressed to S.R. Hofer Esq. in Carson City. The topic is in regards to an assessment done by Mr. James for an object of Mr. Hofer’s. This office was started by Conrad Weigand, passed onto Dowling, back to Wiegand's son, then sold to W.S. James. Both items possess several small folds, yet both remain in good condition.
Thumbnail 2036 Los Angeles,CA - Gold, Silver, Lead and Copper Assays, Directions for : Start Price: 50.00High Bid: 50.00Estimate: 100.00 - 200.00 Directions for Using Pritchards Chemical Process for the Gold, Silver, Lead, and Copper Assays. Small thirty-two page booklet that measures 6" x 3 1/4". It has distinct sections for gold, silver, lead and copper. It has a brown cover that is slightly worn on the spine and in the lower right of the obverse is a dark spot. The original owner of the booklet had written personal notes throughout. Written by L.M. Pritchard, President and L.F. Pritchard Secretary. Originally for sale by the Prospectors supply company 409 N. Main Street, Los Angeles, California. Overall fair condition.
Thumbnail 2037 Virginia City,NV - Storey County - 1873 - Hale & Norcross Memorandum of Bullion Assay Office : Start Price: 100.00High Bid: 300.00Estimate: 200.00 - 400.00 Measures 15" x 8.25." Has water staining, and three folds lengthwise. The middle fold is very fragile and has some tearing. The Woodward Mill deposited gold and silver specimens with Hale and Norcross. The value of the gold was 544.66 and the value of silver was 2312.47. Ross was the assayer. In the early 1870s on the comstock, Gilbert Ross started in Nevada. He worked for a number of mining companies; never having opened his own assay office in 1880 he opend an assay office in Petaluma, California. Rare.
Thumbnail 2038 Virginia City,NV - Storey County - 1892-97, 1906-08 - Hale & Norcross Silver Mining Company Assay Re Start Price: 375.00High Bid: 650.00Estimate: 750.00 - 1,200.00 Only 164 of 255 pages of the ledger are used. Size 12 x 16.” Available at our Reno Office. In fine condition, binding is torn with a few stains throughout the cover.
Thumbnail 2039 Todd Valley,CA - Placer County - c1867 - Hall & Allen, Bankers, Gold Dust Receipt : Start Price: 200.00High Bid: 120.00Estimate: 400.00 - 800.00 Gold dust receipt for gold purchased by J.M. Miner, an agent for Hall and Allen Bankers at Todd's Valley. Hall and Allen also had bank branches at Auburn and Dutch Flat as noted on the certificate. Todd's Valley was named for F.W. Todd, a cousin of Mary Todd Lincoln, who opened a store there in 1849. The U.S. Post office there opened in the mid 1850’s, and the area remained a rich gold producer through at least the 1880’s, having produced millions of dollars in gold. This receipt is for 27 plus ounces of gold. Fine with rubber band stains on reverse.
Thumbnail 2041 Marysville,CA - Yuba County - May 14, 1860 - Harris, H. & Co. Pioneer Assay Office, Memorandum of G Start Price: 1,000.00High Bid: 1,600.00Estimate: 2,000.00 - 4,000.00 Assay receipt #22499. "Memorandum of Gold Deposited by Decker, Jewitt, & Paxton at the Pioneer Assay Office of H. Harris & Co, Late Harris and Marchand" in Marysville, CA on May 14, 1860. The submitted specimen was amalgam that yielded a value of $11691.48. Signed by H. Harris and D. Marchand; also signed by O. Biglow on the far left and directly below is a signature representing “H.H & CO.” Lettering is done in a variation of an Old English font on an off-white paper printed by Agnew, Deffbauch Printers, located in San Francisco, CA. Receipt was folded in thirds. Several discoloration marks resulting from the folds are present on the reverse. Very Fine Condition. Marysville was never an important mining town by itself; however, it was an important mining center and metropolis for the Feather and Yuba River Mines. Many attempts were made to dredge the Yuba River above Marysville, some of which were documented in the Sacramento Transcript and the Marysville Herald. Shortly after the failed dredging, prospectors and entrepreneurs turned their attention to quartz mining at Brownsville and many other locations around Yuba County.
Thumbnail 2042 San Francisco,CA - 1860 - Humbert, Augustus Sterling Presentation Plaque : Start Price: 5,000.00High Bid: 7,000.00Estimate: 10,000.00 - 15,000.00 Round sterling silver bowl-shaped tray engraved as follows: To / Augustus Humbert / From / W.S. Lyon / L. Simons / L.L. Sturdevant / W. Ilse / C.H. Robbins / F. Sherman / Jas. Kellogg / R. Crayton / 1860. Manufactured by the Shreve Company. Measures: 4 ¼” round x ½” deep. Beginning in February 1851 Augustus Humbert was overseer of the United States Assay Office of Gold before joining with John Kellogg later in his career (see above). Later he retired in 1860. Much has been writtenon Humbert, particularly in Kagin (Coins and Patterns of the US) and Owens (California Covers and Assayers). Excellent condition.
Thumbnail 2043 Portland,OR - Multnomah - October 22, 1890 - Huntley Hampton, Wm Analytical Chemist and Assayer Spee Start Price: 150.00High Bid: 100.00Estimate: 300.00 - 500.00 Handwritten speech on the mineral wealth of the northwest. Written by William Hunter Hampton for a mining banquet October 22, 1890. Two and a half pages long, written on Hampton's own company paper. Portland, OR, overall fair condition. Hampton was an assay agent for Oregon Washington, British Columbia, and Alaska for lixiviation of silver ores.
Thumbnail 2044 Deadwood,SD - Lawrence County - February 10, 1903 - Jackson, George S. United States Assay Office Le Start Price: 75.00High Bid: 50.00Estimate: 150.00 - 300.00 A letter from Deadwood, South Dakota dated February 10, 1903 addressed to Honorable E.W. Martin in Washington D.C. from George S. Jackson. The letter is written on custom George S. Jackson paper with a vignette of Deadwood in the upper left corner. The letter is in regards to changing of the Management at the US Assay office in Deadwood, South Dakota. The letter is signed by George S. Jackson. There is a small purple stamp on the top near the title dated February 14, 1903. Measures 8 1/2” x 11” and is in very good condition.
Thumbnail 2045 Tucson,AZ - Pima County - April 20, 1904 - Jacobs, E.A., Assayer, Handwritten Letter : Start Price: 75.00High Bid: 50.00Estimate: 150.00 - 350.00 This letter is written on company stationary and signed by E. A. Jacobs. It accompanied a certificate for samples submitted for assay and explains the rates charged by the assayer. It is on standard 8.5 x 11” paper and handwritten in black ink. The letterhead is printed in purple. Three small tears on top edge and creasing.
Thumbnail 2046 San Francisco,CA - March 22, 1859 - Justh & Hunter Assay Receipt San Francisco : Start Price: 1,000.00High Bid: 1,600.00Estimate: 2,000.00 - 4,000.00 Assay receipt from the assay offices of Justh & Hunter at San Francisco dated March 22, 1859. Signed on the bottom by Hardy and Kennedy and E. Smith. Gold Bullion was assayed by D.O. Mills. Full value of the gold bullion was an estimated $3,451.69 and weighed 197.55oz. The assay receipt is numbered 9148. Red writing and gold trim throughout. There are some minor page discolorations. Overall in fine condition. The reverse is dated March 22, 1859 as well. This is one of the very few assay receipts known from this firm, made famous today by their gold ingots found on the SS Central America.
Thumbnail 2047 San Francisco,CA - September 24, 1859 - Justh Assay Office and Gold and Silver Refinery : Start Price: 500.00High Bid: 750.00Estimate: 1,000.00 - 2,000.00 No. 1714 memorandum of gold bullion deposited by W.F. & Co. and C.T.H. Palmer. According to the assay report the weight of the bullion before melting was 106.88oz and 106.61oz after melting: a fineness rating of 894 and a full value of gold placed at $1940.21. Noted at bottom left: “Cont’d Iridium.” Iridium is a platinum-grouped metal, which does not occur naturally in California gold deposits. The only place in the world where platinum-grouped metals and gold are part of the same ore system is a large district in South Africa. The iridium in this bullion deposit is a direct result of a placer mining operation in California where certain parts of platinum-bearing ultramafic rocks transect the ore-rich California foothill belt. That is to say, in a few areas of California, placer miners found both placer gold and placer platinum while they were mining. Normally, this would indicate a placer gold product from the Northern California regions of the Trinity and Klamath River basins. Assay receipt is signed by E. Justh and S.M. Van Wyck on the bottom right. The E. Justh Company succeeded Justh & Hunter of SS Central America ingot fame. Very Fine Condition.
Thumbnail 2048 San Francisco,CA - Kellogg and Richter Memorandum of Gold Bullion Deposit : Start Price: 1,250.00High Bid: 2,750.00Estimate: 2,500.00 - 5,000.00 Receipt 355 for a J. Adams & Co. for an assayed sampled of gold dust valued at $1,245.19. Document measures 6” x 8.75” and is printed on blue paper. Rough right edge. Small hole in upper left corner. Extremely RARE & Very Fine. Kellogg & Richter assay documents are among the most desirable. They were in business from 1853-1854 and had an Assay Office in San Francisco. Kellogg & Richter are perhaps known best for their California gold coinage. Kellogg & Richter was comprised of John C. Kellogg and G.F. Richter. Kellogg arrived in San Francisco during the fall of 1849 and soon gained employment with the Assay Firm Moffat & Co. By 1853, Kellogg had formed a partnership with former San Francisco United States Assay Office employee G.F. Richter. The dynamic team established an assay office and shortly thereafter was already privately striking $20 gold pieces. During the years of 1849-1857, shortages of circulating coinage were commonplace in California. Factors included the sudden new wealth of miners, merchants, and entrepreneurs. The supply and demand would often fluctuate uncontrollably and prices for goods and services would often become excessively if not obscenely expensive. Gold was often used as an expedient medium of exchange.
Thumbnail 2049 San Francisco,CA - Kellogg & Humbert Gold Bullion Memorandums (3) : Start Price: 250.00Estimate: 500.00 - 1,000.00 Lot of three. 1) Issued Nov. 10, 1858 to H. Coghill & Co. for $4968. Coghill was a native to Virginia and became a respectable merchant and street jobber in San Francisco. 2) Issued Dec. 27, 1858 to Hotaling & Co. For $180. Anson P. Hotaling, born in New York in 1826 was an early San Francisco whiskey merchant. He erected the Hotaling Warehouse in 1866 to house his stock. The building still stands, surviving numerous earthquakes including 1906. 3) Issued Jan. 18, 1859 to W.C. Sleeper & Co. for $3507.43. Kellogg and Humbert's Assay Office was known for its high quality ingots. Roughly seventy of their bars were on the S.S. Central America when it sank in a hurricane on its way from Panama and New York. Two million dollars in bars and coinage was lost to the sinking in 1857 which caused financial woes at the time. The treasure would be recovered roughly a century later to find over 400 ingots from a variety of assayers. Kellogg and Humbert ingots were found to be the most numerous aboard. This along with the high quality of the coinage and ingots has fueled vast interest in this assay company and its products within numismatic and collector communities. X-Fine.
Thumbnail 2051 San Francisco,CA - November 2, 1858 - Kellogg & Humbert’s Assay Memorandum of Gold Bullion : Start Price: 250.00High Bid: 350.00Estimate: 500.00 - 750.00 Memorandum of Gold Bullion deposited by J.H. Coghill & Co. Weight before melting 275.00oz, after melting 267.27oz, Fineness .884, Net value after all fees and other costs $4,850.52. This is one of the earliest Kellog and Humbert forms known. It was issued about a year after the sinking of the S.S. Central America. Condition Fine to Very Fine with “pocket” folds and darker foxing on left side. R5
Thumbnail 2052 San Francisco,CA - July 5, 1859 - Kellogg & Humbert's Assay Office Memorandum of Gold Bullion Deposi Start Price: 125.00Estimate: 250.00 - 500.00 There are two types of Kellogg & Humbert’s receipts, 1) a plain form and 2) with a vignette in the left margin of their assay office located at 108 Montgomery St in San Francisco. This receipt falls in to the second category. Most of the Kellogg & Humbert receipts survive today because of the Hardy & Kennedy archive. There are about 100 Kellogg & Humbert receipts known in existence which include both varieties of those with and without vignettes. This receipt in particular was for a sample submitted by D.O. Mills Co. The sample weighed 114.22 ounces before melting and 110.64 after melting. The fineness was 889 and had value of $2023.15. It is signed on the left underneath the vignette by Hardy & Kennedy. On the right is the mark of D.O. Mills Company (bankers). The reverse side has an assay date of July 5, 1859. The right side is rough. There is a small tear on the top right, and several creases throughout.
Thumbnail 2053 San Francisco,CA - July 12, 1859 - Kellogg & Humbert’s Assay Memorandum of Gold Bullion : Start Price: 125.00High Bid: 275.00Estimate: 250.00 - 375.00 Memorandum of Gold Bullion deposited by D.O. Mills & Co. This receipt and the next two offered are all the same size and design, (measuring 10 ½ x 5” and printed in black ink on buff colored paper. Each of these receipts has a wonderful detailed vignette of the Kellogg & Humbert office building, 108 Montgomery St., pictured on the left. Lithography: Britton & Co S.F. Weight before melting 174.75oz, after melting 1171.58oz, Fineness .894, Net value $3148.96. There is a small ¾ tear on the right hand side along a fold and some typical foxing. There are two types of Kellogg & Humbert’s receipts, 1) a plain form and 2) with a vignette in the left margin of their assay office located at 108 Montgomery St in San Francisco. This receipt falls in to the first category: no vignette with columns and rows for bullion data entry. Most of the Kellogg & Humbert receipts survive today because of the Hardy & Kennedy archive. There are about 100 Kellogg & Humbert receipts known in existence which include both varieties of those with and without vignette. Fine to Very Fine
Thumbnail 2054 San Francisco,CA - May 3, 1862 - Kellogg, Hewston & Co. Assay receipt : Start Price: 150.00High Bid: 225.00Estimate: 300.00 - 500.00 Kellogg, Hewston & Co., for Refining, 416 Montgomery St. No. 1541 Memorandum of Gold Bullion deposited by Faulkner & Co. Weight before melting 130.30 oz, After melting 93.70 oz, Fineness .972, Net value $1,850.60 after costs. Below the recorded assay details is a hand written note concerning a $5 surcharge for processing the ingot; which could indicate Faulkner & Co. may have wanted to be paid immediately. At left is another note “More & McDaniel” who may be the parties who submitted the gold to Faulkner & Co. Faulkner & Co. were bankers in the Oroville area. They were eventually succeeded by the well known firm of Rideout, Smith & Co. in 1866. Kellogg, Hewston & Co were the successors to Kellogg, Humbert & Co. They occupied the same building. They were in turn succeeded in the San Francisco assaying and Refining Co. At the same location, with the same staff, all three companies used the same form bullion receipt which as a picture of the building at the left. Spots, folds, and light soiling.
Thumbnail 2055 Amador City,CA - Amador County - 1882-1902 - Keystone Consolidated Mining Co. Assay Receipts : Start Price: 75.00High Bid: 50.00Estimate: 150.00 - 300.00 Lot of three assay receipts. 1: Hand written receipt for assay services for Dec. 30, 1882 $175 (L.T. Lewis) Voucher #19 printed on reverse. Signed. Good condition with one fold. 2: Hand written receipt for services as clerk & assayer for December 1885. $175. Signed by Lewis. Signed by Hewitt. Voucher #21 printed on reverse. Good condition with one fold. 3:Typed receipt signed by EH Harrington. Stamped duplicate for Oct. 14, 1902. "For assaying, as Umpire, Voorheis sample of Lot $12 old mill August sulphurets, $5". Voucher #7 printed on reverse. Good Condition with one fold.
Thumbnail 2056 Virginia,NV - Storey County - August 24, 1865 - Kuh, Leopold Assay Office : Start Price: 750.00High Bid: 1,800.00Estimate: 1,500.00 - 3,000.00 Two item lot of Memorandum of deposited samples at Leopold Kuh, Assay Office in Virginia, Nevada dated August 24, 1865 and its corresponding envelope addressed to William A.M. Van Bokkelen. All samples from Kuh’s are in regards to gold and silver ore. Each deposit has a brief description and then proceeds to state its “marker” number, location, weight in ounces and value. Examples of ore samples markings are “West, Reddish, East, and Lumps. “ The fee for the assessment is listed on the bottom and tallies $20 for 4 $5 items. Signed adjacently by Leopold Kuh. Leopold Kuh was considered to be Chinese by those who were unfamiliar with his assay business up until the mid 20th because of the last name: Kuh. This came into play heavily when several of his gold ingot specimens’ authenticity and quality were called into question. Kuh however, was of Hungarian descent. According to one genealogy website Kuh is of an Austrian-Hungarian ancestry and a family name of Kantor originating in the Bohemia region of Europe. Envelope is orange with Leopold Kuh frank in the upper left corner. The memorandum paper is of good quality and condition. Both are Rare, Very Fine.
Thumbnail 2057 Austin,NV - Lander County - April 12, 1866 - Lundbom, David Assay Office Receipt : Start Price: 300.00High Bid: 425.00Estimate: 600.00 - 1,200.00 No. 1871. Report of a pulp sample from the Pistorine Mines. It was deposited by William Pardye- mining agent. There is an ornate vignette of a miner on the left. Signed on the obverse by David Lundbom. Green revenue stamp in the upper left corner. Dated on the obverse April 12, 1866. Printed by Francis Valentine & Co. San Francisco. Overall fine condition.
Thumbnail 2058 Austin,NV - Lander County - November 25, 1870 - Lundbom, David Assay Office Receipt : Start Price: 250.00High Bid: 200.00Estimate: 500.00 - 1,000.00 No. 7782. Specimen deposited for assay and assay results for a sample submitted by N.S. Gallagher. Total value of specimen estimated at $325.16. Vignette of Lady Liberty at left. No printer shown. There is no stamp and no charge. It has a very slim black border and is signed by David Lundbom and C.V. Netzer. Overall condition Fine to Very Fine.
Thumbnail 2059 Austin,NV - Lander County - August 28, 1874 - Lundbom, David Assay Office Receipt : Start Price: 250.00High Bid: 325.00Estimate: 500.00 - 1,000.00 No.8299. Specimen of pulp deposited by Mr. Julius Peterman signed by David Lundbom and D.J.Sydow. Allegorical vignette of two women doing agricultural work at left. Printed by the Alta California. Document stained with ink and taped on left edge. Total value for the assayed gold and silver pulps was $275.69. Otherwise in Good condition.
Thumbnail 2060 Eureka,NV - Eureka County - December 13 1871 - Lundbom, David Assay Office Receipt : Start Price: 250.00High Bid: 325.00Estimate: 500.00 - 1,000.00 No. 8546. This certificate is a natural succession to the other Lundbom certificates. By 1871 Lundbom's business was so popular that he and his partner D. J. Sydow created a second office in Eureka. Sydow continued to run the Austin Assay Office and Lundbom ran the Eureka office. This certificate is out of the Austin office for a sample deposited by William Bone. There is an allegorical vignette of lady liberty at left holding a scale and sword. The estimated value for submitted specimen was $109.96. This form is probably and high R7 or R8, Extremely Rare. Overall Condition is fine.
Thumbnail 2061 Moore's Flat,CA - Nevada County - Marks & Co. Receipt : Start Price: 150.00High Bid: 100.00Estimate: 300.00 - 500.00 This is a business card sized purchase receipt for gold dust “bought”. It does not include assay results. On the reverse is the name A. K. Canyon. The obverse is unused. Marks & Co. were typical gold-dust dealers and bankers at Moore's Flat, a gold rush community in Nevada County settled in 1851 or 1852. The gold there was found mainly in buried tertiary gravel channels. The company is thought to have been short lived. There may be less than five of these known, which makes this an R7
Thumbnail 2062 San Francisco,CA - 1849 - Mellus Howard & Co Gold Dust Shipment : Start Price: 1,250.00High Bid: 1,000.00Estimate: 2,500.00 - 5,000.00 Shipment receipt for "one box of gold dust" shipped by San Francisco merchant Mellus Howard & Co. on board steamer Panama consigned to Howland and Aspinwall and bound for Boston. The box reportedly contained six tins of gold dust weighing 1875 oz belonging to Mellus Howard & Co., a tin of 187.5 oz gold dust, a tin belonging to Susan Thompson weighing 62.5 oz., and eight ingots of gold valued at $402.16 belonging to Mellus Howard & Co. This important receipt illustrates the huge amount of gold that was mined in the gold fields during the very first part of the gold rush (1849). Shipping the gold east was a problem since the banks were not yet active in the express business at this time. Very few documents of this nature and age survived. Fine.
Thumbnail 2063 Georgetown,CO - Clear Creek County - March 23, 1888 - Miners Sampling Works : Start Price: 75.00High Bid: 50.00Estimate: 150.00 - 300.00 Bought of Pomeroy. Assayed specimen from the Baltimore Dump. Assayed at having 119 ounces of silver per ton. Valued at being $82.91 per ton with a royalty fee of 25%. Signed by agent C.L. Billings. Reverse blank. Georgetown is the site of hundreds of silver mines, active from the 1860s onward. Fine condition.
Thumbnail 2064 San Francisco,CA - 1860 - Molitor, S. & Co. Assay Receipts Start Price: 125.00Estimate: 250.00 - 350.00 Lot of 2. Assay results. Weight before melting 28.90 oz, after melting 28.85 oz, .935 fine, value of gold $557.61. Very Fine
Thumbnail 2065 San Francisco,CA - 1860/1861/1863 - Molitor, S. & Co. Assay Office : Start Price: 600.00High Bid: 1,300.00Estimate: 1,200.00 - 2,000.00 Lot of four: 1) S. Molitor & Co., 110 Montgomery Street, San Francisco, CA. May 31, 1860. No.1146: Bullion deposit and assay results signed S. Molitor & Co. Weight before melting 73.70 oz, after melting 73.48 oz, .880 fine, value of gold before charges and fees $1,336.68. Red ink on cream paper. 2) S. Molitor & Co., 418 Montgomery Street, San Francisco, CA July 5, 1861. No.1575: Bullion deposit with assay results. Weight before melting 86.94 oz, after melting 86.86 oz, .910 fine, value of gold $1,633.95. Purple ink on cream paper. From the John J. Ford, Jr. Collection. 3) S. Molitor & Co., 418 Montgomery Street, San Francisco, CA September 12, 1861. No.2405: Bullion deposit with assay results. Weight before melting 82.39 oz, after melting 82.35 oz, .907 fine, value of gold before charges and fees $1,542.13. There is a small darker reddish staining at the bottom edge and some light foxing. Deep purple ink on cream paper. 4) S. Molitor & Co., 418 Montgomery Street, San Francisco, CA., March 13, 1863. No.570: Bullion deposit and assay results. Weight before melting 62.81 oz, after melting 62.73 oz, .907 fine; value of gold $1,176.14. Purple ink on cream paper.
Thumbnail 2066 San Francisco,CA - March 11, 1863 - Molitor & Co. Assay Office : Start Price: 200.00Estimate: 400.00 - 800.00 418 Montgomery Street No. 540: Memorandum of Gold Bullion deposited and assay results; weight before melting 28.90 oz, after melting 28.85 oz, .935 fine, value of gold $557.61. A deposit made by “Palmer” in Folsom as a representative of Wells Fargo and Co. in the firm of Palmer and Day.
Thumbnail 2067 Cherokee,CA - Aug. 10, 1863 - Murphy, J. B. Gold Dust Merchant Receipt for Gold Dust Purchased : Start Price: 75.00High Bid: 160.00Estimate: 150.00 - 300.00 Issued to Mr. John Ryan for the balance of $10.72 in gold dust. Light blue paper "Gold Dust Bought. Quicksilver For Sale, by the Pound or Flask" in upper left corner. There were at least two towns named Cherokee in the California Gold Rush region. Cherokee was a gold camp in Butte County. A town was established there by 1850 or earlier. It was ten miles north of Oroville and was a fairly large town at the time this billhead was issued. Nevada County: Cherokee is on Shady Creek, three miles east of North San Juan. Recorded on Trask's map in 1853. Prospected by Cherokee Indians in 1850 and in 1852 the Grizzly Ditch bought water from Bloody Run and Grizzly Canyon. It was reported that companies could make $50 a day to the hand. Hutchings found it "a small dried up place with few people and those not far from broke". In 1861 it was called almost dead by the mining press, but listed by Bean as a sizeable town. The post office was established in 1855 and was named Patterson but most continued to dateline Cherokee. [Ref: Gudde, California Gold Camps, p. 68] Some light bleaching at left and heavy center crease. Otherwise Very Good condition
Thumbnail 2068 NV - 1886-1927 - Nevada Assay Collection : Start Price: 100.00High Bid: 100.00Estimate: 200.00 - 400.00 Lot of nine Nevada assay items. This is a nice selection of assay receipts including some from important mines. The items are as follows: 1) Assay receipt from the Laboratory Mexican Milling Company in Virginia City, NV dated March 22, 1927 for assorted samples. Unsigned. 2) Peerless Mining Company assay certificate no. 487 for $20 from January 11. 1886 and February 12, 1886. Received by T. R. Haffer. Signed by Secretary August Haferman. 3) Blank assay form from the “Eberhardt and Aurora Mining Company (limited) London”, located at the International Mill in Eberhardt, NV. Number 440. 4) Four assay receipts from the US Mint at San Francisco deposited by Donavan Reduction Works; they are numbered 1415, 856, 2248, 18670. All are signed by G, Graham except number 18670 which is signed “B” by B.H. Boone. All words and data are typed on 18670. 5) A blank assay certificate from the Buckhorn Mining Company. 5) 2 information cards in prices and services offered by the Mineral Assay Office, Inc. As a whole the lot is in good condition.
Thumbnail 2069 Austin,NV - Lander - 1867 - Nevada Assay Receipts : Start Price: 1,000.00High Bid: 1,600.00Estimate: 2,000.00 - 3,000.00 This handsomely framed item includes three revenue stamped receipts of specimens deposited for assay and assay results. These are three different varieties each with different signatures. Nicely framed and elegantly mounted with cream and beige matting. The overall frame measures approximately 14" wide by 21" tall. The certificates themselves have some slight discoloration but are in very fine condition. 1.)No. 3028 Assay office of D. Lundbom. September 17, 1867. Vignette of an allegorical women on the left and a miner on the bottom right. Signed by David Lundbom. Printed by Reveille. Lundbom's history places him into the world of private gold rush coiners in an important way. Born in Sweden in 1816, Lundbom came to California for the gold rush. He was the Assistant Assayer for Curtis, Perry and Ward at the U.S. Assay Office in San Francisco from 1853 to 1854. Then he was the Assayer for Kellogg & Co. until late 1855, when he went to work for Blake & Co. of Sacramento, according to Owens. Clearly, he was one of the men responsible for some of the wonderful early coinage made by those two pioneer coinage firms. By 1860, Lundbom had possibly moved to one of the smaller mining communities, since he is not found in the U.S. Census. He is not listed in the Nevada Territorial Directory of 1862, but as soon as the Reese River rush started in 1863 at Austin, Nevada, Lundbom went there and started the first (Pioneer) Assay Office, according to the Nevada 1863 Census. His business remained strong through at least 1870, and based on information from these certificates he had contracts with some of the largest mining companies in Austin. 2.)No. 2690 Assay office of Boalt & Stetefeldt. Oct. 21, 1867. Signed by Boalt & Stetefeldt. Vignette of a miner top center. Printed by Reveille. 3.) No.1130 Assay office of the First National Bank of Nevada, J.R. Murphy Assayer. Sept. 11, 1867. Vignette of Lady Liberty at left. Printed by Fairchild, Daily and Reveille. Signed by John R. Murphy
Thumbnail 2070 Eureka,NV - c1875-85 - Nevada Assayer's Bottle : Start Price: 60.00High Bid: 750.00Estimate: 120.00 - 200.00 Rare embossed light purple, 5" drug store bottle for W. H. Stowell "Druggest and Assayer". Stowell was a prominent Assayer and Druggest in Eureka, the heart of silver country in central Nevada. While he ran a drug store, he was also extremely active in the mining business and remained so his entire life. Stowell's business for a long time was the sole independent assay house in Eureka. In later years he moved to Spokane and continued his business there until he died. Mint with minor stain on the back side. This is the only US embossed bottle from an assay office.
Thumbnail 2071 Eureka,NV - Dec. 22, 1883 - Nevada Silver Camp Assay : Start Price: 125.00High Bid: 100.00Estimate: 250.00 - 700.00 The Richmond Mining Co was one of two major silver mines in Eureka, and one of the largest silver producers of its time. Lot of 4. 1) Issued for gold and silver totaling $101.21. Signed by assayer C. S. Batchelder. 2) Issued Aug. 31, 1883 for gold, silver, and lead. Signed by Batchelder. 3) Issued Sept. 13, 1883 for "Richmond Ore for the Month of August 1883". Signed by Batchelder. 4) Issued Jan. 2, 1884 for $79.49 in gold and silver. Ornate capitals in header. 11.5" x 5.5". Fine.
Thumbnail 2072 Virginia City,NV - Storey County - January 20, 1894 - Occidental Consolidated Assay Office : Start Price: 75.00High Bid: 75.00Estimate: 150.00 - 300.00 Memorandum of gold and silver ore assay, deposited by R. Keating from Savage Battery, signed by Alan Kinkead. The Occidental is the key mine on the Occidental Lode, which was a huge producer in the 1870’s from rich near-surface ores in a very wide quartz vein. Very little mining took place after 1900. This form is very rare, probably. Overall Fine condition.
Thumbnail 2073 Virginia City,NV - Storey county - January 16, 1894 - Occidental Consolidated Assay Office : Start Price: 125.00High Bid: 75.00Estimate: 250.00 - 500.00 Gold sample came from the stamp battery in the mine, deposited by R. Keating. The gold value is $3.10 and the silver value is $10.34. The memorandum is signed by Allan Kinkead. The upper right corner of the document is torn off. The Occidental was the key mine on the Occidental Lode, which was a huge producer in the 1870s from rich near-surface ores in a very wide quartz vein. The Occidental Lode is parallel to and part of the Comstock Lode, located about 1 mile east of the Comstock.
Thumbnail 2074 Nevada City,CA - Nevada County - c1860 - Ott Assay Office (Sheet of two) Receipt : Start Price: 75.00Estimate: 150.00 - 300.00 Ott is perhaps best known as one of the first assay offices to assay Comstock ore in June, 1859. On a special day in June, 1859, when word got out of the high grade assays a virtual stampede of miners left Nevada City and Grass Valley for the Comstock. The assay office remained intact until a few decades ago when it was purchased by an advanced Gold Rush collector. Most of its contents are now in the Oakland museum [HK, 2008]. Unissued receipt for gold dust for assay. Uncirculated.
Thumbnail 2075 Virginia,NV - Storey County - January 17, 1878 - Pacific Mill and Mining Company Memorandum of Bulli Start Price: 75.00High Bid: 60.00Estimate: 150.00 - 300.00 Was found by John Mackay and James G. Fair to process Comstock ores. Bars 391, 392 and 393 were assayed weighing a combined total of 5093.7 ounces valuing a combined total of $5,815.47. It is signed by Henry G. Elder. The right edge is rough. Considerable piece of the paper is missing and is ensconced by page discoloration. Overall Fair to Poor condition.
Thumbnail 2076 Folsom,CA - April 9, 1861 - Palmer & Day Assay Office : Start Price: 50.00High Bid: 80.00Estimate: 100.00 - 200.00 Receipt number 3513 for materials received from Conrad Loucke. Signed by Palmer & Day. Printed by Towne & Bacon, Printers, San Francisco, CA. Allegorical vignette of lady liberty on the left. Red discoloration on the top. Rough edges. Overall fair condition. Palmer and Day were California Assayers. The pair began in Folsom in 1860 where palmer established an assay office and Wells Fargo Express office. In 1862 the pair expanded their business by opening an office in Gold Hill, Nevada. The Gold Hill office did not last long and was sold less than a year later. Charles Theodore Hart Palmer established the first school in Sacramento in 1849. In 1860 he made preparations for the Carson Valley Expedition that went to defend the honor the Indian massacre near Pyramid Lake. Roger Sherman Day was the son of Sherman Day, who was a prominent 49er and mining man. Sherman Day was an engineer at New Alamaden Mines and Folsom, among other places. In 1855 he wrote a treatise on the wagon roads that crossed California. In all likelihood, Sherman Day was C.T.H. Palmer’s real business partner, and Palmer hired his son through family loyalty to assist him learning the business trade. Checks from the Palmer and Day in Folsom are scarce; anything from Gold Hill are very rare. Assay receipts from either location are R7, extremely rare.
Thumbnail 2077 San Francisco,CA - September 5, 1881 - Price, Thomas Assayer : Start Price: 250.00High Bid: 350.00Estimate: 500.00 - 600.00 Memorandum of Gold Bullion deposited by Wells Fargo & Co. Receipt totaling $1490.12. From a gold ingot weighing 76.96 ounces of high fineness, 9395 fine gold. Printed with black ink on white paper by Britton & Rey, San Francisco Heavy creasing in center with slight tearing on both ends of crease.
Thumbnail 2078 San Francisco,CA - September 15, 1884 - Price, Thomas Assayer : Start Price: 200.00Estimate: 400.00 - 600.00 Memorandum of Bullion Deposited by Wheeler and Roger's. Receipt totaling $2196.88. Printed with black ink on white paper by Britton & Rey, San Francisco. This receipt is for 112.85 ounces of gold amalgam. The rarity rating for this form is an R6, roughly ten to twenty pieces known. There is some creasing but the piece is in otherwise Extremely Fine condition.
Thumbnail 2079 San Francisco,CA - October 14, 1886 - Price, Thomas Assayer : Start Price: 225.00Estimate: 450.00 - 650.00 Memorandum of bullion deposited by Thomas Bell & Co. to Thomas Price, Analytical Chemist, Assay and Bullion Melter, at his office at 524 Sacramento Street. The sample is 161 ounces with a value of $1372.67. Printed by Britton & Rey. The handwritten word “Corrected” is written in red ink across the bottom left corner. Fine
Thumbnail 2080 Prairie City,OR - Grant County - July 20, 1892 - Reedy, J.R. Assay Office Receipt : Start Price: 50.00High Bid: 50.00Estimate: 100.00 - 300.00 The specimens submitted by McFarlane & Co and Geo E. Robinson & Co were from Prairie City. It was incorporated as an official town by Oregon Legislature in 1891. According to Oregon Geographical Names 4th Edition (McArthur A, Lewis) Prairie City was first established as a community by postman Jules Le Bret in 1870, although it was commonly used to refer to the community rather than a specific town name. The receipt has some small oval holes in the top adjacent to the title, in addition to a small 1/4” rip atop and center. There are statistics for the ounces in gold and silver in addition to full values and detailed descriptions with facts and figures. Signed by assayer J.R. Reedy. Fair condition.
Thumbnail 2081 Okanogan County,WA - June 20, 1892 - Reedy, J.R. Assay Office Receipt : Start Price: 75.00Estimate: 150.00 - 300.00 The specimens submitted by Messu, Cohwerd & Western were from the Okanogan County in Washington State. There is date present for three samples submitted. A note from J.R. Reedy reads that "This sample unintentionally made twice as fine as other samples." Assay receipt signed by J.R. Reedy on the bottom right corner. There are two small holes in the top of the center and one small 1/4" rip on the very top; reminicent of being pulled out of a text book or notebook of sorts. Measures 8.5" x 5.5". Good to Fair condition.
Thumbnail 2083 Weaverville,CA - Trinity County - December 31, 1853 - Rhodes & Lusk's Check : Start Price: 375.00High Bid: 300.00Estimate: 750.00 - 1,500.00 No 308. It cleared January 1, 1854, which is written across the center. The check was made payable to Wary Bill for $123.54. It is signed by assayer F.W. Blake. Check measures 7 1/2” x 4 1/4” and is black text on blue paper with a small vignette on the left side. The reverse is blank. Many ingots are known to be from F.W. Blake. Overall very good condition.
Thumbnail 2084 San Francisco,CA - January 3, 1866 - Riehn, Hemme & Co., Assay Receipt : Start Price: 1,250.00High Bid: 1,000.00Estimate: 2,500.00 - 3,500.00 Charles F. Riehn got his start as an assayer in San Francisco in 1863 when he formed a partnership with August Hemme and opened an assay office on Montgomery Street right in the middle of the mining business district, directly sacross the street frtom Wells Fargo & Co.'s Bank and Express office. Prominent Gold Rush assayers Henry Hentsch and Francis Burton also had an office in the same building. Charles Sutro, Adolph's brother ran a gold dust and bullion brokerage business located imediately across the street from Riehn and Hemme. The business lasted through about 1881, though not much ephemera from this firm survived. Riehn had a start working in the Branch Mint in San Francisco as a fireman. This receipt is for gold bullion bar deposited by Wells Fargo and Company. The piece is signed by Palmer, perhaps indicating that the bar went through C.T.H. Palmer’s bank at Folsom. Not trimmed.
Thumbnail 2085 San Francisco,CA - January 11, 1867 - Riehn, Hemme & Co., Assay Receipt : Start Price: 1,250.00High Bid: 1,600.00Estimate: 2,500.00 - 3,500.00 Memorandum of Gold Bullion deposited by C.T.H. Palmer. Receipt totaling $2005.55. There is some creasing and slight discoloration at the center, but otherwise it is in Fine condition. From the John J. Ford, Jr. Collection. For more information on Riehn & Hemme see the other Riehn, Hemme receipt. Very rare.
Thumbnail 2086 San Francisco,CA - March 29, 1863 - Riehn, Hemme Start Price: 125.00High Bid: 1,000.00Estimate: 250.00 - 350.00 Memorandum of Gold Bullion Deposited by C.T.H. Palmer. Receipt totaling $11.43. There is some creasing, but otherwise this piece is in Fine condition. This assay office bullion receipt is Extremely Rare, R7, perhaps one of six known, none of which are signed by Reihne & Hemme. This particular receipt is for a gold bullion bar deposited by Banker, C.T.H. Palmer of Folsom, CA. Palmer handled much of the placer gold produced from the region around Folsom including famous locals such as the Mormon Bar. This assay receipt is for a gold ingot weighing 133.70 oz with a fineness of .903 valued at $2496.16. it is dated 3/29/1867. The receipt itself has been trimmed. It is printed in bright red ink, an unusual attribute, by Sterett and Cubery Printers of San Francisco At present there are only three Reihne, Hemme & Company precious metals ingots known to us. From the John J. Ford, Jr. Collection.
Thumbnail 2087 San Francisco,CA - August 12,1869 - Rogers, Geo. E. Assay Office Receipt : Start Price: 225.00Estimate: 450.00 - 600.00 In 1866 George Rogers took over G.W. Bell's Assay Office. Bell had started with Wells Fargo in San Francisco in about 1854 and opened an assay office during 1859 there. In the ensuing years after Rogers took over, he went through a series of different partners. The business lasted at least through 1871 [REF: HK, 2008]. Memorandum of Gold Bullion Deposited by Millikin Bros. R-6. Slight browning on fold creases.
Thumbnail 2088 San Francisco,CA - July 15, 1868 - Rogers, Geo. R Assay Office, Memorandum of Gold Bullion : Start Price: 175.00High Bid: 325.00Estimate: 350.00 - 450.00 Deposited by Hobart, Dunbar & Co. Receipt shows “Quartz in the gold”. Printed by Edward Bosqui & Co., San Francisco. Very Fine.
Thumbnail 2089 Virginia,NV - Storey County - September 9, 1869 September 9, 1869 - Ruhling & Co. Assay Office Memor Start Price: 500.00High Bid: 1,000.00Estimate: 1,000.00 - 2,000.00 Memorandum of Gold and Silver Bullion number 8853 deposited by Summit Mill. A Nevada 5c revenue stamp is at the top left and the bottom is signed by E. Ruhling & Co. The receipt has a total of $384.91 and $1.10 in fees. The Condition is very good with some slight creases. E. Ruhling was an assayer and banker in San Francisco, CA & Virginia City, Hold Hill and Hamilton, Nevada. Ruhling was born in Hamburg, Germany and began to establish himself in San Francisco around 1858. By 1861, Ruhling was working and residing in Nevada. His business partner in 1862 was H.V.S. McCullough in the firm of Ed Ruhling & Co Bankers and Assayers in Virginia, Nevada Territory. In 1869, Ruhling operated an assay office at the new silver mining camp of Hamilton in eastern Nevada. Ruhling’s business was bought out by McCullough in March, 1871. The Ruhling Assay Office was given the order for making the last (gold) spike for the transcontinental railroad- the original is located at Stanford University.
Thumbnail 2090 Virginia City,NV - Storey County - October 28, 1864 - Ruhling & Company Assay Office : Start Price: 1,000.00Estimate: 2,000.00 - 4,000.00 Memorandum of gold & silver bullion deposited for assay by the Summit Mill. Receipt #8957, for a total value of $2832.16.
Thumbnail 2091 Virginia City,NV - Storey County - September 16, 1869 - Ruhling & Company Memorandum of Gold and Sil Start Price: 1,000.00High Bid: 1,100.00Estimate: 2,000.00 - 4,000.00 Deposited by Summit Mill. Revenue stamp at top left, signed by E. Ruhling & Co. Receipt totaling $251.28 and $3.17 in fees. Extremely Fine with creases.
Thumbnail 2092 Virgnia City,NV - Storey County - October 2, 1868 - Ruhling & Company, Bank of California Check : Start Price: 100.00High Bid: 80.00Estimate: 200.00 - 400.00 Check from the Agency of the Bank of California dated October 2, 1868 payable to assayer E. Ruhling & Co for $160. This Bank of California check is signed by Tahoe lumber magnate W.S. Hobart. There are two adhesive revenue stamps at the left both bearing Ruhling & Co’s printed cancellation. E. Ruhling was an assayer and banker in San Francisco, CA & Virginia City, Hold Hill and Hamilton, Nevada. Ruhling was born in Hamburg, Germany and began to establish himself in San Francisco around 1858. By 1861, Ruhling was working and residing in Nevada. His business partner in 1862 was H.V.S. McCullough in the firm of Ed Ruhling & Co Bankers and Assayers in Virginia, Nevada Territory. In 1869, Ruhling operated an assay office at the new silver mining camp of Hamilton in eastern Nevada. Ruhling’s business was bought out by McCullough in March, 1871. The Ruhling Assay Office was given the order for making the last (gold) spike for the transcontinental railroad- the original is located at Stanford University. The Bank of California was established by William Chapman Ralston on July 4, 1864 and was the first commercial bank of the western United States. After a brief closure in 1875 it was reopened and merged with the Union Bank to form the Union Bank of California in 1997. Overall extremely fine condition.
Thumbnail 2093 Sacramento,CA - c1850s - Sacramento Assay Hoard : Start Price: 50.00High Bid: 130.00Estimate: 100.00 - 200.00 Certified by NGC, 1.5 grams gold dust.
Thumbnail 2094 San Francisco,CA - June 13, 1868 - San Francisco Assaying & Refining Works Memorandum : Start Price: 125.00High Bid: 150.00Estimate: 250.00 - 500.00 No. 4129 and submitted by Muller & Brentano. The weight before melting was 260.03 ounces and after melting 249.05 ounces. It had a fineness of 858 1/2. There is no signature. Measures 12” x 5 1/2”, has several creases and is in good condition. San Francisco Assaying and Refining Works was an important company that was the successor to a long line of important assayers operating in the same assay house or business. It succeeded Kellogg, Hewston & Co, who in turn succeeded Kellogg & Humbert, who succeed Kellogg & Richter etc. The vignette on this assay receipt is identical to the one shown on the Kellogg & Hewston and Kellogg & Humbert receipts. The forms they are printed on are by Lith Britton & Rey in San Francisco.
Thumbnail 2095 San Francisco,CA - June 27, 1874 - San Francisco Assaying and Refining Works : Start Price: 100.00High Bid: 100.00Estimate: 200.00 - 400.00 San Francisco Assaying and Refining Works, San Francisco, CA. June 27, 1874 No. 9232: Deposited by F. Daneri & Co. Daneri was probably a merchant in Shasta, although there is a liquor merchant in San Francisco with the same name. This receipt is for a gold ingot just under 50 oz totaling $902.66. Vignette on left of assayer’s building at 416 Montgomery Street in San Francisco. Reverse contains mathematical computations in pencil, likely where clerk figures the commissions, etc. There is some slight creasing. From the John J. Ford, Jr. Collection.
Thumbnail 2096 San Francisco,CA - February 9, 1869 - San Francisco Assaying and Refining Works : Start Price: 100.00High Bid: 140.00Estimate: 200.00 - 400.00 No.8860 Memorandum of Gold Bullion Deposited by Kruse & Euler, and C.C. Bush & Co. Shasta, California. Weight before melting: 34.60 oz. Weight after melting: 33.25 oz. Fineness: .891 ½. Value of gold: $612.76. Vignette on left of assayer’s building at 416 Montgomery Street in San Francisco. Shasta was the central gold rush community for the northern gold mines. Located north of Redding in central California, the community was the focal point for gold mines in Trinity, Klamath, Shasta, Siskiyou, and other neighboring counties. At one time it was considered for the state capital and was also under consideration for the transcontinental railroad route. Stains along bottom.
Thumbnail 2097 San Francisco,CA - February 9, 1899 - Selby Smelting & Lead Co. : Start Price: 50.00Estimate: 100.00 - 150.00 Selby Smelting & Lead Co. San Francisco, CA February 9, 1899 No. 6941: Memorandum of Gold Bullion Deposited by A. Mierson, Placerville. Weight of gold after melting, 141.05 oz. Net value of memorandum is $1783.31. Has a very small tear in upper right corner. Stamped "duplicate" in purple ink upper left corner. The Selby Smelting Company was organized in 1865 by Thomas H. Selby and Peter Naylor of New York. The lead produced here was used at the Selby Shot Tower in San Francisco. In 1879 the company purchased the property and business of the Pacific Refinery and Bullion Exchange. They refined gold, silver, and lead, and became the only private refinery on the west coast. [http://www.oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/tf7h4nb206/] There are also several documents signed by Thomas Selby found in other areas of this catalog.
Thumbnail 2098 Virginia City,NV - Storey County - Jan. 13, 1866 - Theall & Company Memorandum : Start Price: 350.00High Bid: 1,200.00Estimate: 700.00 - 1,500.00 Duplicate for silver and gold bullion deposited from the Savage Mine (Pacific Mill) for assay. $29.09. This memorandum is from early in the Comstock era. Header in blue with fancy titling. Towne & Bacon, Printers, San Francisco. 12" x 5.25". Theall & Company were classic Comstock era assayers, who branched out to many of the Nevada silver mining camps as news of their discoveries were announced to the public. H. W. Theall, born in New York in 1827, bought E. Justh’s assaying business in Marysville in 1859. At the time, his competition was the well known gold rush assaying firm of Harris & Marchand, who later sold out to David Knight in 1863. Theall may have investigated the mining rushes at Unionville in 1861, Aurora in 1861-2, and Reese River in 1863. His contemporaries in Marysville certainly did, as Knight went from silver camp to silver camp, establishing assay offices in some, and working in others. Regardless, Theall had set up an assaying business in Virginia City, Nevada Territory by late 1862 or early 1863 at the corner of C and Taylor streets, right in the center of town. About this time, Theall may have opened a satellite assay office in Austin, the center of the then booming silver camps of the Reese River Region. During this booming period of the early 1860’s, Theall lived in Virginia City, while his Marysville office was leased or managed by another person. His Austin office was later managed by A. Soderling, a well known assayer in Nevada mining camps, who later worked in such places as Bodie and Treasure Hill. Theall’s business was so important to the financial infrastructure of the Comstock and Austin, that he took on as partners the bankers Paxton & Thornburgh, who were the major bankers in Austin and to a much lesser degree on the Comstock. When the White Pine rush attracted thousands of miners and businessmen to this remote eastern Nevada mining region in 1868, Theall was among them. He set up an assay office there, but sadly perished in May of 1869 from an unknown illness at the age of 42.
Thumbnail 2099 Tonopah,NV - Nye County - c1910 - Tonopah Assay Reports/Certificates : Start Price: 75.00High Bid: 45.00Estimate: 150.00 - 300.00 Lot of eight. Two light blue full page documents. Five Assay Certificates, and one Daily Assay Report all beige in color and in landscape format. All are used and endorsed at the bottom but illegible. All are in good condition with slight yellowing along the edges. According to the Hagley Museum and Library, the Tonopah Mining Company of Nevada organized the Esmeralda Power Company in 1907 to run a steam plant to generate electricity and steam to operate the Tonopah mine and the Desert Power and Mill Company. In January 1942, the Esmeralda Power Co.merged with The Tonopah Mining Company of Nevada.
Thumbnail 2100 Portland,OR - Multnomah County - November 24, 1862 - Tracy & King Receipt : Start Price: 1,500.00High Bid: 1,900.00Estimate: 3,000.00 - 6,000.00 This is an R8 with two known. Both came from the Corbett & Failing Archive. This firm is the predecessor of the Portland, Oregon Wells Fargo Assay Office. Fine with dark burn stains on reverse and center crease.
Thumbnail 2101 New York,NY - New York County - October 10, 1878 - United States Assay Office at New York : Start Price: 500.00High Bid: 400.00Estimate: 1,000.00 - 2,000.00 Memorandum of Gold Bullion, number 1613 C, submitted by Clark Dodge Company (not to be confused with Clark Dodge Co Asset Management in White Plains, NY). The description of the bullion states that it originated from the US Assay Office at Helena, MT (1874-1933). The weight before melting: 2099.90oz, weight after melting: 2084.00oz, fineness of silver: 965, value of silver at $1.16: $2599.94, fineness of gold: 8, value of gold parted from silver: $344.64, deductions: $24.90, and a net value: $2919.68. The assay receipt is signed by Chief Clerk Joseph M Floyd. According to Trow’s New York Directory 1860 Joseph M Floyd Chief Clerk was located on Wall Street, The New York Assay Office Location. Furthermore, there are some statistics on the bottom right: “In silver bars, $2595.92, gold coins, $323.76.” Also, the U.S. Assay Office at New York was established by the Act of March 3, 1853. It opened in 1854. It closed on December 31, 1982. Document measures 5 ¼” x 10 ½”. It is in double matte under glass and in a brown plastic mottled frame. Very Fine condition.
Thumbnail 2102 Salt Lake City,UT - Salt Lake County - 1889, 1908, 1876 - Utah Mining and Assay Group : Start Price: 100.00High Bid: 50.00Estimate: 200.00 - 500.00 Lot of three Salt Lake City Utah assay receipts. First is a receipt numbered 584 from the Utah Sampling Mill dated October 14, 1876 for a sample submitted by J.B. Weader of 243 sacks of placer ore weighing 20,325 lbs. It is signed by assayer J.C. Conklin. Next, a receipt for an assay for a sample submitted by the Mazuma Hills Mining Company on May 8 ,1908 when there was a mining boom in that region of Nevada. Mazuma Hills Mining Company sent their samples to the American Smelting and Refining Company. The average grade for the samples was about 10.7 ounces per ton for gold and 6.5 ounces per ton for silver. Last, is a certificate of assay of ore for Charles Reed at the Assay Office of J. McVicker dated May 6, 1889. There are four samples ranging from 510-19 ounces of silver per ton and between 1-4 ounces of gold per ton. Signed by John McVicker. Good Condition.
Thumbnail 2103 Angels Camp,CA - Calaveras County - April 4, 1899 - Utica Mining Company Memorandum of Gold Bullion Start Price: 75.00Estimate: 150.00 - 300.00 There are four bars listed. On the reciept, the bars are listed as “Utica #1, S[ticklr] #2, Gold Cliff #3, and S[ulphurts] #4.” The total value for the gold bars assayed totaled $70,341.21. The primary substance was gold with slight traces of silver. Angels Camp was "founded in 1848 and named for Henry Angel, who had established a trading post here. Rich surface ores were mined in the oxidized zones in the 1850s, and most of the important veins were discovered at that time. By 1885 Angels Camp had become one of the major gold-mining districts in the state. The Utica Mining Company was organized in the middle 1850s, and for the next 40 years the Utica mine was a major source of gold. From 1893 to 1895 this mine yielded more than $4 million worth of gold" (Ref: museumca.org/gold rush/dist-angelscamp). Damage is thorough; creases are present throughout, there are several missing pieces of paper on the top and the bottom in addition to several places exhibiting qualities of a burn mark. Two “hole-punch” marks are on the far left. Generally in Poor to Fair condition.
Thumbnail 2104 Virginia City,NV - Storey County - 1864 - Van Wyck & Company Assay Office Deposit : Start Price: 50.00Estimate: 100.00 - 150.00 Bullion deposit for 1157 oz for smelting and assaying by Savage Mining Company. Signed by Van Wyck & Co. Piece torn from lower left corner, and one hole in margin. Otherwise Good condition
Thumbnail 2105 Virginia City,NV - Storey County - May 29, 1865 - Van Wyck & Co Assay Receipts : Start Price: 150.00High Bid: 100.00Estimate: 300.00 - 500.00 Lot of two. First is a memorandum of Assay of Bullion number 2460 & 61 deposited at the Assay Office of Van Wyck & Co by the Savage Mining company May 29, 1865. It measures 13 1/2” x 5”. Specimens 2460 and 2461 had a combined weight before melting of 488.40 ounces and 486.25 after melting and were valued at $651.96. It is unsigned and has a blank reverse. Second, a receipt of deposit of bullion. This receipt indicated that Savage Mining Company deposited “Eleven Hundred and Fifty-Seven ounces of bullion for smelting and assaying.” There is Van Wyck frank on the left side and it is singed on the bottom right by Van Wyck & Co. There is missing bottom left corner. Both items are in good condition. Sidney Van Wyck was a native of Baltimore born in 1830. As a young man he travelled to San Francisco and began work in a gold refinery. Van Wyck moved to Esmeralda County, NV where set up possibly the first assaying firm there. Van Wyck was the principal in the firm Van Wyck and Winchester, which later became Van Wyck and Sanchez. By 1864, he had moved to Virginia City where he set up another assay office. The next year Van Wyck and Sanchez set up an office in Gold Hill. The Virginia City office was shortly closed and all efforts were focused on the Gold Hill office. Around 1867, Van Wyck and Sanchez sold the Gold Hill office, relocated to San Francisco and embarked when news of the Hamilton Silver Rush. Van Wyck resided in Hamilton for several years. In 1873 Van Wyck moved back to San Francisco yet again where he worked as an accountant and then as bullion clerk for the Nevada Bank of San Francisco. However, after 4 years he returned to the assay business. He died April 27, 1887.
Thumbnail 2106 San Francisco,CA - 1860 - Wells Fargo / E. Justh Company Receipt Start Price: 1,250.00Estimate: 2,500.00 - 3,500.00 Weight before melting: 67.96 oz. After melting: 67.84 oz. Fineness: .904. Full Value of Gold: $1,267.74. Clippings: .05 DEC. .93 Cts., Net after all fees and costs $1,257.90. Note: “Cont’d Iridium” at bottom left and “It is impossible to sell to day better than 840.” No assayers signature. In this case, Wells Fargo must have recurred a deposit in gold and holt it melted by a contract assayer, since then San Francisco Office did not have an assay Department. Very light folds – extra nice condition
Thumbnail 2107 San Francisco,CA - c1860 - Wells Fargo & Co. Gold Dust Card : Start Price: 150.00High Bid: 425.00Estimate: 300.00 - 500.00 Orange card approximately 2" x 3.25". Unused for Gold Dust Shipment. Very Rare. Extremely Fine.
Thumbnail 2108 San Francisco,CA - 1866 - Wells Fargo & Co. Recommendation to Use San Francisco Assaying and Refinin Start Price: 375.00High Bid: 800.00Estimate: 750.00 - 1,500.00 Extremely rare hand bill soliciting business for the Assay Office of San Francisco Assaying and Refining Work, the successor of Kellogg, Hewston & Co. This is the only one of these Fred has seen in 30 years. Extremely Fine.
Thumbnail 2109 Tonopah,NV - Nye County - c1910 - Western Ore Purchasing Co. Assay Certificate : Start Price: 75.00High Bid: 50.00Estimate: 150.00 - 300.00 Lot of four. Tonopah plant certificates. Documents show weight and condition. All four are initialed at the bottom "F.M.C.". The rest of the information is stamped on, not written. Beige half page paper with blue ink. Good condition, few brown stains near the top, and fading on two.
Thumbnail 2110 San Francisco,CA - 1883 - Wheeler Start Price: 125.00High Bid: 200.00Estimate: 250.00 - 500.00 Memorandum of Gold Bullion Deposited by Wheeler & Rogers. Receipt for a gold ingot weighing 147.75 ounces .948 fine gold. Printed with black ink on white paper by Britton & Rey, San Francisco. There are chips along the upper left and lower right edges.
Thumbnail 2111 Gold Hill,CO - May 19, 1873 - White Rock Lode Assay Receipt : Start Price: 300.00High Bid: 200.00Estimate: 600.00 - 1,200.00 No. 130 issued for 3.49 oz. Gold, 11.66 oz. Silver: $87.41. Signed J.Shirman & Davis. White Rock Lode. 1873 marked a year of great prospecting in Boulder County. Gold Hill was one of the sites specifically mentioned by Raymond in 1874, and has a significant grid producer. Gold Hill is credited as the discovery sight of the element Telluriun. The ores represented on this sheet constitute truly high grade rock, all of which came from the White Rock Lode at Gold Hill, owned by Lougdon and Willis. In each case the word “Branch” has been crossed out because in 1873 the Federal Government passed the Coinage Act of 1873 granting full Mint status to the Branch Mints.
Thumbnail 2112 Randsburg,CA - Kern - Feb 8, 1918 - Yellow Aster Mining & Milling Co. Assay Reports : Start Price: 175.00High Bid: 100.00Estimate: 350.00 - 600.00 Lot of 10. 1) Issued. Signed by assayer J.B. Stocks. Value of gold ounces per ton. 2) Issued Feb 6, 1918. Signed Stocks. 3) Issued Feb 5, 1918. Signed Stocks. 4) Issued Feb 4, 1918. Signed Stocks. 5) Issued Mar 5, 1918. Signed by assayer W.H. McCombs. 6) Issued Apr 12, 1918. Signed McCombs. 7) Issued Apr 10, 1918. Signed McCombs. 8) Issued Apr 6, 1918. Signed McCombs. 9) Issued Apr 14, 1918. Signed McCombs. 10) Issued Apr 7, 1918. Signed McCombs. Yellow Aster was easily the largest and richest of the southern California gold mines. The company was managed by John Singleton, though the business aspects were managed by a woman, Mrs. Rose Burcham, who ruled the company’s finances with a steel fist. She was so successful that she upset all the competitors because she would not cut friendly deals for stock and made the original founders millions. These sheets show how and why this one deposit went to open status. It is of low grade quality.
Thumbnail 2113 San Francisco,CA - 1851 - Adams & Co. Second of Exchange : Start Price: 250.00High Bid: 200.00Estimate: 500.00 - 700.00 Second of Exchange written from the Adams & Co. Express Office, datelined San Francisco on March 4, 1851. No. 4041, payable five days after sight to Thomas H. Parker for $500. Unique vignette at center top shows an ocean-going steamship flying five flags as the centerpiece, flanked by sailing ships on either side. The vignette printed vertically along the left border lists the addresses of other main offices: Adams & Co. Boston, 9 Court St.; N. York, 16 Wall St.; Phila., 80 Chestnut St.; and Baltimore, 162 Balte St. Signed by Adams & Co., with Boston, MA listed on the city line where the exchange was to be sent. No listing noted for T.H. Parker in Bancroft's History of California or Trow's New York Directory. Printers: Toppan, Carpenter & Co., New York & Philadelphia. Printed on white paper with several foldlines visible. Ultra rare piece. Type I, Variety I.
Thumbnail 2114 San Francisco,CA - c1850 - Adams & Co. Second of Exchange : Start Price: 75.00Estimate: 150.00 - 300.00 Second of Exchange written from the Adams & Co. Express Office, San Francisco, with no date listed. No. 539, with no amount listed. Payable to Hunter & Co., signed by Freeman & Co., with Freeman lined-out. Hunter & Co. endorsement written on the reverse also lined-out, which appears to have resulted in a tear in the paper. Appears to be a voided document, never completely filled out. Vignettes include miners with sluice box at top center, three allegorical women at center left, and the Seal of California at bottom center. The seal was designed by Major R. S. Garnett of the U.S. Army and adopted at the Constitutional Convention of 1849, prior to California becoming a state in June, 1850 (netstate.com/states/symb/seals/ca). Printers: Toppan, Carpenter, Casilear & Co., New York & Philadelphia. Freeman & Co. was a Northern California based express office used initially by Adams & Co. for its routes outside of the San Francisco-Stockton-Sacramento corridors which Adams operated itself. Adams & Co. later absorbed Freeman & Co [Bancroft, Vol. VII, p. 150 ]. C.E. Hunter & Co. was a general merchandise operation located along Jackson St. in San Francisco [Bancroft, Vol. VI, p. 175]. Printed on white paper, very good condition. Type II, Variety IIA.
Thumbnail 2115 San Francisco,CA - 1852 - Adams & Co. Second of Exchange : Start Price: 50.00High Bid: 225.00Estimate: 100.00 - 300.00 Second of Exchange written from the Adams & Co. Express Office, datelined San Francisco, January 12, 1852. No. 11088, payable after three days to Wm. Eaton for $110. Signed by Adams & Co., its destination was the Boston office. Vignettes include miners with sluice box at top center, three allegorical women at center left, and the Seal of California at bottom center. Printers: Toppan, Carpenter, Casilear & Co., New York & Philadelphia. No listing in Bancroft for William Eaton. Printed on white/oyster paper with several foldlines noted, otherwise very fine. Type II, Variety IA.
Thumbnail 2116 San Francisco,CA - c1850 - Adams & Co. Second of Exchange : Start Price: 75.00High Bid: 70.00Estimate: 150.00 - 300.00 Second of Exchange from the Adams & Co. Express Office, datelined San Francisco. No. 548 has no date or amount listed, was payable to Hunter & Co. and signed by Freeman & Co., and has both names marked out. Hunter & Co. endorsement written on the reverse. The "classic" vignette of miners working around a sluice box appears at top center. A vignette of three allegorical women is at center left and the Seal of California is at bottom center. The city line for the destination of this exchange is also blank. Printers: Toppan, Carpenter, Casilear & Co., New York & Philadelphia. Printed on white paper, very good condition. Type II, Variety IIA.
Thumbnail 2117 San Francisco,CA - 1851 - Adams & Co. Second of Exchange : Start Price: 50.00Estimate: 100.00 - 300.00 Second of Exchange written from the Adams & Co. Express Office, datelined San Francisco, November 26, 1851. No. 10001, payable after three days to Clark C. Gexton (?) for $200. Signed by Adams & Co., destined for the New York office. Vignettes include miners with sluice box at top center, three allegorical women at center left, and the Seal of California at bottom center. Printers: Toppan, Carpenter, Casilear & Co., New York & Philadelphia. No listing in Bancroft or Doggett's New York City Directory for Clark Jeston. Printed on white/oyster paper with several small holes, foldlines, and brown spots noted. Type II, Variety IIA.
Thumbnail 2118 Nevada City,CA - Nevada County - 1851 - Adams & Co. Second of Exchange : Start Price: 50.00High Bid: 425.00Estimate: 100.00 - 300.00 Second of Exchange written from the Adams & Co. Express Office, dated October 28, 1851. Datelined San Francisco, but Nevada City has been hand-written above it. No. 2044, payable after three days to Augusta B. French for $50. Signed by Freeman & Co., destined for the Boston office. The famous vignette of miners with sluice box is at top center, three allegorical women is at center left, and the Seal of California is at bottom center. Printers: Toppan, Carpenter, Casilear & Co., New York & Philadelphia. No listing for an Augusta French in Bancroft or Trow's New York Directory. Freeman & Co. was a Northern California based express office used by Adams & Co. for its extensive routes outside of the San Francisco/Stockton/Sacramento corridors operated by Adams itself, it was later absorbed by Adams & Co [Bancroft, Vol. VII, p. 150 ]. Printed on white/oyster paper, with no tears and minimal significant foldlines present. Type II, Variety IIA.
Thumbnail 2119 San Francisco,CA - 1852 - Adams & Co. Second of Exchange : Start Price: 50.00Estimate: 100.00 - 300.00 Second of Exchange written from the Adams & Co. Express Office, datelined San Francisco, August 31, 1852. No. 18573, payable at sight to Lydia A. Stevens for $100. Signed by Adams & Co., its destination was the Boston office. Vignettes include miners with sluice box at top center, three allegorical women at center left, and the Seal of California at bottom center. Printers: Toppan, Carpenter, Casilear & Co., New York & Philadelphia. No listing in Bancroft for Lydia Stevens. Printed on white/oyster paper with minimal foldlines and several stain spots, otherwise very fine. Type II, Variety IIA.
Thumbnail 2120 Sacramento,CA - 1853 - Adams & Co. Second of Exchange : Start Price: 75.00High Bid: 75.00Estimate: 150.00 - 300.00 Second of Exchange written from the Adams & Co. Express Office, datelined San Francisco, but with Sacramento hand-written above it. Dated November 14, 1853. No. 5023, payable at sight ("days after" lined out) "to Sarah S. Rice, widow of W.A. Rice" for $1268. Signed by Adams & Co by (illegible). Its destination was the Boston office. Vignettes include miners with sluice box at top center, three allegorical women at center left, and the Seal of California at bottom center. Printers: Toppan, Carpenter, Casilear & Co., New York & Philadelphia. Printed on blue paper with foldlines and a tear present at the top and bottom left corners. Type II, Variety IIB.
Thumbnail 2121 San Francisco,CA - 1853 - Adams & Co. Second of Exchange : Start Price: 75.00High Bid: 85.00Estimate: 150.00 - 300.00 Second of Exchange written from the Adams & Co. Express Office, datelined San Francisco, but with Marysville hand-written above it. Dated March 12, 1853. No. 2306, payable at sight to Sanford L. Clark for $48.54. Signed by Adams & Co., its destination was the New York office. Vignettes include miners with sluice box at top center, three allegorical women at center left, and the Seal of California at bottom center. Printers: Toppan, Carpenter, Casilear & Co., New York & Philadelphia. No listing in Bancroft, Trow, or Doggett's New York City Directory for Sanford Clark. Printed on blue paper with two foldlines noted, otherwise very fine. Type II, Variety IIB.
Thumbnail 2122 Grass Valley,CA - Nevada County - 1853 - Adams & Co. Second of Exchange : Start Price: 150.00High Bid: 450.00Estimate: 300.00 - 600.00 Second of Exchange written from the Adams & Co. Express Office, datelined San Francisco, but lined out and Grass Valley hand-written above it. Dated June 23, 1853. No. 2101, payable "at sight" ("days after" lined out) to Cornelius Alexander for $100 (not listed in Bancroft). Signed by Adams & Co., with Boston office as its destination. Vignettes include miners with sluice box at top center, three allegorical women at center left, and the Seal of California at bottom center. Printers: Toppan, Carpenter, Casilear & Co., New York & Philadelphia. Vertical writing in blue on front appears to be "Jno S. Lambert, agent." Printed on light blue paper with several light foldlines noted, otherwise very fine. Type II, Variety IIC.
Thumbnail 2123 Montezuma City,CA - Tuolumne County - 1853 - Adams & Co. Second of Exchange : Start Price: 200.00High Bid: 375.00Estimate: 400.00 - 700.00 No.2094. This is a rare Second of Exchange dated July 28, 1853. Datelined San Francisco, marked out and Montezuma City hand written above. Payable "at sight" ("days after" lined out) to Charles Haler for $150, its destination was the Boston office. Vertical writing in brown on front appears to be "$150, Newell, (illegible)." Printers: Toppan, Carpenter, Casilear & Co., New York & Philadelphia. Printed on light blue paper with 1/2" tear in upper and lower right corners. Montezuma City was located in Tuolumne County, and was a significant gold rush town from the 1850’s through the 1880’s. Large nuggets were found there, and documents from this gold rush camp are exceptionally rare. The vignette on this exchange is among the most collectible of Adams & Co. because of the sluice box in the miners’ scene at the top center. This piece is an R8 and to the best of my recollection and knowledge, it is the only one I have seen in 30 years, extremely fine. Type II, Variety IIC.
Thumbnail 2124 San Francisco,CA - 1853 - Adams & Co. Second of Exchange : Start Price: 75.00Estimate: 150.00 - 300.00 Second of Exchange written from the Adams & Co. Express Office, datelined San Francisco, November 18, 1853. No. 39231, payable "at sight" ("days after" lined out) to Adams & Co. for $334.65. Signed by Adams & Co., with New York office as its destination. Vignettes include miners with sluice box at top center, three allegorical women at center left, and the Seal of California at bottom center. Printers: Toppan, Carpenter, Casilear & Co., New York & Philadelphia. Printed on light blue paper with several very light foldlines noted, otherwise very fine. Also included is remittance information stamped on small, separate piece of paper. It includes the Second of Exchange #39231 on top and lines below for "Collected $ 345," "Less Exchange 10.35," Our Commission -blank-," and "Remitted $324.65." Type II, Variety IIC.
Thumbnail 2125 Stockton,CA - San Joaquin County - 1853 - Adams & Co. Second of Exchange : Start Price: 150.00High Bid: 140.00Estimate: 300.00 - 600.00 Second of Exchange written from the Adams & Co. Express Office, datelined San Francisco, marked out with Stockton hand-written above it. Dated May 10, 1853. No. 1745, payable after sight ("Days" lined out) to Helen J. Mc Intosh for $50. Signed by Adams & Co., destined for the New York office. Vignettes include miners with sluice box at top center, three allegorical women at center left, and the Seal of California at bottom center. Printers: Toppan, Carpenter, Casilear & Co., New York & Philadelphia. Vertical writing in red on front appears to be an agent's signature (illegible) and "$50." No listing in Bancroft's History of California for Helen Mc Intosh. Printed on light blue paper with several light foldlines noted, otherwise very fine. Type II, Variety IIC.
Thumbnail 2126 Sacramento,CA - 1853 - Adams & Co. Second of Exchange : Start Price: 100.00Estimate: 200.00 - 400.00 Second of Exchange written from the Adams & Co. Express Office, datelined San Francisco, with Sacramento hand-written above it. No. 1782, dated January 13, 1853. Payable "at sight," with "days after" lined out, to Lydia A. Stevens for $100. Signed by Adams & Co., with Boston office as its destination. Vignettes include the San Francisco Banking office at center top with "Adams & Co." written at top and "Montgomery Street" written at bottom, an allegorical woman at center left, and the Seal of California at bottom center. Lithographer: J.J. Le Count, San Francisco. Printed on white paper with several light foldlines noted, otherwise very fine.Type II, Variety IIIA.
Thumbnail 2127 Mariposa,CA - 1853 - Adams & Co. Second of Exchange : Start Price: 150.00High Bid: 160.00Estimate: 300.00 - 600.00 Second of Exchange written from the Adams & Co. Express Office, with dateline San Francisco lined through and Mariposa hand-written above it. No. 783, dated January 31, 1853. Payable "at sight," with "days after" lined out, to Mrs. P. Fox (not listed in Trow's or Doggett's New York City Directory) for $50. Signed by Adams & Co., with New York office as its destination. Vignettes include the San Francisco Banking office at center top with "Adams & Co." written at top and "Montgomery Street" written at bottom, an allegorical woman at center left, and the Seal of California at bottom center. Lithographers: Le Count & Strong by Britton & Rey, San Francisco. "50." hand-written in red vertically in middle of note. Printed on white paper with several light foldlines noted, otherwise very fine. Type II, Variety IIIB.
Thumbnail 2128 Sacramento,CA - 1854 - Adams & Co. Express and Banking Office, Second of Exchange : Start Price: 125.00High Bid: 100.00Estimate: 250.00 - 500.00 Second of Exchange written from the Adams & Co. Express and Banking Office. Datelined San Francisco, with Sacramento hand-written above it. Dated November 15, 1854. No. 8310, payable "at sight" ("days after" is lined out) to Geo R. (illegible) for $110.60. Vertical signature A.G. Richardson, Agt. written across center of note. Signed by Adams & Co., the certificate has no destination line, but New York is hand-written at the lower left. Classic vignettes include miners with sluice box at top center, three allegorical women at center left, and the Seal of California at bottom center. Printers: Toppan, Carpenter, Casilear & Co., New York & Philadelphia. Printed on light blue paper with several foldlines and pinholes noted, otherwise very fine. Type III, Variety IA.
Thumbnail 2129 San Francisco,CA - 1854 - Adams & Co. Express and Banking Office, Second of Exchange : Start Price: 75.00Estimate: 150.00 - 300.00 Second of Exchange written from the Adams & Co. Express and Banking Office, datelined San Francisco, June 16, 1854. No. 50331, payable at sight ("days after" lined out) to Mrs. S. Bronson (not listed in Trow's or Doggett's New York City Directory) for $50. Signed by Adams & Co., this certificate has no destination line, but New York is hand-written at the lower left. Classic vignettes include miners with sluice box at top center, three allegorical women at center left, and the Seal of California at bottom center. Printers: Toppan, Carpenter, Casilear & Co., New York & Philadelphia. Printed on light blue paper with several foldlines and a tear at the top right corner. Type III, Variety IA.
Thumbnail 2130 Sonora,CA - Tuolumne County - 1854 - Adams & Co. Express and Banking Office, Second of Exchange : Start Price: 150.00High Bid: 110.00Estimate: 300.00 - 600.00 Second of Exchange written from the Adams & Co. Express and Banking Office. Datelined San Francisco (lined-out), with Sonora hand-written above it. Dated August 12, 1854. No. 4655, payable "at sight" ("days after" lined out) to John Russell for $50. Vertical signature (illegible) through center of note. Signed by Adams & Co., the certificate has no destination line, but Philadelphia is hand-written at the lower left. Classic vignettes include miners with sluice box at top center, three allegorical women at center left, and the Seal of California at bottom center. Printers: Toppan, Carpenter, Casilear & Co., New York & Philadelphia. The camp of Sonora was established in the summer of 1848, primarily by miners from the Mexican state of Sonora. It is located at the confluence of Woods Creek and Sonora Creek. After being named the county seat of the newly formed Tuolumne County in 1850, the name was changed to Stewart to honor Major William Stewart, assemblyman from the San Joaquin district. The name was restored soon thereafter, likely the result of local pressure [Durham, 1998, p. 830]. Printed on light blue paper with several foldlines noted, otherwise very fine. Type III, Variety IA.
Thumbnail 2131 Mokelumne Hill,CA - Calaveras County - 1854 - Adams & Co. Express and Banking Office, Second of Exch Start Price: 150.00High Bid: 300.00Estimate: 300.00 - 600.00 Adams & Co. Express and Banking Office Second of Exchange. Datelined San Francisco, with "Mok Hill" hand-written above it. Dated December 24, 1854. No. 6843, payable "at sight" ("days after" is lined out) to Joseph Caldwell (not listed in Doggett's NYC Directory, 1854-55) for $100.00. Vertical signature of "C. Walailie, Agt," written across center of note. Signed by Adams & Co., the certificate has no destination line, but New York is hand-written at the lower left. Vignettes include miners with sluice box at top center, three allegorical women at center left, and the Seal of California at bottom center. Printers: Toppan, Carpenter, Casilear & Co., New York & Philadelphia. Mokelumne Hill was one of the most important gold camps of the Southern Mines. It served as the Calaveras County seat from 1852-1866. The name referred to a trading post on a hill above the river, about one mile from the Big Bar settlement. After the initial gold discoveries were made, water made hydraulic mining possible. Although both placer and lode mining were successful, two of the largest lode mines in the area were the Boston and the Quaker City, both of which yielded more than a million dollars [Gudde, 1975, p. 301-302]. Printed on blue paper with several light foldlines and one brown spot noted, otherwise very fine. Unique piece. Type III, Variety IB.
Thumbnail 2132 Portland,OR - Multnomah County - 1854 - Adams & Co. Express and Banking Office, Second of Exchange : Start Price: 200.00High Bid: 325.00Estimate: 400.00 - 800.00 Adams & Co. Express and Banking Office Second of Exchange. Datelined San Francisco, lined out and "Portland, Oregon" hand-written above it. Dated November 21, 1854. No. 1031, payable "at sight" ("days after" is lined out) to Ephraim Pope for $500.00. Vertical signature of "Justin (illegible), Agt," written across center of note. Signed by Adams & Co., the certificate has no destination line, but Boston is hand-written at the lower left. Vignettes include miners with sluice box at top center, three allegorical women at center left, and the Seal of California at bottom center. Printers: Toppan, Carpenter, Casilear & Co., New York & Philadelphia. In 1843 William Overton, a drifter from Tennessee, and Boston lawyer Asa Lovejoy were canoeing down the Willamette River when they arrived at the area that is now Portland. They began to establish a settlement, but Overton moved on, selling his half of the share to Francis Pettygrove. Portland was named following a coin toss between Lovejoy and Pettygrove in 1845. Lovejoy was from Massachusetts and wanted to use the name Boston, while Pettygrove was from Maine and wanted to name the area Portland. Pettygrove won the best of three toss, and Portland was born! The first Post Office opened in 1849, and by 1850 Portland's population had reached 800, including a log-cabin hotel and a newspaper called the Weekly Oregonian. After Congress passed the Oregon Land Act, every man or woman was entitled to 320 acres. It was incorporated in 1851, and became the second largest city in the Northwest. The regional economy was based on fishing, timber, wheat, and cattle. It also became a major transportation center because of its proximity to railroads and rivers [pdxhistory.com]. Printed on blue paper with several light vertical and horizontal foldlines, otherwise very fine. A rare piece from the Portland office of Adams & Co. Type III, Variety IB.
Thumbnail 2133 St. Louis,CA - Sierra County - 1855 - Adams & Co. Express and Banking Office, Second of Exchange : Start Price: 250.00High Bid: 450.00Estimate: 500.00 - 750.00 Adams & Co. Express and Banking Office Second of Exchange. Datelined San Francisco, with "St. Louis, Cala" hand-written above it. Dated February 14, 1855. No. 11768, payable "at sight" ("days after" is lined out) to Sarah Jane Groan (not listed in Doggett's NYC Directory, 1854 to 1855) for $100.00. Vertical signatures of "F.D. Everts, Agt. and C.B Macy, Agt," written across center of note. Signed by Adams & Co., the certificate has no destination line, but New York is hand-written at the lower left. "Classic" vignettes include miners with sluice box at top center, three allegorical women at center left, and the Seal of California at bottom center. Printers: Toppan, Carpenter, Casilear & Co., New York & Philadelphia. St. Louis, California was a rich mining town established in the early 1850's on a tributary to Slate Creek. By 1853, fifty houses were reported in the camp and 100 or more on the flat as reported by the San Francisco Whig and Commercial Advertiser. A post office was established in 1855, and the express company of Everts, Wilson & Co. was awarded a silver medal for its two story building high in the mountains by The Committee of the Agricultural Society [Gudde, 1975, p. 301-302]. The name "Everts" listed in the express office may be related to the signature found on the face of the certificate. Printed on light blue paper with several foldlines, pinholes, and brown spots, otherwise very fine. Very unique piece. Type III, Variety IA.
Thumbnail 2134 San Francisco,CA - 1854 - Adams & Co. Express and Banking Office Original Exchange : Start Price: 38.00High Bid: 45.00Estimate: 75.00 - 150.00 Adams & Co. Express and Banking Office Original Exchange. Type III, Variety II. Datelined San Francisco, 12 May, 1854. No. 28591, for $450 deposited by S.F. Lewis, payable at the San Francisco office. Signed for Adams & Co. by H.A. Whitiny. Black print on white paper. Vignettes include a miner leaning on his axe above ground at left and the large San Francisco Banking office at top center. “Original” in large, red under print in center of note. "For Lecount & Strong, litho. by Britton & Rey" printed at lower left. No listing for S.F. Lewis noted in Bancroft's History of California. Rag paper or similar. Numerous philatelic related repairs to the reverse, several foldlines noted, otherwise very good condition.
Thumbnail 2135 San Francisco,CA - 1854 - Adams & Co. Express and Banking Office First of Exchange : Start Price: 50.00High Bid: 110.00Estimate: 100.00 - 200.00 Adams & Co. Express and Banking Office First of Exchange. Datelined San Francisco, October 2, 1854. No. 36197 for $115 deposited by Thomas Grealy (not listed in Bancroft's History of California), payable at the San Francisco office. Signed for Adams & Co. by W.H. Harriden. Black print on white paper. Vignettes include the large San Francisco Banking office at top center and a miner leaning on his axe above ground at lower left. “Original” printed in black ink vertically next to vignette at left of note. "For Lecount & Strong, litho. by Britton & Rey" printed at lower left. Mounted on beige backing inside a brown wooden frame with a gold border, measuring 11" x 6 1/2". Several foldlines and three pronged spindle tear in center of note visible, otherwise very good condition. Type III, Variety III.
Thumbnail 2136 San Francisco,CA - c1850 - Adams & Co. Express and Banking Office First of Exchange : Start Price: 38.00High Bid: 40.00Estimate: 75.00 - 150.00 Adams & Co. Express and Banking Office First of Exchange, datelined San Francisco, 185_. Exchange note is blank, with stub still attached. Type IV, Variety III. This suggests the bank was closed when someone cut the page out with the stub attached, then separated the notes into single pieces. Black print on white paper. Vignette at center top is a depiction of the modern "Adams & Co. Express and Banking House" (building name visible on front and side). “First” printed in black ink vertically on fancy vignette at left of note. "Lith. of Britton & Rey, San Francisco" printed at lower right. No foldlines, excellent condition.
Thumbnail 2137 San Francisco,CA - Dec. 8, 1881 - American Salt Co. : Start Price: 50.00High Bid: 45.00Estimate: 100.00 - 200.00 Lot of three. 1) Issued to L.N. Whirby (endorsed on reverse). Signed L. Pumamo. One orange 2 cent revenue stamp (RN-G1) at center. 2) Issued May 29, 1882 to Dodge Sweeny & Co. One orange 2 cent revenue stamp (RN-G1) at center. Endorsed. 3) Issued May 24, 1882 to Degener & Co. One orange 2 cent revenue stamp (RN-G1) at center. Endorsed. "American Salt Co." stamped in blue across bottom of each.
Thumbnail 2138 CA - January 19, 1876 - Anglo-California Bank Exchange Note, Letter, and Cover : Start Price: 100.00High Bid: 85.00Estimate: 200.00 - 400.00 Stock #995 for transfer of 150 Reichsmarks issued to S. Mark & Co. Cover postmarked January 20, 1876 from San Francisco. Exchange note and letter previously folded. Fine.
Thumbnail 2139 San Francisco,CA - 1871-1874 - Bank of California Bills of Exchange : Start Price: 125.00Estimate: 250.00 - 400.00 Lot of two. 1) #10804, Second of Exchange issued July 20, 1874 to J.V. Onativia for $93.80 in gold coin. Onatavia (of Onatavia & Co. Mssrs.) was the second husband of Clarisse Coudert whose first husband was Conde Nast. Orange on crème with one 2-cent punch cancelled revenue stamp at left. 2) #12013, First Bill of Exchange issued May 22, 1871 to Henry King Lewis for pounds sterling 12/4/1. Black on crème. 9" x 4.25". Lady with globe and ships in vignette on upper right; imprinted 2-cent revenue stamp lower left. Fine.
Thumbnail 2140 Virginia City,NV - Storey County - March 11, 1879 - Bank of California Bill of Exchange : Start Price: 75.00High Bid: 110.00Estimate: 150.00 - 300.00 No. 3452 issued for $330.40 to Nathan & Dreyfus, "duplicate". Vignette of woman with scroll, globe and ship at right. One blue 2 cent cancelled revenue stamp at left. Signed J.O. Martin, Agent. 8.75" x 4.25".
Thumbnail 2141 Virginia City Virginia City,NV - Storey County - Feb. 11, 1880 - Bank of California Bill of Exchange Start Price: 100.00Estimate: 200.00 - 400.00 No. 4378: Dated February 11, 1880, duplicate issued to H.A. Rogers for $147.50. Signed J.W. Eckley and Charles Farnsworth. Hardy's Country Store, Carson City, Nevada. Stamped in purple on reverse. 8.5" x 4". Fine.
Thumbnail 2142 San Francisco,CA - July 16, 1885 - Belloc & Cie. : Start Price: 60.00Estimate: 120.00 - 200.00 No. 6189 Foreign bank (French) Second of Exchange issued for $200 to Mon. Joseph Estacaille. Certificate is written in French. Signed by Mon. J. Dufoeur and other bank officials. Double ring seal stamped at center. Fancy capital surrounded by design at left. 9.25" 4.25." The firm of Belloc Et Cie is listed San Francisco in 1881-1882 [Ref: oac.cdlib.org/data]. Fine.
Thumbnail 2143 Nevada City,CA - Feb. 2, 1860 - Birdseye & Co. Gold Rush Exchange : Start Price: 100.00High Bid: 110.00Estimate: 200.00 - 400.00 No. 70 issued to Mm. Amilia Miller for $50. Signed Birdseye & Co. Vignette of steamer at top, dog with trunk at left. Printed by Marvin and Hitchcock, datelined Nevada, Cal. Little is known of the Birdseye Company. This is a typical name of one of the many mining companies around Nevada City in the 1850s and 1860s. In 1874, the Birdseye Company was operating a placer gold mine at You Bet near Nevada City, according to Raymond, 1874. Very Fine.
Thumbnail 2144 San Francisco,CA - c1850-1860 - Burgoyne & Co. Banking House Bills of Exchange : Start Price: 350.00High Bid: 650.00Estimate: 700.00 - 1,000.00 Burgoyne & Co. Section, lot of 3 rare items: 1) No. 8360 Second of Exchange payable to Gilbert Hart for $500.00, signed by Burgoyne & Co. Vignette of allegorical woman with eagle on top and small ship on bottom. There is a red, handwritten number of exchange across the center. Uncancelled and unendorsed. Printed by Rawdon Wright Hatch & Edson, New York. Datelined San Francisco. This piece is R8 and may be Unique. This is a wonderful piece of early gold rush history. There is a philatelic repair to the top edge on the reverse. Otherwise Very Fine. From the John J. Ford, Jr. Collection. 2) No.15384 First of Exchange signed by Burgoyne & Co. Pay to the order of Thomas Russell for $1500.00. There is a vignette of clipper ships at top center. Printed by Ruwdon Wright, Hatch & Edson, New York. This is a Second, Extremely Rare, R8 (1 to 3 known) bill of exchange on Burgoyne & Company printed by their New York office for use in the San Francisco office during the early gold rush. Very Fine. 3) No. 23448 First of Exchange payable to Reed & Wade for $5,000.00, signed Burgoyne & Co. This beautiful piece printed by Ruwdon, Wright, Hatch & Edson in New York is printed orange on white with an orange safety print throughout the entire background of the piece. It is thought to be R8 with only two specimens known to the author though there may be a third or fourth in other prominent collections. The orange print certainly renders this piece one of the most attractive gold rush documents. Cancelled with handwritten notation. Fine. From the John J. Ford, Jr. Collection.
Thumbnail 2145 San Francisco,CA - Oct. 10, 1854 - Burgoyne & Co. First and Second of Exchange : Start Price: 150.00High Bid: 100.00Estimate: 300.00 - 500.00 First of Exchange No. 22353, issued to Hamlet Davis. Signed Burgoyne & Co. with endorsement on reverse. Second of exchange 22353 issued Oct. 10, 1854. Signed Burgoyne & Co., also endorsed on reverse. Measures 8" x 3.5".
Thumbnail 2146 San Francisco,CA - June 7, 1852 - Burgoyne Banking House Third of Exchange Filled in - RARE! : Start Price: 150.00High Bid: 100.00Estimate: 300.00 - 500.00 Issued to Julius Koman for 30 pounds Sterling. Drawn on Banking House of Burgoyne & Co., MSsrs. Baring Brothers & Co., London. Manuscript over face, endorsed on reverse. Vignette of ships at top, small vignette of steamer at bottom. Fancy border at left. 8.25" x 4.25". Fine.
Thumbnail 2147 San Francisco,CA - Sept. 13, 1875 - Burnett, Peter Signed Second of Exchange : Start Price: 100.00High Bid: 100.00Estimate: 200.00 - 300.00 No. 2321 issued to Dr. Geo. Brown for $150. Signed by E. Morgan, Cashier and Peter Burnett. Burnett became the first governor of California in 1849. He was also the first to resign from the office of governor. Drawn on Pacific Bank, red on crème. Vignette of globe with Pacific across, PB in fancy lettering at bottom.
Thumbnail 2148 San Francisco,CA - May 5th, 1876 - Donohoe, Kelly & Co. Exchange with Imprinted Revenue Stamp : Start Price: 75.00High Bid: 70.00Estimate: 150.00 - 250.00 First of Exchange with RNG “Eugene Kelly & Co, NY.” at left with allegorical vignette of two ladies. Printed by Le Count Bros., San Francisco. Payable to A.R. Fauntleroy for $648.09 “in U.S. Gold Coin.” Imprinted revenue stamp. Probably an R7.
Thumbnail 2149 San Francisco,CA - Jan 15, 1855 - Drexel, Sather & Church Bankers, Duplicate Exchange : Start Price: 150.00Estimate: 300.00 - 500.00 No. 21922 duplicate exchange signed by Drexel, Sather & Church. Pay to the order of E. H. Fitch Phelps for $100.00. Vignette at left, cameo style Roman. Extremely rare, probably high R7 or R8. Very Good condition.
Thumbnail 2150 Apalachicola,FL - 1852-1856 - Florida Exchanges : Start Price: 150.00High Bid: 50.00Estimate: 300.00 - 500.00 Lot of four. 1) First of exchange issued Apr. 2, 1852. Endorsed on reverse with red manuscript across face. Blk on white. 2) First of exchange issued Feb. 20, 1856. Endorsed on reverse. Red manuscript across face. Blk on blue. 3) Second of exchange issued Dec. 16, 1852. Endorsed on reverse. Bvlk on white. 4) First of exchange issued July 10, 1856. Endorsed on reverse. Red manuscript across face. Blk on blue. All with vignette of steamer at upper center and fancy border at left. Apalachicola was incorporated as West Point in 1827 but received its name in 1831. It was the third most popular port and trading route in the southern states during this time. Measures 9" x 4."
Thumbnail 2151 Corvallis,OR - Benton County - December 4, 1879 - Hamilton, W. B. & Co Bankers Bill of Exchange : Start Price: 125.00Estimate: 250.00 - 500.00 Bill of Exchange from the W.B. Hamilton & Co Bankers in Corvallis, Oregon dated December 4, 1879. Stamped "Paid" December 15, 1879 for Five Hundred Dollars. Paid to the order of M. Fruidly. Under printed with "GOLD" in a gold-colored ink across the middle of the paper. On the left side is a large "1"; above which is the check number and below which is the postal stamp. There is a vignette of a dog holding a key to small locked chest. Signed on the bottom by W.B. Hamilton & Co. Black text on green printed paper, in good condition.
Thumbnail 2152 Sacramento,CA - C. 1860 - Hastings, R. F. & Co. : Start Price: 75.00Estimate: 150.00 - 250.00 Issued Dec. 10, 1860. Drawn on Hastings & Co. Intricate patterning in borders with shell and floral motif at left. Manuscript ink fading otherwise fine.
Thumbnail 2153 Oahu,HI - Nov. 23, 1837 - Hawaii Exchange, Early : Start Price: 250.00High Bid: 325.00Estimate: 500.00 - 1,000.00 Issued for $115. Signed Coggeshore. Other events from that year include submission of a ship vessel to the Hawaiian government, opening of a boarding school for girls and the initial lay out of the streets in Honolulu. Missionaries were also allowed back to the islands after previous expulsion. This early document shows that banking was a central mode of business to develop the island's economy and Westernize its city centers and population. 7" x 3.5". From the Art Kagin Collection.
Thumbnail 2154 New York,NY - March 6, 1855 - King, James G. Sons' Ephemera Collection : Start Price: 150.00Estimate: 300.00 - 600.00 Lot of 3. James Gore King was born in 1791 in New York City and died 1853 in New Jersey. A Congressman from 1849 to 1851, he founded King & Gracie, a banking firm in Liverpool, England. In 1824, he created the banking firm of Prime & Ward, New York City, which eventually became Prime, Ward & King. Thereafter he lived in New Jersey. His final banking firm was the House of James G. King & Son, from 1851 onward, which continued as James G. King’s Sons after his death. This collection of James G. King’s Sons' material contains: 1. A second of exchange made out to G. M. Harrison in the amount of 51, 6010 francs; 2. A letter to Harrison at 2 George Yard, Lombardys London from James G. King’s Sons, New York, New York, and an onion paper copy of the same letter; 3. An onion copy of a list of collections made for Harrison by the firm. This man is not to be confused with James King of William.
Thumbnail 2155 Downieville,CA - Sierra County - Lamping Exchange Book : Start Price: 375.00High Bid: 375.00Estimate: 750.00 - 1,500.00 Exchange book consisting of 23 uncut, unissued original and duplicate pairs (first's and second's) bound with brown, black, red marble paper boards and blue leather spine. 166 numbered and dated stubs issued July 12, 1864 to Nov. 17, 1868. Dates, names and values listed on all but one stub. "Value received and placed to account of MeSsr.s Lees & Walker" (New York). Britton &Co. Lith. San Francisco. Vignette of seated crowned woman with key at left of original and duplicate. Inner hinge tight but showing wear. P.A. Lamping & Co. ran a banking and gold dust business in Downieville, the central gold camp in Sierra County and also the county seat, in the 1860s (REF: Holabird). Little is documented on the banking in Sierra County during this time. This book shows a significant amount of banking business in the Downieville area during the mid to late 1860s which coincides with the mining boom from the same time period. Fine.
Thumbnail 2156 San Francisco,CA - 1876-1879 - London & San Francisco Ltd. Exchanges : Start Price: 125.00Estimate: 250.00 - 500.00 Lot of two. 1) No. 12/2249 issued Dec. 5, 1876 to Woods & Conahan for $2377. One blue 2 cent revenue stamp at lower left. Red "U.S. Gold Coin" stamped vertically across face. Vignette of shields at center. 2) No. 15/152 issued Aug. 13, 1879 to W.S. Howell for $20. "Payable in Bankable Funds" stamped in burgundy at bottom. Endorsed on reverse. Vignette of shields. 9.25" x 5.25". Fine.
Thumbnail 2157 San Francisco,CA - 1888-1890 - London, Paris & American Bank, Limited Exchanges : Start Price: 100.00Estimate: 200.00 - 300.00 Lot of three. One first, second of exchange of the same variety with blue printed numbers. One second of exchange of a different variety with red printed number, stamped to Banca Cantonal Ticinese in red on the bottom left. All payable to Giovanni Trosi, datelined San Francisco. Trosi was a popular merchant in Reno, Nevada, as well as San Francisco. This bank was the successor to Lazard Freres, managed by David Chan. After its merger with another bank in 1908 it changed names to the London, Paris National Bank, which lasted for one year. It later became the Anglo & London, Paris National Bank. All three pieces are very fine.
Thumbnail 2158 San Francisco,CA - c. 1856 - Lucas, Turner & Co. Second of Exchange : Start Price: 150.00High Bid: 100.00Estimate: 300.00 - 600.00 Second of Exchange issued Sept. 5, 1856. Vignette of seated woman with a staff and profile view of woman at bottom. Further information provided under heading for Lucas, Turner, & Co.
Thumbnail 2159 San Francisco,CA - Sept. 19, 1856 - Lucas, Turner & Co. Second of Exchange : Start Price: 100.00High Bid: 75.00Estimate: 200.00 - 400.00 No. 42001 issued for $200. Signed Lucas, Turner & Co. Exchange Bank, Boston. Vignette of seated woman with staff at top, profile view of woman at bottom. Fancy ribbon printed at right with three names: Henry S. Turner, WmT Sherman & Ben J.R. Nisbet. San Francisco. 8.25" x 4". Further information provided under heading for Lucas, Turner, & Co.
Thumbnail 2162 New Orleans,LA - June 20, 1853 - New Orleans Bank Exchanges : Start Price: 250.00High Bid: 200.00Estimate: 500.00 - 1,000.00 Lot of six. 1) Brown, Johnston & Co second of exchange issued. Vignette of man with scroll at left and eagle/shield at right. Danforth, Bald & Co. Printers. 2) Charles Belcher & Co. first of exchange issued Nov. 22, 1854. Endorsed. 3) No. 8179 first of exchange issued Apr. 30, 1827. Rare early manuscript writing addressed to Louis Henry "at Havre". Endorsed on reverse by Hodge. Rare(?) 4) No. 26 second of exchange issued Dec. 21, 1872. 5) Brown, Brothers & Co. No. 396 second of exchange issued Jan. 31, 1862. 6) Brown, Brothers & Co. No. 4234 issued Feb. 6, 1844.
Thumbnail 2163 New York,NY - 1870/1872 - New York Exchanges : Start Price: 100.00Estimate: 200.00 - 400.00 Lot of two: 1) Third of exchange No. 1166 issued Sept. 2, 1870 for 120 pounds. 9" x 4". 2) Uncut second and third exchanges, No. 1951 issued Mar. 28, 1872. For 18 pounds/sixty. J & J Stuart & Co. Bankers signed JJ Stuart in lavender ink. Two orange 2 cent cancelled revenue stamps at left, measures 8.5" x 8.25".
Thumbnail 2164 New York,NY - c. 1916 - New York Exchanges : Start Price: 50.00Estimate: 100.00 - 200.00 Lot of two: 1) First exchange No. 396 issued Dec. 11, 1916. Multiple stamps across face and reverse, c.1917. Endorsed on reverse, canceled by punches at center. E. Johnston & Co. in circular ornamental border at left. 2) First exchange No. 1107 issued Dec. 20, 1916. Stamps across face and reverse, c. 1917. Endorsed on reverse. Santos Coffee Company in nouveau style lettering with ornamental bordering at left. 10.25" x 5.5".
Thumbnail 2165 San Francisco,CA - Apr. 18, 1870 - Nord Deutch Bank Exchanges : Start Price: 50.00Estimate: 100.00 - 150.00 Lot of two: 1) No. 356 third of exchange, with vignette of steamer ship and train at left and steamer ship at upper right. 2) No. 182 issued June 7, 1870, vignette identical to #1.
Thumbnail 2166 Columbus,OH - 1838-1856 - Ohio Exchanges : Start Price: 150.00Estimate: 300.00 - 500.00 Lot of six. 1) First of exchange No. 120 issued Dec. 3, 1856. Vignette of Poseidon and woman riding on clamshell and horse with claw in water (center). Indian with bow and arrow at left facing center vignette. Endorsed on reverse. 2) First of exchange No. 85 issued Sept. 20, 1856. Vignette as above. Endorsed on reverse. 3) Third of exchange No. 13749 issued Oct. 5, 1867. Bank of the Ohio Valley vertically placed at left with fancy bordering. Cincinnati. 4) First of exchange No. 2319 issued May 5, 1838. Signed by Biddle (Ohio State Supreme Court Justice, 1875-1881). This exchange is one year prior to Biddle's admission to the Ohio State Bar (1839). Philadelphia. Holes at center but signature unaffected. 5) Unissued second of exchange No. 635. Furness, Withy & Co. Ltd. 6) Unissued second of exchange No. 634. Furness, Withy & Co. Ltd. Vignette of steamer ship at top center. 9" x 4".
Thumbnail 2167 Portland,OR - Multnomah County - September 1, 1868 - Oregon and California Stage Company Bill of Exc Start Price: 200.00High Bid: 100.00Estimate: 400.00 - 800.00 Bill of Exchange for the Oregon and California Stage Company. This second of exchange was made out for $15,000. It is signed by Elijah Corbett, father of Henry W. Corbett who uses the title of "Supt Oregon & Cala State Co.” The previous year the Oregon Stage Company’s controlling interest had been sold to Jesse Carr of San Francisco, who renamed the company Oregon and California Stage Company. Henry Corbett had been elected to the Senate in 1866. The substantial amount indicates this is either from the sale of the company or that Corbett still held a substantial interest. The bill measures approximately 8” x 4”. There are two vignettes present; one at the top of a ship on the sea and another to the left of a woman kneeling with an American crest. Small section in lower left corner is absent. Bill is in a cardstock backing and frame with a three paragraph write-up included. Measures approximately 14” x 14”. Very Fine Condition.
Thumbnail 2168 Sacramento,CA - 1855 - Page, Bacon & Co. Bankers First of Exchange (2) : Start Price: 100.00Estimate: 200.00 - 400.00 Lot of 2: # 1: Page, Bacon & Co. Bankers First of Exchange, St. Louis, MO. No. 7304 First of Exchange dated November 11, 1855 for $300.00 to Michael Byron payable in eighteen months with an interest rate of six percent per annum. Signed Page, and Bacon out of St. Louis; teller signature is Chas. P. Enslix. Vignette on left shows a barefoot woman holding a shield and sword with a cornucopia at her feet. Vignette at upper right is six running wild horses. Written vertically on front is a notation that is unreadable. On reverse there are various endorsements that are only partially readable. #2:No. 410 Page, Bacon & Co. Banker First of Exchange dated San Francisco March 14, 1855 for $50.00 for Rufus Godfrey payable in four months with an interest rate of one percent per month. Signed Page & Bacon; endorsed by Rufus Godfrey on reverse. Document has some damage on left side.
Thumbnail 2169 San Francisco,CA - August 1, 1854 - Page, Bacon & Co. Bankers Second of Exchange : Start Price: 150.00Estimate: 300.00 - 500.00 No. 4210, second of exchange payable to Mrs. W. J. Poole for $100. Signed by Page, Bacon & Co.. At left is Page & Bacon, St. Louis, Mo., while at top is, Bacon & Co. San Francisco. Printed by Toppan, Carpenter, Casilear & Co. New York and Philadelphia. On left is a large vignette of Page, Bacon’s three-story San Francisco bank building with “duplicate” at the top and bottom. In center at top is vignette of a paddle steamer underway in rough seas. Vignette at bottom center is the California state seal. Different variety from 1852 version.
Thumbnail 2170 St. Louis,MO - November 11, 1855 - Page, Bacon & Co. Bankers, Firsts of Exchange : Start Price: 100.00Estimate: 200.00 - 500.00 Lot of 2: Page, Bacon & Co., Bankers First of Exchange, Sacramento, CA., dated 1855. 1) Page, Bacon & Co. Bankers First of Exchange, Sacramento City, CA., April 18, 1855. No. 406 Page, Bacon & Co. Bankers First of Exchange (second imprint), dated March 14, 1855 for $300.00, paid to the order of A. Topping, signed Page & Bacon & Co. On reverse, A. Hopping has endorsed the document over to Jesse Mason, and there are further endorsement notes on the back indicating that on November 7, 1855, $70.00 was paid out to Jim (?) Thompson Perry. There is a vignette at center top of a Native American woman with a shield that says “America”, a flag, bald eagle and olive branch in her hand. On the left is the imprint “first." 2) No. 30, dated March 1, 1855 for $600.00, pay to the order of Brooks and Doyle, payable on four months with an interest rate of one percent per month. Signed by Page & Bacon . The reverse shows that this document was subsequently endorsed over to S.D. Smith and thence to T.L. Buckhout. The document has some damage on left side corners. *Note- these are exchanges from after Page, Bacon & Co. reopened the 1st time and thus are much rarer than others!
Thumbnail 2171 San Francisco,CA - March 13, 1854 - Page, Bacon & Co. First of Exchange : Start Price: 150.00Estimate: 300.00 - 600.00 No. 39.054, first of exchange payable to Robert Aull, Esq. $300.00. Signed by Page & Bacon, this is a rare Page & Bacon piece. At left is “Page, Bacon & Company, California” and at top is “Banking House of Page, Bacon, St. Louis, MO'. Printed by Danforth, Wright & Co. Philadelphia & New York. At lower left is a vignette of Page, in the center is a wonderful vignette of a lady and two young sailors in a row boat, and at right is a vignette of a train. Six vertical lines through center as cancellation of the endorsement on reverse. Fine condition. Probably R8, maybe R7. We've seen only one or two in thirty years. Extremely Fine.
Thumbnail 2172 San Francisco,CA - August 31, 1852 - Page, Bacon & Co. Second of Exchange : Start Price: 100.00High Bid: 100.00Estimate: 200.00 - 400.00 No. 50: A second of exchange signed by Page Bacon & Co., paid to the order of Lavinia E. Gragg for $50 on August 31, 1852. Vignette at left of sailor and maiden holding American flag, at top center of allegorical American maiden in San Francisco harbor with a mine pick on her left, and of California state seal at bottom. Printed by Toppan, Carpenter, Casilear & Co. New York and Philadelphia. Vertical at left is Page & Bacon, St. Louis, Mo. On top, Page, Bacon & Co. Exchange and Banking Houses, San Francisco. Reverse has handwritten “50-.“
Thumbnail 2173 San Francisco,CA - 1850/1851 - Page, Bacon and Co. First and Second of Exchange : Start Price: 150.00Estimate: 300.00 - 600.00 1) No. 667, First of Exchange signed by Page, Bacon & Co., paid to the order of Mr. J.P. Smith for $200 on December 27, 1850. Measures 8 1/2" x 4”, with some wear around edges and two small tears. Vignette at center top of allegorical American Indian maiden holding a flag and an eagle, in her hand is an olive branch laying on a shield with the word “America”, while a small vignette at bottom center shows a shield being held by two bears. On the left side in vertical fancy script is “first.” 2) No. 35757, Second of Exchange signed by Page Bacon Co., paid to the order of William Olsendorf (?) for $50 on July 1, 1851. Triple folded, with identical vignette as noted above. On left side in vertical fancy script is “second.”
Thumbnail 2174 San Francisco,CA - Jan. 9, 1868 - Parrott & Co. Second of Exchange : Start Price: 100.00Estimate: 200.00 - 300.00 No. 4633 issued to John Heathey for $200. Signed Parrott & Co. Mssrs. Duncan, Sherman & Co., New York. "Payable in Current Funds" blk double ring seal stamp at bottom. Slight staining. 8.5" x 4."
Thumbnail 2175 Portland,OR - 1868-1883 - Portland Exchanges : Start Price: 150.00High Bid: 100.00Estimate: 300.00 - 600.00 Lot of 2. 1) No. 121 first of exchange issued Oct. 6, 1868 for $7000. One brown 2 cent seal cancelled revenue stamp at left. Vignette of ship at center. Stamp covers most of vignette of Indian looking from hillside at left. Endorsed on reverse. 2) Second of exchange issued June 8, 1883 "Bank of British Columbia. Endorsed on reverse. 8.5" x 4.25". Fine
Thumbnail 2176 San Francisco,CA - April 30, 1850 - Robinson, Alfred San Francisco Second of Exchange : Start Price: 250.00High Bid: 100.00Estimate: 500.00 - 1,000.00 Second of exchange No. 99 issued for $200. Merchants exchange signed by California pioneer Alfred Robinson. Robinson arrived in California (1829) and married before its annexation (1848) and official statehood (1850). From 1850 on Robinson was involved in ranching and land investment and was key to the future of land deals coming out of the era of large ranchos prolific early in California history. 8.5" x 4.5". X-rare.
Thumbnail 2177 San Francisco,CA - Feb. 20, 1850. - San Francisco Exchange (Spanish) : Start Price: 100.00High Bid: 325.00Estimate: 200.00 - 300.00 Very early California Gold Rush exhange. No. 64 issued for 200 pounds. Vignette of ribbon and floral motif at left. Manuscript handwriting in Spanish. Signed Starkey, Union & Co. Endorsed on reverse. 10.5" x 4.25".
Thumbnail 2178 San Francisco,CA - Jan. 20, 1862 - Sather & Church Exchanges : Start Price: 150.00Estimate: 300.00 - 400.00 Group of three different exchanges. 1) Second of exchange. Issued manuscript fading blk on crème. 2) No. 4320 issued June 10, 1861 to Oakes Ames for $550.88. Endorsed on reverse. Orange "FIRST" underprint at center in sans serif block typeface. Blk. on crème. 3) No. 42769 issued Jan. 10, 1861 to Oakes Ames for 550.88. Orange "SECOND" underprint at center in sans serif block typeface. Blk. On crème. All 9" x 4". Fine.
Thumbnail 2179 San Francisco,CA - Aug. 19, 1858 - Sather & Church Second of Exchange : Start Price: 75.00Estimate: 150.00 - 300.00 No. 55375 second of exchange issued to Wm. Pierce for $97.10. Signed Sather & Church. Orange "SECOND" underprint in sans serif block type. Early example of duotone printing and sans serif type use. Sans serif did not generally come into fashion until later in the 19th century. Blk overprint on crème. Fine.
Thumbnail 2180 San Francisco,CA - c. 1868 - Sime, John & Co.; Second of Exchange and Letter : Start Price: 100.00Estimate: 200.00 - 400.00 Lot of 2. 1) Second of exchange No. 2019 issued Jan. 29, 1868 to B.L. Solomon & Sons for $221.17. Signed John Sime & Co. Vignette of train at top. One orange 2 cent revenue stamp cancelled with double ring seal. Corner cut. 8.5" x 4". 2) Letter (Sept. 14, 1868) on Sime letterhead to Mssrs. Allen Curtis, Agent for the favor of freight enclosure: 24 bars to New York with insurance $34,600. Signed John Sime & Co. 7.5" x 7". Fine.
Thumbnail 2181 Fort Wayne,IN - Allen County - February 29, 1840 - State Bank of Indiana Bill of Exchange : Start Price: 150.00Estimate: 300.00 - 600.00 Banking document from the State Bank of Indiana branch at Fort Wayne dated February 29, 1840 on the obverse and a postal mark dates March 8, 1840 on the reverse. This was mailed to B.H. Holmes ESQ, cashier in Indianapolis Indiana. The document is sorted into the following categories: “Notes Discounted, Due from other Branches. Due from other Banks, Cash, Capital Stock, Individual Deposits, Due to other Branches, Due to other Banks, Dividends Unclaimed.” Document signed by H.M. Cullock cashier. It has some very small holes where lines have been folded. Very Fine Condition.
Thumbnail 2182 San Francisco,CA - Mar. 4, 1862 - Tallant & Wilde Exchanges : Start Price: 200.00Estimate: 400.00 - 600.00 Lot of three. 1) No. 7902 second of exchange issued to Israil Ferguson for $160. Signed Tallant & Wilde. Red double ring second of exchange California state tax seal at left. Blk on white. 2) No. 6923 second of exchange issued Oct. 29, 1868 to Thomas Crane, Esq. for fifty pounds sterling. Signed Tallant & Wilde. Endorsed on reverse. Blk on crème. 3) No 6923 third of exchange issued Oct. 29, 1868 to Thomas Crane Esq. For fifty pounds sterling. Endorsed on reverse. Blk on crème. All 9" x 4". Fine.
Thumbnail 2183 San Francisco,CA - August 11, 1859 - United States Treasury Second of Exchange : Start Price: 150.00High Bid: 325.00Estimate: 300.00 - 500.00 No. 1901 from the United States Treasury to Assistant Treasurer of San Francisco for $5000 on August 11, 1859. In the center is a light red under-printed word reading “second of transfer.” The bill measures 4” x 9”. The left side has a gray charcoal ornate patterned vignette with a portrait of George Washington in the center. In the upper right is 1 ½” x 4” vignette of the United States capital building surrounded by horse-drawn carriages. There is also a small vignette of an eagle on bottom. It is signed by the Secretary of the United States Treasury at New York and Register of The Treasury B Briggs. The reverse says “pay Wells Fargo & Co and signed by the assistant Treasurer of San Francisco. Good Condition.
Thumbnail 2184 San Francisco,CA - 1855 - Washburn & Co. Billheads : Start Price: 50.00Estimate: 100.00 - 200.00 Lot of two. 1: A blue billhead of Washburn & Co., Auction and Commission Merchants,. Crossed out underneath reads, "for boots, shoes, clothing and dry goods,. . .up stairs." This billhead was to Mr. Corbett (Henry W. Corbett of Portland, Territory of Oregon). Good condition, few stains through the middle and the sides. 2: "Paints, Oils and Glass Depot." A blue billhead of Oliver & Buckley, "Importers and Wholesale Dealers" to H.W. C. (Henry W. Corbett or Portland, Territory of Oregon). The reverse is signed Oliver & Buckley along with the date of June 29. Writing is in ink and about two to three things are written in pencil. In fair condition, yellowing around the edges, small tear at the top with minor foxing.
Thumbnail 2185 San Francisco,CA - Sept 1, 1851 - Wells & Co. Second of Exchange : Start Price: 250.00High Bid: 150.00Estimate: 500.00 - 100.00 Extremely rare exchange for a company that many thought was the predecessor of Wells Fargo, but in fact, is not. Wells & Co started back east and like many other Eastern bankers established a branch in S.F. Early in the Gold Rush. We suspect Wells Fargo and Wells & Co came to some agreement because Wells & Co disappears from the financial scene in the West in about 1851-2. Only one we have ever seen, very good to fine.
Thumbnail 2186 Bodie,CA - December 7th, 1878 - Wells Fargo & Co. Receipt for Exchange : Start Price: 100.00High Bid: 225.00Estimate: 200.00 - 600.00 This rare receipt for exchange from Bodie clearly shows that Wells Fargo & Co. Issued exchanges in that mining camp. In 35 years of collecting western documents we have never seen a Bodie Wells Fargo exchange. This piece is signed by the Bodie, Wells Fargo Agent, W. A. Atlee (?) Very Fine.
Thumbnail 2187 Columbia,CA - Apil 13, 1861 - Wells Fargo & Co. Second of Exchange : Start Price: 125.00High Bid: 140.00Estimate: 250.00 - 500.00 Scarce exchange from one of the great California gold camps issued to William Daeganer, Agent. Repaired tear at right, chip from upper right, some soiling on the right edge.
Thumbnail 2188 Forest Hill,CA - 1858 - Wells Fargo Receipt for Exchange Documents (2) : Start Price: 100.00Estimate: 200.00 - 400.00 1) A receipt for exchange written in manuscript form from Forest Hill June 18, 1858 with the signature torn off the lower right as a form of cancellation. 2) A stub from the receipt for exchange book for an exchange drawn on Wells Fargo & Co. March 1st, 1858. Fine.
Thumbnail 2189 La Porte,CA - April 25, 1865 - Wells Fargo & Co. Second of Exchange : Start Price: 175.00High Bid: 150.00Estimate: 350.00 - 650.00 Rare manuscript exchange with the city of origin written in the upper right corner. Issued to John. Conly & Co. The Wells Fargo agent at La Porte. La Porte was an exceptionally important gold mining community in Sierra County. Conly later ran a bank there. Very fine.
Thumbnail 2190 La Porte,CA - December 25, 1862 - Wells Fargo & Co. Second of Exchange : Start Price: 100.00High Bid: 190.00Estimate: 200.00 - 400.00 This piece differs from the other La Porte piece only in that it contains a red Cal adhesive stamp, second of exchange, 8-cent stamp at upper left. The piece has two significant chips at upper center. It is also issued to John Conly & Co. Good only.
Thumbnail 2191 Marysville,CA - June 30, 1863 - Wells Fargo & Co. Second of Exchange : Start Price: 150.00High Bid: 150.00Estimate: 300.00 - 500.00 Rare printed city of origin exchange from Marysville. Contains red adhesive 8-cent second of exchange cal stamp at left and a 2-cent blue imperforated bank check Federal stamp. Both are tied with blue oval Wells Fargo cancellations. Issued to E. H. Jacquelin, the Marysville agent. Very fine.
Thumbnail 2192 Nevada City,CA - July 7, 1859 - Wells Fargo & Co. Second of Exchange : Start Price: 150.00High Bid: 375.00Estimate: 300.00 - 600.00 Scarce exchange from Nevada City, though just the word "Nevada" is printed at upper right. It is issued to W.F. agent A.D. Tower. Very fine.
Thumbnail 2193 Oroville,CA - April 17, 1857 - Wells Fargo & Co. Second of Exchange : Start Price: 100.00High Bid: 100.00Estimate: 200.00 - 400.00 Early Oroville exchange with the city of origin written in manuscript in the upper right hand corner. Issued to McWilliams and Tymeson, the Wells Fargo agents at Oroville. Very Fine.
Thumbnail 2194 Oroville,CA - October 31, 1859 - Wells Fargo & Co. Second of Exchange : Start Price: 100.00High Bid: 100.00Estimate: 200.00 - 400.00 Exchange issued at the "Oroville, Cal" office written in manuscript in the upper right corner to Thomas Callow, Agent. Generally fine.
Thumbnail 2195 Placerville,CA - September 19, 1864 - Wells Fargo & Co. Second of Exchange : Start Price: 125.00High Bid: 130.00Estimate: 250.00 - 500.00 Issued to Wells Fargo agent, Theodore F. Tracy endorsed over to M. Conde. The exchange contains California Second of Exchange adhesive 20 cent stamp and Federal 2 cent certificate stamp, blue imperforated. Rough left edge; some tears on right edge.
Thumbnail 2196 Sacramento,CA - December 27, 1862 - Wells Fargo & Co. Second of Exchange : Start Price: 100.00High Bid: 120.00Estimate: 200.00 - 400.00 Nice second of exchange from Sacramento issued to J.H. Lathom, Agent, with red California Second of Exchange 8 cent revenue stamp at upper left. Very fine.
Thumbnail 2197 San Francisco,CA - 1853-1864 - Wells Fargo Second of Exchanges : Start Price: 125.00High Bid: 140.00Estimate: 250.00 - 500.00 Three different printed varieties San Francisco Seconds of Exchange. 1) Issued to Samuel F. Brown January 14, 1853. This early exchange does not have the usual Tracy signed Wells Fargo at lower right; it is signed by another agent. 2) Issued to William W. Dillingham March 16, 1860 at the Boston office. 3) Issued to O.R. Kingsbury 9/2/1864 for $192 in currency. This last exchange has the Cal 40-cent exchange stamp and the 2cent blue bank check Federal stamps. All generally fine.
Thumbnail 2198 San Francisco,CA - 1868-1870 - Wells Fargo First of Exchanges : Start Price: 125.00High Bid: 100.00Estimate: 250.00 - 500.00 Three different printed varieties of San Francisco Firsts of Exchange. 1) Issued to Mary Cahalagan July 11, 1878 with California 4-Cent state revenue stamp and US 2-cent revenue. Her endorsement on the reverse is a classic "X" with a witness signature. 2) Issued to Mrs. Grace Sampson January 22, 1870 with a 2-cent Federal revenue stamp at lower left, 3 colorful stamps on the obverse "Paid in U.S. Gold Coin" in a rectangular template, "Bank of New York" in a circular template, and "Wells Farge Paid" in a circular template. 3) Issued to Timothy Birchly January 26, 1870 for $50 in gold. Revenue stamp has fallen off of top center (glue remains). This exchange is interesting because it is one of the few printed in S.F. By Britton & Rey. All generally very good to fine, but #3 has two repairs to top edge.
Thumbnail 2199 San Francisco,CA - January 9, 1867 - Wells Fargo San Francisco Exchange Documents (2) : Start Price: 125.00High Bid: 100.00Estimate: 250.00 - 400.00 1) A letter from the W.F. Exchange Department in S.F. received an order for an exchange and were enclosing the Second of Exchange, sending the First in a separate letter. 2) Also from the W.F. San Francisco office dated 12/9/1880 and is an instruction to pay the Second of Exchange in London. Both of these documents are relatively rare forms of back up document to exchanges. Fine.
Thumbnail 2200 Carson City,NV - January 9, 1872 - Wells Fargo & Co. First of Exchange : Start Price: 250.00High Bid: 550.00Estimate: 500.00 - 100.00 Extremely rare First of Exchange from Carson City issued to H. F. Rice, the Wells Fargo Agent in Carson City. U. S. 2 Cent adhesive revenue stamp at upper left with embossed cancellation. The exchange has 2 red rubber stamps; one is "In US Gold Coin" in a rectangular template, the second "Pay January 26, 1872" in circular template. This exchange is a classic illustration of how these document circulated as currency. On reverse H. F. Rice endorsed the piece to John Henderson, who in turn endorsed the piece to other parties. We know of three of these Carson City exchanges. All are Firsts and as far as we know at this time no Seconds or Thirds are known. One of the three was from the Art Kagin Collection and is more of a remnant document since it is in about 50 pieces. Very Fine.
Thumbnail 2201 Virginia City,NV - Storey County - January 11th, 1866 - Wells Fargo & Co. Territorial Second of Exch Start Price: 350.00High Bid: 550.00Estimate: 700.00 - 1,500.00 Possibly unique. Nevada Territorial imprinted Second of Exchange issued to J.H. Lathom, Agent at Philadelphia. Federal and Nevada 2 cent adhesive revenues at left with W. F. & Co., Virginia City cancellation. Very Fine.
Thumbnail 2202 Virginia City,NV - Storey County - August 26, 1869 - Wells Fargo & Co. Second of Exchange : Start Price: 250.00High Bid: 250.00Estimate: 500.00 - 1,000.00 This rare exchange appears to be a second of three known varieties, the first of which was the Territorial piece. What separates this piece from the third variety is the city of origin, which here is written in small letters at the upper right, and the fact that this one is from the 1860s. Adhesive revenue stamps have fallen off the upper left. Fine to very fine.
Thumbnail 2203 Virginia City,NV - Storey County - May 9, 1871 - Wells Fargo & Co. Second of Exchange : Start Price: 250.00High Bid: 450.00Estimate: 500.00 - 1,000.00 Rare third variety of Virginia City Second of Exchange. This piece is issued to C. C. Pendergast, the Wells Fargo Agent in V.C. For $500. It contains a Nevada green adhesive 5 cent revenue stamp at upper left pre-cancelled by Wells Fargo and a 2 cent orange Federal adhesive revenue with an "X" cancel. Generally very fine.
Thumbnail 2204 Virginia City,NV - Storey County - July 31, 1871 - Wells Fargo & Co. Second of Exchange : Start Price: 150.00High Bid: 325.00Estimate: 300.00 - 600.00 Third variety Second of exchange for Virginia City but only has the Federal revenue stamp at upper left with pre-printed and embossed Wells Fargo cancellation as originally applied. This exchange clearly never had the associated Nevada adhesive revenue stamp. Also issued to C. C. Pendergast, Wells Fargo Agent and payable to Milatovich, a Virginia City merchant. Very fine.
Thumbnail 2205 Portland,OR - February 23, 1860 - Wells Fargo & Co. Second of Exchange : Start Price: 150.00High Bid: 100.00Estimate: 300.00 - 600.00 Issued to E. W. Tracy, the Portland agent. Repair to severe fold at center. No stamp. Otherwise fine.
Thumbnail 2206 Portland,OR - April 22, 1865 - Wells Fargo & Co. Second of Exchange : Start Price: 150.00Estimate: 300.00 - 600.00 Rare Second of exchange issued at Portland to W. H. Reed, the Wells Fargo Agent. U.S. Two cent bank check revenue stamp at upper left. Upper left corner chipped, top center repaired; otherwise very fine appearance.
Thumbnail 2207 Salt Lake City,UT - January 20, 1869 - Wells Fargo & Co. First of Exchange : Start Price: 150.00High Bid: 100.00Estimate: 300.00 - 600.00 Rare printed exchange from Utah issued to Pomeroy & Co and signed at lower right by Theo F. Tracy, Wells Fargo agent. $500. U.S. 2 cent orange internal revenue stamp at left with clear W. F. & Co. Salt Lake City printed cancellation. Chipped at upper left, including stamp. Repairs to upper right; otherwise very fine in appearance.
Thumbnail 2208 San Francisco,CA - August 15, 1850 - William & Mott, First of Exchange : Start Price: 100.00Estimate: 200.00 - 400.00 Exchange for $1000 San Francisco, CA. The receipt measures 4" x 8", has a small vignette on the left side of small ship which has an ornate gray border. On the right side next to the words "First of Exchange" is a red oval stamp reading, "RECR PAYMENT/ P.M Bryson/ Cashier." The value received was charged to the account of William & Mott of New York. It is signed by Walter Hawschurst. On the reverse are several sentences with the date August 15, 1850. It is followed by several signatures with Seaman & Muir most legible, who were located on 321 Broadway, New York according to an 1870 New York City Mercantile Directory. Fine Condition.
Thumbnail 2209 Cuba - Havana,Nov. 30, 1841 - Cuba Exchanges : Start Price: 125.00High Bid: 150.00Estimate: 250.00 - 350.00 Lot of 2. 1) No. 757 issued for $300.55. Vignette of military ship with anchor and barrels in foreground. Endorsed on reverse by Pedro Alvarez. Manuscript in Spanish with "Madrid" handwritten at upper left. 2) No. 221 issued June 9, 1849. Capitals in fancy script at left with ornate bordering. Havana, Cuba. 10.25" x 3.75".
Thumbnail 2210 Foreign,1856 - Foreign Bills of Exchange : Start Price: 125.00Estimate: 250.00 - 450.00 Lot of four Items. 1) Oriental Bank Corporation Second of Exchange, Sydney, Australia 25-Jul 1856; No.61476 Second Of Exchange payable to William J. Brown for 50 pounds signed by Sam Ingelen(?), Manager. This document is an important document from the Australia Gold Rush. About 1851 a gold rush broke out south of Sydney at Ballerat, which rivaled the California Gold Rush. A number of California miners went to Ballerat and were quite successful. Documents only rarely show up from this period of the Australia Gold Rush. Very Fine. 2) Equador. First of Exchange Payable in London, Guayaquil, Equador 11-May 1888; No. 2727 First of exchange signed by E.Rohder & Co. and payable in London for L 800. 3) Peru. London Bank of Mexico & South America (limited) Second of Exchange, Lima, Peru 27-Oct 1871; No.1861 Second Exchange Check for $200.00 Gold Mrs. F.A. Ainsworth . Fine. 4) Santo Domingo. Friedheim & Clasing First of Exchange, San Pedro de Macoris, Santo Domingo, 14-Oct 1910; No.11916 Exchange check for $400.00 Signed - illegible. Fine.
Thumbnail 2211 Mokelumne Hill,CA - Calaveras County - February 12, 1855 - Adams & Co. Bank Checks : Start Price: 100.00Estimate: 200.00 - 300.00 Two Checks from Adams & Co Bankers. One check has not been used and the other comes from Mokelumne Hill, CA and is made payable to C. P. Baker for the sum of $300. Printed by Britton & Ray. Signed by an unknown source. The unused check is in mint condition, the Mokelumne Hill check has a serrated top edge, otherwise unblemished. Both items measure 3” x 7” and are in Very Fine condition.
Thumbnail 2212 Tombstone,AZ - Cochise County - 1880s - Arizona Checks : Start Price: 100.00Estimate: 200.00 - 400.00 Lot of two checks. One is a Cochise County Bank written to Farmers and Mchts Bank of Los Angeles, Cal. For $500 and signed by I.E. Jacobs, Cashier. Dated April 15, 1887. No RN number available. The second is actually a receipt for deposit for standard silver dollars, from the Office of Assistant Treasurer U.S. Datelined San Francisco Feb. 24, 1886 and written for the Cochise Co. Bank in Tombstone for $2,000. VF.
Thumbnail 2213 Virginia City,NV - Storey County - 1869 - Bacon Mill to Trench Mill Check : Start Price: 50.00High Bid: 35.00Estimate: 100.00 - 200.00 Mill to mill check issued Aug. 15, 1869 for $6000/ Signed James Fair. One orange 2 cent manuscript cancelled Nevada Revenue stamp (star) and one orange 2 cent manuscript cancelled U.S. Revenue stamp at left. Drawn on Bank of California. Fine.
Thumbnail 2214 San Francisco,CA - Dec. 18, 1865 - Bank of California, Telegraph Wire Transfer : Start Price: 75.00Estimate: 150.00 - 300.00 Issued for $5137.50 in U.S. gold coin to S..J. Ahern a/s Baker & Hamilton. Signed by R. Morgenstern for W.C. Ralston, Cashier, Drawn on Bank of California. One orange 2 cent cancelled revenue stamp at left. Endorsed on back Bank of California.
Thumbnail 2217 Virginia City,NV - 1864-67 - Bank of California/Stateler & Arrington Bank *Territorial* : Start Price: 50.00Estimate: 100.00 - 150.00 Lot of two. 1) No. 5529 issued Jan. 30, 1864 for $40. Signed Charles Strong. One blue 2 cent manuscript cancelled revenue stamp. Drawn on Stateler & Arrington, Bankers. Blk on crème. 2) No. 5028 issued Dec. 4, 1867 for $82.25. Drawn on Bank of California. One orange 2 cent stamp cancelled Nevada revenue stamp. Empire Mining Co. Signed R. Graves, Supt. Red on crème.
Thumbnail 2218 Virginia City,NV - Storey County - 1867-1900 - Bank of California Check (s) : Start Price: 75.00High Bid: 90.00Estimate: 150.00 - 250.00 Lot of four. 1) 294 issued June 26, 1877 to Glazier & Co. for $5000. Signed Frank Black. One orange 2 cent revenue stamp (RN- ND1) at middle with mountain vignette. Drawn on Bank of California. 2) Issued Mar. 18, 1874 to C.C. Hastings. Signed Allen Curtis. Austin, Nev. One orange 2 cent revenue stamp (RN-D7) at middle with mountain vignette. Drawn on Bank of California. Endorsed. 3) No. 106 issued Oct. 1, 1900 to D.J. Sullivan for $100. Signed Jos. R. Ryan. One orange 2 cent document revenue stamp (RN-X7) at middle with mountain vignette. Drawn on Comstock Pumping Station, Bank of California. Purple date stamp (Oct. 6, 1900) at right. Endorsed. 4) No. 2933 issued April 3, 1867 to Pat O'Brien for $54.35. Signed Louis Janin. One orange Nevada state revenue stamp and one orange 2 cent internal revenue stamp (RNB-17) at left. Both cancelled with double ring seals. Drawn on Gould and Curry Silver Mining Co., Bank of California.
Thumbnail 2219 Virginia City,NV - Storey County - 1867 - Bank of California. Gould and Curry Silver Mining Company Start Price: 50.00High Bid: 30.00Estimate: 100.00 - 200.00 Check No. 4225 issued Oct. 21, 1867. Virginia City dateline. Made payable to John [illegible] in the amount of $150.00. Signed by Louis Janin. One orange 2 cent federal revenue stamp has all four cerrated edges, and one orange Nevada state revenue stamp (RN-B17) at left that has no cerrated edges. Both bold cancels with double ring seals: "Virginia G. & C.S.M.CO. OCT 19 1867. At the time William Chapman Ralston was the treasurer of the Gould and Curry.
Thumbnail 2220 Virginia City,NV - Storey County - 1869 - Bank of California for Gould & Curry Mine Check Start Price: 50.00High Bid: 30.00Estimate: 100.00 - 200.00 No. 6713 issued Nov. 4, 1869 to Chollar Potosi Mg. Co. For $109.24. Signed Isaac Requa. Requa was superintendent of Gould & Curry Mine, Chollar-Potosi Mine and manager for 10 years of the Union Mill and Mining Co. See lots on Union Mill and Mining Co., Wm. Ralston, J.D. Fry, and Wm. Sharon. One orange printed revenue stamp (RN-B17) in center and one green 2-cent Nevada revenue stamp in vignette on left. Drawn on Bank of California. Fine.
Thumbnail 2221 Virginia City,NV - Storey County - 1898 - Bank of California Check (s) : Start Price: 75.00High Bid: 100.00Estimate: 150.00 - 200.00 Check from the agency of The Bank of California, Virginia, NV. Company seal on the left side of the check. Check numbered 11344. Red postage stamp on the top dates September 16, 1898. Check made out for $146.11 to Coburn Tevis and Co. Upside down diagonal stamp on the right dated September 22. 1898. Punched hole reading "$14C$" in upper left side. Red received payment stamp on rear dated September 20, 1898. Check measures 8 ¾ x 3 ¼”, and has 3 serrated edges. Very good condition.
Thumbnail 2222 Gold Hill,NV - 1872 - Blauvelt, W.H., Signed Check & Cover : Start Price: 50.00High Bid: 150.00Estimate: 100.00 - 200.00 No. 15201 issued Sept. 5, 1872 to Chris James for $400. Drawn on Bank of California check. Signed by W.H. Blauvelt. One green 5 cent cancelled Nevada Revenue stamp & one brown 5 cent cancelled Internal Revenue Express stamp at left. Blue on crème. Cover: Addressed to W.H. Blauvelt, Gold Hill, NV, postage paid Wells Fargo & Co. 23 cent cover opened neatly at top. Blauvelt was a prominent figure in the area, being a part of D.O. Mills Banking House in Sacramento before arriving to the Comstock and permanently residing there. In Virginia City, he started his own banking and broker house, Arnold & Blauvelt (REF: Nevada Observer, 8/1/10: Mayre, 84). Fine.
Thumbnail 2223 Virginia City,NV - Storey County - 1864 - Bonner, Charles Signed Check to Kidd, William. : Start Price: 50.00High Bid: 25.00Estimate: 100.00 - 200.00 Issued Dec. 3, 1864 to William Kidd for $247.50. Signed by Charles Bonner. William Kidd was known to operate a mining team in the Hope Gulch area (c. 1870's) (REF: Hall, Old Heart of Nevada, 99.) Bonner was a mining supervisor of Gould & Curry in Virginia City. Bonner is noted to have a more accurate estimate of processing ore at the Gould & Curry Mill in 1864. An elaborate structure built in the shape of a Greek cross, the mill was initially supposed to process ore using the Veatch process at roughly $38/ton. Bonner estimated it at closer to $50/ton. The mine was later reconstructed at a cost of $560,000 (Holabird). Fine.
Thumbnail 2224 Carson City,NV - Ormsby County - 1885 - Bullion and Exchange Bank Checks : Start Price: 50.00High Bid: 25.00Estimate: 100.00 - 150.00 Lot of 43 checks from the Bullion and Exchange Bank in Carson City, NV. All checks are c.1885 and signed by cashier T.F. Hofer. Checks range in value from $3 to $2000. There are 4 checks in the lot that are pink in color, 3 of which still have their attached deposit slip. The rest are yellow in color and have 2 serrated edges which were once attached to a sheet of checks and a deposit slip. All measure 8” x 3 ½”. The lot on a whole is in good condition, although there are some checks with tears around the edges or in the middle.
Thumbnail 2225 San Francisco,CA - 1850-1855 - Burgoyne & Co. Checks : Start Price: 150.00Estimate: 300.00 - 500.00 Lot of four. 1) Lined out header. "Palmer Cook & Co." handwritten above, Issued Jan. 15, 1855 to Adams & CO. (express company) for $25. Signed by Kreaner Johnson. Blue on crème. Border at left. Orange stamp: Adams & Co. printed at left. Cancel cut at center. Two punches at left. D. Felt & Hosford printers. 2) Lined out header. "Palmer Cook & Co." handwritten above, issued Nov. 10, 1853 to "Bearer" for $50. Black on crème. Border at left. Header in early western typefaced. 3) No. 348 issued May 18, 1852 to Sharp & Co. For $51.92. Signed Carter Sindenberger. Ornate blue design throughout body of the check with header in black letter typeface. Cut cancel at center. 4) Issued Aug. 21, 1850 to a mining and spring co. For $100 double ring red partial stamp at middle. Border at left. EB Clayton & Sons, Stationers printers. Fine
Thumbnail 2226 San Francisco,CA - Dec. 23, 1852 - Burgoyne Letter : Start Price: 125.00High Bid: 100.00Estimate: 250.00 - 300.00 Manuscript document handwritten to John Gantz, ESQ. For $794.30. Signed Wm. Burgoyne. Datelined at top right. "Mail" at top left. Without header on blue paper. Previously folded.
Thumbnail 2227 San Francisco,CA - Feb. 24, 1854 - Burgoyne Bank Letter : Start Price: 200.00High Bid: 150.00Estimate: 400.00 - 800.00 This is a hand written letter to F.D. Atherton, Esq and signed Burgoyne & Co. This letter is printed on light blue paper with Burgoyne’s masthead at the top. It is a typical folded four page printed letter sheet dated February 27, 1854 at San Francisco. Here Burgoyne writes historic California figure F.D. Atherton in Valparaiso regarding an accounting matter. This is the only printed letter sheet for the bank that we have seen in thirty years. Minor staining on exterior fold surfaces. Otherwise Very Fine.
Thumbnail 2228 San Francisco,CA - c1850 - California Bank Unissued Check : Start Price: 600.00High Bid: 550.00Estimate: 1,200.00 - 2,000.00 Rare item from this obscure bank. Dunbar established this bank in San Francisco in 1850, where he redeemed at par the gold coins of Baldwin & Co. In 1851 Dunbar began issuing his own gold coins. Dunbar established this bank in San Francisco in 1850, where he redeemed at par the gold coins of Baldwin & Co. After "Dunbar reestablished himself in business by September 1850" [Kagin, 1981, 112]. In 1851 Dunbar began issuing his own gold coins. Kagin says "Dunbar probably stopped issuing his coins sometime in April or May and decided to lie low until some of the adverse publicity concerning all private gold coins had blown over. Evidently things did not improve and Dunbar headed for New York and ultimately bame up with a new currency manufacturing scheme in the form of the Continental Bank Note Company, which later merged with the American Bank Note Company" [Kagin, 1981, 113]. Good condition.
Thumbnail 2229 Marysville,CA - Jan. 16, 1861 - Decker & Co. Check : Start Price: 150.00High Bid: 75.00Estimate: 300.00 - 600.00 No. 1738 issued to John Pinkhard for $100, signed by Decker, Jewett & Paxton. Lith. Britton & Co., S.F. Decker & Jewett formed the bank in 1858, and were influential in financing of Marysville businesses, including early pioneers and settlers to the area. The bank remained in operation following Decker's death in 1888, and was taken over by the California State Department of Banking in 1934. Early banking ephemera from the beginning of the partnership of these prominent Marysville bankers. Fine.
Thumbnail 2230 San Francisco,CA - April 10 1856 - Drexel, Sather, and Church Banking House Check : Start Price: 100.00High Bid: 130.00Estimate: 200.00 - 400.00 Signed by Thomas H. Selby for the amount of 3,500.00 on April 10th 1856. Marked paid in red. It says “Twenty Five after date without grace We promise to pay to the order of Drexel Sather & Church, Thirty Five Hundred Dollars for value received with Interest at 2 ½ pr C? pr. month till paid.” The money was due May 5. Signed on the back in red ink by Thomas H. Selby, Co. May 5 and 3,500. There is a notation “98” in the upper left corner above the signature. The blue cheque has a few nicks around the edges and some white spots and two fold lines. The vignette on the left side has lady Columbia holding up a sphere with the words “Payable at the Banking House.” Columbia’s bare feet rest upon another sphere with the words “of Drexel, Sather, and Church.” In the middle of the bottom another there is another vignette of a building on a street corner with people in front of it.
Thumbnail 2231 San Francisco,CA - June 30, 1857 - Drexel, Sather, and Church Banking House Check Drexel, Sather & C Start Price: 75.00High Bid: 60.00Estimate: 150.00 - 300.00 No. 49. Drawn on San Francisco branch, dated June 30, 1857. Payable to Alton Welch & Co. In the amount of $1374.25. Signed by Pierce & Co. On the signature line. Endorsement on reverse: “Alton West Co., W.C. N. Tallman.” Vignette of a barefooted woman with a shaff of wheat on her head, signifying California as the land of plenty. There is no information on Tallman, Alton, Welch, & Co. Or Pierce & Co. Rare
Thumbnail 2232 Virginia City,NV - Storey County - 1872 - Fair, James G., Signed Comstock Gold Rush Check : Start Price: 75.00High Bid: 90.00Estimate: 150.00 - 300.00 No. 560 issued may 4, 1872 to J.R. Shaw for $41.90. Drawn on Ophir Mill's branch of the Bank of California (W.S. Hobart). One yellow/red 2 cent revenue stamp at center. Blue on crème. Ophir Mill, rare Nevada imprint from, the era. Fair was a mine superintendent and partner to James Mackay. Later he would become a senator from Nevada, holding office after William Sharon and before William Stewart from 1881 to 1887. Fine.
Thumbnail 2233 Rhyolite,NV - Nye County - 1905 - First National Bank Personal Checks : Start Price: 50.00High Bid: 110.00Estimate: 100.00 - 150.00 Lot of three First National Bank, Ryholite, NV personally made for a Mr. Frank P. Kerns. These checks are attached together as one single sheet. They are numbered 1126-1128. Each check has a small 1 1/2” x 1 1/2” vignette on the left side of a frog, fully detailed and green in color. None of the checks have been used and are still in near mint condition; c1905.
Thumbnail 2234 Gold Hill,NV - 1868 - Flagg, H.H. Check (Adhesive NV Revenue) : Start Price: 75.00High Bid: 75.00Estimate: 150.00 - 300.00 No. 1308 issued Feb. 10, 1868 for $1209. Signed H.H. Flagg. Endorsed on reverse. One green NV 5 cent adhesive stamp cancelled at left. One orange 2 cent stamp cancelled revenue stamp. Double ring cancellation stamp: Gold Hill, NEV, Feb 10 1868. 8" x 3.5".
Thumbnail 2235 San Francisco,CA - Fretz & Ralston Check and Intention of Payment : Start Price: 150.00Estimate: 300.00 - 500.00 Check 1060 from Fretz & Ralston & Bankers from 1860 for $36.00. 1860 signed by Morris A. (Illegible) to no assigned recipient. 7 ¾” x 2 ½”. Small round vignette of lady luck on the left side. It is accompanied by an intent of payment notice to Fretz & Ralston from G.S. Whiteman. The value was intended to mature and collect interest at the rate of 3% a year. It was printed by Agnew &% Deffebach Printers on blue paper. 4 ½” x 8 ¼”. Both items in Good Condition.
Thumbnail 2236 Virginia City,NV - Storey County - 1863-1871 - Fry, J.D., Ralston, Wm. Signatures. Union Mill Mining Start Price: 400.00High Bid: 550.00Estimate: 800.00 - 1,000.00 Lot of four. 1) Issued Feb. 6, 1871 for $66,100. 2 blue single ring dividend paid stamps at right. Incorporated Mar. 25, 1863 (stamp at bottom). Signed by J.D. Fry, Pres. 2) Issued Jan. 22, 1870 for $54,635.34. 2 blue partial dividend paid stamps at bottom. Signed by Wm. Ralston, Pres. 3) Issued June 1, 1871 for $25,000. Signed J.D. Fry, Pres. Red manuscript over face "Paid June 1, 1871". 4) Issued Dec. 5, 1870 for $3000. 2 blue single ring dividend paid stamps at bottom. Signed J.D. Fry, Pres. Fine.
Thumbnail 2237 Shasta,CA - 1852-1855 - Gold Rush Checks : Start Price: 150.00Estimate: 300.00 - 700.00 Lot of three. 1) No. 71 issued Jan. 29, 1853 to J.K. Gilbert for $196. Drawn on Sacramento City Bank. "Sacramento" lined out at top/Shasta handwritten at dateline. Signed J.M. Rhodes. Vignette of woman with staff and shiled at left, women with flag and scroll at right. Danforth, Bald & Co. Printers. 2) No. 2 issued February 4, 1852 to T.J. Winslow for $57. Signed Rhodes, Hardy & McNulty (J.M. Rhodes). Vignette as above. 3) No. 2 issued Feb. 19, 1855 to D.D. Harrill for $507.28. Signed James Loag. Drawn on Rhodes & Co., Bankers. Each endorsed on reverse. 7.5" x 3.25". Fine.
Thumbnail 2238 San Francisco,CA - 1864/1865/1869 - Gold Rush Checks, Various Banks : Start Price: 50.00High Bid: 50.00Estimate: 100.00 - 200.00 Lot of three. 1) No. 14 issued Jan. 5, 1865 to White and Bonestel for $150. Signed G.W. Swan. Endorsed on reverse. Drawn on Bank of California. Black on crème. 2) No. 81 issued Aug. 27, 1864 to Eserhange for $103. Signed W & P Nicholls. Issued on W & P Nicholls Bank check. Vignette of miner with pick and cloth at left. Black on crème One blue 2 cent manuscript cancelled revenue stamp at left. 3) No. 623 issued June 15, 1869 to H Bannan "in coin" for $500. Signed D.R. Jons. Issued on Humboldt Bay Bank payable to "John Kentfield." One orange 2 cent manuscript cancelled revenue stamp at left covering vignette. Endorsed on reverse. Blue on crème.
Thumbnail 2239 Virginia City,NV - Storey County - 1864 - Gould and Curry Check : Start Price: 50.00High Bid: 25.00Estimate: 100.00 - 200.00 No. 25 issued November 30, 1864 for $500 to Thomas Taylor, a famous mine superintendent. Signed by Charles Bonner. One blue 2 cent manuscript hand-cancelled stamp (R2) at left. Drawn on Bank of California. Cut cancelled at center. Fine.
Thumbnail 2240 Virginia City,NV - Storey County - 1866/1876 - Gould & Curry Checks : Start Price: 75.00Estimate: 150.00 - 300.00 Lot of two. 1) No. 6915 issued Feb. 10, 1866 to Hamilton McNeil for $82. Signed Louis Janin, Jr. Son of Louis Janin Sr., notable Comstock figure who discovered an efficient way to extract silver from trailings. He came to be respected as a consulting engineer throughout the West. Clients from Mexico and later the Japanese government, hired Janin for his thorough mining and engineering knowledge [REF: Huntington Lib.]. Drawn on Bank of California check. One orange manuscript cancelled revenue stamp at upper right. Green on crème. Cut cancelled at center with slight staining at top. Fine. 2) No. 8553 issued Sept. 3, 1876 to William Murray for $116. Signed by C.G. Patterman. Drawn on Bank of California check. One yellow/red 2 cent Nevada State Revenue stamp (RN-B17b) at center. Cut cancelled at center. Fine
Thumbnail 2241 Virginia City,NV - Storey County - May 3, 1870 - Gould and Curry, Bank of California Check : Start Price: 150.00High Bid: 375.00Estimate: 300.00 - 500.00 No. 7584, payable to N. Hewlett for $150.00 signed by Philipp Deidesheimer. Green ink on off-white paper; vignette on left is the Nevada State revenue stamp for two cents with a star. Also has imprint revenue stamp in orange (RN-B17) Phillip Diedeshiemer spent a quarter of his life on the Comstock in mystery. Credited with the invention of square set timbers, which allowed for mining larger stopes and leaving less good ore behind in pillars for roof support, Diedeshiemer milked his Comstock mining career based on this concept. New research by Holabird in communication with European mining historians and mining schools has revealed that Diedesheimer never attended (let alone graduated from) any European mining school, as suspected by many. He remained quiet on the Comstock and never did press interviews, refusing to ever discuss his background publicly or privately. Coming from Germany, he must have worked in the mines there, where he learned the square set timbering methods, and brought them to the United States. Indeed, similar underground timbering methods are shown in Pettus and Agricola. Diedesheimer was promoted to mine foreman and superintendant at a number of Comstock mines, but his management was unsuccessful, and his duties were regularly dismissed soon after promotion. In summary, he never did interviews because of the obvious – the rumors were far better than the truth, and he was safe as long as no one knew it – that he was a European miner with some good ideas.
Thumbnail 2242 San Francisco,CA - August 1, 1869 - Hentsch & Berton Check : Start Price: 750.00High Bid: 1,400.00Estimate: 1,500.00 - 3,000.00 Check number 200 from A.H. Hoerchner, in association with the Assay Office and Banking House of Hentsch and Berton located at 527 Clay Street, San Francisco, CA. The Check is paid to the order of JJ Horn for the sum of $18. The Hentsch and Berton Title is in bold outlined Blue lettering on the top of the check. The entire check is light blue with dark blue lettering. On the left side is a vertical vignette of a steam engine barreling down train tracks. The check was taken from a page of checks, hence slight serrations on the edges. This is natural: Otherwise very good condition. Hentsch & Berton were the successors in 1863 to Henry Hentsch's banking and assay business in San Francisco. Hentsch was born in Geneva in approximately 1830 and arrived in California in 1849. After working in Grass Valley and Sonoma he opened an assay office and bank in San Francisco around 1856. Some say Hentsch had been an active San Francisco banker as early as 1854. Hentsch is perhaps best known to numismatists by the rare Hentsch gold ingots found at the wreck site of the S.S. Central America, which sank in 1857. Ephemera from Hentsch is even rarer than the ingots. The most common collectibles are Hentsch & Berton checks, though there are probably less than ten known.
Thumbnail 2243 Tucson,AZ - Nov. 26, 1878 - Jacobs, L.M. & Co. Check : Start Price: 60.00High Bid: 65.00Estimate: 120.00 - 250.00 Black print on white paper with vignette of Native American at left. Payable to and endorsed by Leon Lacaze for fifty dollars. Witherell is noted as an important assayer in Arizona history, part of the Tombstone boom when the Earp brothers had their showdown at the O.K. Corral. Fine. Folds.
Thumbnail 2244 San Francisco,CA - London & San Francisco Bank Checks : Start Price: 150.00High Bid: 80.00Estimate: 300.00 - 500.00 Lot of three. 1) No. 43 issued Feb 23, 1869 to Castle Bros. For $496.11. RNB stamp redeemed. Signed by famous stagecoach man Ben Holladay. Holladay operated over 2500 miles of stage lines after moving out west. He is said to have been boastful and a born leader with clever and cunning characteristics. Cut cancelled at center. 2) Portland branch CD No. 1 issued March 21, 1882 to Arthur J. Mason. Endorsed on reverse. 3) No. 312 issued to C.Z. Merritt for $2174.20. Signed by Miller and Lux at bottom. RNG stamp redeemed. Miller and Lux was the largest ranching operation at this time in the California area. Fine.
Thumbnail 2245 San Francisco,CA - 1855 - Lucas Turner & Co. Check : Start Price: 100.00Estimate: 200.00 - 300.00 No. 185 issued Aug 4, 1855 for $600 to Mssr A.P. Bessey & Co. Signed Pierce & Co. Endorsed on reverse. Vignette of woman with ledger book and shipment of goods. 7.25" x 2.5".
Thumbnail 2246 Gold Hill,NV - 1863 - Maynard & Flood Check *Territorial* : Start Price: 50.00Estimate: 100.00 - 150.00 No. 187 issued Nov. 3, 1863 for $55.25. Signed Imperial Toll Co. One blue 2 cent manuscript cancelled revenue stamp at top left. Cut cancelled at center. Rare. 7.75" x 2.75".
Thumbnail 2247 San Francisco,CA - January 21, 1853 - McNulty Carothers & Co. Check: Start Price: 100.00Estimate: 200.00 - 400.00 No. 22 issued to John Laraby for $35. Signed Gregory Yale. Black on blue with fancy lettering at left. Located "Montgomery St. No. 118." Endorsed on reverse. Fine.
Thumbnail 2248 Forest Hill,CA - 1861 - Mills, D.O. & Co. Bank Checks : Start Price: 50.00Estimate: 100.00 - 200.00 Lot of two. 1) No. 79 issued Nov. 6, 1861 for $200. Signed Hardy & Kennedy. Drawn on D.O. Mills & Co. Bankers. Gr./burgundy on crème. 7.5" x 3". 2) No. 249 issued Aug. 31, 1859 for $1200. Signed Hardy & Kennedy. Endorsed on reverse. Drawn on D.O. Mills & Co. Bankers. Gold/gr. On crème. 7.75" x 2.5".
Thumbnail 2249 Sacramento,CA - 1869-72 - Mills, D.O. & Co. Bank Checks : Start Price: 38.00Estimate: 75.00 - 100.00 Collection of two. 1) Issued Mar. 3, 1869 for $400. Signed Wm. Petrri. Cut cancelled at center with additional punches throughout. One orange 2 cent cancelled revenue stamp. Vignette of Lady Justice with flag and shield. Purple on crème. 2) Unnumbered issued Feb. 21, 1872 for $200. Signed B.P. & F.L. Whitney. One blue 2 cent manuscript cancelled revenue stamp. Cut cancelled. Same vignette but in blk on crème. Both 7.5" x 2.75".
Thumbnail 2250 Sacramento,CA - Sept. 25, 1852 - Mills, Townsend & Co. Check : Start Price: 100.00Estimate: 200.00 - 400.00 Extra Rare. Pay “West for taking care of hogs since Rice’s Death.” West received $21.00 for his troubles from the Estate of W. A. Rice. The check is signed by J. W. W[illegible] and [illegible] Adams. This is the first check written on the estate account. The vignette on the left of the check is in black ink and is a sailing vessel tacking in rough waves. Darius Ogden Mills and his cousin, E. J. Townsend, opened up this bank in Sacramento. According to Ira B. Cross, in volume one of his book, Financing an Empire: Banking in California, Mills set up an early banking house, named D. O. Mills & Company, Bankers in Sacramento at 55 J. Street between Second and Third Streets in 1849 [Cross, 1927, 78]. Townsend was an early partner but Mills bought him out in 1852 to become the sole owner of the bank. Cross does not explain the change in names from the 1849 bank to the bank listed on this check in 1852, nor if Townsend was with Mills in 1849 or joined him later. Therefore, it is not certain that this check is from Mills first bank in California.
Thumbnail 2251 San Francisco,CA - Page, Bacon & Co. Checks (6) : Start Price: 350.00Estimate: 700.00 - 1,500.00 Lot of six. 1) Issued Aug. 21, 1852 to B.R. Brekilin for $200. Signed by Gro. Ensign. Vignette of ship bordered with anchor and chain at left, "Eureka" at right with miners and roman soldier at right. Black on crème. Cut cancelled at center. Endorsed. 2) Issued May 16, 1855 to "Self" for $50. Signed by Payne. Vignette of ship at left. Black on blue. Endorsed on reverse. 3) Issued Sept. 23, 1852 to B.R. Brekilin for $500. Signed by Gro. Ensign. Black on blue. Border at left. 4) Issued "Dec. Of 1854" to Page, Bacon & Co. For $300. Vignette of eagle at left, shovel and tools at bottom. Endorsed by Frank Smith on reverse. 5) Issued Nov. 23, 1873 to Edmund Scott for $1000. Signed by Payne. Vignette of bank building with citizens at doors. Cut cancelled. Black on blue. 6) Unissued, unnumbered, uncut (3) batch of blank checks c. 1850's. Vignette of bank building at left. Fine. Statement of affairs during the Banking Panic of 1855 states Page, Bacon & Co. held $2,171,818 in assets and $1,302,950 in liabilities (Banker's Magazine, vol. XV, 1855.) J.B. Crockett (who later became a California Supreme Court Justice) was influential in arguing to liquidate the bank during the Californian Banking Panic of 1855. The town of Crocketville, CA (later Crockett) was named after him. Page, Bacon & Company was one of the early important gold rush banking and express businesses in San Francisco They got their start in 1849 and were part of the Page, Bacon & Co. of St. Louis. The company's San Francisco partners were originally Henry Haight, namesake San Francisco's famous Haight Street of the Haight-Ashbury area, and David Chambers. Francis Page, the brother of the principal, lived in Sacramento. Haight later became Governor of California. Fine.
Thumbnail 2252 San Francisco,CA - 1855 - Page, Bacon & Co. Check : Start Price: 100.00Estimate: 200.00 - 400.00 No. 613 issued Feb. 8, 1855 to Page, Bacon & Co. For $3605. Signed by Thomas Selby. The Selby Smelting and Refining Company was started by Thomas Selby, an Englishman who came to the Gold Rush in San Francisco in 1849. He started a business in metal and hardware and in 1856 established Selby Smelting and Lead Works, which was the first smelting operation for metals other than gold and silver on the west coast. His company enlarged their facility to forty furnaces and Selby quickly became the largest metal smelter in America. The original facility was in San Francisco on the corner of 1st and Howard Streets. Selby died in 1875 and his son continued to run the company. In the last quarter of the 19th Century, Selby had outgrown its San Francisco facility and moved across the bay to a site near the Hercules Dynamite Plant. Two small towns grew up nearby by the names of Tormey and Rodeo. In 1905, at the height of its success, the American Smelting and Refining Co. (ASARCO) purchased Selby. Since the company was so successful, ASARCO left the Selby name intact on all of their operations. In 1970 ASARCO closed the Selby operation because of tax and environmental problems. During the life of the company Selby had at least six different subsidiaries. These include the Selby Smelting and Refining Company, and Selby Smelting and Lead, etc. The records for Selby were donated to the California State Library in Sacramento.
Thumbnail 2253 San Francisco,CA - San Francisco County - c1850s - Palmer, Cook & Co. Bankers Checkbook : Start Price: 500.00Estimate: 1,000.00 - 2,000.00 Belonging to Morris A. Cohen. A bound checkbook with pre-printed dates of 185--. About half the checks have been used and the stubs remain. The other half is unused checks, 3 to a page. Printers: O’Meara & Painter. 8 x 12.” Tan paper with brown print. Like Page, Bacon & Company, this was one of the early San Francisco express and banking companies that opened in 1849. The original partners were Joseph C. Palmer, Charles W. Cook, George W. Wright and Edward Jones. Ira Cross in his 1927 History of Banking in California, said they engaged in questionable political activities from the start. James King of William, the vocal newspaper editor who was assassinated in 1856, attacked the bank vigorously in the press. He alone was primarily responsible for their failure that year. While Palmer and Cook closed the doors July 29, 1856 it was not legally dissolved until Jan 21, 1857.
Thumbnail 2254 San Francisco,CA - 1850's - Palmer, Cook & Co. Checks : Start Price: 150.00Estimate: 300.00 - 500.00 Lot of three. 1) Uncut set of three unissued, undated checks c. 1850's. Brown on crème. O'Meara and Painter Printers, San Francisco. 2) Uncut set of two unissued, undated checks c. 1850's. Black on blue. O'Meara, printer, San Francisco. 3) No. 324 issued march 31, 1854 to J. Hawes for $25. Cut cancelled at center. Vignette of dog at upper right, with a vignette of liberty with shield seated at left. Fine.
Thumbnail 2255 Shasta,CA - Nov. 4, 1854 - Rhodes & Company Check : Start Price: 50.00High Bid: 95.00Estimate: 100.00 - 200.00 No. 3296 issued to L. Miller for $500. Signed Rhodes & Co. For L.R. Stevens. Vignette of Native American with bow and feathers. 8.75: x 4". Fine.
Thumbnail 2256 Weaverville,CA - Trinity County - June 11, 1855 - Rhodes & Company Express & Banking Office Check : Start Price: 375.00High Bid: 500.00Estimate: 750.00 - 1,000.00 This check for $2936.50 was made out to the Exchange Account for the Bank’s office in Shasta, California, signed by F. W. Blake as agent for Rhodes & Co. Blake was the agent for Rhodes in Weaverville beginning in 1852. Very little survives today from this remote important gold mining camp located in the middle of the Trinity gold region in far northern California. Weaverville was the business center for the all the Trinity River region. The entire northern gold region’s business center was Shasta. From there, all business matters went south, either to Marysville or Sacramento. This is the only piece we have seen from Blake’s involvement in Weaverville. Please see the Unionville, Nevada section of this catalog for a lengthy story on Blake and his ingots. Rare piece.
Thumbnail 2257 Yreka,CA - Aug. 13, 1855 - Rhodes and Co. Checks (Yreka Office) : Start Price: 200.00High Bid: 700.00Estimate: 400.00 - 800.00 Lot of three. 1) No 133. Issued for $392 to "Angee (Chinaman)" Aug. 13, 1855. Endorsed in Chinese on reverse. Cancelled. "Whitney" handwritten over & Co. 2) Rhodes and Lusk's Express & Banking House. No. 319. Issued for $21 to AS Downer, ESQ. March 20, 1854. Cancelled. Endorsed on reverse. 3) No 1911. Issued to Tomlinson & Hood June 12, 1854. Cancelled. Endorsed on reverse. This collection indicates a later period of Rhodes & Co. Operating in the Yreka area north of the main offices at Weaverville and Shasta. The Rhodes and Whitney venture would last until 1857. See lots on Rhodes & Lusk and FW Blake (their early famous expressman.) Fine.
Thumbnail 2258 San Francisco,CA - 1858 - Sime & Co. Checks : Start Price: 100.00High Bid: 75.00Estimate: 200.00 - 400.00 Lot of two. 1) Issued Dec. 10, 1858 to "Myself" for $20. Cut cancelled at right. . Signed Wm. H. Davis. 2) Issued Dec. 6, 1858 to N. Saunders. Signed William H. Davis. Signature lined out. Endorsed on reverse. Davis was a merchant during this time in San Francisco. He later became influential in trying to establish New Town San Diego closer to the San Diego Bay. The oldest building in New Town is the William Heath Davis house (salt-box style prefab home) shipped from the east coast in 1850. It was styled after Davis' home in San Francisco. The venture in San Diego failed in 1851 but was later revived at a somewhat different location. Davis is also a relative of Oliver Wendell Holmes. Fine.
Thumbnail 2259 NV - 1864-1897 - Sutro Check Collection : Start Price: 150.00High Bid: 160.00Estimate: 300.00 - 500.00 Collection of three. Rare Signatures. 1. Signed by Hugo Sutro in Austin N. T. February 7th 1864. Payable to Phillipson and Mansfield for fifty dollars to be applied to the account of “Adolph Sutro Esq. Dayton, N. T.” The name of the bank is in subscript in the border – “Wm. B. Cooke and Co., Montgomery Block, San Francisco.” There is a green George Washington two cent federal revenue stamp in the upper left hand corner covering part of the vignette. All viewers can see of the vignette are hefty legs with bare feet coming out of a flowing robe. The check is rather plain. Gray. Slight foxing on the top edge. One small tear on top edge. Signed on the back by Phillipson and Mansfield at one end. At the other end, “Hugo Check for $50.” Hugo was Adolph’s younger brother, and was the ninth child of thirteen born in his family. He was born in 1837 in Prussia like the rest of his family. 2. Orange RND. Number 480. November 14, 1874. No vignette. Signed by H. B. Jackson, Superintendent S. F. Co. of the Sutro Tunnel Company in Sutro Nevada, payable to E. Nye [illegible] Collector in the amount of $1669.87 on a Wells, Fargo $ Co. Signed on reverse E Nye and oval stamp “Agency of The Bank of California, Virginia, Nev.” 3. Most likely signed by Charles Sutro in San Francisco. This person is either Adolph Sutro’s son or elder brother who was born in 1829 and lived to be 102 years old [http://stceolfrid.byethost13.com/phpgedview/individual.php?pid=I622&ged=Windmuller.GED&tab=0]. Dated May 8th 1896. Number 3570. Drawn on The Nevada Bank of San Francisco payable to Montgomery Block R. E. A. in the amount of $100.00. Orange on crème. Round cancel stamp “Paid Through S. P. Clearing House May 26, 1896, The Nevada Bank of S. F.” Signed on reverse by Montgomery Block Real Estate Associates, G. Cademasso, Tres by E. Cademasso Asst. E. Cademasso & Co. Vignette are the letters N and B in a calligraphy design over one another. The brother Charles is listed in the 1900 U. S. Census as living in San Francisco, at age seventy-one. The younger Charles was born in California either in 1863, 1864, or 1865 depending on the source. In 1897 he would have been at least thirty-two.
Thumbnail 2260 San Francisco,CA - Septmember 5, 1854 - Wells Fargo Check Start Price: 75.00Estimate: 150.00 - 250.00 To Snow & Rey for $127 signed by the Citizens Steam Navigation Company, E. Chapman, Agent. Printed by Nesbitt & Co. Wallstreet on blue paper. Endorsed on reverse. Spindle hole at center. Rare early Wells Fargo check. Fine.
Thumbnail 2261 San Francisco,CA - c1910-20 but unknown - Wells Fargo & Co. Bank Check : Start Price: 75.00High Bid: 375.00Estimate: 150.00 - 350.00 This is a very rare, unissued, $20 travelers check on Wells Fargo & Co. Extremely Fine.
Thumbnail 2262 Carson City,NV - January 13, 1862 - Wells Fargo & Co. Bank Check : Start Price: 100.00Estimate: 200.00 - 400.00 Identical check to the early Virginia City Wells Fargo check printed by Excelsior Print in S.F. This one is boldly signed by Nevada Territorial Governor James W. Nye. This check is issued to William Dall of Dall's Mill, one of the first custom mills on the Comstock and one of several to process Gould & Curry ore. Fine.
Thumbnail 2263 Gold Hill,NV - June 15, 1863 - Wells Fargo & Co. Bank Check *Territorial* : Start Price: 50.00High Bid: 100.00Estimate: 100.00 - 150.00 Certificate of deposit with green ink on buff onion skin paper, manuscript dateline Gold Hill, N.T. Cancelled PAID through the signature. Fine.
Thumbnail 2264 Virginia City,NV - Storey County - October 7, 1861 - Wells Fargo & Co. Bank Check : Start Price: 75.00High Bid: 50.00Estimate: 150.00 - 250.00 Very rare check signed by Graves, a Superintendent of the Gould & Curry Mine in V.C. Only a few of these checks are known today, none of which have the city noted in manuscript on the dateline. Printed by Excelsior Print, S.F. Fine.
Thumbnail 2265 Carson City,NV - Ormsby County - 1861-1876 - Yerington and Kidder and H. M. Yerington Bank Checks : Start Price: 100.00Estimate: 200.00 - 400.00 Collection of three checks. There is little evidence that Henry Yerington and John Flint Kidder had a partnership of any kind except for these checks signed by Yerington and Kidder. And these two checks were most likely signed by an agent of the company as the Yerington signature does not match his from his personal checking accounts or letters. The first check, #124, is made out to [illegible] H. Davis & Son, area merchants, on Sept. 21, 1867 on a Carson City, Wells, Fargo, & Co. check in the amount of $87.25. This check has two 2-cent revenue stamps on the left side. The first one is a federal orange George Washington and the second is an orange on white Nevada. There is a “Paid Through” oval stamp over the signature line. The second check is # 150, made out to W. Dailey on October 28th, 1867 on a Carson City Wells, Fargo & Co. in the amount of $10.00. It also has two 2-cent canceled revenue stamps on the left side of the check.--the first is a two cent George Washington federal stamp and the second is an orange on white Nevada stamp. The check has been stamped over the signature line “Paid Through.” The third check, # 205, is drawn on Agency of The Bank of California, Virginia, Nev., February 14, 1876, made out to self in the amount of $750.00. This check has H. M. Yerington imprint and buff RND. Kidder was born in New York City in 1830 and moved to Nevada in 1860. Later on he would be the chief engineer for the Northern Pacific Railroad and would build a narrow gauge railroad in Nevada County, California from 1874 to 1876 that went from Colfax, via Grass Valley, to Nevada City. The railroad was twenty-two miles long and cost $641,000.00 to build. Kidder married his wife Sarah in 1873. Upon his death in 1901, Sarah became the first woman to run a railroad in the area, if not the U.S. [http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~npmelton/nevkid.htm].
Thumbnail 2266 Virginia City,NV - Storey County - 1867-1874 - Yerington Personal Bank Checks : Start Price: 100.00Estimate: 200.00 - 300.00 Collection of four checks, one business check, and three personal. The first check, drawn on Wells, Fargo and Co. in Carson City on Sept. 10th 1867 payable to H. F. Rice for $263.00, is signed by a Yerington and Kidder agent. John Flint Kidder was a member of the Nevada Territorial Legislature in 1861. He was a surveyor for the Lake Bigler boundary to Honey Lake. In 1862, he surveyed Esmeralda County. After that he went to California for four years and was a surveyor for the Houghton-Ives Commission in 1863 that set the demarcation line between Nevada and California. In 1867 and 1868, Kidder had residences in both Sacramento and Nevada. Kidder eventually became a building engineer for the Oregon and California Railroad, of which Yerington had some involvement. Yerington was the Superintendent of the Virginia and Truckee Railroad. The partnership of Kidder and Yerington is heretofore unknown but the check proves there was some sort of relationship. Author Michelle Frazier recounts her grandfather’s fireside stories of early Nevada. One of them was about Henry F. Rice. She writes “Rice was originally an insurance salesman before becoming the first Wells Fargo agent appointed in the Nevada Territory. [He also was on the Ormsby County Commission in 1861, again in 1864, 1866, and in 1868.]He was quite intelligent and was later described by his quite literate niece Amilla as ‘….both nefarious and notorious and in [possession of a larcenous elixir in his spirit…’ At any rate, he replaced Abraham Curry as the Carson City Mint's Superintendent in the autumn of 1870 after Mr. Curry resigned that position to run for Lieutenant Governor of the State of Nevada. Curry had been under fire from day one in his position as the Mint's first Superintendent and some say his political aspirations were the only reason he ever took the job in the first place. Serving only from January, 1870 to September, 1870, Curry left the job in haste with some assurances from well-connected political friends that he would be a mortal lock to win the Lieutenant Governor's job. That assurance would prove to be misdirected as he lost that bid. . . . Mr. Rice was an original member of the commission appointed by the Treasury Secretary to oversee the building of the Mint in December, 1865. When Abraham Curry stepped down, Rice was a natural choice to succeed him. . . . Rice continued to run the Carson City Mint until May of 1873 when he was forced to resign amid a scandal that some Carson City gold coins were debased and lightweight” [http://www.pcgs.com/articles/article_view.chtml?artid=2767&type=1&universeid=313]. The check has a cancel stamp saying “Paid Through.” The second check, with buff RNG imprinted revenue stamp, number 50, is drawn on Yerington’s personal account and is personally signed. It is drawn on the Agency of the Bank of California, payable to Wm. B. Hickok in the amount of $38.25 on August 13, 1874 in Virginia Nev. Hickok was an eastern mining engineer according Fred Holabird. Hickok’s signature is on the back of the check. This Hickok is not to be confused with the famous “Wild Bill Hickok” although they are contemporaries. The third check, with buff RNG imprinted revenue stamp, is number 55, drawn on the Agency of The Bank of California, Virginia, Nev. and personally signed by Yerington on Aug. 22, 1874. The check is made out to G. W. Chedic, an early Carson City merchant and an early settler in the Genoa area when Nevada was part of Utah Territory, in the amount of $75.00. Geo. W. Chedic signed the check on the back. The fourth check, with buff RNG imprinted revenue stamp, is number 80, drawn on the Agency of The Bank of California in Virginia, Nev. It is made out to Thos. Taylor and Co. for the amount of $52.00 on September 25, 1874 and signed by Yerington. Thos. Taylor Co. signed the check on the back.
Thumbnail 2267 Helena,MT - Lewis and Clark County - April 19, 1901 - United States Assay Office Deposit Receipt : Start Price: 188.00High Bid: 200.00Estimate: 375.00 - 750.00 Gold Bullion Deposit receipt at the Helena, Montana Assay office for 19 oz of gold dust. The Helena Assay Office was authorized in 1874 and opened in January 1877. It was an obvious choice for the US Mint system as a receiving site for gold from Montana miners. While a Branch Mint had been proposed in the 1860's, the Treasury Department was unwilling to place such an important operation in what they viewed as isolated wilderness with an uncertain future. With Montana mines producing significant amounts of gold and silver by the early 1870's, something had to be done to facilitate processing, since the nearest facilities were located at Denver. Bullion shipments through the Rocky Mountains were unpredictable, dangerous and costly, so the Federal Government responded by opening the USAO at Helena which was essentially located in the geographical center of Montana’s gold country. Within just a few years, Montana would lead the nation in copper production, and be the first place to experiment with large tonnage, low grade mining. See two addional related pieces under Curtis, Perry & Ward in the Mining Ephemera Section.
Thumbnail 2268 1873 - Coinage Act Document : Start Price: 150.00High Bid: 225.00Estimate: 300.00 - 500.00 Notice from Adams Express indicating receipt of $322,588.50 in gold coinage part of a lot of $701,000.00 of gold coin received Dec. 31, 1873. Receipt from James Pollock, Superintendent of the U.S. Mint. Fine. 7.75” x 10”. President Abraham Lincoln appointed James Pollock as Director of the Mint in May of 1861; Pollock’s tenure as Director of the Mint ended in September 1866. He was reappointed Director of the Mint by Ulysses S. Grant in May 1869, where he remained until 1873. During that time the Carson City Mint opened its doors and an assay office was opened at Boise, Idaho.
Thumbnail 2269 San Francisco,CA - 1855 - Nevada Assayers Office Letter to the San Francisco Mint : Start Price: 200.00High Bid: 850.00Estimate: 400.00 - 200.00 First of Transfer Check from the Unites States Treasury Department Mint at West Point, New York to the Mint at San Francisco, CA. This was issued for the transfer of $5000 dollars on November 17, 1855. It is paid to the order of the Assistant Treasurer at San Francisco, is numbered 540 and has two detailed vignettes. The first vignette is in the upper right corner and is a detailed rendition of an early United States Capitol Building. In this depiction there are several horse drawn carriages, men and women in Victorian era gowns and suits. A small rotunda is apparent in the vignette. The Capitol rotunda construction did not commence until 1856, the year after this First of Transfer check was issued. The artist appears to have illustrated his predication for what the completed rotunda will look like. The second vignette is a portrait of George Washington much like the one on the current $1-bill. It is integrated within a black ornate patterned background which runs the width of the check on the left side. The check measures 8 ¾” x 4 ½”, is composed of red and black lettering and small black border. There are several stand-out signatures on the obverse. In the lower right hand corner are the signatures of the-then serving Secretary of the Treasury James Guthrie and Treasurer of the United States: Sam Casey. Both Casey and Guthrie served under President Franklin Pierce; Casey also served through the Presidency of James Buchanan. Written vertically across the center in red ink are the words “Second Paid January 31, 1856.” A red water mark reading First of the Treasury is horizontal across the middle of the obverse. The reverse has written “pay to the order of Flint, Peabody & Co.” Flint, Peabody & Co was a cargo merchant company based out of San Francisco in the 1800’s who worked in association with T. Magoun & Son Shipping and Merchant carrier. T. Magoun & Son helped establish the State Street-area of Boston as one of the east coast’s most influential financial districts. The San Francisco Mint opened in 1854 and served to ease the demand for currency that had bloomed as a result of the gold rush in California. Succinctly, a mint opened in Carson City in 1870 to help ease the Comstock Lode demand in Nevada.
Thumbnail 2270 San Francisco,CA - September 12, 1855 - Memorandum of Gold Bullion Deposited at the Branch Mint of t Start Price: 750.00High Bid: 750.00Estimate: 1,500.00 - 2,500.00 Receipt for gold deposited by S.A. McMeans, signed by Cahill for the San Francisco Branch Mint. Dr. S.A. McMeans was born in Dandridge, TN in 1808 and fought in the war with Mexico, before going to California in 1849. He was elected as State Treasurer in 1853 and during his term finances all over the State of California were in deplorable condition. According to Bancroft, “Millions had been wrung out of the people to support extravagant county and municipal governments”. While reform was underway, it began too late to avert catastrophe and a deficit was discovered in the accounts of McMeans, the State Treasurer. McMeans was also involved in the bank failures of 1855 and 1856. He died in Virginia City in 1876.
Thumbnail 2271 San Francisco,CA - 1861 - Memorandum Grains, CA- California Placer Gold : Start Price: 400.00High Bid: 825.00Estimate: 800.00 - 1,200.00 One of the earliest assay receipts. This memorandum records a deposit of Grains, California, referring to California Placer Gold. The memorandum is dated August 6 and numbered 4787 and submitted by Banks & Davies. The memorandum covers the following categories: weight before and after melting, fineness, value of the gold, silver parted from the gold, premium on silver, deductions, and net value. The obverse reads as follows: “Payable at the Branch Mint only on presentation of the Receipt of Corresponding date and number heretofore issued, viz: in coins Gold Coins $207.05” the reverse has several figure jotted down and promptly followed by “Per oz. $7.84!” The memorandum has a fold down the center, overall it is in very good condition.
Thumbnail 2272 San Francisco,CA - 1856 - Hutchins California Magazine Vol.1 No. IV October 1856 : Start Price: 100.00High Bid: 350.00Estimate: 200.00 - 500.00 Volume 1 number 4 from October 1856. The featured article is a detailed 8 page piece titled "Coining Money" describing the coining process at the new San Francisco Branch Mint that opened in 1854. With elegant illustrations throughout, the modus operandi is thoroughly described as the author provides a guided tour through the melting room where “bars” are transformed into “chips” weighing a tenth of an ounce. From there “chips” are taken to the assay room where they are carefully examined. Next, in the melting room gold and silver are melted down, cooled and granulated. The granulations are conveyed from the melting room to the refining room. The author continues to discuss the process in which chemicals such as nitrate of silver, chloride of silver, hydrogen, granulated zinc and muriatic acid are used throughout the process. Illustrations accompany the article and detail the “drawing of acid from porcelain pots” and the “running of gold into ingots” Furthermore; explanations are given of how the metals are rolled into long “tube-like”, repeatedly cooled and heated and eventually shaped and molded into coins. Afterwards, the coins make their way to the adjuster’s room where they are individually measured and weighed. Surprisingly, any error in weight or size sends the coin back to the milling machine to re-created. In addition to the primary article on the San Francisco Mint, Hutching’s California Magazine includes short stories and essays. Pieces are titled “When our George Comes Home”, “The Iron Horse”, “Circumstantial Evidence” “The Poison Oak”, and “Anne Whittingham.” The cover of the magazine has a detailed vignette of the “the front view of the San Francisco Branch Mint.” Rare, and one of the first four issues of this well known Gold Rush California publication. Hutching’s California Magazine was published by James M. Hutchings from 1856 -1861. Hutchings is perhaps best known for his treatise on Yosemite. He also published a large number of duisserent illustrated letter sheets illustrating life in California in the 1854 period, quite valuable today. A green stamp is present on the top of the cover because this magazine was originally housed in the San Francisco Mercantile Library. It measures 9 ¼” x 5 ½” and is 46 pages in length. The issue has the appearance of having been removed from a bound volume, and pages are no longer tightly bound. Overall it is in good condition.
Thumbnail 2273 San Francisco,CA - 1856-s - Five Dollar Gold Piece : Start Price: 200.00High Bid: 425.00Estimate: 400.00 - 600.00 Uncertified 1856-S. Found by Bob Hilts in 1967 with a metal detector. Johntown, Nevada. Very Good Condition.
Thumbnail 2274 San Francisco,CA - 1865-1874 - Pollock, James Signed Checks : Start Price: 200.00Estimate: 400.00 - 500.00 Lot of four. 1) Feb. 3, 1874. Personal check No. 220 for $154.28. Issued to E. Knight & Co. 2) Sept. 12, 1865. Personal check (unnumbered) issued to Miller, Esq. For $5.33. One orange IRS 2 cent cancelled stamp at left. Milton Bank. One orange IRS 2 cent cancelled stamp at left. 3) Oct. 9, 1865. Issued to John Munag MD for $100.75. Milton National Bank. One orange IRS 2 cent cancelled stamp at left. Cancel "X" cut through middle of check. 4) Unnumbered check issued to Henry Pollock for $154.52. Farmers' and Mechanics' National Bank. One orange IRS 2 cent cancelled stamp at left. Canceled "X" cut through top of check. Pollock was appointed by Abraham Lincoln as Superintendent of the US Mint which ended in Sept. 1866. He was reappointed by Ulysses S. Grant for a second term beginning in May, 1869 and remained superintendent until 1873. The Carson City (NV) Mint was opened in 1870. An assay office was opened in Boise, ID receiving its first deposits in 1872(REF. Failor).
Thumbnail 2275 San Francisco,CA - March 31st, 1869 - San Francisco Branch Mint Silver Presentation Tray, John N. So Start Price: 4,000.00High Bid: 6,500.00Estimate: 8,000.00 - 10,000.00 Coin silver tray made by Shreve & Co. of San Francisco 4.5” x 6.5”, engraved, “J.N.S. from his fellow clerks of the Treasury Department U.S. Branch Mint San Francisco March 31, 1869”. Shreve & Co. was the leading house of silver manufacturers in the west in the 1860's and 1870's. This piece bears their name and hallmarks, and is made of coin silver, more customary during the 1860's (90% instead of sterling at 92%). The initials J.N.S. can only be the abbreviations for one man, John N. Southern. Southern started at the San Francisco Branch Mint in late 1861 or early 1862, according to directory entries, as the Receipt Clerk in the Treasurer's office, and remained in that position until his retirement in 1869. He retired on the day this tray is dated, March 31, 1869 and immediately went to work as a full partner with his friend and mining man, Richard Chenery in the new firm of Chenery, Southern & Co., importers and jobbers of wines and liquors. Their first office was at 311 Clay Street, though they moved shortly afterward to 215 and 217 California Street. The pair apparently did not take over an existing liquor wholesale business, since no such business was located at that address the year prior. At the time Southern got into the liquor business, it was at the front end of a massive liquor boom in the west. With the discovery of new mines ubiquitous throughout the west, liquor was flowing like rivers into the bars and saloons. Southern and his partner were in for a profitable ride, particularly if they landed one of the cherished name branch distributorships. By 1876 Southern was left to run the business, while his partner Chenery ran a mining office. The tray has four feet elevating the tray from a tabletop about one half inch. It is oval shaped and bears the engraved inscription in an oval at the center of the tray that is about 1.5” x 2.5”. This may be the earliest presentation piece extant for a San Francisco Branch Mint employee. There is a slight adhesive mark at center, and minimal hairlines; Otherwise, this piece is in Exceptional condition.
Thumbnail 2276 San Francisco,CA - 1874 - San Francisco Mint Stereoview : Start Price: 175.00High Bid: 275.00Estimate: 350.00 - 650.00 Stereoview of the second San Francisco Mint Building shortly after its completion in 1874. It measures 3 ½” x 6 ¾” and is on a yellow card stock backing. It was produced by the American Scenery Company in California. This stereoview has exceptional clarity which is only enhanced by the yellow of the cardstock. The left image is slightly overexposed to accentuate the viewing process. “The Granite Lady” as the mint was dubbed, was- a San Francisco treasure and still stands today as a museum. This stereoview focuses primarily on the front of the building which has an elegant pedimented portico. A clue that this stereogram was produced almost directly after the building’s construction is the absence of the telephone poles and wires that are visible in most images taken from this same angle. Telephone poles and wires first began to appear around their invention in 1876. This shot was definitely taken sometime between 1874 and 1876. Excellent Quality and Condition.
Thumbnail 2277 San Francisco,CA - 1875-1906 - San Francisco Mint Photographs : Start Price: 400.00Estimate: 800.00 - 1,200.00 This is a lot of 3 photographs, all are different sizes. The first is the largest of the three, measuring 9 ½” x 7.” This photograph has the sharpest contrast, highest resolution and best quality of all three. The image was taken from an offset street view facing the building’s left corner. The grand staircase and large granite pillars are architectural standouts by the buildings main entrance. The photo details every window and most large sandstone and granite blocks used in its construction. Each wing of the building has a fenced in garden adjacent to the sidewalk. There are three men standing with a horse-drawn wagon in the bottom right corner of the photo. A lone horse and wagon are on the street to the left, and diagonal can be seen a faint pair of blurry pedestrians. This photo is mounted on a card stock backing and is in Very Good condition. Second, a smaller, similar photograph taken c1874 of the San Francisco Mint’s left corner. This photo was taken mid-day and measures 8” x 5”. The contrast and clarity are of fair quality. On the street corner directly in the middle of the photo stand 3 men, the most notable of which is wearing tan slacks, has on a derby hat and is pointing towards the other two men with his right hand. The multi-colored blocks of sandstone and granite can be clearly seen; they alternate in a checkered dark: light pattern. The streets in the foreground are built of in-laid stones and through them run a grid of train tracks, following the intersecting streets. There is little to no damage to this photograph or its cardstock backing and is in good condition. Third is the smallest of the three. It measures 6”x 4” and was taken just after the great San Francisco Earthquake of 1906. The Mint was not destroyed in the earthquake. However, the fire did cause considerable damage. This photo conveys how many of the plate glass windows were melted by the intense heat and how as a result of the building’s heat, pressure increased and blew out many of the exterior materials such as large sections of granite and sandstone. The street between the Mint and the adjacent building is being examined by two bystanders (one in the foreground wearing long overcoat and top hat; and the other blurred and standing to the right). Both men are small in comparison to the heaps of rubble and seas of ash that appear overwhelming in the frame. The top section was “whited-out” by a previous owner who had written “North end of building/where fire was hottest/windows boarded up after fire” to describe the scene. Besides this white section this photo is in fair condition. Each photograph in the lot was taken of the second United States Mint at San Francisco. The original San Francisco Mint was constructed in 1854 to accommodate the supply of bullion from the California Gold Rush. The first year of the San Francisco mint, it created an estimated $4 million worth of coins from gold bullions. After deciding the original mint did not have sufficient space for the needed capacity, a new mint building was built in 1874. This second mint has a long run until 1937 when they began construction of the third mint building. In 1906, the year of the infamous San Francisco Earthquake, the mint building withstood the 7.9 shake, however took severe damage from fire. Around this time period, nearly 1/3 of all United States gold was housed in the San Francisco Mint building. Even though the third mint building is currently in use, the former still stands as a San Francisco landmark. “The Old Granite Lady” as it was dubbed is currently under renovation and is re-opening in 2012 as a museum and tourist attraction.
Thumbnail 2278 San Francisco,CA - June 4, 1877 - Pollock, James US Mint "Garage Sale" Document : Start Price: 100.00High Bid: 50.00Estimate: 200.00 - 400.00 Office of the U.S. Assistant Treasurer of documenting "sale of old material" totaling $98.90 deposited to the U.S. Treasury. The following items are noted to have been sold "old iron", "old paint", " a piece of hose" all sold to "Newcome". "I.N. Edwards" bought "three barrels", "Prof. I.C. Booth" bought old ash and old iron. Totals for each are also noted. Fine. 8.25" x 4.5".
Thumbnail 2279 San Francisco,CA - July 23, 1878 - Mint of the United States Memorandum of Gold Bullion Deposit : Start Price: 125.00Estimate: 250.00 - 350.00 Memorandum of Gold Bullion Deposited (Am Gold)
Thumbnail 2280 San Francisco,CA - c1900 - San Francisco Branch Mint Bar : Start Price: 375.00High Bid: 850.00Estimate: 750.00 - 1,250.00 Silver San Francisco Mint Bar, #936, 6.20 oz., 999.5 fine.
Thumbnail 2281 San Francisco,CA - January 27, 1904 - Memorandum of Gold Bullion Deposited and Yellow Aster Assay Re Start Price: 60.00High Bid: 75.00Estimate: 120.00 - 250.00 This is a two item lot consisting of a Memorandum of Gold Bullion at the United States Mint of San Francisco and its assay receipt from the Yellow Aster M&M Co. near Ransburg, CA located in the Rand Mining District of Kern County. The assay report from the Yellow Aster M&M Co records the gold bar as being worth $9441.01. It is dated January 26, 1904. The assay categories on the report include the following: fineness, weight in ounces, value per ounces for gold and silver, total values of gold, silver and combined. The accompanying gold bullion memorandum from the US Mint in San Francisco states that the gold bar’s value is $9347.66. The memorandum is numbered 4527, and dated January 27, 1904. An “official” stamp is in the middle of the “gold” column of the memorandum. Ore Deposits were discovered shortly after placer mines had opened in the Rand Mining District in 1893. The Yellow Aster Mine operated from 1893-1918 and then for a brief twenty-year stint from 1921-1941. In its lifetime, Yellow Aster yielded more than 12 million dollars. According to writing and historian R.C. Bailey Yellow Aster was named after a paperback novel from the time period. Yellow Aster Mines was heavily financed by Dr. Rose Burcham. Burcham was one of the first female settlers to arrive in the Randsburg area and was well known as being on of the largest Financiers of her era. According to Dr. Lorraine Blair, Dr. Rose Burcham, “provided the grubstake that got the great Yellow Aster Mine and Mill established, and then grew into her role as ‘Boss Lady of the Yellow Aster Mine’.”
Thumbnail 2282 San Francisco,CA - 1939 - Memorandum of Deposit Report at US San Francisco Mint from Talapoosa Taili Start Price: 50.00Estimate: 100.00 - 200.00 Lot of six memorandums of deposit for gold and silver bullions at. Talapoosa was small mining community that was worked at early as 1864 according to some sources. Consensus is that most of the mining took place in Talapoosa between 1911 and 1943. Talapoosa is located around 3 miles north of Silver Springs, NV. Originally it was prospected by Virginia City, NV miners. The mines mainly extracted gold, silver and copper. According to Bertrand Franklin Couch and Jay A. Carpenter, Talapoosa had some of the lowest years of production in 1914 and 1940 when extracted an estimated $12,400. Shortly following the Great Depression, around the time these memorandums were submitted, Talapoosa was able to extract around $304,151. These particular submissions of bullions were from the reworking of tailings. All date between July and November of 1939. Each is stamped by Superintendent PJ Haggerty. The bullions were assayed at being worth between $100 and $375. All were originally folded either in half. All are in good or very good condition.
Thumbnail 2283 Denver,CO - 1873 - Denver Mint White Rocks Lode Assay Receipt (1) : Start Price: 250.00High Bid: 500.00Estimate: 500.00 - 1,000.00 From the United States Mint at Denver dated May 19, 1873. The ore assayed originated in the White Rocks Lode near Boulder, Wyoming. Gold was first discovered in Wyoming along the Sweetwater River in 1842. During the 1850’s and 1860’s, mining increased with largest surge in mining coming shortly after the Cariso Lode was discovered in 1867. After 1938 the mining industry slowly declined. From its commencement through 1959 the total output was around 82,000 ounces of gold. Exact Signature in Bottom Right Corner by JJS Schumer by Davis. Exact Company Name: Illegible. Overall in Very Good Condition. The following receipts are almost identical.
Thumbnail 2284 Denver,CO - 1873 - Denver Mint White Rocks Lode Assay Receipt (2) : Start Price: 250.00High Bid: 500.00Estimate: 500.00 - 1,000.00 Denver,CO - 1873 - Denver Mint White Rocks Lode Assay Receipt (2) :
Thumbnail 2285 Denver,CO - 1873 - Denver Mint White Rocks Lode Assay Receipt (3) : Start Price: 250.00High Bid: 475.00Estimate: 500.00 - 1,000.00 Denver,CO - 1873 - Denver Mint White Rocks Lode Assay Receipt (3) :
Thumbnail 2287 Denver,CO - June 27, 1875 - Denver Mint Memorandum of Gold Bullion Deposit : Start Price: 175.00High Bid: 375.00Estimate: 350.00 - 700.00 Memorandum of Gold Bullion Deposited (Am Gold)
Thumbnail 2288 Denver,CO - 1876 - Memorandum of Gold Bar : Start Price: 100.00High Bid: 375.00Estimate: 200.00 - 400.00 Memorandum of gold bullion of Colorado Placer Gold deposited at the United States Mint at Denver, CO. The gold bullion came by way of the First National Bank. The memorandum is numbered 1050 and dated September 1876. Categories are designated for the description of the Bullion, weight in ounces before and after melting, the assay of gold and silver, whole values, net values and what was returned to the depositor. The Value of the bar is valued at $154.63 for gold and $2.42 for silver. Signed by assayers A.S. Webster and Jacob F.L. Schirmer. There is a blue stamp in the middle reading “This memorandum is for the information of the depositor.” Reverse is signed by Jeff Pallou. Memorandum measures 11 ½” x 5 ½”. The Denver Mint was founded in 1863 shortly after gold was discovered in Colorado in 1858. Originally, the mint was used as only an assay office. Coinage officially began in Denver in 1906. The Denver Mint is largest producer of coins anywhere in the world. Originally the memorandum was folded into fourths; this is the only aesthetic damage. Overall it is in very good condition.
Thumbnail 2289 New Orleans,LA - 1899-1902 - U.S. Mint Letters ~ Frank D. Hetrich : Start Price: 100.00High Bid: 250.00Estimate: 200.00 - 400.00 Lot of five personal letters signed by Frank D. Hetrich, Melter and Refiner of the U.S. Mint in New Orleans and former Superintendent of the Carson City Mint (1873-74) in Nevada. All are addressed to W.S. Hathaway, Sec. of the Banning Water Co. in Banning, CA, and regard Hetrich’s stock assessments. All are written on letterhead of the Mint in New Orleans.
Thumbnail 2290 Carson City,NV - Ormbsy County - 1974 - Carson City Mint Painting : Start Price: 100.00High Bid: 375.00Estimate: 200.00 - 400.00 Framed, wood with plastic veneer. No glass. Measures 29” x 34.” Signed by artist Eugene Clay. No information on the artist. Very colorful, active, comical, and unrealistic view of the goings on at the U. S. Mint. Two wagons are in front of the gray/blue/green hued brick-like building with armed guards. The names on the wagons are Consolidated Virginia and California and Eureka Mine Smelting. The red Consolidated wagon is making a delivery as armed Mexican Federales-esque looking men are unloading strong boxes from the back of the wagon. The green Eureka wagon has a slovenly dressed miner sitting on top of a lode with a rifle. Two mint employees are bringing out bags of silver coin to an awaiting bank stage coach. One of the mint tellers has dropped his poke of silver coins and they are spilling everywhere on the ground because he is being bitten on his left arm by a donkey that is attached to one of the wagons. One man is trying to help save the teller by pulling on the donkey’s reins, while another has dropped his book and is rushing to help. There are silver ingots in the bottom left corner. Onlookers from the Mint include other tellers, a woman, and a cat warming itself in an upstairs window. The Carson City Mint was commissioned after the Civil War in 1867, and the building was finished in 1869. Before the Carson City Mint was built, miners and mining companies had to get their product to the San Francisco Mint, which cost them a great deal in freighting expenses. With a branch Mint in Carson City, miners and Nevada mining operators were able to realize more profit. The first coins were struck in 1870 and those bear the "CC" marks that coin collectors love to see. Coins were struck until 1893.
Thumbnail 2291 Carson City,NV - Ormsby County - Various dates - Carson City Minter Don Schmitz Token Collection : Start Price: 150.00High Bid: 425.00Estimate: 300.00 - 600.00 Don Schmitz Nevada City Mint Collection. Lot of 36 different commemorative dollar size tokens. All mint state displayed in mahogany frame with Lucite covering.
Thumbnail 2292 Carson City,NV - Ormsby County - Modern - Carson City Mint Ingots : Start Price: 75.00High Bid: 375.00Estimate: 150.00 - 300.00 Lot of two. Made by Nevada City per Carson City Mint under contract. 1) Silver. 1993. No. CC633. .999 fine. DWT 3. GR 4. 2) Silver. 1992. No. CC106. .999 fine. DWT 5. GR 6.
Thumbnail 2293 Carson City,NV - Ormsby County - 1999 - Carson City Silver Bar : Start Price: 2,000.00Estimate: 4,000.00 - 7,000.00 The Nevada State Museum Carson City Mint Coin Show Grand Prize. A 10oz silver bar etched on the face by a Russian Faberge machine displaying obverse and reverse strikes of cancelled 1876 Seated Liberty Half "CC" dies. The Carson City Mint pulled dies from their vaults that had been cancelled in the late 1800s and had this 10oz silver bar made for their coin show raffle in hopes that it would draw in lots of guests to the "CC" mint 1999 annual coin show. In the early days of the U.S. Mints when a die had worn or become damaged, and no longer perfect, or if the design had simply run its course, the mint would cancel the dies. When cancelling a die the chop method was used through the 1900s and into the 1900s. The mint master would chop and X or a cancellation line deep into and across t he face of the retired die so that it could no longer be struck. If it was struck again a raised thick X or cancellation line would show strongly on the face of the coin often destroying dates and detail. The Carson City mints original Press #1 (still in operation) could not be utilized in the striking of the bar in fear of damaging the old 1800s press. At the time the mint mast/ coiner at the Carson City mint was Don Schmitz, who was also the owner and mint master of the Nevada City Mint, thus not damaging the old dies or the Carson City Mints original Press #1. The etching design by the Russian Faberge machine on the face of the 10oz silver bar and the cancelled 1876-CC Seated Liberty Half strikes displayed side by side, makes this a ONE OF A KIND Carson City Mint Collectible memorabilia piece. The Carson City mint continues to put on a great coin show with very unique raffles prizes, but nothing like this has been done over the decade since the striking of the cancelled dies.
Thumbnail 2294 Carson City,NV - Ormsby County - 1875-76 - Carson City US Coin 10 Cents (Dime) : Start Price: 50.00High Bid: 130.00Estimate: 100.00 - 125.00 Lot of two. Both uncertified 1) 1875 CC 10c. Very fine condition. Original. 2) 1876 CC. Extremely fine. Original. This lot and the following Carson City coins come from an old time collection. We have been conservative in our grading of these coins and many are suitable for submission to certification services.
Thumbnail 2295 Carson City,NV - Ormsby County - 1876 - Carson City US Coin 25 Cents (Quarter) : Start Price: 200.00High Bid: 475.00Estimate: 400.00 - 600.00 Uncertified Mint state.
Thumbnail 2296 Carson City,NV - Ormsby County - 1878 - Carson City US Coin 25 Cents (Quarter) : Start Price: 200.00High Bid: 225.00Estimate: 400.00 - 600.00 Brilliant Uncirculated with light rub. Small scratch in obverse field. Uncertified.
Thumbnail 2297 Carson City,NV - Ormsby County - 1871 - Carson City US Coin 50 Cents : Start Price: 200.00High Bid: 900.00Estimate: 400.00 - 700.00 Uncertified. Very good-fine. Original.
Thumbnail 2298 Carson City,NV - Ormsby County - 1872 - Carson City US Coin 50 Cents : Start Price: 200.00High Bid: 650.00Estimate: 400.00 - 600.00 Uncertified. Fine-Very fine. Original.
Thumbnail 2299 Carson City,NV - Ormsby County - 1873 - Carson City US Coin 50 Cents : Start Price: 200.00High Bid: 475.00Estimate: 400.00 - 600.00 Lot of two. 1) 1873 with arrows. Good-very good. 2) 1873 no arrows. Very good.
Thumbnail 2300 Carson City,NV - Orsmby County - 1875-76 - Carson City US Coin 50 Cents : Start Price: 50.00High Bid: 180.00Estimate: 100.00 - 150.00 Lot of two. Both uncertified. 1) 1875 CC. Very good. 2) 1877 CC. Fine. Light obverse scratches in right field.
Thumbnail 2301 Carson City,NV - Ormsby County - 1870 - Carson City US Coin $1 : Start Price: 750.00High Bid: 1,700.00Estimate: 1,500.00 - 2,500.00 Seated Liberty NGC Certified. Very fine 30. Nice original piece. Accurately graded.
Thumbnail 2302 Carson City,NV - Ormsby County - 1875 - Carson City US Coin $1 : Start Price: 250.00High Bid: 375.00Estimate: 500.00 - 750.00 Uncertified trade dollar. Extremely fine to almost uncirculated. Cleaned.
Thumbnail 2303 Carson City,NV - Ormsby County - 1891 - Carson City US Coin $1 : Start Price: 125.00High Bid: 170.00Estimate: 250.00 - 350.00 Morgan Dollar. Almost uncirculated/ uncirculated. Uncertified.
Thumbnail 2304 Carson City,NV - Ormsby County - 1875 - Carson City US Coin $20 Gold : Start Price: 1,000.00High Bid: 2,700.00Estimate: 2,000.00 - 2,500.00 Extremely fine/ almost uncirculated. Uncertified $20.
Thumbnail 2305 Carson City,NV - Ormsby County - 1881 - Carson City US Coin $10 Gold : Start Price: 750.00High Bid: 800.00Estimate: 1,500.00 - 2,000.00 Lightly cleaned. Extremely fine. Almost Uncirculated. Uncertified $10.
Thumbnail 2306 Carson City,NV - Ormsby County - 1891 - Carson City US Coin $10 Gold : Start Price: 500.00High Bid: 800.00Estimate: 1,000.00 - 1,500.00 Almost uncirculated/circulated. Uncertified $10.
Thumbnail 2307 Carson City,NV - Ormsby County - 1891 - Carson City US Coin $5 Gold : Start Price: 300.00High Bid: 425.00Estimate: 600.00 - 900.00 Lightly cleaned. Extremely fine. Uncertified $5.
Thumbnail 2308 Carson City,NV - Ormsby County - 1892 - Carson City US Coin $20 Gold : Start Price: 1,000.00High Bid: 1,500.00Estimate: 2,000.00 - 2,500.00 Very fine-extremely fine. Cleaned. Uncertified $20.
Thumbnail 2309 Carson City,NV - Ormsby County - 1882 - Carson City US Coin $20 Gold : Start Price: 1,500.00High Bid: 3,000.00Estimate: 3,000.00 - 5,000.00 Almost uncirculated/uncirculated. Uncertified $20.
Thumbnail 2310 Carson City,NV - Ormsby County - 1892 - Carson City US Coin $10 Gold : Start Price: 500.00High Bid: 700.00Estimate: 1,000.00 - 1,500.00 Extremely fine. Lightly cleaned. Uncertified $10.
Thumbnail 2311 Carson City,NV - Ormsby County - 1872 - Carson City Mint Document of Memorial to Congress : Start Price: 150.00High Bid: 275.00Estimate: 300.00 - 500.00 Four page letter in regards to Carson City Mint Memorial to Congress. The author MJ Farrill, carefully details numerically how the US Mint at Carson City is worthy of receiving a memorial. MJ Farrill lists reasons such as the productivity of the mint, how most of the materials are brought in from local mines, and how the mint had unparalleled potential to succeed. The letter is addressed to a friend Curtis and signed by author, MJ Farrill. The paper on which this letter was written was originally bound to larger text block; Evident by the holes in the top of the paper which were intended for binding. When unfolded, the paper measures 28” in length and 8.5” in width. The entire letter is handwritten on paper provided by the John. G. Fox Booksellers and Stationary Company in Carson City. The letter was folded to fit in an envelope; these folds are still present. There is some fading to the printing. Fair condition.
Thumbnail 2312 Carson City,NV - Ormsby County - May 28, 1874 - Gold Clippings Receipt : Start Price: 250.00High Bid: 1,000.00Estimate: 500.00 - 1,000.00 No. 32 issued for receipt of 2,986.51 oz "Gold Clippings". Received of F.D. Hetrich. Signed by C.W. Bryant (Melter and Refiner). Likely inner-office memo regarding the receipt by the melter and refiner of the coin planchet gold clippings to reprocess for additional coinage. Red on blue with ribboned border at left. One punch at left, slight staining at bottom edge. 8" x 4".
Thumbnail 2313 Carson City,NV - Ormsby County - Aug. 19, 1884 - Carson City Mint (James Crawford) Correspondence : Start Price: 250.00High Bid: 425.00Estimate: 500.00 - 1,000.00 Issued to R.P. Keating (Supt., Hale & Norcross) regarding understandings of mint procedures of refinements of silver, gold, and copper. Signed James Crawford, Supt. In this correspondence, Crawford states the lack of familiarity in the process. The letter was sent with a copy of the instructions and policies distributed to the mint. On purple Carson City Mint letterhead. 3pp. stapled at top. 8" x 10".
Thumbnail 2314 Carson City,NV - Ormsby County - 1888 - Memorandum of Silver Bullion : Start Price: 100.00High Bid: 100.00Estimate: 200.00 - 400.00 No. 81 issued to H.R. Logan for 5130 oz. silver amalgam from the Chollar Mill. Signed W.G. Thompson. Total for gold and silver received is $6998.83. Includes postcard of the Carson City Mint building. The building was designed by Alfreed B. Mullett, Supervising Architect of the U.S. Department of the Treasury. After closing operation in 1933, the building was sold to the State of Nevada. Today the building is the home of the Nevada State Museum. 11.5" x 5.5".
Thumbnail 2315 Carson City,NV - Ormsby County - March 23, 1888 - Memorandum of Silver Bullion : Start Price: 150.00Estimate: 300.00 - 600.00 No. 66 issued to H.R. Logan for 6992oz. Of silver amalgam worth $4010.21. Signed by W.R. Davis, Supt. "Silver calculated at $1 per Stand. Oz." handwritten but "silver calculated at $1.16 per standard oz" stamped at bottom left. Hale and Norcross. 11.5" x 5.5".
Thumbnail 2316 Carson City,NV - Ormsby County - 1889 - U.S. Mint Receipt : Start Price: 100.00High Bid: 200.00Estimate: 200.00 - 400.00 Receipt from the Melter & Refiners Office of the United States Mint at Carson City dated March 21, 1889. This receipt is addressed to the Superintendent of the Mint. Written on the obverse side is an order written as the following: “3 Pcs. 3x9 20/ 3 Pcs. 3x3 20” Signed by assistant melter and refiner A.H. Parker. Small message in the upper left corner: It is undecipherable. Size 7 ¾” x 4 ½”. Rare. The mint at Carson City was established by congress in 1863; however construction was delayed by the ongoing Civil War. Instead the mint was opened in 1869. Abraham Curry, founder of Carson City was the first superintendent. Any coin minted at the Carson City mint bore the mark “CC”. Over $49 million in gold and silver was coined at Carson City Mint. Notable coins which were minted here were the Double Eagles ($20), Gold Eagles ($10), and Half Eagles ($5). After the decline of the Comstock Lode the mint status was removed from Carson City in 1899. As of 1941, it’s served as a museum with the original mint press still available for viewing.
Thumbnail 2317 Carson City,NV - Ormsby County - 1889-1891 - Mint/Mine Correspondences : Start Price: 300.00High Bid: 300.00Estimate: 600.00 - 1,200.00 Lot of three. All issued on Mint of the United States at Carson, Nevada letterhead. 1) Issued Apr. 7, 1891 for deposit of $2302.14 with a $12500 advance on account. Signed Hon. R.P. Keating, Supt. Savage Mine, Virginia City. 2) Issued March 14, 1890 requesting gross value of silver and gold produced by the hale & Norcross in 1889. Typed in blue ink. Signed T.R. Hofer, Acting Supt. 3) Handwritten letter issued July 30, 1888 folr transport of gold and silver for deposit by the Savage Mine. Signed Hon. R.P. Keating, Supt. All previously tri-folded.
Thumbnail 2318 Carson City,NV - Ormsby County - May 7, 1889 - Carson City Mint Melter & Refiner's Office Order : Start Price: 150.00High Bid: 450.00Estimate: 300.00 - 600.00 Issued for 2 iron skimmers. Signed A.H. Parker, Asst. "Order Book 5/7/89" handwritten at top left. Signed W.R. Davis. Carson City Mint operated from 1870 to 1933. It's main function was to issue coinage from the silver mined in the region much like the San Francisco Mint issued gold coinage from the gold mined in the California gold rush. The Carson City Mint bore the CC mint mark and issued 107 various silver and gold coins during its time of operation. The skimmers ordered are used in the bullion melting/refining process. Blk on crème. 8" x 3.25".
Thumbnail 2319 Carson City,NV - Ormbsy County - Nov. 26, 1889 - Mint Correspondence : Start Price: 150.00High Bid: 225.00Estimate: 300.00 - 600.00 Typed letter issued Nov. 26, 1889 detailing that the Fed. directed the Carson City Mint to pay 1% less than San Francisco Mint for bullion. Purple Mint of the United States at Carson, Nev. Letterhead. Signed S. Wright, Supt. Previously tri-folded. 8" x 10".
Thumbnail 2320 Carson City,NV - Ormsby County - c1890 - Carson City Mint/Mexican Mill Assay Receipt : Start Price: 100.00Estimate: 200.00 - 400.00 Return for bullion bars from the Mexican Mill. Weight: 4123.80oz silver with .999 fineness. $8613.20. 8" x 10".
Thumbnail 2321 Carson City,NV - Ormsby County - April 18, 1890 - United States Mint Memorandum of Gold Bullion : Start Price: 150.00High Bid: 100.00Estimate: 300.00 - 600.00 Memorandum of Gold Bullion Deposited by Chas. H. Peters at the Carson, Nevada Mint on 04/18/1887. Deposit is for a bar of 74.10 oz. Totaling $963.32. Signed by W. R. Davis for the Superintendent.
Thumbnail 2322 Carson City,NV - Storey County - December 2, 1890 - Carson City Mint Receipt Gold Hill Assay Office Start Price: 100.00Estimate: 200.00 - 400.00 Lot of 2 Items. Memorandum of Silver Bullion and Washoe Mill Tailings. First the tailings were processed at the Washoe Mill in Washoe Valley in 1890. From when the tailings were processed they were assayed in Gold Hill Nevada. The first Asset Receipt from the Gold Hill Assay Office was submitted by the Washoe Mill on December 3, 1890. At the Gold Hill Assay Office the total value of bar number 1373 was $972.24. The Silver bat at the US Carson City Mint was received on December 2, 1890 and was submitted by Geo F. Ford. The net value of the silver bar submitted at the mint was $864.14. The Carson City Mint assay receipt is signed by L.L. Elrod. The US Mint assay receipt measures 11.5” X 6” and the Gold Hill assay receipt measures 7.5” x 6” There are some subtle tears on both receipts left edges. Otherwise both are in fine condition.
Thumbnail 2323 Carson City,NV - Ormsby County - 1893 - Carson City Mint Memorandum and Receipt : Start Price: 100.00High Bid: 50.00Estimate: 200.00 - 400.00 Memorandum for shipment of 344 pounds of silver bullion from Carson City Mint to an Francisco Mint, Shipment via Wells Fargo (receipt glued to memorandum at top edge. 11.5" x 5.5".
Thumbnail 2324 Carson City,NV - Ormsby County - 1897 - Carson City Mint Memorandum : Start Price: 125.00Estimate: 250.00 - 350.00 Memorandum of silver bullion deposited by Chinese Miner, Ah You. Here the miner deposited 11 ounces of amalgam worth only $13.00. Signed by A.G. Raycraft. Fine.
Thumbnail 2325 Carson City,NV - Ormsby County - July 2, 1897 - Carson City Mint Letter : Start Price: 50.00High Bid: 75.00Estimate: 100.00 - 200.00 The letter is written on Mint letterhead and addressed to Mr. W.S. Hathaway, Secretary of he Banning Water Co. in Banning, CA. It is signed by Frank D. Hetrich in Carson City and regards his payment of assessments, and asks Hathaway to find a buyer for his stock lots. Measures 5 x 8” and has 2 holes punched at the top for keeping in a ring binder. Frank Hetrich held the post of assayer at the Mint at the time of its formal opening January 3, 1870, having moved to Nevada from Philadelphia where he had also worked in the assay department. In July 1873 he was given the job of superintendent, replacing Henry F. Rice, but only held that position until August of 1894, when he again moved, this time to San Francisco to accept a position in the Assay Department at the San Francisco Mint.
Thumbnail 2326 Carson City,NV - Ormsby County - September 15, 1897 - Carson City Mint Letter : Start Price: 75.00High Bid: 170.00Estimate: 150.00 - 300.00 The letter is addressed to Mr. A.S. Hathaway, Secretary of Banning Water Co. in Riverside County, CA. It was sent by Frank Hetrich of the Melter and Refiner’s Office of the Carson City Mint and regards to sale of Hetrich’s lots in Banning. 8.5 x 11.” Two hole punches at top for putting in a binder. Very Fine condition. Frank Hetrich was the first assayer for the Carson City Mint when it opened in 1870, and he kept that job until 1873 when he became superintendent. By August of 1874, however, he resigned his position, eventually moving to San Francisco where he had accepted a job as an assayer in that city’s mint.
Thumbnail 2327 Carson City,NV - Ormsby County - Nov. 19, 1904 - Carson City Mint Memorandum of Silver Bullion Recei Start Price: 100.00High Bid: 70.00Estimate: 200.00 - 400.00 Group of three. 1. No. BA#21 issued to E. Maud for a 19.892 oz. Bar worth $370.08. Date stamped 19 November 1904. 2. No. 18 and 19 B.A. issued to E. J. Rand for silver and gold for $543.37. Date stamped 14 October 1904. 3. No. 7 B. A. issued to W. G. Hill for amalgam totaling $37.87. Date stamped 16 August 1904. All signed by W. M. David for the Superintendent.
Thumbnail 2328 Carson City,NV - Ormsby County - January 12, 1905 - Carson City Mint Assay Receipt: Memorandum of Si Start Price: 375.00Estimate: 750.00 - 1,500.00 Crude amalgam assay receipt from the United States Mint at Carson City dates January 12, 1905. The crude amalgam was submitted by Frank Surbet. After melting the crude amalgam yielded 19.79oz of silver and .270oz of gold. The total value came out to be a whopping $5.02. This assay is numbered B.A.26 and is signed by WM David- for the superintendent. The receipt measured 14” x 5.5”. there is some considerable damage to the top of the paper where it appears to be slightly burned in addition to some rips in the edge. Also, there is a handwritten note attached to the assay receipt. The note is in regard to picking up money and checks that resulted from selling the crude amalgam. The original errand person was “laid up with a cold” so “MN” came down themselves. It was written on the obverse of gold deposit card. The note is small and measures 5.25” x 4”. The lot as a whole is in fair condition.
Thumbnail 2329 Carson City,NV - Ormsby County - 1910 - Carson City Mint/Mazuma Hill Mining Company Memorandum : Start Price: 125.00Estimate: 250.00 - 500.00 Memorandum of Gold Bullion Deposited, Mazuma Hill Mining Company from the Carson City Mint.
Thumbnail 2330 Carson City,NV - Ormsby County - April 26, 1917 - United States Mint Memorandum of Gold Bullion : Start Price: 50.00Estimate: 100.00 - 200.00 Memorandum of Gold Bullion Deposited, Helen Betty Mining Company. This is a different form than the preceding, being a much more general form issued by the mint. This deposit was an ingot which was the product of the Helen Betty Mines Company at Seven Troughs, Nevada. The proceeds were credited to the account of the Mazuma Hills Mining Co., which may have owned the Helen Betty, or held a lien on their product. The form is signed by H. Martin.
Thumbnail 2331 Carson City,NV - Ormsby County - 1999 - Carson City Mint Cancelled Die Strike Collection : Start Price: 3,750.00Estimate: 7,500.00 - 10,000.00 This lot contains the sample cancelled die strikes from the Carson City Mint. In the late 1990s the Carson City mint wanted to attract attention to its revamped coin show and wanted something exciting for their raffle to draw in coin collectors. They decided to strike silver bars with cancelled dies from the mint vaults. The first years -1884 Morgan Silver Dollar, face and Reverse. -"CC" Reverse Seated Liberty Dime. -Inset Five Dollar 188x Gold piece. The second years grand prize was a 10oz Faberge silver bar displaying two strikes of cancelled "CC" mint dies. This bar displayed the cancelled 1876-CC Seated Liberty Silver Half Dollar obverse & Reverse dies side by side. Some of these samples were from dies that were later used for the silver bar grand prize and some were from dies that were never used. There are also sample cancelled die strikes from rusted dies that were dug up from the field adjacent to the mint while putting in the new mint parking lot. Workers brought the dies to the mint museum and the mind had Don Schmitz clean them to find out which dies they were. Through cleaning and striking samples Don discovered they were Trade dollar dies from 1877 as well as a half & quarter die. Eight of those sample strikes from the discovered rusted dies are in this collection. Struck as samples were two sided cancelled die strikes to be raffled and sold in a small quantity. A two ounce silver planchet with the Morgan Dollar 1884 cancelled obverse and the 1878-CC reverse and an 1876-CC Seated Liberty Half Dollar struck obverse and reverse by cancelled dies. The cancelled 2oz silver Morgan Dollar strike was chose and 170 were struck. Only the original examples of the two sided Seated Liberty Half Dollar cancelled die strikes were ever struck. Also struck but never sold were a one ounce silver Morgan struck by 1884 obverse and 1878-CC reverse cancelled die strike. A one of a kind 1oz silver cancelled 1884 Morgan obverse with the reverse Faberge with a beautiful design. The other two sided cancelled die strike is an octagonal bronze planchet with the 1884 Morgan obverse and the 1878-CC reverse. 1) 1884-CC obverse Morgan dollar canceled die strike 1oz size bronze struck one sided. 2) 1878-CC reverse Morgan dollar canceled die strike. Small CC mint mark and concaved breast make this an 1878 reverse. *Both obverse and reverse Morgan dies are on display in the CC mint Museum. 3) 1oz octagonal bronze medallion stuck by 1884 canceled obverse and 1878 CC canceled reverse. 4) 1883-CC obverse $5 Gold Liberty Head Half Eagle canceled die strike. This sample strike is on a bronze half eagle round. 5) 1876-CC obverse $5 Gold Liberty Head Half Eagle canceled die strike. This sample strike is on a silver round. 6) 1876-CC obverse seated Liberty half dollar canceled die strike. This sample strike is one sided and on a silver planchet. 7) 18(76)-CC motto over eagle Seated Liberty half cancelled die strike. This sample strike is one sided reverse only on a silver planchet. 8) 1883-CC $5 Gold Liberty Head Half Eagle cancelled die strike. This sample is strike one sided obverse on a silver planchet. 9) Error. Obverse 1883-CC $5 Gold Liberty Head Half Eagle cancelled die strike in pewter. Reverse had a full mirror image from a brockage over strike. This pewter round was put in the anvil over an already struck cancelled die strike (underlying struck coin much harder, probably silver). 10) 1884 Morgan cancelled obverse and 1878-CC cancelled reverse on silver 1oz planchet. Very few struck on 1oz silver with cancelled die strikes. Coiner Don Schmitz struck less than 50. 11) 1884 Morgan obverse cancelled die strike on 1oz silver planchet. Reverse Faberge after strike. Schmitz had only a few of these Faberge. 12) 1876-CC $5 Gold Liberty Head Half Eagle obverse canceled die strike struck on silver with a deep cupped strike on planchet. 13) 1878-CC reverse Morgan Dollar cancelled die strike on strip of square pewter. This is the original sample strike, one of a kind. 14) One Dime-CC reverse cancelled die strike on square strip of silver. Original sample strike, one of a kind. One sided. 15) 188(3) $5 Gold Liberty Head Half Eagle cancelled die strike in nickel. Thin planchet struck without collar. One sided. 16) 188(3) $5 Gold Liberty Head Half Eagle cancelled die strike on large bi-metal planchet. One sided. 17) 1877 Trade Dollar rusted cancelled die strike. Die dug up from Carson City mint parking lot. Rusted dies were cleaned up and struck on pewter, parts of date and stars can be seen along edges. This obverse strike is from Trade Dollar die No.1. 18) 1877 Trade Dollar rusted cancelled die strike from die No. 6. 19) 1870-78-CC Seated Half Dollar rusted cancelled die strike from die No. 33. 20) 1870-78-CC Seated Liberty Quarter dollar rusted cancelled die strike stuck from die No. 10. 21) Bronze octagonal planchet struck by 1877 rusted cancelled Trade Dollar die No. 1. 22) 1877 Trade Dollar rusted cancelled die strike on 1oz silver CC planchet. 23) 1877 Trade Dollar rusted canceled die strike struck from die No.1. 24) 1870-77-CC Seated Half Dollar rusted cancelled die strike on golden planchet struck from die No. 45. 25) 1884 Obverse and 1878-CC reverse cancelled die strikes on 2oz silver round. Only 170 struck at Carson City Mint. 26) 1876-CC Seated Half Dollar obverse and reverse cancelled die strike. Only 4 samples struck.
Thumbnail 2332 Philadelphia,PA - Jan. 20, 1874 - U.S. Mint Receipt ~ Adams Express Company : Start Price: 250.00Estimate: 500.00 - 1,000.00 "Seven Sets of Pattern Trade Dollars in Silver, 1873" and "Two Sets in Copper". Received of Supt. Hon. H.R. Linderman, Washington D.C. Linderman served as Supt. April 1867 to May, 1869. Fine. 7.5" x 5.5".
Thumbnail 2333 Philadelphia,PA - 1876-77 - U.S. Mint Receipt ~ Adams Express Company Receipts (2) : Start Price: 200.00Estimate: 400.00 - 800.00 1)Receipt for $1000.00 in gold coin delivered to the U.S. Mint on Jan. 17, 1876. "Assay Office, New York City" lined out at bottom of document. Signed by "Thompson" Supt. U.S. Mint. 2) Receipt for "Two boxes Gold and Silver" received of the "Supt. Of U.S. Mint from Rhoades & Reed Lancaster, PA to be deposited for coin & returned to them when ready." Adams Express Co. operated as an express forwarder. Pollock served as Supt. at the time. Fine. 7.75" x 5.5".
Thumbnail 2334 Various - Bank Bags: Seattle Collection - US Mint, SF Cent Bag Collection : Start Price: 100.00High Bid: 150.00Estimate: 200.00 - 400.00 Lot of seven bags, one with original lead seal, another cut short. 1) 1945 $20 2) 1937? $20 3) 1939 $20 4) 1941 $20 %) 1930 $20 6) 1940 $20 7) 1945 $20. Three of the bags have the "From Seattle Branch Federal Reserve Bank Seattle, Wash." imprint on the reverse. Generally good condition.
Thumbnail 2335 c1935 - Bank Bags: Seattle Collection -US Mint San Francisco Nickel Bags : Start Price: 75.00High Bid: 130.00Estimate: 150.00 - 350.00 Lot of seven $50 nickel bags. 1) 1930 (2) 2) 1935 (1) 3) 1936 (3) 4) Undated. Several bags have "From the Seattle Branch Federal Reserve Bank Seattle, Wash." All in generally good condition.
Thumbnail 2336 1941-1942 - Bank Bags: US Mint War Nickel Bags : Start Price: 50.00High Bid: 110.00Estimate: 100.00 - 200.00 Lot of two bags. 1) 1942 Denver Mint, nickels, $50. 2) 1941 San Francisco Mint, nickels, $50. Both bags are in extremely fine condition and clean.
Thumbnail 2337 1938-1938 - Bank Bags: Seattle Collection - US Mint Dime Bags - : Start Price: 75.00High Bid: 50.00Estimate: 150.00 - 300.00 1) SF Mint 1938 2) Denver Mint 1939 (both bags contained $1,000 in dimes and on the reverse state "From Seattle Branch Federal Reserve Bank Seattle, Wash"
Thumbnail 2338 Various - Bank Bags: US Mint Collection : Start Price: 75.00High Bid: 130.00Estimate: 150.00 - 200.00 Lot of seven bags. US Mint Denver 1955, $1000, 1/4 Dollars; US Mint Denver 1958, $1000, Quarter Dollars; US Mint Philadelphia 1963, $50, cents; US Mint Philadelphia 1964, $50, cents (2); US Mint Philadelphia 1957, $1000, Quarters; US Mint Denver 1956, $200, nickels. All in relatively good condition.
Thumbnail 2339 c1945 - Bank Bags: WWII U.S. Mint Collection : Start Price: 100.00High Bid: 120.00Estimate: 200.00 - 400.00 Lot of five bags. 1) 1945 Denver, nickel (5 cents) $50 2) 1942 Denver, penny (1 cent) $20, 3) 1944 Denver, penny, $20 4) 1941S San Francisco penny, $20 5) 1945S San Francisco, penny, $20. Bags are generally fine only. They have not been washed, cleaned or repaired.
Thumbnail 2340 c1950-1970 - Bank Bag Collection : Start Price: 75.00High Bid: 160.00Estimate: 150.00 - 250.00 Lot of 23 bags. California Bank, Los Angeles (2); Bank of America (5); First National Bank of Boston; First Western Bank and Trust; New York City Transit Authority (3); Farmers and Citizen Bank, Trotwood, OH; Manufacturers Trust, Brooklyn; The Valley Trust Company, Palmyra, PA; New York Telephone Company (2); Girard Trust Corn Exchange; First Pennsylvania Banking and Trust; Hamilton Manufacturing (4); Lawrence Buckshot (2). All in relatively good condition.
Thumbnail 2341 c1930-1990 - Bank Bags: American Draw String and Zipper Bag Collection : Start Price: 75.00High Bid: 80.00Estimate: 150.00 - 300.00 Draw string bags: City Bank and Trust McMinnville, TN; Brookside State Bank, Tulsa; Bank of Harrisburg; Rushville State Bank, IL; Commercial Bank, Harrison, AR; First Trust and Savings Bank, Cedar Rapids; Union State Bank, Rockwell, IA; Citizen State Bank, Trenton, TN; Union State Bank Winterset, IA; Olmstead County Bank & Trust, Rochester, MN; Delhi Savings Bank, Delhi, IA; Salem Bank and Trust, Goshen, IN; Peoples State Bank, Tulsa; Lake City State Bank, IA; National Lumberman's Bank and Trust; First State Bank of Bellaire, TX; Tidy House (with picture of Morgan dollar). Bags are generally 6" X 11". Zipper bags, generally vinyl: First Trust and Savings Bank; Davenport, IA; Kamas State Bank, UT; Brenton Bank; Sand Springs State Bank, OK; Citizens Bank, Richardson, TX; Town North Bank; First Trust and Savings Bank (2 different); Bank of Commerce, San Antonio, TX; American State Bank, San Antonio, TX; Bank of Amory, Miss; Citizens Savings Bank, Iowa; Peoples State Bank, OK; Blackhawk State Bank, IL; First Trust and Savings Bank; Davenport Bank and Trust (4); First National Bank of Crossville; Fourth Northwestern National Bank, MN; Golf National Bank at Lake Charles; First National Bank of Edmond, OK (4); Keansburg-Middletown National Bank, NJ; First National Bank of Fairbanks, AK; First National Bank of Tampa; Second National Bank of North Miami; Northern City National Bank; Valley National Bank, IA; State National Bank, CT; American National Bank, MN; American National Bank, TX; Central State Bank, IA; Merchants National Bank, IA; Hamilton Bank; Commercial Saving Bank, IA; United Federal Savings Bank of Iowa; Commerce Bank of Mexico, Missouri; Littleton National Bank; New Hampshire. All bags are generally fine.
Thumbnail 2342 c1960s - Bank Bags: Bill Weber Collection : Start Price: 50.00High Bid: 140.00Estimate: 100.00 - 150.00 Six different bank bags. 1) US Mint, Denver, 25 cent, 1964, $1000 2) Wells Fargo Bank - 2 different bags 3) US Mint, Philadelphia, 1964, $50, cents 3) First Hawaiian Bank, Honolulu 4) Wells Fargo Bank American Trust Company. All generally fine condition.
Thumbnail 2343 c1930-1990 - Bank Bags: California & Nevada Collection : Start Price: 100.00High Bid: 100.00Estimate: 200.00 - 400.00 Lot of 15 Bags. Peoples Savings Bank (Sacramento); Capital National Bank (Sacramento) (2); Citizens Bank (Sacramento); Central Bank (Oakland); Crocker First National (San Francisco); Union Safe Deposit Bank (Stockton); Mother Lode Bank (Grass Valley); Security First National (L.A.); First National (San Diego); Crocker Citizens National Bank; First National Bank of Nevada (2); First Interstate Bank (Nevada); Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco. Generally very fine.
Thumbnail 2344 c1930-1970 - Bank Bags: East Coast National Bank Bag Collection : Start Price: 75.00High Bid: 95.00Estimate: 150.00 - 250.00 Melon National Bank & Trust, PA; Cheshire National Bank, NH; Manheim National Bank, PA; Philadelphia National Bank (2); Corn Exchange National Bank & Trust, PA; Provident National Bank; First National Bank, Baltimore (2); American National Bank; Mohawk National Bank, NY; Vineyard National Bank. All generally fine condition. At least one is a gold coin bag.
Thumbnail 2345 c1900's - Bank Bags: Express Bags : Start Price: 75.00High Bid: 75.00Estimate: 150.00 - 250.00 Two large bags. Railway Express Agency; American Express Company. Very Fine.
Thumbnail 2346 c1945-1970 - Bank Bags: Federal Reserve Collection : Start Price: 150.00High Bid: 425.00Estimate: 300.00 - 500.00 Lot of 35 canvas bags from different Federal Reserve Bank. These banks include: Dallas, TX; New York; El Paso; Kansas City; Philadelphia; San Francisco. About half are from the S. F. Branch. Most are large canvas bags potentially for currency. All in relatively good condition.
Thumbnail 2347 c1930-1990 - Bank Bags: Midwestern US Collection : Start Price: 100.00High Bid: 100.00Estimate: 200.00 - 400.00 Bankers Trust, Des Moines, IA Gold Coin Bag $300; National Bank of Tulsa Gold Coin Bag; Farmers & Merchants Bank Gold Coin Bag; Davenport, IA; West Branch Bank and Trust Company, Williamsport, PA; Bankers Trust, Des Moines, IA (10); Liberty State Bank, MN; Numisco Sales, MN; First Trust & Savings Bank, Davenport, IA; Liberty State Bank, IA; Security State Bank, IA; Marshall & Ilsley Bank, WI; Rock Island Bank, IL; Iowa Trust & Savings Bank; Hawkeye West Bank & Trust, IA; Lake City Bank, IN; Iowa Des Moines National Bank & Trust; Davenport Bank & Trust, IA; Farmers & Merchants State Bank, IN; Valley Bank and Trust, IA; United Federal Savings Bank of Iowa; Farmers National Bank, NE; Federal Reserve Bank, Minneapolis; Central National Bank and Trust, Des Moines; Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City (3 different); Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City (Omaha Branch); Federal Reserve Bank Minneapolis (2 different); Federal Reserve Bank Chicago (2 different). All in generally good condition.
Thumbnail 2348 c1930-1970 - Bank Bags: National Bank Bag Collection : Start Price: 100.00High Bid: 125.00Estimate: 200.00 - 300.00 Lot of 22 bags. First National Bank of Nevada (7); City National Bank and Trust, Kansas City; National Bank of Commerce, San Antonio, TX; State National Bank of El Paso; Security First National Bank, California (2); Mellon National and Trust; Philadelphia National Bank (2); Fort Wayne National Bank; Citizens National Bank; Waggoner National Bank; First National Bank of Wichita Falls; Valley National Bank, AZ; Denver National Bank; Colorado National Bank. All in relatively good condition.
Thumbnail 2349 c1960-1990 - Bank Bags: National Bank Bag Collection with Tie Strings : Start Price: 50.00Estimate: 100.00 - 200.00 Collection of nine bags. National Bank of North America; First National Lincoln; First National Bank of Edmont (3); Exchange National Bank (Tulsa); National Bank Wareham; Brenton National Bank (Iowa); Merchants National Bank (Quaker Town, PA). Bags generally in very fine condition.
Thumbnail 2350 c1930-1990 - Bank Bags: Pacific Coast Collection : Start Price: 100.00High Bid: 120.00Estimate: 200.00 - 400.00 Lot of 10 bags. Bags from Alaska, Hawaii, Oregon and Washington. First National Bank of Oregon; Coos Bay National Bank; United States National Bank of Portland; Bank of California Seattle (rare!); National Bank of Alaska; First Hawaiian Bank; First National Bank of McMinnville; Rogue Valley Coin Exchange of Medford; Norwest Banks (2). Generally very fine.
Thumbnail 2351 c1900-1935 - Bank Bags: Purse and Gold Coin Bags : Start Price: 150.00High Bid: 150.00Estimate: 300.00 - 500.00 Lot of six bags. 1) First Security Bank of Utah (draw strings 2) Peoples National Bank, Clay Center, KS (draw strings) 3) First National Bank, Mobridge, SD (leather purse 5" X 7") 4) Daily Bank and Trust, Anaconda, MT (leather purse 5" X 7") 5) Fourth National Bank, Dayton, OH (with original die struck bank tag attached) 6) Counsel Bluff Saving & Loan Association small coin purse 3" X 3". All generally fine.
Thumbnail 2352 c1917-1933 - Bank Bags: Seattle Collection - $10 Gold Coin Bags : Start Price: 150.00High Bid: 200.00Estimate: 300.00 - 500.00 Lot of 12 bags from the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, size 1 without the Seattle imprint on the back. Bags are verified by $10 gold coin bags by the clear impressions in one of the bags (which is marked) . All in generally fine condition.
Thumbnail 2353 c1917-1933 - Bank Bags: Seattle Collection - Early Western Coin Bags : Start Price: 75.00High Bid: 75.00Estimate: 150.00 - 300.00 Lot of four early bags used for gold, silver and copper coin. All are marked "From Seattle Branch Federal Reserve Bank Seattle, Wash." One bag clearly carries US $20 gold coin impressions and is so noted in the group. Generally fine.
Thumbnail 2354 c1917-1933 - Bank Bags: Seattle Collection - Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco Bags : Start Price: 100.00High Bid: 200.00Estimate: 200.00 - 400.00 This is a second group of Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco bags containing a mix of styles/sizes but not as complete as the other similarly listed lot. Contains about 40 canvas and cloth bags. None are stamped with Seattle. Generally fine.
Thumbnail 2355 c1917-1945 - Bank Bags: Seattle Collection - Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco Coin Bags : Start Price: 75.00High Bid: 140.00Estimate: 150.00 - 250.00 Nice collection of 32 canvas bags. None are marked from Seattle but all come from this bank. In this group are six different styles or sizes of bags. Generally good condition.
Thumbnail 2356 c1917-1933 - Bank Bags: Seattle Collection - Gold Coin Bags : Start Price: 75.00High Bid: 50.00Estimate: 150.00 - 250.00 Lot of three different bags. Though to be for $5, $10 and $20 gold pieces. Two bags are marked First National Bank, Portland and Federal Reserve Bank, San Francisco. Two of the bags have, "From the Seattle Branch Federal Reserve Bank Seattle, Wash." All generally fine condition.
Thumbnail 2357 c1917-1933 - Bank Bags: Seattle Collection - US $20 Gold Coin Bag Collection : Start Price: 100.00High Bid: 100.00Estimate: 200.00 - 400.00 A set of 10 different bags from Spokane and Eastern Trust Company, Spokane, Wash. All generally good condition.
Thumbnail 2358 c1917-1945 - Bank Bags: Seattle Collection -Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco Bag Set : Start Price: 100.00High Bid: 225.00Estimate: 200.00 - 400.00 One each of the various sizes and printings of these bags from the Seattle Bank. Contains 12 different bags, some of which are gold coin bags and one rare bag marked Spokane Branch Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco Spokane, Wash. None of the bags have the Seattle Bank printing on the back. All in generally good condition.
Thumbnail 2359 Bank Bags: Seattle Collection -Miscellaneous Washington Bank Bags : Start Price: 100.00Estimate: 200.00 - 400.00 Lot of four nice, small $5, $10 & $20 coin bank bags from miscellaneous, small Washington banks. 1) Pullman State Bank, Pullman, Wash. (2) 2) Colfax National Bank $500 3) First National Bank, Pullman, Wash. Generally fine condition. No markings on reverse.
Thumbnail 2360 Pre 1933 - Bank Bags: Seattle Collection -Seattle Branch Gold Bags : Start Price: 75.00High Bid: 75.00Estimate: 150.00 - 300.00 Two Small gold coin bags. "From Seattle Branch Federal Reserve Bank Seattle, Wash."
Thumbnail 2361 c1940-1960 - Bank Bags: Southeastern US Collection : Start Price: 50.00High Bid: 100.00Estimate: 100.00 - 200.00 Generally large bags approximately 14" X 20". Some bags are 9" X 15". 1) Central Savings Bank & Trust, Monroe, LA 2) Southeast Banks (2) 3) Federal Reserve Bank of New Orleans 4) Metaire Saving Bank & Trush of Metaire, LA 5) First National Bank of Tampa (small bag) 6) Whitney National Bank of New Orleans 7) Belleair Coins Inc., Belleair Bluffs, FL 8) Sixth District Federal Reserve Office (2) vignette of map with their 4 reserve offices) 9) Landmark First National Bank, Ft. Lauderdale, FL. Generally fine condition.
Thumbnail 2362 c1950-1990 - Bank Bags: Wells Fargo and Bank of America : Start Price: 100.00High Bid: 160.00Estimate: 200.00 - 400.00 Wells Fargo Bank (2 different); Bank of America (25 bags, many different styles). Varying condition.
Thumbnail 2363 c1930-1990 - Bank Bags: Western Mountain States Collection : Start Price: 100.00Estimate: 200.00 - 400.00 Collection of bags from Colorado, Montana, Idaho and Utah and includes at least one gold coin bag. Tebo Coin Company (Boulder); United Bank of Denver; First National Bank in Rifle (with picture of rifle on bag); Collectors Coin Exchange Englewood, CO; Denver Gold & Silver Exchange (2); First National Bank Denver (4 and the smallest is a gold coin bag); L & L Coins, Inc. Denver; First Security Bank of Utah; First Security Bank of Idaho; Metals Bank and Trust Butte, MT (2). Generally very fine.
Thumbnail 2364 c1870 - US Gold and Silver Table of Weights : Start Price: 625.00High Bid: 500.00Estimate: 1,250.00 - 1,500.00 Shows "Trade dollar to Gold Coin to Subsidiary Coin (silver and gold value). American dollar equivalency handwritten in pencil at bottom right. Chart in large letters shows the weights of specific coins and any allowed deviation for normal ware. It is clearly made for use by banks and bullion dealers and shows how many ounces of silver or gold are contained in bags of coins of specific size. For example, a $1000.00 bag of trade dollars contains 875 troy oz of silver and $1000 bag of “American Dollars” contains 859.375 troy ounces of silver. The chart is made on thick card stock and is a classic representation of the coin and bullion business from the gut of the most productive mining era of the 1870's. (Top and bottom edges have been slightly cropped in this photograph Good condition. 10" x 11".
Thumbnail 2365 April 18, 1894 - Wilson Tariff Bill Pamphlet : Start Price: 100.00Estimate: 200.00 - 300.00 Speech title at top of cover with subtext: 'Tariff and Silver Are Two Sides of the Same Question.' Speech of Hon. James Donald Cameron of Pennsylvania, in the Senate of the United States, Wednesday, April 18, 1894, Washington, D.C." Cameron served as chairman of the Republican National Committee, Chairman of Committee of Naval Affairs and during the time of this speech, Chairman of Committee on Revolutionary Claims. His knowledge of naval affairs, specifics such as international tariffs and his knowledge of private bills and petitions gained through the Claims Committee make this speech an important document to the future of American currency and trade policy prior to 1894 and in subsequent years. Mentioned at the close of the speech is a desire to thwart British controls in areas of trade and national monetary value. Eight pages staple bound. Letterpress printed. Paper with slight burning and foxing. Top left edge (1 in.) uncut.
Thumbnail 2366 Sacramento,CA - 1847 - Polhemus, J. L. Counter Marked Coin : Start Price: 7,500.00High Bid: 10,000.00Estimate: 15,000.00 - 17,500.00 1847-O seated 50c piece. PCGS certified from the wreck of the SS Central America. Pale, silver, grey with even moderate corrosion that allows most of the details to remain bold. This half dollar and an 1855-S $20 are the only Polhemus counter marks found aboard the Ship of Gold. Only one other counter mark appeared among the SS Central America treasure, a gold piece marked by dentist and assayer W.W. Light. J.L. Polhemus was the most famous Sacramento gold rush counter stamp. Polhemus counterstamps on U.S. coins have long been known. Virtually every denomination of pocket change was stamped by Polhemus for use as money and doubling as a store card in the 1850s. The Polhemus counterstamped minor coinage pieces are still found today every now and then by token hunters and metal detector enthusiasts. The tie of this Polhemus counterstamp to the SS Central America is exceptionally important. Polhemus started his drug store near the Magnolia Saloon in August 1850. By then end of that year the drug store was more conveniently located on the main street, which was “J” Street. Polhemus died in 1866 but his wife continued to run the store in to the 1870’s until selling to a third party. The Polhemus- Central America counterstamp was the only minor change with the Polhemus punch found on the SS Central America. Today there are perhaps a dozen known quarters and perhaps an equal number of dimes known with the Polhemus counterstamp. There are far few larger denomination coins.
Thumbnail 2367 San Francisco,CA - 1853 - California Fractional Gold : Start Price: 500.00High Bid: 550.00Estimate: 1,000.00 - 1,500.00 1853 Oct. Liberty 25c BG101 NGC Mint state 61.
Thumbnail 2368 San Francisco,CA - 1853 - California Fractional Gold : Start Price: 1,250.00High Bid: 2,000.00Estimate: 2,500.00 - 3,000.00 1853 Oct. Liberty 50c BG302 AU 58. NGC Certified
Thumbnail 2369 San Francisco,CA - 1855 - California Fractional Gold : Start Price: 1,000.00High Bid: 1,000.00Estimate: 2,000.00 - 2,500.00 1855 Rd Liberty 50c BG406 Mint state 61 NGC Certified
Thumbnail 2370 San Francisco,CA - 1859 - California Fractional Gold : Start Price: 500.00High Bid: 800.00Estimate: 1,000.00 - 1,500.00 1859 Oct Liberty 25c BG702 Mint state 66.NGC Certified
Thumbnail 2371 San Francisco,CA - 1860 - California Fractional Gold : Start Price: 400.00High Bid: 850.00Estimate: 800.00 - 1,000.00 1860 Oct Liberty $1 BG1102 AU58.NGC Certified
Thumbnail 2372 San Francisco,CA - 1869 - California Fractional Gold : Start Price: 150.00High Bid: 170.00Estimate: 300.00 - 350.00 1869 Rd Liberty 25c BG828 Mint state 61.NGC Certified
Thumbnail 2373 San Francisco,CA - 1870 - California Fractional Gold : Start Price: 1,500.00High Bid: 3,400.00Estimate: 3,000.00 - 3,700.00 1870 Rd Liberty $1 BG1205 Mint state 61.NGC Certified
Thumbnail 2374 San Francisco,CA - 1872 - California Fractional Gold : Start Price: 1,500.00High Bid: 1,700.00Estimate: 3,000.00 - 3,500.00 1872 Oct. Washington 25c BG722 Mint state 64.NGC Certified
Thumbnail 2375 San Francisco,CA - 1875 - California Fractional Gold : Start Price: 500.00High Bid: 1,000.00Estimate: 1,000.00 - 1,300.00 1875 Oct Indian $1 BG 1127 Mint state 61.NGC Certified
Thumbnail 2376 New York,NY - 1862, 1887 - Coin Manual & Premium Coin List : Start Price: 100.00High Bid: 75.00Estimate: 200.00 - 400.00 Lot of two. 1) Hodges' Gold and Silver Coin Chart Manual. Supplementary to the journal of finance and bank reporter, and bank note safe card, containing by far the largest number of facsimiles of gold and silver coins of any publication in the world. 49 pages total. This coin manual is important because on the cover and title page are illustrated a number of private gold coins. Fine. 2) Hubbard's Premium Coin list 1887. 24 pages. Approximately 5" x 67" soft bound coin catalog. There are vignettes of the 1849 US $20 and the 1840 US dollar coins on the front cover. It is a third edition. This book includes mostly rare US coinage including colonial issues. Fine Condition.
Thumbnail 2377 c1850s - Counter - California : Start Price: 375.00High Bid: 500.00Estimate: 750.00 - 1,500.00 Weil and Levy - In NCS holder as token genuine, good for 12 1/2c holed. Obverse extremely fine. S.P. Mabke under liberty head. Hole above liberty coronet fifth star. Reverse Weil and Levy hole through "L" in Levy. Extremely fine with underline high lites. Scroll: Importers of fancy goods San Francisco. Very Rare. One of the great gold rush rarities.
Thumbnail 2378 1850 - Counter - California : Start Price: 1,250.00High Bid: 2,000.00Estimate: 2,500.00 - 3,500.00 California Gold Mines 1850. Dancing Bears. Brass gilt. Uncertified fine. Adams 1913 IV pattern and experimental pieces. No 75. Though to have been the work of William Lemme, a San Francisco engraver of the pioneer days. Obverse, two bears embracing; around the borders, the legend "California Gold Mines AD 1850". Below the ground under the right handed bear is a tiny "L". Reverse, an eagle with wings displayed on a wheat sheaf; five pointed stars above, around the border "California Gold Mines" 1850. Reeded edge. A specimen, gilt proof brought $3.60 at the Levick 1884 sale. The John J. Ford specimen silvered brass, stacks 2007 brought $2760.00. Perhaps the most famous of the Gold Rush tokens.
Thumbnail 2379 San Francisco,CA - c1850 - Joseph Brothers Token: Start Price: 750.00Estimate: 1,500.00 - 2,500.00 Fred Holabird says that: The Joseph Brothers were one of the many California Gold Rush jewelers. They are one of only a very few who issued coins or storecards during the 1850’s. In fact, Joseph Brothers were among a handful of San Francisco merchants who commissioned to have California small denomination gold coined as early as 1852. All are exceedingly rare. This storecard was made in the late 1850’s, after the firm moved from 175 Clay Street to 149 Montgomery Street. Here, they were located among the coiners and assayers so it is no surprise they issued their own coins for advertising. They did not follow in the footsteps of another famous Gold Rush jeweler, John L. Moffat, whose gold coins and ingots are now legendary. During our pursuit of the finest pioneer minor coinage over the past two years, we were able to acquire three specimens: Joseph Brothers / of Liverpool England / Watch Makers / Jewelers [sic], Opticians/ & General Importers / 149 Montgomery Street / San Francisco, Cal. // the Cheapest House / In California for / Good Watches / Diamonds, Jewelry / Silver Ware Cutlery, Etc. Rd, brass [Holabird, 2008, 214].
Thumbnail 2380 c1850s - Counter - California : Start Price: 125.00High Bid: 225.00Estimate: 250.00 - 500.00 The "Model" Series. Listed in Edgar H. Adams 1913 Private Gold Coinage of California 1849-1855 IV. Pattern and Experimental pieces Number 100 at that time HO. Granberg owned in an impression gold that was unique of the half-eagle. This specimen in brass. Obverse with an open wreath of olive branches. The inscription in three lines Model/Half/ Eagle. At the border above the wreath, California and the date 1849 at the bottom. Reverse, an eagle with outspread wings, holding an olive branch and three arrows in his talons. Around the border are thirteen stars. Extremely fine lustrous.
Thumbnail 2381 c1850s - Counter - California : Start Price: 50.00Estimate: 100.00 - 200.00 Storecard. Obverse, A.B. Van Gott Racine Wisconsin. Surrounds Eagle. Reverse, watches, clocks, jewelry, and fancy goods surrounds central watch and fob. Condition uncertified very fine.
Thumbnail 2382 c1850s - Counters - New York $5 and $10 : Start Price: 100.00Estimate: 200.00 - 400.00 Lot of two store cards. 1) E. Lyon genuine NCS M-New York -New York Ruau 507. Obverse $5 liberty E. Lyon in coronet 424 Broadway New York, New York. Reverse magnetic powders and pills for insects and rats in legend around the eagle. Very fine. 2) E. Lyon. Uncertified $10. Same legends as $5 piece. Very Fine.
Thumbnail 2383 1960 - Counter - California $1 : Start Price: 100.00High Bid: 225.00Estimate: 200.00 - 400.00 Souvenir token. $1 gold. Obverse, dated 1960 liberty head surrounded by eleven stars. Reverse, nation of celestial space 1 gold Celestin 900 fine gold reeded edge. Mintage 200.
Thumbnail 2384 c1850s - Counter - Washington $2.50 : Start Price: 150.00High Bid: 160.00Estimate: 300.00 - 500.00 Washington counters. Two different 2 1/2 dollar. Certified NGC Washington-Spiel marke tokens. Both in holders as environmental damage; however, both have nice eye appeal. 1) Very good details. B-607E, eagle reverse. 2) Fine. B-605 Liberty reverse.
Thumbnail 2385 1850s - Counter - California $2.50 : Start Price: 100.00High Bid: 75.00Estimate: 200.00 - 300.00 Unlisted. 2 1/2 dollar. Similar to Kappen page 110. Liberty comp. smarke obverse. Reverse, city hall of New York. Condition fine. Uncertified. Reference fauver page 12.
Thumbnail 2386 1849 - Counter - California $5 : Start Price: 50.00High Bid: 50.00Estimate: 100.00 - 200.00 Miner counter "1849". Brass $5. Graded extremely fine. Details damage by NGC. Fauver 305.
Thumbnail 2387 Counter - California $5 : Start Price: 125.00High Bid: 250.00Estimate: 250.00 - 500.00 Miner counter "1849". Gilt brass $5. Graded almost uncirculated 55 by NGC. Fauvre 315.
Thumbnail 2388 1849 - Counter - California $5 : Start Price: 75.00High Bid: 75.00Estimate: 150.00 - 250.00 Miner counter "1849". Graded fine details, damaged by NGC. Brass $5.
Thumbnail 2389 1849 - Counter - California $5 : Start Price: 150.00High Bid: 120.00Estimate: 300.00 - 600.00 Miner Counter "1849". BSGilt $5. Grade almost uncirculated 53 by NGC. Fauvre 360.
Thumbnail 2390 1849 - Counter - California $5 : Start Price: 200.00High Bid: 425.00Estimate: 400.00 - 600.00 Miner counter "1849". Gilt brass $5. Graded mint state 61 by NGC. Fauvre 400. Rare.
Thumbnail 2391 c1850s - Counter - California $5 : Start Price: 100.00High Bid: 100.00Estimate: 200.00 - 300.00 Spiel-Marke. Copper $5. Graded very fine details environmental damage NGC.
Thumbnail 2392 1847 - Counter - California $10 : Start Price: 100.00High Bid: 100.00Estimate: 200.00 - 400.00 Liberty Head brass. $10 counter. Liberty obverse, flag reverse. NGC certified extra fine.
Thumbnail 2393 c1850s - Counter - California $10 : Start Price: 100.00High Bid: 100.00Estimate: 200.00 - 400.00 $10 brass. NGC graded AU details. Environmental damage. Obverse, flag and reverse, eagle.
Thumbnail 2394 c1850s - Counter - California $10 : Start Price: 125.00High Bid: 225.00Estimate: 250.00 - 500.00 Spiel-Marke. Counter brass $10. Graded extra fine 45 NGC nice.
Thumbnail 2395 c1850 - Counter - California $10 : Start Price: 100.00High Bid: 100.00Estimate: 200.00 - 300.00 Spiel-Marke Counter. Brass $10. NGC very fine details damaged.
Thumbnail 2396 1849 - Counter - California $20 : Start Price: 200.00High Bid: 500.00Estimate: 400.00 - 800.00 $20 Brass. Dated 1849. NGC very fine details environmental damage. Obverse, ship above flag with date below. Reverse, eagle California Token. Softly struck in centers as typical for issue. 37.2mm, 241.9gns. The 2007 John J. Ford Stacks piece realized $1380.00. K655 Rare.
Thumbnail 2397 c1850s - Counter - California $20 : Start Price: 150.00High Bid: 150.00Estimate: 300.00 - 600.00 $20 brass. NGC extra fine details, environmental damage.? Nice Kappen 35.
Thumbnail 2398 1852 - Counter - California $20 : Start Price: 100.00High Bid: 100.00Estimate: 200.00 - 600.00 Copper $20. Extra fine details environmental damage. Liberty obverse, flag reverse. Extremely fine Kappen 5.
Thumbnail 2399 c1850s - Counters - California $20 : Start Price: 100.00Estimate: 200.00 - 400.00 Speil-Marke Counters. Brass $20. Two different varieties: 1) NGC Extremely Fine details damaged. 2) NGC very fine details, with scratches.
Thumbnail 2400 1874 - Counter - Switzerland $20 : Start Price: 75.00Estimate: 150.00 - 250.00 Storecard counter. Obverse United States 1874 $20. Reverse, "Piaget Horlogers Joailliers en 1874 deja" plated? Geneve, Switzerland. Uncertified, very fine. Reeded edge with solder for attachment.
Thumbnail 2401 1849 - Counter - California : Start Price: 50.00High Bid: 130.00Estimate: 100.00 - 200.00 California encased. Brass encased in three-leaf aluminum clover, perhaps keychain hole at top. Denominations 25c and 50c. Reverse "1849." California gold.
Thumbnail 2402 1849 - Counter - California : Start Price: 100.00Estimate: 200.00 - 300.00 Unknown. Graded fine, details damaged by NGC. Appears to be different metallic composition. Fauver 305. Lib 1, Cal 1.
Thumbnail 2403 San Francisco,CA - California Tokens - 1849 : Start Price: 50.00Estimate: 100.00 - 150.00 Lot of three. All round in 1/4, 1/2, and 1 dollar denominations.
Thumbnail 2404 1850 - California Tokens : Start Price: 50.00High Bid: 70.00Estimate: 100.00 - 150.00 Lot of two. California Souvenir Tokens. Eureka obverse. Reverse, California gold bear, mountains, sun, wreath. One dollar size, plain edge, plated. Condition uncirculated.
Thumbnail 2405 San Francisco,CA - California Tokens - 1851 : Start Price: 50.00High Bid: 50.00Estimate: 100.00 - 200.00 California token. 1851. Liberty obverse. Reverse 1851 california gold. Crimp marks on edge possibility of gold one of the rarest dates, only one in the collection of several hundred pieces.
Thumbnail 2406 San Francisco,CA - California Tokens - 1852 : Start Price: 75.00High Bid: 95.00Estimate: 150.00 - 250.00 Lot of eight. Six Indian heads, two round 1/2, two oct. 1/2, two oct 1/4, and two lib 1/2.
Thumbnail 2407 San Francisco,CA - California Tokens - 1853 : Start Price: 50.00Estimate: 100.00 - 150.00 Lot of five. Four round lib, and one round indian 1/4.
Thumbnail 2408 San Francisco,CA - California Tokens - 1853 : Start Price: 50.00High Bid: 50.00Estimate: 100.00 - 150.00 Lot of three. Two Oct. Lib 1/4. One BG 429 holed.
Thumbnail 2409 San Francisco,CA - California Tokens - 1854 : Start Price: 50.00High Bid: 50.00Estimate: 100.00 - 150.00 Lot of three. One oct. Lib 1/2. One round indian with bear reverse 1/2. And the last is one round obverse indian, reverse 1854.
Thumbnail 2410 San Francisco,CA - California Tokens - 1855 : Start Price: 50.00Estimate: 100.00 - 150.00 Lot of four. California tokens dated 1855. All oct different die states. Three of them bear reverse. Denomination of 1/2.
Thumbnail 2411 San Francisco,CA - California Tokens - 1856 & 1858 : Start Price: 50.00High Bid: 55.00Estimate: 100.00 - 150.00 Lot of three. 1) 1856 round 1/2 indian. 2) 1858 round 1/2 indian. 3) 1858 1/2 oct.
Thumbnail 2412 1857 - California Tokens : Start Price: 75.00High Bid: 190.00Estimate: 150.00 - 300.00 Lot of five California Tokens. Each are different pieces, all dated 1857, the year of the SS Central American Treasure Ship sinking. Three 1/4 Indian heads, one liberty 1/4 dollar BG.1301A nice, one Eureka token dollar size condition uncirculated.
Thumbnail 2413 San Francisco,CA - c1860 - Gold Token Bracelet : Start Price: 150.00High Bid: 400.00Estimate: 300.00 - 500.00 Token bracelet measures 17cm long. Eleven pieces total. All Indian head obverses. Reverse four quarter dollar Cal gold 1857 octagonal. Three quarter dollars 1859 round. Two half dollar 1857 round. Three half dollars 1853 octagonal. Missing clasp on bracelet.
Thumbnail 2414 San Francisco,CA - California Tokens - 1870s (circa) : Start Price: 50.00Estimate: 100.00 - 200.00 Lot of four. California tokens, all with different dates. 1) 1861 round indian 1/4. 2) 1865 oct indian 1/4. 3) 1872 round indian 1/2 and 1 dollar. 4) 1876 oct. Indian 1/4.
Thumbnail 2415 San Francisco,CA - California Tokenss - 1880s : Start Price: 50.00High Bid: 50.00Estimate: 100.00 - 200.00 Lot of five. 1/2 dollar oct. Indian head, 1881 1/4 and 1/2 oct. Indian. 1884 and 1885 Eureka obverse 1/4.
Thumbnail 2416 San Francisco,CA - California Tokens - 1898 : Start Price: 50.00Estimate: 100.00 - 200.00 Lot of four. Two 1898 indian oct 1. Two 1/4 lib round with no date.
Thumbnail 2417 California Tokens : Start Price: 50.00High Bid: 140.00Estimate: 100.00 - 200.00 Souvenir Tokens. Two sets of six each. Liberty head and Indian head tokens in black plastic cases marked California Gold on reverse. Meant to deceive. No gold.
Thumbnail 2418 Dawson,AK - c1898 - Spectacular Mathey Gold Nugget Watch and Nugget Chain : Start Price: 20,000.00High Bid: 25,000.00Estimate: 40,000.00 - 75,000.00 Over three to four decades of collecting, every few years a spectacular gold watch from the Gold Rush regions comes into the marketplace. We’ve seen perhaps a dozen great California gold quartz watches and one spectacular Alaska gold rush watch. Watches of this caliber were usually made by local jewelers for a mining client of substantial import – perhaps a mine owner or wealthy merchant. Only rarely are they ever identified on a personal basis. When this watch came in from one of the quintessential collectors, we lost our breaths. It is a fully covered nugget watch from the Dawson gold rush of 1898, complete with a watch chain made of nuggets. The chain is 17”, weighing 2Troy ounces. At the center is a tie stud connected by a piece of gold with “Dawson, Y. T.” embossed. On the reverse side of the stud is the jewelers mark “Dawson 18k”, though no name is given. A 1” diameter gold medallion finishes the long chain with a three dimensional view of Dawson on one side, and two jewels (red [ruby]and white [a diamond replacement rhinestone added later) , nuggets, and a small ½” US Military insignia, clearly added after the piece was made. This is one of only three gold nugget watches we know in western collections, and is the finest quality watch of the three by far, though not necessarily the most ornate, yet it is truly spectacular. The 2” in diameter watch was made by E. Mathey, one of the premier names in gold pocket watches from the late 1800’s to early 1900’s period, with the cover plate and reverse plate entirely covered with small nuggets. The inner works are 14kt, serial number 21152, of Swiss manufacture. The works cover plate has E. Mathey handsomely engraved on the outer plate along with the serial number. The watch appears in working condition, though there are only two hand engraved old jewelers marks inside indicating maintenance. The wearing of bold, expensive, showy watch chains and expensive watches by wealthy mining men was commonplace in formal settings. The fancy gold nugget covered or gold quartz covered watches were an obvious sign of success and thus wealth, their trophy for all to see at important public gatherings. These watches would not have been worn in a normal business setting of day to day work, but rather on special occasions. In this manner, many ingots of gold or silver were also worn by mine owners on their watch chains, by superintendants and financiers as a sign of success, boldly hanging from the center of the chain. We have been fortunate to offer a number of these ingots in past sales. Accompanying the watch are two choice Dawson gold souvenirs of the period – a wonderful, detailed gold shovel, nugget and sinking bucket stickpin with “98” attached on a gold chain (signifying 1898 as the year of the Dawson Rush), 2.5” long, with “Sept. 14, 1898” engraved on the back, a proud and meaningful date to the original owner, whose story is now lost to history. A second piece, a beautiful and fancy men’s gold ring embossed “Dawson” with figures of the mining industry all over, made of 14kt gold. This ring is similar in construction to the well known gold rings from Goldfield and Tonopah, Nevada, made circa 1905. The story of Dawson is one that has been told and retold. It is well recounted in fascinating fashion by Pierre Berton in Klondike Fever (1958). Dawson is located just over the United States border in Yukon Territory. Serious placer gold mining started in 1896, when $300,000 in gold was mined. Within two years the gold coming out of Dawson reached $10 million, and in the first ten years of the Dawson rush, $112,804,362 in gold came from Dawson, highlighted by $22,275,000 in 1900. Because the Dawson gold fields were only separated from Alaska by a nearby geo-political border, American prospectors streamed into the area, accessing it from Skagway. Fully half the gold mined there made its way back into the United States, according to G. Carleton Woodward in his article “Klondike Gold Production” in Ore and Metals Magazine, page 200, May 20, 1907 published in Denver. This watch is a spectacular artifact of the Alaska/Yukon Gold Rush, worthy of the finest collections in America.
Thumbnail 2419 c1871 - Currier and Ives Lithograph "Gold Mining in California" : Start Price: 1,000.00High Bid: 1,200.00Estimate: 2,000.00 - 4,000.00 Original hand-colored. Titled “Gold Mining in California.” Measures 14” x 10.” The border has most likely been trimmed, is yellowing and has some foxing. The left border has a tear half way down. The lithograph itself is undamaged, however. Not mounted nor framed. On the border on the left side are the words, “Published by Currier & Ives.” Words in the middle of the border state “Entered according to Act of Congress in the year 1871 by Currier & Ives in the Office of the Librarian of Congress at Washington." On the left side of the border the address is given as “125 Nassau St. New York.” This scene is rather realistic in that it shows all the things miners did in California during the Gold Rush. However, not all miners did all of these gold extracting techniques as close together as these miners are in the lithograph. It depicts miners who are using hydraulic mining, panning, using sluices and rockers as well as digging with shovels and pick axes to find gold. The color most used here is green, which means the artist did not have a grasp on the true natural Mediterranean environment of California, especially that of the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range. Also rendered in the scene are several miners’ cabins. This scene is rather bucolic when taking in the actual history of a mostly male population who worked off of vigilante justice in the beginning. James Marshall discovered gold at Sutter's Mill in Coloma on January 24, 1848 before California was properly an American Territory, given that the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, which ended the Mexican-American War (1846-1848), was not signed until February of 1848. Word was not released to people back east about the discovery until a newspaper article appeared in late August. Officially, President James K. Polk announced the discovery was not just rumor but legitimate in December of 1848. The news set off a world wide event that brought many people from the eastern United States and aboad, to California to find their fortunes. Out of that wild, rough and tumble American beginning, a mighty state grew.
Thumbnail 2420 c1848 - Currier and Ives Lithograph "Looking Down the Yo-Semite" : Start Price: 1,250.00High Bid: 1,100.00Estimate: 2,500.00 - 3,000.00 Original, hand-colored lithograph titled “Looking Down the Yo-Semite.” The artist’s rendition has some flat rocks in white and blue in the foreground. There are ferns, what looks to be water lilies, and a few non indigenous trees as well as evergreen trees in the scene. A green meadow is a prominent part of the lithograph. The river is lazy and slow, like glass, as the trees are reflected in it. There are mountains in the background in muted blues. The sky has white, gray, pink, and blue hues. Measures 16” by 12.” Not mounted. Classified medium folio sized. The border has “Published by Currier and Ives” on the left side and “152 Nassau St New York” on the right. The border is yellowing and has some foxing. It looks as if it were in a frame under glass at one time but not protected from light. The top has nicks and small tears. The top left corner has several folds as does the bottom left corner. Each lithograph was finished with gum arabic to give it a bit of a sheen at an angle, which is evidenced on this lithograph. Because this lithograph portrays Yosemite as a Garden of Eden, it may have been drawn by Fanny Palmer. The Yosemite Valley was first discovered by Americans in 1833 when trappers from the Walker party ventured into the area. The next “reliable sighting of the Valley by a non-indigenous person occurred on October 18, 1849 by William P. Abrams and a companion. Abrams accurately described some landmarks but it is not known for sure whether or not he or his companion actually entered the Valley. In 1850, Nate Screech became the first confirmed non-indigenous [person] to enter Hetch Hetchy Valley.” With the Indian wars over in the valley, some whites settled in the area. Later “a Unitarian minister named Thomas Starr King visited the Valley in 1860 and saw some of the negative effects that homesteading and commercial activity were having on the area. Six travel letters by King were published in the Boston Evening Transcript in 1860 and 1861 (Oliver Wendell Holmes and John Greenleaf Whittier read and commented on them). King went on to become the first person with a nationally-recognized voice to call for a public Yosemite park. Pressure by King, photographs by famed photographer Carleton Watkins, and geologic data from the 1863 Whitney Survey of California prompted legislators to take notice” Eventually, “President Abraham Lincoln on June 30,1864, creat[ed] the Yosemite Grant as a public trust. Yosemite Valley and the Mariposa Grove were ceded to California as a state park for ‘public use, resort and recreation.’" However, it was “naturalist John Muir[,who] first came to California in 1868. . . [who wrote] articles . . . help[ing] to both popularize the area and increase scientific interest in it.” Finally in 1890, the land was withdrawn from the public domain and set aside for a national park. It was reported that “this was the first time the federal government set aside land for such a purpose; an act that is widely considered to be genesis of the national park idea” in the United States. All quoted material taken from the following website [http://www.wordiq.com/definition/History_of_the_Yosemite_area].
Thumbnail 2421 1872-1874 - Currier and Ives Lithograph "Pioneer Cabin of the Yosemite Valley" : Start Price: 1,000.00High Bid: 1,300.00Estimate: 2,000.00 - 3,000.00 One of the most popular Currier and Ives lithographs for collectors of western art scenes. Original, framed in mottled wood, 18” x 14.75.” Medium folio size - 13 1/2" x 10 1/2." Double matted, under glass. Has some foxing and a light stain along the lower border. Titled “The Pioneer Cabin of the Yo-semite Valley.” Most realistic view of all the Currier and Ives lithographs offered in this auction. El Capitan is in the background. The miner’s cabin is the focus of the lithograph. It is made of logs and has a fireplace at the far end. One man is fishing in the river behind the homestead. Another man is sitting on a tree stub with an axe in one hand and his black and white dog is standing by his left side. A variety of colors are presented here: browns, greens, yellows, blues, peaches, pinks, grays, black and white all appear in the work.
Thumbnail 2422 c1848 - Currier and Ives Lithograph of Salt Lake City : Start Price: 1,250.00High Bid: 1,100.00Estimate: 2,500.00 - 3,500.00 Hand-colored, original lithograph. Not mounted. Cotton blend paper. Measures 15” x 11.” Classified as medium folio print. Good condition. Marked “Published by Currier and Ives” on the left bottom border and 152 Nassau St. New York on the right bottom border. Making a lithograph took a lot of work. First, the artists would draw the scenes by hand on lithographic limestone printing plates. Often the task took a week or more to accomplish. After the lithograph was printed, immigrant women, who had a background in art, hand colored the scenes in assembly-line fashion. Each woman only had one color to work with. Each lithograph was finished with gum arabic to give it a bit of a sheen at an angle, which is evidenced on this lithograph. This particular lithograph is an artist’s rendition of the “Great Salt Lake, Utah.” In the foreground, on the right of the picture, is a town with neat, evergreen tree lined streets, with white houses, some with white board fences. The landscape is green with some hues of peach. In the foreground on the left, three men stand over the town on a green covered rock cliff, discussing something they see in the distance. People in the picture are small and dressed in mid 1800s fashions. There seems to be a few two and three story buildings in the picture. A couple are houses and the others seem to be government buildings. There is one multi story building with a small dome near the lake. It could be a rendition of a Mormon temple. There are no other religious buildings in the lithograph as there are no spires. The foreground is reminiscent of a Hudson River painting except this one does not have Native Americans in it. The lithograph is warm and cold at the same time depending on where the viewers’ eyes rest. The lake looks cold as it goes from dark gray by the town to light blue in the background. The mountains on the other side of the lake are completely covered in snow. Gray and white clouds cover some of the mountain tops. The artist for this lithograph was most likely George Inness or Fanny Palmer.
Thumbnail 2423 1850 - Currier Lithograph "Independent Gold Hunter" : Start Price: 750.00High Bid: 2,500.00Estimate: 1,500.00 - 4,500.00 Wood frame measures 18” x 21.” The mounted lithograph measures 8” x12,” a small folio size. Under glass. Some small spots of foxing. Ready to hang on your wall. A self published N. Currier lithograph titled “The Independent Gold Hunter on His Way to California: Neither Borrow nor Lend.” The address for Currier’s company was “152 Nassau St. cor. of Spruce, N. Y.” This print was made before Currier became partners with Ives. A right side view of a robust dandy (in modern terms a city slicker) American man, full of nonchalance, leisurely walking his way to California to partake in the Gold Rush. Balanced on his head is a green colored cooking pot; the handle is under his chin. He is wearing square framed glasses. There is a half smoked cigar in his mouth. He has on an overcoat that goes to just above his knees. His boots are of shiny new black leather. In his coat pocket he has several various types of knives all with different hilts. In his breast pocket there is a corked full bottle of alcohol. A shovel is crunched under his arm. Over his shoulder he is carrying a long handled pan like a soldier would carry a rifle. Perched on the handle are a small gold colored tea pot, a full stringer of fish, plus an empty one to spare. He also has a brass scale hanging off of his back. Obviously, he is expecting to make a lot of money. He has just passed the sign “1700 miles to California.” He has come 350 miles already from St. Louis. The lithograph' topography is flat and green in the foreground but the background – from where the dandy came - is hilly to mountainous country. The path on which the dandy walks is peach colored, weedless, and grassless as if many people, wagons, and animals have trod that way before him. It is obvious to the viewer the dandy does not have a clue about the trip to California, what he needs to sustain himself to get there, and the equipment he will need when he gets there. In fact, the dandy comes off as a little "crazy" looking. A lithograph full of meaning that can spark good conversation.
Thumbnail 2424 Gold Rush Letter sheet : Start Price: 750.00High Bid: 1,500.00Estimate: 1,500.00 - 2,500.00 Previously unlisted illustrated lettersheet (not in Baird). Shows "A Regular Gold Dustman." Father and two children with their belongings discussing the "'Heaps o' Gold Dust to be had for the sweepin'" (in "'Kallifornier'"). Black ink on white with letterpress printed titling. Framed in ornate Victorian style frame behind museum glass. Fine. 20" x 15.5".
Thumbnail 2425 c1860s-1900 - Wells Fargo Express Document Collection California & Nevada Small Towns : Start Price: 150.00Estimate: 300.00 - 600.00 Lot of 9 items. 1) 1864 check from Folsom (damaged) 2) 1862 Receipt for freight from Gold Hill, N.T. To Sacramento 3) Check from North Bloomfield 1890 4) Receipt for gold dust Shasta 1881 5) Check from Pioche 1884 6) Bullion receipt from Carson City 1897 7) Bullion receipt from Millers 1909... and various other receipts. All generally fine except Folsom check.
Thumbnail 2426 AK - c1905 - Alaska -Yukon Gold Rush Original Advertising Painting : Start Price: 1,250.00High Bid: 4,400.00Estimate: 2,500.00 - 5,000.00 Measures 22.50” x 28.75.” Signed by artist Marna Hoff. There is no information on the artist available. Wood frame, under glass, double mounted. It is a portrait of a white bearded miner sitting on some rocks along a stream lovingly cleaning his gold pan with “Old Dutch Cleanser.” The can is sitting beside the man on the rocks. It has the “Old Dutch Cleanser” masthead in yellow and a side view of the "Dutch Girl" in a royal blue dress with a white apron and hat, walking in her wooden shoes under the title. The miner’s gold pan is shining. While his forehead has some wrinkles his arms do not appear to be those of an old man. He is not a typical miner because his clothes are pristine, as if he has made his money, and it is all due to keeping his gold pan clean so he can see the gold flakes and nuggets better. The overall scene projects a clean image promoting Dutch Cleanser. He has on new lace-up boots with no scuffs that go up to his shins, new or clean looking olive green pants, and a clean, light green shirt with gray stripes. He has on what appears to be a forest ranger style hat that is also olive green. Because Old Dutch Cleanser started in the early 1900s, the miner most likely made his fortune in the Alaska gold rush. The Klondike gold rush began in July of 1897 when two ships docked in San Francisco and Seattle carrying miners returning from the Yukon with bags of gold. The press was alerted and papers carried the story to the masses. Soon, miners of all shapes and sizes, called "stampeders", were on their way to the gold fields. Within six months, approximately 100,000 gold-seekers set off for the Yukon. Only 30,000 completed the trip. Most stampeders knew little or nothing about where they were going, so pamphlets were available to help them on their way. Many of the pamphlets contained little or no real information and made outrageous claims of wealth to be had by everyone. Outfitters sprang up overnight that were happy to sell the stampeders whatever they needed to get started. This included food, clothing, tools and camping, mining and transportation equipment. Helping the outfitters in this regard were the Northwest Mounted Police who required all stampeders to have one year’s supply of goods before they allowed them across the border into Canada. This was roughly one ton of goods per person. Towns such as Seattle made fortunes outfitting the miners (note 1). “According to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, a trademark for Old Dutch was filed September 15, 1905 and registered March 27, 1906. The whole trademark is ‘Old Dutch Cleanser chases dirt, makes everything spick and span’” (note 2). This painting is believed to be the original painting for first advertising campaign. Dr. Ralph E. Pray explains that, “the naturally-occurring white scouring powder called Old Dutch Cleanser, originally from Kern County, California, is a house-hold helper known throughout the U.S. as a sink, stove, and tub cleaner, the abrasive pumicite is one of the most popular scrubbing agents on the market. . . . The original source of this Old Dutch Cleanser material, a pumicite mine hidden underground in the remote Mojave desert, produced 120,000 tons of cleansing powder. The mine, along the Garlock Fault, closed in 1947. There remains in the property an incalculable tonnage of pumicite identical to that marketed so long ago, a portion of which has recently been mined economically from the surface. Pumicite recovered from many areas of former volcanic activity is now used chiefly as an additive to Portland cement, paint and as a hard, white, flint-like filler” (note 3). Pray continues, "the mine, 130 miles north of Los Angeles, is located on 240 acres of patented land in Township 29 South, Range 38 East, Mount Diablo Meridian, Kern County, California. The property is in the El Paso Mountains which are 30 miles north of the city of Mojave on State Highway 14, then easterly 4.3 miles” (note 4). 1. [http://www.questconnect.org/ak_klondike.htm]. 2. http://www.brandlandusa.com/2008/12/22/chasing-the-old-dutch-cleanser-girl/]. 3. [http://www.mine-engineer.com/mining/dutch.htm] 4. [http://www.mine-engineer.com/mining/dutch.htm]
Thumbnail 2427 AK - c1893 - Yukon Miner’s Union Banner Polychrome Cloth : Start Price: 7,500.00High Bid: 15,000.00Estimate: 15,000.00 - 20,000.00 This wonderful parade and union hall banner is the original, dating from 1894 at Forty Mile, a miners camp on the Yukon River. It is the first miners Union in Alaska/Yukon. The Yukon Order of Pioneers was organized December 1, 1894 at Forty Mile in Yukon Territory, just over the Alaska border, near Dawson City. The two current lodges of the Union and Yukon Order of Pioneers are in Dawson and Whitehorse. These two groups are closely linked in an historical write-up by L. Cyr. Today, the Alaska Pioneers group includes men of the Yukon, since mining was the common thread, and not the artificial political boundary between the United States and Canada. Forty Mile served as a central point for prospectors and miners. The Union was established to promote law and order in the mining camps, which was not always an easy thing. (Please see the Cripple Creek Sheriff’s badge in this catalog for a story of western miners union.) Violent crime ran rampant at times in Alaska and the Yukon Territory. Perhaps the most notable outlaw was Soapy Smith, who finally died at the hands of one of the men who he “wronged.” While gold was mined in Alaska as early as the 1870’s, it was not until mining along the Yukon River and tributaries produced large amounts of gold that the rush began. Centered around Forty mile and Dawson City, the gold rush soon spread to other areas of the Klondike and Alaska, perhaps climaxing during the 1897-8 period. Nome discoveries added more fuel to the mining fires. This wonderful miner’s union banner is four feet wide by five and a quarter feet tall. It is well known to western mining collectors, since it hung in the Mark Twain Museum in Virginia City from about 1960 to 1994 when the museum closed and was converted to the Mark Twain Book Store. It is one of the showiest mining pieces extant, and arguably one of the most important mining artifacts remaining from the Alaska-Yukon gold rush of c 1895-1900. This beautiful velvet banner was a prominent part of the Graham and Paula Hardy Collection, and is the only one known. Circular painted overlay has begun to crack along 1-2 strips. Some wear to red embroidering. Extremely rare, possibly Unique.
Thumbnail 2428 AK - Feb 1st, 1917 - Yukon Miner's Union Original Framed Certificate : Start Price: 750.00High Bid: 1,200.00Estimate: 1,500.00 - 4,500.00 This original certificate is for the Union company that made the Yukon Miner's Banner featured in this catalog. Titled Yukon Order of Pioneers from the Grand Lodge in Dawson, Y.T. Canada, it certifies that Bro. Angus Chisholdm is a member of Lodge No. 1. It is signed by the Grand President and Grand Secretary, as well as the Member, Angus Chisholm. The Yukon Order of Pioneers was organized Dec 1st 1894 in Fortymile, Y.T. Canada. This is an extremely artistic, colorful certificate measuring approximately 15" X 18" in a period gold frame, probably original to the piece. There are several vignettes; a Yukon miner extending his hand to another is snow at top left, a miner's cabin in snow at top right, small bags of gold on each side of the title, a gold miners pick, axe and poke in the center, a dogsled at bottom left and a gold miner with a rocker at bottom right. Gold embossed seal at bottom left. In a rainbow across the top of the certificate is printed a variety of the Golden Rule, "Do unto others as you would be done by". Schmidt Litho Co. San Francisco. Excellent condition. The Yukon Order of Pioneers was created in 1894 to establish and maintain ethical standards in the Yukon Territory among gold miners. The YOOP's pledged to protect other members and share news of gold discoveries at a time when "Crime ran like a river through the north during the early years of gold prospecting." [Ref: Yukon Territorial Government 2009 web page: www.yukongenealogy.com]
Thumbnail 2429 Anchorage,AK - Municipality of Anchorage - c1898 - Klondike Gold Rush Pokes : Start Price: 400.00High Bid: 500.00Estimate: 800.00 - 1,200.00 Lot of two items, including: 1) Deerskin sack, natural color; 7.5" x 2.74” with a single seam; tie closure; beading on one side includes green stem, two pink and red flowers, one light-dark blue flower and one lavender-orange flower; four additional flower buds, two in pink and two in cream; additional beading 3/4" from opening in pink and cream. Poke is lined in red fabric with white stars. Inside the poke is a paper remnant 3" x 1.5” "-un Flower Bak-“ and “paid 6/8 JMF.r”. According to Woody Libor, this poke was purchased from “Old Ted” in 1987. Ted was a bodyguard in Anchorage who did some work for the Antlers Bar. After the 1964 earthquake, Ted salvaged some of the Klondike artifacts. This poke had hung on the bar wall with a note saying who it was from. This note has been lost. The floral beadwork on this item is typical of the northern Cree and was likely made for the original owner. 2) Silk sack, off-white, 8" x 2.5” with single seam; Chinese lettering on one side; two ink stamps: “16.12 [illegible]” and “OK 12 [illegible]”; aqua blue fabric with an imprinted gold star: possibly the tie for the poke. Other provenance is unknown.
Thumbnail 2430 Anchorage,AK - Municipality of Anchorage - c1900-1950 - Money Belt : Start Price: 1,000.00High Bid: 1,000.00Estimate: 2,000.00 - 3,000.00 Brown leather belt, measures 47" x2.75”. Contains six notches lined in silver-toned metal (notch #4 is not lined); has four pockets, with snapped flaps for gold and one bill pocket; and five bullet holders. The belt is constructed of one 38-inch piece of leather which was doubled over lengthwise and double-stitched together. The leather tongue is 15 inches long and dyed a different color. The belt buckle measures 2.75" x 2.25” likely silver plate but tarnished; belt embossed with “Kennedy Hardware Anchorage Alaska.” Well-worn. James Kennedy traveled with his family to Anchorage shortly after the birth of his daughter Kay in 1919. Kennedy Hardware was a family owned and operated business located on 4th street in Anchorage. Photos of the business exist from 1956 and 1964 after the earthquake.
Thumbnail 2431 Chilkoot Pass,AK - 1898/1899 - Klondike's Stereoview Collection : Start Price: 50.00High Bid: 250.00Estimate: 100.00 - 200.00 Lot of four. 1) View of line of Klondikers climbing Chilkoot Pass. Wooden restaurant structure in foreground. L better balanced tonally and focus cleaner. View of Chilkoot Pass shows tall snow covered ridgeline. Tower at top of pass. On peach colored card. 1898. 2) Group of 3 Klondikers "in council". Man and woman (with a dog) seated on sled with wrapped goods. Man standing holding rifle at right. L and R with good contrast and equaling focused. On orange colored card. 1898. 3) "Weary and Hungry, but Happy" Klondikers having "Lunch by the Wayside."Horses with sled in background. 4 men seated by a smoldering campfire. All with hats and one with a metal cup. L and R well balanced and equally focused. On orange colored card. 1899. 4) View of a group of "Citizens of Ohio enroute to the Klondyke, Dyea Trail." Two cattle with sleds. Wooden structure in background. Snow covered range at top. L and R well balanced and equally focused. On orange colored card. 1898. All panels individually 3" x 3.5". Total card sizes 7" x 4" ea.
Thumbnail 2432 Nome,AK - Nome County - c1900 - Dexter Mine Photographs : Start Price: 250.00High Bid: 200.00Estimate: 500.00 - 1,000.00 Lot of two cabinet cards of the Dexter Mine. 1) The image has a group of miners between two long sluice boxes on the right, with a third sluice box and several well-dressed men standing near a main building in the upper left corner. Measures 8" x 6", mounted on beige cardstock measuring 8 1/2" x 6 1/2". Contrast is medium to high, while focus is good. Some slight yellowing and fading of image with small depressed area in upper right, otherwise very fine. There are several areas of discoloration on matte, but very fine condition overall. "No. 9 Dexter" is printed along the bottom border, while "Dobbs" is printed in the lower left corner. 2) Image of 18 miners and two horses working around a flume and three small sluice boxes in the foreground and several buildings in the background. Measures 8" x 6", mounted on beige cardstock measuring 8 1/2" x 6 1/2". Contrast is high, while focus is good (several signs for one of the buildings, "The Sourdough," can be easily read). Silvery tint noticeable along right, left, and bottom edges, otherwise image and matte very fine. Likely another Dobbs photograph, but no name listed. "Dexter" written in pencil on reverse, but not verified. The son of a farmer, Beverly Bennett Dobbs was born in 1868 in Missouri. After learning photography in Lincoln, Nebraska, in 1888 he moved to Bellingham, Washington, where he ran a photography studio for 12 years, which including his partnership with F.F. Fleming in 1890-1891 under the name Dobbs & Fleming. He married in 1896 and moved to Nome, Alaska, searching for gold in 1900. He continued to work as a photographer, and recorded scenes in Nome and the Seward Peninsula and did portraits of Inuit people (Eskimos). He was awarded a gold medal at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition (St. Louis World’s Fair) in 1904 for his Eskimo photographs. By 1909, Dobbs started Dobbs Alaska Moving Picture Co., one of the first to film motion pictures north of the Arctic Circle. He created Atop of the World in Motion, a collection of his motion picture footage detailing the Alaska gold rush. By 1911, Dobbs was focusing primarily on his moving picture business and no longer had his photography supply store. He sold his photography negatives to the Lomen Brothers, who later issued some of his work under their name [Ref: lib.washington.edu]. The Dexter Mine was located in the Nome mining district. The Dexter Saloon in Nome was owned by Wyatt Earp. The connection, if any, is unknown.
Thumbnail 2433 Valdez,AK - c1908 - Copper Block Café Gold Nugget Token : $1 - Genuine - 5225930-010 Start Price: 500.00High Bid: 900.00Estimate: 1,000.00 - 2,000.00 $1. This hotel and saloon operated from 1907-1917 by H.F. Suessdorf. It was billed as "The House of Comfort" with "finely furnished rooms with hot and cold water throughout." It offered electric lights, hot baths and steam, and served men only. It burned in 1925 [Ref: Alaska Tokens by Ronald J. Benice]. The Alaska nugget tokens are often considered some of the greatest of all American tokens. They are particularly popular among mining camp collectors. There are two varieties of this token, both of the approximate same rariety.
Thumbnail 2434 Hackberry,AZ - Mohave County - December 21, 1878 - Hackberry Mill & Mining Company Ultra Rare $5 Not Start Price: 2,500.00High Bid: 3,000.00Estimate: 5,000.00 - 10,000.00 Unique and Rare specimen! There are exactly two Hackberry scrip notes known - one for $2.50 and a $5.00 note. Borth are unique. No 83 Note payable to Melvin Brothers for $5 United States Gold Coin, signed by Henry Raymond Superintendent. The Melvin Bros office was in San Francisco. Recently this unique note resurfaced with a $2.50 gold piece and an ingot. The Hackberry is five miles east of Mineral Park in Mohave County, some distance from Kingman. The mine was perhaps discovered in the 1860’s and significant production began in the 1870’s. It has been speculated with some accuracy that upwards of $300,000 had been removed from the mine. A mining district was established with the same name after production had become substantial. Promptly, other mines were started in the area including the Hester, Descent, and South Hackberry. Although a mille was constructed in the early 1870’s the entire operation was relatively inactive by 1875, possibly from a change in company management. 1880, work and mining resumed in the area after geologic evaluation of the property located much ore “in sight” according to Burchard in his Report of the Director of the Mint, 1881. Hamilton in Recourses of Arizona, 1884, noted that the Hackberry vein was about forty feet wide in granite. The pay streak was less than two feet wide averaging about $200 per ton. This note is an R8. It is one of only a handful of Arizona mining related bank notes. The note has been folded repeatedly, has significant soiling, small chips along the top and bottom edges. Blank Reverse. Very Good Condition.
Thumbnail 2435 Pinal County,AZ - January 24, 1881 - Pioneer Silver Belle Mill and Mining Company Stock *Territorial Start Price: 150.00Estimate: 300.00 - 400.00 Pioneer District. Incorporated in 1878. Certif. #95, issued to G.W. Burns, Trustee, for 6675 shares. Signed by J.P. Dyer, president, and by secretary. Small vignette at bottom center of a dog next to a safe. Black border and print. Uncancelled. No printer noted. 4 x 9.5.” The property was undoubtedly developed near to and because of the location of the famous Silver King Mine in 1875, which became a fabulous producer. After its discovery many mines sprang up in the Pioneer District.
Thumbnail 2436 Yavapai County,AZ - 1903, 1904, 1908, 1909 - Yavapai County Mining Stock Certificates *Territorial* Start Price: 100.00High Bid: 100.00Estimate: 200.00 - 400.00 Lot of five. First stock is from the Consolidated Arizona Smelting Company. Measures 11’’x 8’’. Incorporated under the laws of Maine. No. c11056. Issued to Michael and Frank 100 shares on December 31, 1909. Signed by President and Secretary both names illegible. Vignette located on the top and center shows mining refinery. Red border and safety print, black print and embossed seal lower middle edge. Wear on the edges and small pin sized holes can be seen. Two small creases are on the upper right side. Uncancelled. Second is the Empress Mining and Milling Company, measures 10 ½’’x 8 ¼’’. Incorporated under the laws of Arizona. No. A368 issued to W. G. Wayner for 1150 shares on May 17, 1904. Signed by President Edward Wolcolt and Secretary Stephen A. Pauel. No vignette. Dark pink border with dark pink embossed seal, black print and gold safety print. Slight wear, watermark on the right side and two creases from being folded in the past. Uncancelled. Two stocks are of the Crown King Mines Company, both measures 11 ¼’’x 7 ¾’’and are incorporated under the laws of Arizona. No. D2015 was issued to J.H. Huston for 10 shares on December 27, 1908. Signed by President T.J. Link and Secretary name illegible. Vignette is located on the top center with a deer standing near a cactus. Below “Oitat Deus” Both have orange border and black print. Cancelled on February 13, 191, with blue cancellation mark in the top left corner and town triangle shapes on the right edge. No. 502 was issued to Laura Mayne for 500 shares on February 14, 1903. Signed by President Stephen A. Paurll and secretary Oscar H. Miller. Also orange but has orange safety print and a different vignette of a woman in Greek clothing holding a wreath on the upper left corner. Orange embossed seal. Slight wear two creases down the center of the stock. Uncancelled. The last stock is of the Verde Aper Copper Mining Co. measures 10 ¾’’x 8 ¼’’. Incorporated under the laws of Arizona. No. 1949 issued to Carl M. Waltz for 100 shares on September 2, 1916. Signed by vice President Ed Shumats. And Secretary Jeff Robinson. Vignette is of a bald eagle with a shield. Black border and print. Green safety print and embossed seal. Cancelled on October 2, 1917. Blue cancellation stamp on the upper right corner. Slight wear on edges and two creases down the center from being folded in the past. Watermark seen on lower center of the stock. Two small tears are on the bottom edge.
Thumbnail 2437 CA - c1854 - Adams & Co. Express Token and Chapman Envelope : Start Price: 125.00High Bid: 160.00Estimate: 250.00 - 350.00 Lot of two. Adams & Co. Express Token, CA. c. 1854 and Chapman envelope. 1) Single token, 25 cent value; 1x1”; on glazed cardboard; tokens were used as money on the West Coast; in California pocket change was almost non-existent; picture is D. H. Haskell, the first manager of Adams & Co.’s Express in California [Holabird-Kagin Americana, The Rush for Gold! Reno, NV: Holabird-Kagin Americana, 2008]. The token is from the Chapman Collection. 2) Henry Chapman Envelope: important provenance: “Henry Chapman, Numismatist. No. 1348 Pine Street, Philadelphia”; From the Ex Friedberg sale, purchased by Art Kagin. Fantastic item worthy of the finest collection.
Thumbnail 2438 CA - 1988 - California Gold Discovery Day Gold Medallion : Start Price: 600.00High Bid: 1,500.00Estimate: 1,200.00 - 1,500.00 Struck in Gold by Medallic Art Co. Dies created by Don De Lue. 1897-1988. Obverse features a beautifully engraved high relief view of Sutter's Mill with huge redwood trees and a modern sun above. California Gold Discovery Day Medallion above and around. Sutter's Mill Coloma gold found here by James Marshall started the growth and prosperity of America. Below and to the right January 24, 1848. Reverse states in bold lettering Gold is property freedom to buy, sell, and save gold is a constitutional right 18 carat. Choice brilliant uncirculated. Stamped on edge. 457.8 grains. (approximately .95 Toz)
Thumbnail 2439 CA - Jan. 30th, 1849 - Chase, Salmon P. Manuscript Speech about the Great California Gold Fields : Start Price: 1,000.00High Bid: 2,900.00Estimate: 2,000.00 - 4,000.00 Important speech made by Salmon P. Chase, probably in Cincinnati, Ohio. When this speech was made, Chase had just been elected as a Senator from Ohio in the Free Soil Party. He did not begin official duties until March, 1849. He became Governor of Ohio in 1855, and wasTreasurer of the US under Lincoln until 1864, at which time he resigned and became Chief Justice of the Supreme Court preciding until he died in 1873. This document appears written in Chase’s own hand. It is an impassioned speech introducing California to Ohioans, and recommending that they go to this new land, comfortable in climate, safe from harm and full of gold . . . perhaps I should turn to the young men. Indeed they are the only ones to look to in the settlement of a new country . . . In the great enterprise that I am to introduce you to this evening . . . we should give you some accounts, especially of the gold region . . . My friends have just returned from there, we came home for the purpose of closing up our business and returning for life . . . They raise beets that weigh 4 tons, potatoes as big as a pick . . . trees so tall it takes two men to see the top . . . the gold is what agitates the world, and that’s what we are after . . . if anything, gold is more plenty than dirt . . . In the gold districts the miners fence in their digging patches with a gold wall . . . on the table before me lies a few specimens of pure California gold in lumps . . . .” Complete transcript is included. This is one of the finest first hand letters or speeches the author (fh) has seen and it comes from one of America’s greatest politicians and legal minds.
Thumbnail 2441 CA - 1848 - Fremont's Upper California Geographical Memoir : Start Price: 200.00High Bid: 200.00Estimate: 400.00 - 600.00 A Senate publication from the 30th Congress, 1st Session, Miscellaneous No. 148, this paper covered volume is fully titled: ”Geographical Memoir Upon Upper California, in Illustration of His Map of Oregon and California, by John Charles Fremont: Addressed To The Senate of the United States.” 67 pages, includes tables of latitudes and longitudes, meteorological observations and general observations, with an Appendix by Professor Hubbard of the National Observatory in Washington, D.C. 5.25 x 8.75.” A fabulous first-hand account by one of Western America’s most famous explorers.
Thumbnail 2442 CA - c1849 - Gold Poke : Start Price: 760.00High Bid: 1,200.00Estimate: 1,520.00 - 2,500.00 Dark brown leather poke, 47" x 1.25-4.25”. Cummerbund-shaped; pouch portion is 22.5” and is one piece of leather, folded and stitched on the backside; open end has a flap with opening for the 4” leather drawstring (broken); two leather straps on reverse of pouch measuring 10” and 6.75”; belt portion is attached with leather straps; buckle portion is sewn on; medium wear; the leather is stiff. A poke is a small sack used to carry or transport placer gold. For a miner living in a rough environment, wearing a gold belt or poke was one way of outwitting the “bad guys.”Money and gold dust belts were secured to the body, with a typical new belt costing about 98 cents [Cohn, David Lewis. The Good old Days: The History of American Morals and Manners as Seen Through the Sears Roebuck Catalogue. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1940. 473].
Thumbnail 2443 CA - c1849 - Gold Poke : Start Price: 500.00High Bid: 950.00Estimate: 1,000.00 - 1,500.00 Deerskin sack measures 11" x 4.5”, taupe, with original wax seals (unreadable) and ink markings indicating “294.03 oz,” and an arrow indicating direction for sealing. Small tear opposite the side seam and a stump of the tie remains. The deerskin is supple. A gold poke is a small sack used to carry gold and gold dust. This poke was most likely used during the California gold rush to send ore to the mint in San Francisco.
Thumbnail 2444 CA - c1850s - Gold Rush Coin Purse : Start Price: 2,500.00High Bid: 5,250.00Estimate: 5,000.00 - 7,500.00 Fabulous silver engraved gold rush coin purse. No maker is shown. The vignettes of coin presses on this coin purse are unique. The clear inference is that is was made specifically for a coiner. Since the scenes are Californiaesque, and the word California is present, we assume a California coiner of note had this purse made for him. Also present are the California coiners vignette with two cherubs turning a coin press and a third cherub holding a freshly minted coin on one side. The reverse side depicts one miner on his knees panning gold from a stream. Also in the foreground is another miner shoveling. The rays of the setting sun radiate from the mountains. "California" is engraved across the bottom front. The family collection of California coiners known that have been distributed or sold long ago include Augustus Humbert and A. Kuner, thus these are potential sources of this purse. However, famous coiners such as John L. Moffat cannot be discounted. Regardless, this choice piece is an ablsolutely wonderful antique directly related to the California gold coiners, apparently made during the period. One of the most spectacular items from the Henry Clifford collection which was on display for many years at the San Francisco mint. 82mm x 62mm.
Thumbnail 2445 CA - c1857 - Gold Rush Coinage Conversion Chart, Unique! : Start Price: 250.00High Bid: 300.00Estimate: 500.00 - 1,000.00 Very rare conversion chart for California Pioneer & Foreign Gold Coinage and Foreign Silver Coinage. Hand written on soft blue lined paper. Solidly Gold Rush era but not dated. The piece may date to the 1854 period when California private gold coins were devalued in the media. For example one of the line entries is “California twenty dollars, now worth only $19.50.” Very Fine.
Thumbnail 2446 CA - c1848-1855 - Miner Photographs : Start Price: 2,000.00High Bid: 3,500.00Estimate: 4,000.00 - 6,000.00 Unique and unusual pair of Daguerreotypes in excellent condition with the original case of a young man in his business attire and with another view of him dressed in his miner’s outfit. The pair was perhaps sent home to his family or girlfriend. There are no photographer’s marks on the backs of the photographs. The miner’s outfit appears to be a typical coarse sewn canvas-style shirt meant for cool weather and hard work. The watch chain is ever present in California life, but would be removed during hard labor. Extremely Rare. Extremely Fine.
Thumbnail 2447 CA - 1849 - New-Brunswick & California Mining & Trading Co. Stock : Start Price: 500.00Estimate: 1,000.00 - 2,000.00 This is an important, perhaps earliest known, California Gold Rush stock certificate. A blank certificate for one share, unissued and unsigned. "Association, adopted January 13, 1849" is printed under the masthead. Very plain, 1/3-sheet size (4 x 7.75"), on crème paper with black print. State of New Jersey is printed at left border. Datelined New Brunswick, February, 1849. The Maritime Heritage organization describes this company thusly: "Once news of California's Gold Rush reached the East Coast, groups of men began forming mining companies to help defray the great expenses of reaching the gold fields, and with the hope of having more success by banding together. More than 500 vessels left Atlantic and Gulf ports during 1849. After the best ships were full, virtually anything afloat, including old traders, whalers and small schooners were booked. Groups chartered or purchased a ship, many of which were extremely small, and sailed from their homes to the fields of gold…a partial list of mining companies leaving the Eastern Seaboard for California in 1848 and 1850.…. Isabel (New Brunswick and California Mining and Trading Company), 237-ton bark, built 1844 in Baltimore, Maryland. Left New York, New York on February 7, 1849, arrived San Francisco August 5, 1849. 179 days at sea. Captain N.R. Brewer 48 passengers. Non-stop via Cape Horn. Sold abroad and used in South American trade after arrival. Passenger James V. Spader wrote two long letters (February 7-August 18, 1849) during the voyage, which are held at the Rutgers University Library, New Brunswick, New Jersey. Much of the second letter duplicates information in the first one. Entries are very brief, limited primarily to weather conditions, speed, latitude and longitude, temperature, sails set and taken in, etc" [Ref: www.maritimeheritage.org/PassLists/mining.htm].
Thumbnail 2448 CA - c1885 - Pacific Express Co. Cover Face : Start Price: 50.00Estimate: 100.00 - 200.00 Scarce Express cover, face only with Scott U277. Unused.
Thumbnail 2449 CA - Alpine County - December 26, 1868 - Pennsylvania Gold and Silver Mining Company Stock : Start Price: 300.00High Bid: 500.00Estimate: 600.00 - 900.00 Silver Mountain District. Incorporated in 1863. Cert. # 557, issued to Iver Dawson for 8 shares. Signed by O. M. Gilman, president, and by John A. Johnson, secretary. Vignette at center of state seal with two rearing horses. Dog’s head vignette at bottom. Black border with red under print (“Silver Mountain”). Uncancelled. 25ct. revenue stamp at left. 4 x 8.5.” Datelined Silver Mountain. The district is listed as being in Alpine County; however, Amador County is clearly printed on the certificate because the Alpine County was not created until 1864. The Alpine Miner News (in Monitor, CA) noted in 1867 that the Pennsylvania Gold and Silver Mining Co. was on the Delinquency List on account of assessments made [Ref: www.cageweb.com/alpine/1867Min.htm].
Thumbnail 2450 CA - 1850s-1880s - Wells Fargo & Co. California Cover Collection : Start Price: 250.00High Bid: 250.00Estimate: 500.00 - 1,000.00 Nice collection of 18 covers with good variety. This is an original grouping, none are repaired, and most have natural edge tears, some into the stamps or franks. Some cancels are not as clear as others. They are: Marysville double ring oval, Marysville with printed merchant on reverse; Oakland; San Francisco double circle; Tickner, agent, to Georgetown, Cal.; Stockton Messenger; San Francicsco oval; San Francisco double circle; Sacramento messenger; Marysville, red oval; San Francisco oval; SF oval to Woodland; Red Bluff; Oroville oval; Benecia oval to Winters; SF pasteup with three covers with SF ovals.
Thumbnail 2451 CA - Wells Fargo & Co. Counterfeit Collection : Start Price: 200.00High Bid: 225.00Estimate: 400.00 - 800.00 Three elaborate Wells Fargo Express counterfeit pieces, perhaps made about or in the 1960's. 1) The classic Wells Fargo medal from 1902. This medal, however, appears to be a counterfeit. The high rim and uneven edge are unusual, and not normal. If they were, the die work would have been protected, and here the die work is so bad as to be generally unreadable. The details for the scene, which on originals are very fine, are here mashed together as if the piece is made from a clever casting. It is also unusual, because I can't remember ever seeing a fake before (FH). A recent check with the So-Called Guy reveals that he has seen a similar piece, but they are not plentiful. 2) Thought to be an Original engraved metal on wood Wells Fargo Frank for Wells Fargo franked envelopes from the 1860's to 1870's period. However, upon magnification, this may be another elaborate counterfeit. The wood block is machine cut with a modern-style hot wood stamp on the end indicating the maker (a "P" with a pilgrim-style hat on top of it.) The fine detail seen in this frank on original Wells Fargo covers is not present, absolutely not typical of Wells Fargo original material. After examining a good WF cover collection, I cannot find a single cover with the detail lost in the frank as is present in this engraved device.-FH. 3) Nice brown, rectangular canvas bag, 7 x 11". The type style on the bag is not consistent with original Wells Fargo material, and an original bag would not contain the words "Assayed Silver", particularly because they never had an assay office and only dealt in gold. Thus we believe this bag to be an elaborate fake, but is very collectible, because of the Wells Fargo name, nonetheless.
Thumbnail 2452 Amador City,CA - c1880's - Keystone Gold Mining Co. Documents : Start Price: 150.00Estimate: 300.00 - 500.00 Lot of 23. Vouchers for salaries, wood, freight, etc. Issued throughout the 1880's. Covers a significant number of years of records signed by Supt. O. C. Hewitt. Fine. The Keystone Mine was in operation from 1853 to 1942 and discovered over $24 million in gold. As Amador City was only incorporated as a town since 1915, these early documents show evidence of a lucrative operation from the Gold Rush era. The town and county it lies in are named after the first prospector to find gold in a previously unknown creek (most likely Sutter Creek), Jose Maria Amador. The Keystone was the most lucrative and well known mine operating in the area. Folded. 8.5" x 5.5".
Thumbnail 2453 Auburn,CA - Placer County - 1857 - Placer County Juror's Receipts : Start Price: 50.00Estimate: 100.00 - 200.00 Lot of two Gold Rush period documents issued to Mat Finley and William Finley, both dated 1857, and signed by the Clerk of the District Court Mitchell and Deputy Johnson. Printed with red ink on light blue paper.
Thumbnail 2454 Bodie,CA - Mono County - April 14, 1881 - Union Consolidated Mining Company of New York Stock : Start Price: 150.00High Bid: 325.00Estimate: 300.00 - 500.00 Bodie District. Incorporated in New York in 1880. Cert. #118, issued to H.A. Dickenson in 1881 for 1000 shares. Signed by President Nat. B. Freeman, as well as by the secretary and treasurer. No vignette, black border and print, with red ink writing in some places, and an embossed seal. Uncancelled. Printer: Henry Koch, New York. “Location of Property, Bodie Mining District, Bodie, Mono County, California” printed beneath masthead. 6.5 x 11.” Rare. Located on the NW slope of Bodie Bluff. "Rich ore" according to Burchard [1881, 59].
Thumbnail 2455 Bunker Hill,CA - Amador County - c1905-1915 - Bunker Hill Saloon Token : G.F. 1 Dr - Start Price: 175.00High Bid: 175.00Estimate: 350.00 - 600.00 G. F. Pasquetti was the proprietor of the saloon. Obverse side has Bunker Hill Saloon, six sided star punched in the middle. Reverse side good for one drink [Kappen, 1976, 52]. It is not known if this is the town of the same name from Nevada or Sierra Counties in California. U. S. Census records are silent on the issue.
Thumbnail 2456 Calaveras County,CA - 1852-1898 - Mother Lode Stock Certificates (Central) : Start Price: 150.00High Bid: 150.00Estimate: 300.00 - 400.00 Lot of five items. 1) California Dredging and Mining Co., incorporated April 27, 1877. Certificate No. 96, issued to B. Hedge, Trustee (endorsed on reverse), for 100 shares on May 15, 1877. Signed by Chas. W. Swine as President and W.E. Whitman as Secretary. Vignette of miner at center left. Golden-colored border and print w/ green underprint. Uncancelled. Edward Denne & Co., Printers, 512 Sac. St. 2) Homestake Gold Mining Company of Tuolumne, incorporated June 20, 1868. Certificate No. 222, issued to Wm. Burchett for 1000 shares. Signed by L.W. McGlauflin as President and Wm. Burchett as Secretary. Vignette in blue of shovel in ore cart, sitting outside of mine entrance. Ornate black border and text with embossed seal at center bottom. Uncancelled. IRS stamp of 25c, 5c, and 10c (2) on face. Printer: A. Carlisle & Co., S.F. 3) Calaveras Water and Mining Company, incorporated under the laws of the State of New York. Certificate No. 1977, issued to Charles Salter for 100 shares on September 30, 1882. Signed by H.K. Sutherland as Vice President and R.K. Southwick as Secretary. Vignette of fancy share # (100) near center top in green with green border and black ink. Uncancelled. Franklin Bank Note Co. N.Y. 4) The Anglo-Californian Gold Mining Company, incorporated on Nov. 5, 1851. Cert. No. 53494, issued to Mary Topham of Merrion Street Leeds, dated Aug. 12, 1852. Signed by John Barker and (illegible) and George Goodman as Directors. No vignette, but name in ornate lettering at top. Embossed seat at bottom right. Uncancelled. 5) Murray Creek Mining Company, incorporated Nov. 15, 1893. Blank. "Location: El Dorado Mining District, Calaveras County, Cal." printed at upper left. Certificate No. 210. No vignette, company name in ornate "box" at center of certificate. Black border and text . Lith.H.S. Crocker Company, S.F.
Thumbnail 2457 Citrus,CA - Inyo County - New York and Inyo Copper Company Stock Certificate : Start Price: 150.00Estimate: 300.00 - 500.00 Citrus. Inyo County. Incorporated under the laws of the Territory of Arizona. Approximately 8.5 x 15". Black print on crème paper with brown border. Fancy vignette at top center of mountain mill site next to river with a cornucopia of fruit on each side. Unissued. Printed by Security Bank Note Company, Philadelphia. Very fine piece. Scarce.
Thumbnail 2458 Coloma,CA - c1860s-1900 - James Marshall Glass Plate Negative : Start Price: 375.00High Bid: 1,500.00Estimate: 750.00 - 1,000.00 Portrait collodian process glass plate of the significantly misunderstood Sutter Mill partner/employee who's finding of gold during the building of the mill changed the course of California and America. Though initially keeping relatively quiet, word soon made it to San Francisco and within days, people flocked to the Coloma, CA area seeking fortune. Though not generally respected during his life as a person of much influence, Marshall made do late in life with odd jobs as a handyman after several businesses failed. In his memoir, Marshall states that at one time he was forced from the Coloma area and lived "in the hills surviving on China rice alone… carrying his pack of 30-40 pounds over the mountains" [REF: Richard Peterson, HistoryNet.com, 6/12/06]. To his relative destruction, Marshall maintained belief that spirits could guide miners to discoveries of gold. To the miner's frustrations, he refused to actually lead them anywhere and at one time Marshall was threatened to be lynched (ibid.) The original nugget found at the Sutter Mill site is held by the Bancroft Museum, University California Berkeley. Bancroft says of Marshall: "Occasionally instances occur where one's destiny hitherto confined in the clouds, is let out in a flood, and if weak, the recipient is overwhelmed and carried down the stream by it…" concluding that it is in one's own hands to find fortune (Bancroft, vol VI., 42.) Though for some time living on a $200 pension/mo. from the State of California, Marshall died with barely enough to cover his funeral service [Ref: Peterson]. This glass plate uses a collodian process invented in 1850. The process was used throughout the end of the 19th century and is still used by fine artists today. Plates could/can be used to print in quantity, typically on albumen paper. They were also used for glass lantern slides. Quality of plate is fine and could be used even today for modern printing. 4" x 3.25".
Thumbnail 2459 Downieville,CA - Sierra County - Lamping Express Collection : Start Price: 125.00Estimate: 250.00 - 350.00 Unusual group of four different Lamping Express and Banking House Documents. The lot has a legal sized unused franked cover with 6 cent stamp
Thumbnail 2460 El Dorado,CA - 1859, 1867 - El Dorado County Documents : Start Price: 175.00High Bid: 150.00Estimate: 350.00 - 700.00 Lot of two. 1) Stock: River Road Company. Issued to JR Kiefer Aug. 31, 1867 for $117.50 paid to tollkeeper of River Road Co. Signed by Ornate border printed at left: vertical modern titling printed inside ivy entwined iron bars (Towne & Bacon Printers, San Francisco.) Western typeface titling at top. 2) Stock: American River, Water & Mining Comp. Cert. No. 441 Issued Feb. 3, 1859 to RR Jarvis for 26 shares. Incorporated December 1854. Vignette of ship with Greek god looking from shore. Black letter typeface titling. Cancelled in red ink. Signed by Secr. (Palvier) and Pres. (AJ Arowsmith). Early El Dorado cert.s from American River establishments operating during the California Gold Rush. American River WMC paid $180,000 in 1854 to build the famous 33 mile North Fork Ditch through Placer Co. The ditch was dug by hand as a gravity system and was frequently the subject of flooding. It served as a significant source to power hydraulic placer mining in the area and was also used for agricultural irrigation and drinking water [Sydnor, 2008]. Both fine.
Thumbnail 2461 Forest Hill,CA - Placer County - 23 March 1856 - Gold Rush Letter : Start Price: 200.00High Bid: 200.00Estimate: 400.00 - 600.00 From Matthew Maus to his brother David D. Maus Esq. in Danville Pennsylvania. Blue, lined lettersheet torn from the rest of the sheet. One page front and back. No damage other than the original tear. Very good condition. Watermark visible. No cover. Written on Easter Sunday. Matthew is responding to his brother’s letter. In it, David told Matthew he was engaged. Matthew said he wants to be “there to [sic] the weding [sic].” He is not ready yet to come home but he is “tired of living a bachelors [sic] life here in the mountains.” As much as he wants to leave, Matthew says he “shall have to remain . . . [there] two years.” Given that he has plans for the next two years, he most likely will not be attending the wedding after all. Matthew gives really great descriptions of his mining work and what effect the current draught will have on mining efforts in the next year. His impression of the Sierra Nevada’s is that they are always snow covered no matter what time of the year it is. Apparently, Matthew enclosed a sketch with this letter, telling his brother to frame it. The subjects of the sketch are a Chinese fight that occurred in the area as well as “Indians, and miners prospecting in the mountains.” Matthew shows up in the 1861 Placer County census as a miner. Another record reveals he married a woman named Carrie Spaulding in 1866 in Virginia City, Nevada. In the 1880 U. S. Census, Matthew, who is fifty by this time, is living in San Francisco claiming he is single but has a thirty year old married woman named Caroline and three children, Carrie (13), Charles (11), and Edward (9), all with the Maus last name, living with him as boarders at 124 Kearny Street. It seems he did not make it back to Pennsylvania for David's wedding.
Thumbnail 2462 Forest Hill,CA - 1878 - Wells Fargo & Co. Gold Dust Purchase Card : Start Price: 300.00High Bid: 550.00Estimate: 600.00 - 1,200.00 Very rare gold dust purchased card where the Wells Fargo office at Forest Hill bought from A. Clark 2 ounces 9 dwts of gold dust. A. H. Cowden was the agent. Extremely Fine.
Thumbnail 2463 Grass Valley,CA - c1902 - Empire Mine Photographs : Start Price: 200.00High Bid: 150.00Estimate: 400.00 - 600.00 Lot of three. 1) Small photo of exterior of Empire Mine Bourn Mansion with drive leading to ivy covered stone façade. Built by Willis Polk entirely of waste rock. The mansion still stands today and operates as a museum. Mounted on white. 5" x 5". 2) Interior of Gold Hill Mine (1902) showing generator run by steam power. Cornish pump in background. Mounted on gray board with writing at top. 14" x 11". Interior view of Empire Mill c. 1902 showing generator used for lighting (see lamps at right). The generator operated on water power. Equipment is in operation at the time of the photograph as belts have a blur. Mounted on gray board with writing at top. 14" x 11". The Empire Mine operated from 1850 to 1956 and is believed to still hold a quantity of gold. Many buildings from the original operation are stilol standing but are not in operation. Fine.
Thumbnail 2464 Inyo County,CA - April 21, 1864 - Patagonia Consolidated Gold and Silver Mining Company Stock : Start Price: 400.00High Bid: 800.00Estimate: 800.00 - 1,500.00 Inyo District. Incorporated in 1863. Cert. #157, issued to William Linz for 5 shares. Signed by Lewis Peck, president, and N.G. French, secretary. Vignette at center of a mining site at the foot of snowy mountains with a river running nearby. Small dog and safe vignette at bottom. Black border and print. Applied 25 ct. revenue stamp at left. Uncancelled. Printer: obscured by revenue stamp, located on Montgomery St. S.F. Lewis Peck was a resident of San Francisco according to Langley’s 1864 directory, although his business is not stated. N.G. French was a professional mining company secretary, according to the same reference.
Thumbnail 2465 Inyo County,CA - March 9, 1864 - St. Lawrence Gold and Silver Mining Company Stock : Start Price: 500.00High Bid: 850.00Estimate: 1,000.00 - 2,000.00 Inyo District. Incorporated in 1863. Cert. #170, issued to E.P. Billings for 22 shares. Signed only by secretary W. H. Darain? Vignette at upper left of Indian man holding a rifle and kneeling by a waterfall, and a small vignette at bottom of an Indian man’s head. Uncancelled. Printer: Waters Brothers & Co. There is a 25ct. Revenue stamp applied at lower left. Black border and print. 5.5 x 10.” E.P. Billings was a machinist at the Miners Foundry in San Francisco, according to Langley, 1864. W.H. Darain could possibly be read as W.A. Darling, an abstract clerk in San Francisco (Langley, San Francisco Directory, 1864). The certificate is datelined San Francisco.
Thumbnail 2466 Inyo County,CA - October 26, 1863 - St. Lawrence Gold and Silver Mining Company Stock : Start Price: 350.00High Bid: 450.00Estimate: 700.00 - 1,200.00 Inyo Mining District. Incorporated September 22, 1863. Cert. #100, issued to H.L. Hopkins for 5 shares. Signed by president Benj. Dore and secretary W. H., Davis. Vignette of Indian brave at top left, and stylized Indian head at bottom. Two revenue stamps applied at left margin. Black border and print. Datelined San Francisco. Uncancelled. Printer: Waters Brothers & Co. 5.5 x 10.” Two tears about 1” each at top left and bottom right. This Benjamin Dore is probably the same man who came to California from Maine in 1850. He plied his trade as a carpenter and within a few years entered the lumber business. He was active on the Vigilance Committee in San Francisco and in 1861 was elected to the California State Legislature. A year or two later he became interested in mining and worked in this endeavor for about 16 years, with heavy financial losses. He died in 1906 in Fresno [Ref: History of the Dore Family. W. H. Dore. Bibliolife, LLC, 2009, pgs. 9-11].
Thumbnail 2467 Jackson,CA - Amador County - February 12, 1858 - Oregon Territory Bill of Sale : Start Price: 100.00High Bid: 180.00Estimate: 200.00 - 400.00 Rare. February 12, 1858 Bill of Sale for a house and lot in the California Gold Country. It is signed by J.D. Page who is selling his home to Samuel Page of Jackson, Amador County, California. The document has a paragraph describing the transaction as follows: “The undivided one of half of a certain house and lot and situated in the town of Volcano, Amador County and State of California; said is being situated on Main Street, bounded as follows to wit: Thirty-three feet front founded on the west by the lot now owned by F. Reichling, on the south by extends back to Soldiers Gulch on the lot now owned by one-Mace. Said lot extends back to soldiers Gulch on which there lot is fire proof brick building 33 ft front by 40 ft back; said described property is all that is now owned by J.D. Page in said town of Volcano.” The document is on a blue paper which was previously folded in quarters. It measures 14” x 12” and has a seal in the lower left corner. Included is a 1 page write up on the item. Overall Very Fine Condition.
Thumbnail 2468 Jackson Creek,CA - Calaveras County - 1 September 1850 - Gold Rush Letter : Start Price: 400.00High Bid: 950.00Estimate: 800.00 - 1,500.00 lifornia. Crème, lined, lettersheet paper. Measures 7.25" x 9." Remnants remaining of the original red wax sealant. Some yellowing, one small tear, and some tape visible on left side of the letter. Watermark visible. Markley’s father, David, apparently knew James Frazier Reed. Andrew came to California, first to Hangtown (now Placerville) and then to Jackson Creek, near Jackson, over the plains in 1850 and found that mining was not all it was advertised to be. Along the way, Andrew lost his “team and outfit, and . . . [found] the mines much poorer than expected.” Even though Andrew had settled in one of the richest ore areas in the Mother Lode, he apparently wasn’t having any luck at mining. He also lost his father’s letter of introduction he had written to Reed, so Andrew was taking it upon himself to write and introduce himself. He was hoping that Reed had a “clerkship” available for him. If anyone knew about loss over the plains and arriving in California with nothing but the clothes on his back, James Reed did. Reed, a founding member of the Donner Party, came across the plains from Springfield, Illinois, through Utah, and over the Sierra Nevada Mountains starting four years earlier on April 14, 1846. The party, whose members eventually numbered 89, got stuck at Donner Lake in an early – September 4th – snow storm. That winter was very rough. Just before the snow storm hit, Reed had been banished from the group for knifing a man and killing him in a squabble over the oxen the man was beating. Thus, Reed made it to Sutter’s Fort without his family and returned to rescue them. It took the rescuers months to get all of the surviving party members out. In the end, forty-one of the party died while forty-eight survived. Reed and his family were among the most fortunate as all members survived the ghastly winter ordeal. They took in the surviving Donner children. Reed would go on to become a prominent and wealthy California settler. While Andrew had gold as a reason to come west, Reed’s stated goal according to several histories written about him is vague. Some report the reason he left for California was because he thought his wife’s health would improve. Apparently Margret Reed had migraine headaches. Another source says that Reed had California fever, but in 1846, it is hard to understand what California fever was. In 1846, California was under Mexican rule. Most of the land was in the hands of private families, called Californios, the government or the military. The Catholic Church’s land holdings had been secularized in 1834, so it was no longer holding vast areas of land – the government had granted much of the confiscated church land by 1846. There were very few urban centers in California. Monterey was its first capital and Los Angeles (pop. 2,228 in 1836), Villa de Branciforte and San Josè were first established to grow crops to supply the four military presidios [www.ci.la.ca.us/elp/media/mycity/MyCityPgs9_12.pdf]. Most of the land was used as pastoral ranch land, where ranchers raised cattle for the hide and tallow business that New England merchants spurred along. If one migrated to Mexican territory, in order to gain land, the migrant had to convert to Catholicism and then become a naturalized citizen before getting a land grant. Several Euro migrants also married into the most prominent and prestigious Californio families, thus cementing their status in Mexico. Thomas O. Larkin did marry a local woman, but did not become a naturalized citizen because he refused to convert to Catholicism. Thus, his children had land grants, but he did not. Many of Mariano Vallejo’s female relatives married Euro-Anglo men. Euro-Anglos made the process work for them. The ones who married Californio females usually had large families, so it is hard to imagine the marriage was for land and status only. The Mexican government started granting land in earnest from the 1830s onward. Most of the land grants covered land on the coast, and inland as far as Sacramento and up the valley to the Chico area. Historian Steven W. Hackel wrote that by 1845 there were 680 foreigners living in Mexican California, and he estimates in 1846 there were 7,000 foreigners residing in California. Not all were American, of course. So immigration to California was seen as monetarily advantageous and increasing [Hackel, 1997, 136-137]. The hide and tallow business may have been Reed’s version of California fever. Those who had previously come to California for various reasons, such as trappers and sailors, took news about the abundance of land and its pastoral beauty back to their homelands. Those who stayed, such as Larkin and Dr. John Marsch, who came in 1836, wrote to others back in the states urging their friends and family members to migrate. There was an 1824 exhibit in London of Mexican Indian artifacts that heightened everyone’s interest about Mexico too. California did have its draw for some. Lots of people heard of California’s beauty, its weather, and the opportunities to become wealthy and more decided to immigrate as the years went by. The bulk of American immigration started in 1841. The first group to come across the U. S. to California was the Bartleson-Bidwell party of thirty-two people in 1841. The Kelsey’s were in this group. The next, a group of twenty-five Anglos, was led by William Workman and John Rowland. John C. Fremont came next for the first time in the winter of 1843-44 crossing over the Sierra Nevada’s via the Carson Pass. In 1844, the Stevens-Murphy party of fifty-two people also crossed over the Sierra Nevada’s. Again in 1845, Fremont made a second trip west crossing into California at Walker Pass. Fremont was in California when the Mexican American War started. In April 1846, just as the Donner’s party was beginning its journey in Springfield, Illinois, the governor of California ordered all land held by non-naturalized foreigners to be returned, virtually expelling the foreigners. The American settlers who did not have citizenship held a meeting with Fremont and from there the “Bear Flag Revolt” occurred. After twenty-six days of revolt, the Americans took over. The Mexican army was not well supported in California, so with little effort, American troops were able to take control of California by July 11, 1846 when the U. S. flag was raised at Sutter’s Fort. It wasn’t so much that the Americans were victorious but that the Mexican protection of California was inept and greatly unorganized. This is the California to which the Donner-Reed party was headed. It is not understood if the Donner party even knew that the war had begun. They did meet up with other people along the way but there is no way to ascertain what information the party knew regarding the war. By the time Reed made it to Sutter’s Fort, it was definitely an American territory. After rescuing his family, the Reeds’ lived with George C. Yount, an American who had a land grant in the Napa area, until they fully recovered from the ordeal. For awhile, Reed was the sheriff for the District of Sonoma. Later, the Reeds’ moved to San Josè where Reed worked as a custodian reclaiming an abandoned Mission San Josè orchard. When news of the discovery of gold at Coloma got out, Reed made his way to Hangtown and other mining areas and made his fortune in gold before the world rushed in. He returned to San Josè and began speculating on and purchasing property. Later, Reed would survey and subdivide land into lots, as Sutter would in Sutterville and John Sutter Jr. would in Sacramento, and put the land up for sale. Reed became a proponent of having the state capitol be in the town, purchased land, got a contract to build the capital building there but did not meet the completion deadline – the first floor was not done but all the other floors were. There was a flood that winter as well, and it was decided to move the capitol to some other city that was more civilized (ie – with paved, bricked, or planked streets) and less muddy. He was a member of the San Josè city council and the Chief of Police. Eventually, he supported building a Methodist Seminary in San Josè that ultimately moved to Stockton and became the prestigious University of the Pacific. Reed did not let the disastrous winter of 1846-1847 dampen his entrepreneurial spirit. He came to California with nothing but his clothes and family and made another fortune. If anyone could guide the ill prepared Andrew Markley, Reed could.
Thumbnail 2469 Lemoore,CA - 1905/1919 - Wells Fargo & Co. Receipt Books : Start Price: 150.00High Bid: 100.00Estimate: 300.00 - 500.00 Lot of two. 1) Receipt book from F.F. Foster, Wells Fargo Agent at Lemoore, Visalia and Coalinga, with this stamp on the front cover. Typical Wells Fargo yellow paper. Receipts show to who and where shipped, and what was shipped. Most of the receipts are for packages shipped within the Central Valley of California. 2) Two Agent's stubs of C.O.D. checks issued, 1919. City of origin not known. One of these is excellent condition, the other poor.
Thumbnail 2470 Lincoln,CA - Placer County - November 1, 1863 - Thirty-One Union Gold & Silver Copper Mining Company Start Price: 250.00High Bid: 325.00Estimate: 500.00 - 900.00 Garden Bar District. Incorporated in 1863. Cert. #173, issued to W.L. Hart in 1863 for 25 shares. Signed by J.C. Crosby, president, and John Barnes, secretary. Vignette at center of mining camp with wagon and ore cart. Small profile of a woman’s head at bottom. Uncancelled. Printer: H.S. Crocker & Co., Sacramento. Black print on green safety printed paper. There is a 25ct. revenue stamp applied at left. 4 x 9.” Garden Bar and the road of the same name served as a crossing for the Bear River for many years, since much of that river is inaccessible (presently this area is private property). “All the bars on the Bear River were rich in float gold…due to hydraulic mining at Dutch Flat. Among these Bear River bars was Camp Far West, where soldiers located in 1846…[and] Garden Bar, where…miners maintained a vegetable garden….”(Oakland Tribune, June 5, 1955) [Ref: www.foothillswaternetwork.org/watersheds/.../bear-summary.php]. This locale later submitted high grade gold ores to the Con-Virginia mill for processing under Kendall in the 1910s-1920s. We were unable to find a description of what “Thirty-One Union” refers to.
Thumbnail 2471 Mariposa,CA - 1880/1881 - North Hite/South Hite Gold Mining Co. : Start Price: 150.00High Bid: 150.00Estimate: 300.00 - 400.00 Lot of two. 1) South Hite Gold Mining Co. Incorporated Jan 6, 1881. No. 1235 issued Dec. 9, 1881 for 100 shares to H.R. Griffin. Vignette of miners working with pick and shovels. Signed S.D. Osborne. Blk on crème. 10" x 6.5". 2) North Hite & Yosemite Gold Mining Co. Incorporated in New York. No. 543 issued Sept. 20, 1880 for 100 shares. Signed Edward Spooner. Vignettes (2) of miners working below ground (left) and above ground (right). Orange/blk on crème. Snyder & Black Lith., NY. 11" x 7". Likely location on the north and south sides of Hite Cove named after early miner John R. Hite in the Sweetwater District, Mariposa Co. The area is known to have had a post office until 1890 [REF: Gudde, Erwin, Calif. Place Names, p.149].l
Thumbnail 2472 Mariposa,CA - September 16, 1852 - Philadelphia and California Mining Company Stock : Start Price: 200.00High Bid: 300.00Estimate: 400.00 - 800.00 Unknown date of incorporation. Cert. # 1775, issued to Theodore Walter in 1852 for 50 shares. Signed by Pearson Serria, president, and L. Alter, secretary. Center vignette of miners working a rock face on a hillside, with log cabin and pine tr4ees in the background. A small vignette at bottom of a dog guarding a safe. Black Greek-design border on crème paper. Uncancelled. Printer: E. Grattan, at Third and Walnuts Sts., (Philadelphia). 8 x 9.5.” Trimmed tight at left. At one time John C. Fremont was president of this company. In 1851, he wrote a letter to the company stating that he was granting them a large tract of valuable property on the Mariposa Estate [Expeditions of J. C. Fremont, v. 3 277-8].
Thumbnail 2473 Mokelumne Hill,CA - Calaveras County - August 1, 1874 - Mokelumne and Campo Seco Canal Mining Compan Start Price: 300.00High Bid: 300.00Estimate: 600.00 - 1,000.00 Cert. #112,issued to A.Goldsmith for 399 shares. Signed by S. Fourman, president, and by S.L. Trindle, secretary. Extensive vignette covering the entire left end, showing miners working on a long sluice box, with a cabin up the hill in the background, then boulders and pine trees and a placer miner at the lower end. A racing stagecoach and way station can be seen in the valley below. Black border and print. Cancelled by red ink writing across the face. Printer: Britton & Rey, S.F. To resolve the problem of water needed to work the placers, the Mokelumne Hill Canal and Mining Co. was organized in 1852, constructing a canal for $180,000 from the S. Fork of the Mokelumne River 16 miles to the area around Mokelumne Hill. The area expanded rapidly with the arrival of water the following year. Later the company was reorganized as the Mokelumne Hill and Campo Seco Canal Company when the canals were extended to reach the Campo Seco and the mining camps along its course. The system remained in use until 1973, having by that time been acquired by the Calaveras Public Utility District [Ref: www.calaverashistory.org/tags/30]. The vignette here is choice and has been used by other companies.
Thumbnail 2474 Nevada City,CA - 1862 - Banking House of H. Mackie & Co. Gold Dust Advertising Card and Gold Dust Re Start Price: 200.00High Bid: 250.00Estimate: 400.00 - 600.00 Nevada City,CA - 1862 - Banking House of H. Mackie & Co. Gold Dust Advertising Card and Gold Dust Receipt :
Thumbnail 2475 Nevada City,CA - November 21, 1851 - Enterprise Quartz Company Stock : Start Price: 750.00High Bid: 1,300.00Estimate: 1,500.00 - 2,500.00 1851, California. Stock Certificate of the Enterprise Quartz Company, issued in Nevada City, California on November 21, 1851. Printed by the Nevada Journal Print Co. Enterprise Quartz was located in an area known as Kentucky Ridge in Nevada County. Gold-Quartz was discovered in the region in 1850-1851 by an early 49er named George Roberts. E.W. Roberts when the gold tunnel vein was found. However, important production did not commence until the early 1860’s because of difficulties milling the ore. Eventually production in the region would yield between $300,000 and $500,000 per year. Nevada County was the leading gold mining county in the state of Nevada during this time period, Making Nevada City one of the most important towns in the state. “City” was added to avoid confusion with the State of Nevada in 1864. The stock has two ornate geometric patterns on the left and right margin. It is small, only measuring 3 ½” x 8”. It is signed by President E.W. Roberts and Secretary (Illegible) J. Andrews. A Border and vignettes are absent. The reverse informs of a transfer on July 1, 1853, also signed by E.W. Roberts. Crease on the left, rough top edge. Good Condition.
Thumbnail 2476 Nevada City,CA - Wells Fargo & Co. Gold Bar and Other Shipping Books : Start Price: 500.00High Bid: 1,700.00Estimate: 1,000.00 - 2,000.00 Lot of two. 1) Small original shipping books from the Nevada City office of Wells Fargo for gold bars shipped. Six line entries per page. Bars were typically sent to Selby Smelting, though many were also sent to various banks, among them the First National Bank at San Francisco The National Bank of North American in New York, and so forth. The bars varied in size and value. Most were valued at between several hundred and several thousand dollars. Each line entry has the troy weight at left., thus most bars ranged from 50 to about 175 ounces. Each page carries Federal revenue stamps R163, R164, with as many as 5 per page, each with the oval Wells Fargo Nevada City Cancellation. At least one page has one of the blue 1c stamps cut in half and cancelled, indicating 1/2 cent. As many as 5 bars were shipped per day. Choice content regarding gold bar shipments from a major gold camp. 2) book, with William Griffin, agent. Six entries per page showing where packages were sent and received, signed by an agent at right. Each page carries up to six US revenue stamps (1c blue series of 1898, documentary stamp R163) cancelled by the Nevada City Wells fargo oval. About 50 pages.
Thumbnail 2477 Placerville,CA - 1907-1913 - Fairchild Family Letter Collection : Start Price: 2,500.00High Bid: 3,500.00Estimate: 5,000.00 - 7,500.00 Lot of 38 letters from Mahlon D. Fairchild to daughter-in-law Francis Fairchild regarding California history. Mahlon Fairchild was a California pioneer, publisher and historian who loved to write letters to his daughter-in-law containing stories of the old times in Placerville. Fairchild had come to California on the same steamer with Leland Stanford in 1849. He mined at Auburn and Placerville. In 1882 he went to Oroville, bought the Weekly Mercury and turned it into a daily newspaper. He came from a newspaper family in New York, and he and/or his brothers owned other papers in Nevada and California, including at Treasure Hill and Austin, in the heat of those mining rushes. Mahlon also owned a paper in Belmont, Nevada and worked for the Southern Pacific Railroad as a right-of-way agent. Fairchild died in 1913 and some of the family papers were given to the Society of California Pioneers. This group of letters discusses much about Coloma, Placerville, his friend Daggett, Snowshoe Thompson, Sutter's Mill and much more. They are all in his handwriting and signed.
Thumbnail 2478 Placerville,CA - Fairchild Letters From California Pioneers Collection : Start Price: 1,750.00High Bid: 2,500.00Estimate: 3,500.00 - 5,000.00 Lot of 23. This is an important group of letters that Frankie Fairchild received while researching California history under the tutelage of M.D. Fairchild and Myron Angel. The letters are arranged in 4 groups, each representing important first-hand information, some or all of which may or may not have ever been published. Group 1: Sutter. This group contains five letters from the Sutter family survivors to Fairchild containing wonderful information about John Sutter and the family. Group 2: John Daggett. Daggett was a very close friend of M.D. Fairchild and the two mined and prospected together for years. He was also one of the early superintendents of the U.S. Branch Mint at San Francisco, a California Lt. Govenor, etc. As well as the namesake for Daggett, California. This group contains 8 original letters from Daggett himself to Fairchild about his life and times with Fairchild. Group 3: Henry Ropp, Pony Express rider. One letter to Fairchild. Group 4: Four letters from California writer Phil Bekeart regarding work on California pioneers and others. Additionally, there are 5 other unrelated letters to Fairchild.
Thumbnail 2479 Placerville,CA - 1897-1911 - Letter Archive from Myron Angel to M.D. Fairchild : Start Price: 7,500.00Estimate: 15,000.00 - 20,000.00 Lot of 60 letters, an original California archive from California/Nevada Historian Myron Angel to M.D. Fairchild. Incredibly important and publishable collection describing and discussing many of the important personalities and events of the Gold Rush, as well as modern musings of his life at San Luis Obispo. They date from 1897-1911, and include Angel's last letter written June 2, 1911 in which he states, "I feel as if this letter may be my last." It was.
Thumbnail 2480 Placerville,CA - 1850s - Myron Angel's Scrapbook : Start Price: 750.00High Bid: 1,000.00Estimate: 1,500.00 - 2,500.00 Large leather scrapbook. From the Fairchild Estate, Placerille. Myron Angel, one of the most noted authors of California and Nevada history of the nineteenth century, was a direct relative of the Fairchild family. His person scrapbook contains dozens of pages of articles cut from period newspapers of his writings on California history. He was an early miner in Calfifornia, turned publisher-author. He worked for his close friend Oscar Fairchild at the Reese River Reveille in Austin, Nevada for awhile and at the White Pine News for M.D. Fairchild in Treasure City, Nevada. There are numerous articles on California pioneers, mining men and life in the mines. A lengthy story about the $50 slugs is most interesting.
Thumbnail 2481 Placerville,CA - Gold Mining Daguerreotype : Start Price: 10,000.00High Bid: 12,500.00Estimate: 20,000.00 - 30,000.00 Large, half-plate daguerreotype image of thirteen California gold miners at their work site near Hangtown. Three of the thirteen miners have shirts that are tinted blue while one miner holds a gold pan with tinted gold nuggets. They are gathered with their gold pans, shovels, and other implements as they pose beside a wooden sluice box with a rocker box nearby. The unique aspect of this dag is that three of the thirteen miners are Chinese. This is a fabulous pictorial souvenir of the California mining experience of brothers Martin and Thomas Reinhart of Alvada, Ohio, who left home in 1851 and travelled via way of New York on a sailboat around the tip of South America to California. After arriving in California they set up camp near Hangtown, California (presently named Placerville); presumably this daguerreotype represents their "diggings' in the area. The Reinhart brothers were successful in their gold mining near Sutter's Mill, returned home to Alvada, Ohio via a trek across the Isthmus of Panama, a sailboat journey back to New York and overland travel to Ohio. This dag is in a full leather case that measures 4.75" X 6"; the actual size of the dag is 4.25" X 5.5". The plate is quite strong with good contrast but has a large horizontal wipe in the sky area, which fortunately doesn't detract from the pictorial content of this wonderful collectible. Genealogical information on the Reinhart family is included.
Thumbnail 2482 Placerville,CA - El Dorado County - March 22,1853 - South Fork Canal Company Stock : Start Price: 250.00Estimate: 500.00 - 1,000.00 Incorporation date unknown. Cert. # 868, issued to P.M. Inschow for one share. Signed by President B.F. Reene and Secretary A. T. Taylor. Large vignette at top center of a dog lying at the foot of a large safe on a hillside overlooking a large lake and the moon rising over the distant mountains. Two stylized design vignettes at left and right ends. Black print on crème paper. Uncancelled. Printer: Harmon & Springer, “El Dorado News” Office, Placerville. 6.5 x 10.5.” The company, located along the American River, was involved in some legal issues. It was sold at a Sheriff’s Sale in March 1858, with a man named Harris put in charge of managing the company while the case (Raun vs. Reynolds) was being settled. By all accounts Harris did a creditable job [Ref: Reports of Cases Determined in The Supreme Court of the State of California, David T. Bagley, Vol.XVIII, 2nd Ed., Bancroft-Whitney Co., 1887, pgs. 275-288]. Then in 1867 there was a second legal action involving the company--Canal Co. vs. Gordon [Ref: openjurist.org/73/us/561/canal-company-v-gordon].
Thumbnail 2483 Placerville,CA - 1861-1882 - Wells Fargo & Co. Placerville Documents : Start Price: 150.00Estimate: 300.00 - 600.00 Lot of two. 1) Unused Wells Fargo franked cover for one half ounce mail paid from St. Joseph, Missouri to Placerville by Pony Expressed. 1861 2) An orange commission envelope for package from San Jose to Placerville 1882.
Thumbnail 2484 Rattlesnake,CA - 1855 - Wells Fargo Express Receipt for Gold Dust : Start Price: 250.00High Bid: 600.00Estimate: 500.00 - 1,000.00 Extremely rare receipt for a bag containing 22.03 ounces of gold dust sent from the Sierra County gold camp of Rattlesnake, later renamed La Porte, to the U.S. Branch Mint in San Francisco for coinage. Very Fine.
Thumbnail 2485 Sacramento,CA - 1851 - Adams & Co. Express Special Deposit Receipt : Start Price: 75.00High Bid: 75.00Estimate: 150.00 - 300.00 Special Deposit receipt No. 678, for $800. Datelined Sacramento, November 19, 1851. Note certifies that Geo. Jefs deposited "eight hundred dollars in Placer Gold, deliverable on return of this certificate endorsed, (with following lined out) and the payment of one=half per cent. per month." "For Adams & Co." printed at bottom center, with signature area removed at bottom right. Printer: Courier Print. "List of Adams & Co's Offices" printed along left border notes 34 cities and gold camps, including California stations at Marysville, Nevada, Sonora, and Moquelumne Hill. Printed on blue paper, measures 6 1/2" x 4". Very Rare.
Thumbnail 2486 Sacramento,CA - Descendants of 49'ers Club Banner : Start Price: 500.00High Bid: 800.00Estimate: 1,000.00 - 2,000.00 This banner c.1890-1920 represents the common mission of Californians to pay tribute to the early pioneers and mining gold rush era. 49ers represent the first wave of California's population and mining boom. Though work had been completed to form local and state governments throughout the early exploration, California was not declared its statehood by Congress until 1850, a full year after the population swell. California was noted prior to its boom to have a population density of only 1 person to every 528 miles [REF: Native Sons of the Golden West]. Polk's address declaring the discovery of gold set the future of the state and the nation on a new, ambitious and adventurous path. Descendants of the 49ers surely symbolized a nod toward the frontier days. Unlike other organizations such as Associated Pioneers of the Territorial Days, and Native Sons of the Golden West, the club could have been relatively short lived. No known history of this organization is noted in the common sources. 25" x 40".
Thumbnail 2487 Sacramento,CA - 11 December 1851 - Gold Rush Letter : Start Price: 300.00High Bid: 375.00Estimate: 600.00 - 1,500.00 From Your Affectionate Husband, Octavius F. Jones to his Wife A.[urelia] A. Jones. On crème letter sheet. It has three folds and some wear is evidenced on the second page in the folds where the paper is wearing thin and yellowing. In this letter, Octavius explains to his wife he has started a few letters to her but got side tracked, but this one he will finish. He writes his wife he purchased a share in a printing company and then sold it at a profit, which he turned around and put into a boarding house partnership. At one time the boarding house had eighty boarders, but in December it only had fifteen. He purchased, from others going back “to the States,” some mining claims which he is waiting to sell in the spring for profit. However, he has not made a profit on the boarding house. He reassures his wife that he has not forgotten her and is always thinking of her. He also wants to know if she received the $450.00 he previously sent via Adams and Company check to their New York City express office. He has $500.00 to send but he thinks he will keep it to make more profit by buying and selling mining shares. Octavius fits the profile of most miners who came west. Where he diverges from the normal profile is that he learned fairly quickly the profits were not in mining alone but in business ventures surrounding mining. He also is one who left a wife at home. The separation usually was difficult for both parties as letters were few and far between. He seems to be a younger man for a few reasons. First, he does not mention children in the letter, so he may have been newly married before leaving for California. Secondly, He also seems less intimate with Aurelia than a man who has come to know his wife fairly well over time. His signature is formal; he does not include a pet name for himself or her. The closest he gets to tenderness is when he calls her “wife” a few times. Third, he does not ask after her health or how she is making due without him. He does not ask what she has been doing to keep herself busy while he is away. It does not seem his heart resides with her but in his profit making adventures he is undertaking in California. He asks to be remembered to Father and Mother Cleveland and to an uncle he has not had time to write. He has only written her this one letter. He wants to have her come to live in California so he can stay longer. He writes “I sometimes wished that you was [sic] here so that I could stay here a year longer but it is no place for women in California for there is no society here.” So while wishing to stay longer, he is going to stick to a deal they made for him to come to California for a period of time apparently. While Jones appears in the 1850 U. S. Census in California, he does not appear in any subsequent census. One is left wondering if Aurelia and Octavius reunited, if she came to California to join him so that they made a life for themselves there, if he made his fortune in trading mining claims, if they stayed married, or if either one of them died too soon as the historical record is silent except for this letter.
Thumbnail 2488 Sacramento,CA - c1850 - Placer Gold : Start Price: 625.00High Bid: 1,050.00Estimate: 1,250.00 - 1,750.00 0.93 Toz. Placer nuggets.
Thumbnail 2489 Sacramento,CA - c1850 - Placer Gold : Start Price: 625.00High Bid: 1,200.00Estimate: 1,250.00 - 1,750.00 0.92 Toz. grams, placer gold nuggets.
Thumbnail 2490 Sacramento,CA - c1850 - Placer Gold : Start Price: 625.00High Bid: 1,300.00Estimate: 1,250.00 - 1,750.00 0.92 Toz. placer gold nuggets.
Thumbnail 2491 Sacramento,CA - c1850 - Placer Gold : Start Price: 250.00High Bid: 600.00Estimate: 500.00 - 750.00 0.46 Toz. placer gold nuggets.
Thumbnail 2492 Sacramento,CA - c1850 - Placer Gold : Start Price: 250.00High Bid: 650.00Estimate: 500.00 - 750.00 0.48 Toz. #8 Screen placer gold nuggets.
Thumbnail 2493 CA - 1854-1855 - Sacramento Business Directory : Start Price: 250.00High Bid: 1,000.00Estimate: 500.00 - 1,000.00 Coleville's Directory. This is the third Sacramento Directory, according to Quebedeaux, who found seven copies in institutions and one privately held copy. The first 18 advertising pages are missing. A through Z Directory intact and in good condition. Appendix lists hotels, restaurants, saloons, State and County officers. Covers are intact but need rebinding. Back cover is of importance because of the advertisement of J. L. Polhemus the druggist famous for his counter stamped Gold Rush coins. One of his coins was recovered from U.S. S. Central America shipwreck of 1857. Measures 6" by 8."
Thumbnail 2494 Sacramento,CA - January to June 1880 - Sacramento Daily Record Union : Start Price: 500.00Estimate: 1,000.00 - 3,000.00 The Sacramento Daily Record Union, bound volume January 1 to June 30, 1880, is missing the January 2, 1880 edition. All other editions are there. The first three or four pages of the bound volume are in fair condition, the top cover has separated from the spine, has corner wear and damage, and the back cover is separating from the spine. The volume measures 19 (w) x 25 (l)." It weighs 16 pounds. The rest of the newstock is in good condition. Most pages have little to no wear and tear; however, some of the newspapers are smaller in size than others in the volume. For the most part, the paper has a regular way of presenting the news to its readers. State political news is on the front page. Usually the paper reports recent state assembly and senate meetings, debates, and laws. Depending on if the state legislators are meeting or not, other items included on the front page might be a serial story and a Weinstock’s Lubin ad. The second page contains the United States news and international news. The third page offers local news gossip and tidbits of interest to readers. The final page contains mostly ads. Interesting tidbits contained in the papers in this volume were on such topics of Indian battles, Black and southern relations, Blacks leaving the south for the west, poetry, and Charles de Young's murder - among others. The biggest story in this 1880 volume was the issue of Chinese immigration. The paper aptly names the whole affair “The Chinese Question.”
Thumbnail 2495 Sacramento,CA - 1866 - Sacramento Directory : Start Price: 600.00High Bid: 700.00Estimate: 1,200.00 - 2,000.00 By Robert E. Draper. H.S. Crocker & Co., book and job printers. Measures 5 3/4" x 9" x 3/4" deep. 201 pages total. Written on the inside "Quebedeau locates less than 12 copies of this book". The inside cover and the first page (front and back) are business ads. Then the directory begins with an introduction including U.S. office holders, then California state office holders along with their terms and average salaries. It also includes Sacramento libraries, cemeteries etc. The general directory begins on page 43 and ends of page 162; scattered throughout are half page business ads. The business portion of the directory begins on page 164 with "Agricultural Implements", and ends on page 179 with "Stoves, Tin and Hardware". Followed by a one page directory index and an appendix from pages 181 through 201. The back inside cover also has a full page business ad. Light blue hard cover directory with black binding, slight fading and very minor stains. Words are legible throughout. Small stains on pages where possibly something had previously been spilled but it does not affect the print in any way. Book is in overall great condition, seems to have no missing or torn out pages. This is the eleventh Sacramento Directory, according to Quebedeaux, who als found seven institutional and one privately held copy.
Thumbnail 2496 Sacramento,CA - April 4th, 1851 - Teschemacher & Co. Gold Dust Reconciliation : Start Price: 350.00High Bid: 300.00Estimate: 700.00 - 100.00 Teschemacher & Company handwritten, two page reconciliation of gold dust transactions by Representative, Joseph Grant. This receipt details fourteen separate shipments of gold dust sent by Sacramento Merchant Joseph Grant to Teschemacher & Company in San Francisco. Teschemacher was an early resident of California arriving about 1842. He owned lots in San Francisco as early as 1846 and was later Mayor of San Francisco and a prominent merchant. Bancroft said, “I have a few of his early letters, but for so prominent a pioneer there is a remarkable lack of information about him.” Joseph Grant may be the same J.Grant, Merchant of San Francisco who was burned out in a fire. This is an Extremely Rare gold rush piece with some creasing, but in otherwise Very Fine [Ref: Bancroft, 1890, Vol XXII, 745].
Thumbnail 2497 Sacramento,CA - June 14, 1877 - Wing & Neff $3 Advertising Note : Start Price: 250.00Estimate: 500.00 - 1,000.00 1877 $3 note number 24597 for use in the business of Wing & Neff importers and dealers in pictures, frames, moldings, chromos, engravings, lithographs, located at 171 K Street, Sacramento, CA. The note measures 3” x 7”. The reverse has printed on it an order form for Wing and Neff, filled in is the order for 4 yards of picture wire dated June 14, 1877 for a customer working on or within the Eureka Lode No 4 (mentioned in the upper left space provided). Several creases throughout. Slight fade in the upper right. Fair Condition. Rare. Possibly unique.
Thumbnail 2498 San Bernardino County,CA - March 18, 1863 - Madison Slate Range Mining Company Stock : Start Price: 500.00High Bid: 500.00Estimate: 1,000.00 - 2,000.00 Incorporated in 1863. Cert. #44, issued to W.R. Morey for 25 shares. Signed by W.R. Morey, president, and G.J. Turner, secretary. Vignette at center of Indian kneeling above a waterfall. Small vignette at bottom of a lyre atop an open book. Black border on pale pink paper. 5.5 x 10.” Uncancelled. Printer: Buswell & Co. 2650 Feet “Mount Vernon,” and 2640 Feet “Leopard” are printed to either side of the vignette. Also “Each Share Two Feet.” Datelined San Francisco. San Bernardino County can boast a long a colorful history—beginning as early as 10,000 BC with paleo-Indian habitation, and perhaps even earlier. In historic times, the area was inhabited by the Gabrielenos, Serranos, Vanyumes and Chemehuevi Indian tribes. During the 18th century the Spanish military and Franciscans entered the area, the latter giving the locale its name in observance of the feast day of St. Bernardine of Siena. The entire San Bernardino valley became Rancho San Bernardino when the Lugo family was awarded the property in a Spanish land grant; however, in 1851 the Mormon Colony, led by Captain Jefferson Hunt of the Mormon Battalion, purchased the property, but by 1857 the colony was called back to Utah. Gold was discovered in 1860 in Holcomb and Bear Valleys in the San Bernardino Mountains and men at Lytle Creek began placer mining and prospects mines' in the Slate Range were developed concurrent with 1863 Inyo locations but none took off in production. Little is known of the area's pre 1868 mining history. Lingenfelter (Death Valley and the Amargosa) has some history from the 1849 Jayhawker period. By 1870 silver was being mined at Ivanpah, to be followed within a decade by the riches of the Calico district. During the same thirty years from the 1850s to the 1880s, citrus, grapes and wines were being produced in the rich valley [www.sbgov/history.htm]. This is an extra rare certificate, given its early date.
Thumbnail 2499 San Francisco,CA - c1851 - $50 Slug Facsimile Cigar Label : Start Price: 250.00High Bid: 425.00Estimate: 500.00 - 1,000.00 This label measures 3.75” and is red and green on crème colored paper. It is a $50 Slug Facsimile Label for the Slug Brand Tobacco from Havana, Cuba. There is a vignette of a famous U.S. Assay Office and $50 Gold Coin similar to the 1851 .887 slug in the center of the label. Extremely Rare. X-Fine.
Thumbnail 2500 San Francisco,CA - 1870, 1865, 1876, 1868 - Adams & Co. Bills of Lading : Start Price: 75.00Estimate: 150.00 - 250.00 Lot of four Bills of Lading from Adams Express Company branches throughout the nation in New York, Philadelphia, and the Carolinas. They are dated 1870, 1865, 1876, 1868. Each has the Adams Express Company Title, advertised as the “Great Eastern, Western, and Southern Express Forwarders.” Out of the four lots, three are written in Red Ink. They are signed by the following: “Hill, R Beach, and ML Miller.” All have creases throughout. All reverse sides are blank. Fine Condition.
Thumbnail 2501 San Francisco,CA - 1852 - Adams & Co. Express Cover : Start Price: 150.00High Bid: 150.00Estimate: 300.00 - 500.00 Adams & Co Express Envelope sent to San Francisco California for recovering cash money from Freeman & Co. Brown envelope in very good condition with small creases and an Adams Express logo on the reverse. Adam’s & Co was one of the largest and most influential express companies in the United States through the early half of the 1850’s. It had offices spread nationwide had large hubs in Baltimore, Boston, New York, Philadelphia and San Francisco. Due to poor management structure the Adams & Co of California struggled and failed in 1854 and caused a widespread panic in California. 9 ½” x 4” in Very Good Condition.
Thumbnail 2502 San Francisco,CA - 1854 - Adams & Co. Express Tokens : Start Price: 150.00High Bid: 200.00Estimate: 300.00 - 400.00 Uncut block of four each 25 cent cardboard tokens, printed on light pink card stock. This block appears to be the lower right corner of a sheet, based on the wide margins at right and bottom. It has been trimmed tightly along the top and left edge, but the cuts do not penetrate the border of the stamps. This block has very minor foxing, possibly not visible in the photograph. Otherwise Extremely Fine. From the John J. Ford, Jr. Collection.
Thumbnail 2503 San Francisco,CA - Adams & Co. Package Express Advertisement : Start Price: 50.00High Bid: 150.00Estimate: 100.00 - 150.00 Advertisement stating the daily forwarding and parcelling businesses of the Boston office. "Forward and Insure Gold Dust and valuables to any amount." Bills of exchange to any amount San Francisco, Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore with additional service to Australia. Clipping. 5" x 8".
Thumbnail 2504 San Francisco,CA - February 24, 1855 - Adams and Co. Letter : Start Price: 150.00Estimate: 300.00 - 500.00 A letter from the District Court of 4th Judicial District ending the dispute of Alvin Adams vs. J.C. Woods and D.H. Haskell over control of Adams and Co. It empowers the agency of Woodruff & Co to take charge of the day to day operations and manage the effects and business of Adams & Co in the town of Volcano, CA. Signed and dated February 24, 1855 in San Francisco, CA. Very Good Condition. See story on Adams Express.
Thumbnail 2505 San Francisco,CA - 1881 - Allman U.S. Mail Company Letter : Start Price: 150.00High Bid: 225.00Estimate: 300.00 - 400.00 Allman U.S. Mail Company letterhead, complete with stagecoach vignette below the company name. Pictured are six horses pulling coach with drivers and several passengers sitting on top, with "Coast Line Stage" visible on the side of the carriage. "John Allman, Gen'l Sup't." is printed at top right, while "arrival between Ogden & Omaha & send to D.W.H. For delivery, JWM" is handwritten vertically in the top left. Addressed to J.W. Marsh, Gen'l Pass. Agt., Omaha, datelined San Francisco, Jan. 3, 1881. In the letter Mr. Allman states that he is not in favor of the southern route via Arizona. If his views were frowned upon, he requested a release and a half rate ticket, as he "would rather pay half fare over your road than ride free over the other." Signed John Allman, G.D. On the reverse is printed general information concerning the company and its various stage lines. Mentioned are the lines from Duncan's Mills through Redwood country to Mendocino City, the Marysville Line through Rough and Ready and Grass Valley, and the Calistoga and Lakeport line through Lake County. A very rare piece.
Thumbnail 2506 San Francisco,CA - January 28, 1869 - American Merchants Union Express Company : Start Price: 250.00Estimate: 500.00 - 750.00 Certificate from the American Merchants Union Express Company dated January 28, 1869. This historic document is hand signed by company president William G Fargo. It has an ornate border and is printed on John H. Duyckinck Stationary. There is a vignette in the center of horses pulling a stage coach of three men next to a sea side industrial factory. The certificate is numbered 2705 and was issued to William M Odell (not listed in 1869 directory) for 100 shares of capital stock. At the time of issue, the American Merchants Union Express Company had capital stock of 180,000 shares and each share was valued at $100 each. On the left margin of the certificate there are two smaller vignettes. The above is circular and features and eagle and a dog with the phrase “safety & dispatch.” The lower vignette depicts two people shaking hands. There is a 25 cent revenue stamp dated January 29 on the reverse along with witness signatures. Never Cancelled. Very Fine Condition. The American Express Company was formed by Henry Wells, William G Fargo and John Butterfield in 1850. In 1868 the company merged with Merchants Union Express Company to become American Merchants Union Express Company but reverted to the name American Express. William Fargo was co-founder of Wells Fargo & Co.
Thumbnail 2507 San Francisco,CA - c1875 - Associated Pioneers of the Territorial Days Silver Medal, Edward C. Kembl Start Price: 3,750.00Estimate: 7,500.00 - 10,000.00 This silver medal has a rectangular hanger embossed “California” and engraved with the date 1846 below it. It was presented to Edward C. Kemble. The date engraved on the medal, July 31, 1846, reflects the date of Kemble’s arrival in California at Yerba Buena. Edward C. Kemble is another very important figure in the history of California, in more ways than one. While on one hand he was an influential newspaperman, coming to California at a young age to start his career as a journalist, he also played a key role in the political and vigilante movement in San Francisco in the 1850’s, much like James King of William. In fact, he can be compared to James King of William in many ways. Kemble was born in Troy, New York, the son of newspaper editor and former state Senator, John Cleveland Kemble. Like James King of William his interest in journalism began young and by 16 years of age Edward was in the employ of Sam Brannan, owner of the New York Mormon newspaper, The Prophet. Although Kemble was not a Mormon, his thirst for adventure took him to California on the ship “Brooklyn” with Sam Brannan, who hoped to start a Mormon publication in the West, free from religious persecution. The group took the name of the “Brooklyn Company” after the name of ship that safely delivered them to the Pacific Coast not because they were from Brooklyn. (They were not listed in the 1845 Brooklyn Directory.) The men arrived in California on July 31st, 1846 with San Francisco’s first press and over the following ten years Brannan can be credited with existence of the numerous newspapers, starting with the California Star. Brannan sold his interest in the California Star to Kemble in 1849. Kemble also acquired the Californian and combined the two papers under the name of the Star and Californian. This paper later became the Alta California and then the Daily Alta California. This is where the story gets interesting. Sam Brannan is one of the most important figures in the early history of California. He is referred to as the first publicist of the California Gold Rush and its first millionaire. After the discovery of gold at Sutter’s Mill, Brannan collected the first tithes from the workers there for the Church of Latter Day Saints, as well as becoming a merchant for the miners. He was elected to first town council in San Francisco and to the California State Senate a few years later in 1853. In fact, Brannan is credited with heading up the first Committee of Vigilance in San Francisco in 1851. Not surprisingly, John Jenkins, the first man lynched by the 1851 vigilantes, happened to be hanged in the front yard of The Alta California, which was located on Portsmouth Plaza next to the office of Burgoyne & Co. and the Old Adobe Customs House from which Jenkins’ body was suspended. Sam Brannan’s house was just behind the newspaper office. Historical records show that Edward Kemble was a member of the 1851 Vigilance Committee. In fact, The Alta California called for the formation of a citizen’s committee two days before Jenkins was lynched. Kemble’s close involvement with the vigilantes offers some evidence that the reports of The Alta California may have been biased and used as a tool to sway public opinion, just as James King of William’s controversial editorials roused citizen support for the vigilante movement. Kemble went on to become a well-known, influential newspaperman throughout the state of California heading up several journalistic efforts such as the publication of the first issue of The Placer Times in Sacramento and eventually publishing his work on the “History of California Newspapers.” His call to duty during the Civil War found him working as a war correspondent for The Union. This was not his first military assignment; he had served with the California Battalion under John Fremont acting as a correspondent for The Star. After the war, Kemble returned to New York and became the Assistant Manager of the Associated Press off
Thumbnail 2508 San Francisco,CA - July 1 1860 - Board of Education Bond : Start Price: 150.00High Bid: 160.00Estimate: 300.00 - 500.00 Department of Public Instruction Bond. Measures 14” x 19.” Number 19, for $500.00 at ten per cent per annum. John Terry Jr. purchased the bond. Not mounted. Edges are good, but there is some foxing. The back of the bond is pink and has been damaged. Writing on the back “This Bond sold [illegible name] . . . This Bond not for Sa [le] . . . [signed] Peter Burnett].” Burnett was the first governor of California. Burnett lived in the Bay area, had a law practice in San Jose, and was President of what is now known as Pacific Bank of San Francisco (formally the Pacific Accumulation Loan Company) from June of 1863 to 1880. The bond is signed by William Pearson who came to California as a miner in the Gold Rush and instead became a clerk in San Francisco. From 1861 to 1867 he was a register clerk with the U. S. Custom House. He was the President of the Board of Education from 1860 to 1861 and a member of the board for six years. James Denman, who was Superintendent of Common Schools, also signed the bond. He served as the Superintendent in 1859-61, 1868-70, 1874-75. He was a member of the Board of Education from 1889 to 1891. He has a school named after him in San Francisco. Redeemed March 6, 1863, signed by Joseph S. Paxson, who was County Treasurer from 1862-1867. Coupons seven through fifteen are attached. Vignette under the masthead is of a public school house. To the left under the masthead another vignette of a woman, clad in the dress of the era, leaning against an empty easel with a bust of what looks to be a Roman Caesar at her feet. Rubble is around her feet and an alabaster statue is in the background.
Thumbnail 2509 San Francisco,CA - April 9, 1856 - Bourn(e) Deed of Sale : Start Price: 150.00High Bid: 100.00Estimate: 300.00 - 600.00 Legal letter-sized, grey with red ink markings around border and lining out unused spaces; page three contains an round orange wax seal ¾ inches across with no readable details; while page four has a 2 ½" red seal which reads partially “San Francisco.” This appears to be the seal of the notary, William A. Higgins; four folds crosswise with some discoloration along edges. Also handwritten crosswise on the deed is the recording information: April 14, 1856 at “3 2/4 o’clock” in Liber 60 of Deeds page 211. This Indenture was executed on April 9, 1865 to satisfy a judgment against William B. “Bourne” (likely “Bourn”), Zephariah (sp?) Wood, William H. Piper and E.J. Ide in order to satisfy a debt owed. The auction took place September 18, 1865 with high bidders being Abel Guy and Bernard Auger, as tenants in common, who paid $44, 300. The property description includes references to Pike Street, Clay Street, and Sacramento Street, among others. The measurements are in yards and feet. The document is “Signed, sealed and delivered in the presence of William R. Gorham, “Late Sheriff.” The witness is William L. Higgins, Notary Public. William Bowers Bourn I, (1813-1874 ) a wealthy merchant born in Massachusetts, came to San Francisco in 1850 with his new bride, Sarah Esther Bourn(1829-1919). Bourn founded the Empire Mine in Grass Valley, California, which was in financial straits at the time of his death on July 24, 1874. In 1854, a recession hit San Francisco, causing Bourn and his associates to liquidate some of their holdings. Mr. Bourn died of an accidental gunshot wound while cleaning his gun in his bathroom [Ref: www.oac.cdlib.org/view]. Abel Guy was a Frenchman living in San Francisco at this time. There are two sources that indicate that he became wealthy. A “treasure list” for the steamer “Uncle Sam” indicates that $85,000 of his money was aboard when the ship sailed on November 3, 1860. In 1862, Abel Guy was a first class passenger aboard the SS Golden Gate, bound for New York, which caught fire off Manzanillo, Mexico on July 27. He survived the disaster and was back in San Francisco by 1867 [Ref: query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html].
Thumbnail 2510 San Francisco,CA - Nov 5, 1849 - California Territory Document : Start Price: 1,250.00Estimate: 2,500.00 - 4,000.00 This is an Extremely Rare, printed “California Territory” document. In the beginning of 1849, after the expiration of the town council governance of San Francisco expired, new laws were necessary to incorporate the immense influx of new businesses due to the gold rush. Local politicians immediately passed laws loyal to the U.S. and sent representatives to Washington D.C. to seek Territorial status. After much complication and the death of one of the key representatives en route, the Californians arrived in Washington and submitted a proposal for Territorial organization to Congress. It was recommended that the Territory be divided into ten districts, and in the minds of Californians, the “Territory” existed from about July of 1849 through the first week or so of September, 1849, when President Taylor agreed with Congress and advocated immediate statehood. Printed documents with the slogan, “Territory of California” are exceptionally rare, and this is perhaps the third held by us in thirty years. This document regards the sale of a town lot in San Francisco to Charles White for $110 for a piece of property located on the south side of Ellis Street near the corner of Leavenworth. It is printed with a bold masthead on light blue paper with separations along folded edges, otherwise Fine to Very Fine.
Thumbnail 2511 San Francisco,CA - 1894 - Crocker, H.S. Lithograph : Start Price: 150.00Estimate: 300.00 - 750.00 Pinxit of George H. Burgess’ original drawing of the City in July of 1849. His original drawing is in the bottom left corner. Burgess traveled through California recording scenes in watercolor. Gilt painted wood frame measures 41” x 22.” Not mounted. Not under glass. White border has foxing and the lithograph needs a repair. It has a crease or a fold on the right. Main colors are muted peaches, greens, and aquas. The San Francisco portrayed here did know about the discovery of gold at Coloma but the word had not yet reached “the States.” The City is sleeping before the storm hits. There are less than a 100 dwellings . However, there seems to be about twenty-five sail boats out in the bay. There are a few tents and a few men who look like miners or hunters cooking on an open fire and chopping wood. The town has a definite Spanish flavor with the adobe and wood buildings, the Vaqueros on their fine horses, the donkeys in the streets, and the serape clad Californios walking in the streets. While still Spanish in flavor, an American flag is flying in the background. Ready for hanging.
Thumbnail 2512 San Francisco,CA - c1829-1851 - DuBosq, Theodore Silver Spoons : Start Price: 500.00High Bid: 650.00Estimate: 1,000.00 - 1,200.00 Three beautiful silver teaspoons with pointed bowls. The handles are engraved in script with the letters L.A.B. circled by a garland of leaves. Marked T. DuBosq on the reverse. Each spoon measures approx 6" long. Theodore Dubosq was a jeweler in Philadelphia who made silver products around c1830-1850. He travelled with his sons to California on a ship named the Grey Eagle in May of 1849 and the Alta California Newspaper reported that he brought machinery for striking private coinage. At the time there was a desperate need for coinage in the west as the California Gold Rush brought more people and riches to the western states than the U.S. Mint could accommodate with coin. It is not known if Theodore Dubosq, Sr. Struck coins in 1849 or not, but in 1850 he went into business with Mr. Goodwin and out of that partnership grew one of the more respected firms which issued private gold coins in California. Dubosq & Company made $150,000 worth of coins carrying the 1850 date and James King of William, along with Augustus Humbert, favorably valued the worth of Dubosq coins. In 1851 the Alta California published a paper written from Dubosq to famous coiner Humbert, which urged that the value of silver content in coins should be made public (along with the value of gold). Humberts reply was that the cost to part the silver from the gold was more than the value of the silver, and therefore he didn't consider silver to be any more valuable than copper. This caused most private gold coins, except those of Moffat & Co. to be discredited, including the once popular and widely circulated Dubosq coins. Most Dubosq coinage was melted soon after due to their high gold and silver content. The dies were later used by Wass, Molitor & Co. and one such coin, which was struck with a Dubosq & Co. die was found on the sunken S. S. Central America. Because of Dubosq's fame as a respected private gold coiner in the California Gold Rush, his silver items are highly collectible.
Thumbnail 2513 San Francisco,CA - 1850 - Five Dollar Gold Moffat Love Token : Start Price: 1,000.00High Bid: 2,800.00Estimate: 2,000.00 - 3,000.00 1850 Moffat & Co. Gold five dollar piece fashioned into a love token pinback. Black letter or gothic "W" engraved on reverse. Fancy engraving and etching of a very high quality. Provenance art Kagin Collection.
Thumbnail 2514 San Francisco,CA - May 11th, 1849 - Gold Rush Document : Start Price: 150.00High Bid: 150.00Estimate: 300.00 - 600.00 Receipt for 1/2 ream of letter paper purchased by the W.A. Leidesdorff Estate from Sherman & Ruckel, early gold rush merchants. Richard M. Sherman was a native of Rhode Island who came to California in 1846. He was an owner of one of the original San Francisco town lots on which he built a store in 1848. He does not appear to be a relative of Gold Rush Banker and Civil War General W.T. Sherman. William Leidesdorff came to California in 1841, and like Sherman, traveled back and forth between Yerba Buena and Hawaii prior to the gold rush. He built the City Hotel in Yerba Buena in 1846 and died in May of 1848 at the age of 38, leaving behind an extensive estate. Extremely Fine.
Thumbnail 2515 San Francisco,CA - Oct. 31st, 1851 - Gold Rush Handwritten Letter “Scarcity of gold coins & USAO $50 Start Price: 1,250.00High Bid: 1,900.00Estimate: 2,500.00 - 4,000.00 Important, handwritten, two page, 1851 Gold Rush letter discussing $50 Gold Coins. This letter from W. E. L. Foote on California Street in San Francisco to E. L. Foote in New York gives a classic and very rare contemporary description of the reasons private gold coins were needed for circulation in California. Foote wrote “Gold dust is very scarce now and difficult to buy on account of the scarcity of small gold coin, and miners not being willing to take the $50 pieces of the US Assay Office. Said pieces are 2% discount now on account of the scarcity of gold coin.” That quote says it all. It is written on very thin paper and has some creasing but is otherwise Fine.
Thumbnail 2516 San Francisco,CA - 9 April 1850 - Gold Rush Letter : Start Price: 300.00High Bid: 700.00Estimate: 600.00 - 1,200.00 From Harvey Chapman to his wife Caroline who is living in Ohio. On yellowing letter sheet with some holes at the folds. Written in black ink. An interesting read. While Harvey could write, many of the words are spelled phonetically. It will take readers a few minutes to acclimate themselves to his writing style when they begin to read the document, but the letter is easily read once readers understand Harvey’s unique spelling style. As soon as Harvey got off the boat at San Francisco “Californy,” as he spells it, he wrote to his wife to let her know of his safe arrival and good health after being at sea for ninety days from Panama. He also sent her a letter from Panama and from a port stop in Mexico, so she should expect to receive them. He is also very anxious to hear from her. He hopes he has a letter awaiting him at Sacramento when he gets there. He told Caroline that he will not gamble with the gold he finds as he has already met a man who had $3,000.00, “which he dug in one month,” but lost it all gambling. He heard about another man who came to the mines with nothing and “could not be touched for fifty thousand” now. He also heard one man “dug up $7,000.00 in one day.“ All he wants is to make enough to build her a little house and set himself up in business. The 1880 U. S. Census records he was a jeweler. Harvey’s words express great empathy for his wife. He obviously loves his wife and “sweet child” (a female) he left behind (the 1850 U. S. Census reports Caroline and her daughter Sarah, who was two, living with the Beal family in Springfield, Richmond, Ohio). He asks Caroline to bear it all, as he feels sorry for her, until he comes home. Harvey gives Caroline instructions to pray with "the child" and to not forget to pray herself. Harvey also reminds Caroline to take good care of herself. He has received a present of a homemade Bible from a friend he traveled with. He asks her forgiveness for all his faults but he reassures her that he will be faithful to her while “in this strange land.” His companions were the "Kenton Boys." These men may have formed a corporation back home in Kenton, Ohio, as many did before coming to the mines in California. It also was nice to have familiar faces with which to share the highs and lows of the adventure. The men most likely had culture shock when they arrived in California and the mines as Kenton, while the county seat of Hardin County in Ohio, was a small town. It was a farming community in Harvey’s time and newly incorporated as a city in 1845 [http://www.kentoncity.com/history.htm]. U. S. Census records show that Harvey lived in Kenton, Hardin County, Ohio later after returning from the Gold Rush. Harvey assured Caroline he would not be in "Californy" long because men can “make a fortune in a short time.” He recounts the costs of food items to his wife. He says he is meeting people from every country in the world. His letter closes by telling Caroline he is on his way to the Southern “diggins” [sic] on the San Joaquin River. He begs her to take comfort in the fact he will be home soon. He signs the letter “yours most sincerely and affectionately for [sic] ever.” With all the wonderful news the letter contains, all the hope his heart contains for finding a fast fortune, and all the words of affection Harvey lavishes on Caroline and their daughter, he knows his wife cannot read well and will not get but half of the letter read. Sweetly, he promises to read every one of them to her when he returns home.
Thumbnail 2517 San Francisco,CA - 1913 - James King of William Sale Catalogue, Rare : Start Price: 250.00Estimate: 500.00 - 1,000.00 Fourteen pages. Lists “The Books, Letters, Papers, Pictures of James King, of Wm. To Be Sold at Auction in the Sutter Street Salesroom” by H. Taylor Curtis, Auctioneer. Numbers 56, 62, in the auction are listed in our catalogue here. They were among 227 lots up for auction. Pamphlet has been folded in half, the long way, and has a portion of the front page ripped from the right corner. Inside the front page, the terms of sale are listed. Extremely Rare.
Thumbnail 2518 San Francisco,CA - 1850 through 1913 - James King of William Cover Collection : Start Price: 250.00Estimate: 500.00 - 1,500.00 Four covers. Various sizes from large business size covers to letter size covers and various condition. 1. Notes of Month + year belonging to C. M. M. G; 2. Samuel Stettinius Esq. San Francisco by Mr. King; 3. Mr. James King of William San Francisco California from Gilbert Rodman. Rodman, along with Thomas Corwin, wrote a special report to the U.S. Treasury in 1850 on revenue collection in California; 4. 1912 one cent cancelled stamp mailed in San Francisco, in December with an advertisement for the upcoming 1915 World’s Panama-Pacific Exposition. On the cover, “Documents concerning James King of Wm. Obtained Jan. 1913. The addressee’s name has been blocked out. One pamphlet to Mission Dolores, no date, gives the history of the church, such as the first marriage, first baptism, and first burial.
Thumbnail 2519 San Francisco,CA - 1848 and 1854 - James King of William Documents, Receipts : Start Price: 150.00Estimate: 300.00 - 500.00 Lot of two. 1) James King paid taxes to the [illegible] of Georgetown for real estate taxes on 4 May 1848 in the amount of $2.87, signed by [illegible] Jewell Coley. 2) Rental agreement between Wm Holt and James King of William 25 February 1854. Holt agreed to pay King ten dollars a month so he could place a house on Kings lot no. 173 on Market Street. The lease stipulates that at any time, King could ask Holt to move the house and he would have to do so immediately. Both items are in great condition.
Thumbnail 2520 San Francisco,CA - 1850 and 1851 - James King of William Lease Collection : Start Price: 250.00High Bid: 300.00Estimate: 500.00 - 1,000.00 Indenture – lease – on 9 March 1850 between John Marrow and William Newton Meeks and Atlantic W. Renshaw for a parcel of land at the corners of Union Street and Union Place. Signed by all parties and H. S. Gates. Marrow and Meeks leased James King of William a room at 276 Montgomery Street in February of 1850. A lease on blue paper stating that William Hammond of Van Dyke and Belden is leasing to James King of William “all that lot of land on Montgomery Street” for $300.00 per month due on the first of the month in advance. The lease was drawn up on 9 May 1850 and cancelled on 20 June 1850. Van Dyke and Belden were general merchants in the City who had several previous buildings burnt in fires, so in 1850, they were embarking on building a fire proof three story brick building at the corners of Montgomery and Clay Streets [http://yesteryearsnews.wordpress.com/2009/05/04/san-francisco-fire-june-14-1850/]. A work agreement on white lettersheet signed by Isaac Van Winkle, Wm. Towne, Charles M. [illegible – perhaps McKay] by his attorney Richard Hammond. Contains eight clauses. The agreement is for work to be done on a lot on Battery Street. The parties of the first part are to “plank, and to erect the accessory bulk-heads.” Also, on another portion of the lot, the parties are to create a natural slope for the earth used in filling the lot. Other clauses describe how the dirt on the lot should be firm and compacted when the job is finished. Battery Street is on the east side of Montgomery Street toward the bay, and during the 1906 earthquake, that area was hit hardest because of the fill dirt. Even though this agreement makes careful stipulations about how to compact the dirt, history proves that builders, whoever they were, and however careful they were, could not overcome the impact of mother nature.
Thumbnail 2521 San Francisco,CA - 1854 - James King of William Letter with Cover : Start Price: 250.00High Bid: 325.00Estimate: 500.00 - 1,000.00 Letter to James King of William signed by E. Riggs from Washington 19 January 1854 regarding giving Judge M. Blair a letter of credit when he comes to California to settle his deceased brother’s estate. James King of William had once worked for the Washington DC firm [http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~npmelton/sfbking.htm]. Cover is yellowed, measures 6" x 3.25." White lettersheet is in great condition, has fold lines. Measures 5" x 7.75."
Thumbnail 2522 San Francisco,CA - 1855 - James King of William Notice of Attachment : Start Price: 150.00Estimate: 300.00 - 500.00 Thomas Carew (or Carey) vs. L. Mowry, to James King of William. The Constable of the first township issued the Notice of Attachment out of the Justice Court to attach "all moneys, debts, effects, and credits in your hands or under your control belonging to the above Defendant [James King of William] or so much thereof as will satisfy the claim, to wit: $200.00 with cost and accruing cost." On blue stock paper issued by Cooke, Kenny, & Co., Law Stationers, Montgomery Street. Very Good condition.
Thumbnail 2523 San Francisco,CA - 1848 - James King of William, Inventory List : Start Price: 500.00High Bid: 500.00Estimate: 1,000.00 - 2,000.00 To James King of William from Myers and Bros., purchases and payments from 8 March 1848 to 8 May 1848. Some of the items purchased were metal buttons, calico, muslin, flannel, plaid ribbon, stair carpet, straw bonnet, blue ribbon, green ribbon and the like. His bill totaled $16.41 for the two month period. On regular size letter (8" x 11") paper. Yellowing.
Thumbnail 2524 San Francisco,CA - 1 February 1850 - James King of William, Lease [Indenture] signed : Start Price: 1,000.00Estimate: 2,000.00 - 4,000.00 John Morrow and William Newton Meeks lease a room to King in a building at 276 Montgomery Street for a period of one year. The rent was $550.00 a month. King had to pay a down payment of $1650.00 with the rest of the rent to be paid on the first of the month until November 1850 when the “whole year shall have been paid in full.” Some foxing and yellowing. Good condition.
Thumbnail 2525 San Francisco,CA - 1858 - James King of William, Thomas King Receipt : Start Price: 100.00High Bid: 100.00Estimate: 200.00 - 400.00 On blue paper cut in half. Received one note from Thomas J. King for a note against J. Henley dated 2 May 1850, $8,000.00 with interest of $640.00, signed J. R. Snyder (an early California settler before the Gold Rush and former business partner of James King of William). Also received one note belonging to Wm. Blackburn and against Lafayette Shelly for $2,000.00. A note to himself is at the bottom reminding him to look between Feb. 1850 and July 1851 for “the papers.” One yellowed cover, hand written "Papers in suit" as J. R. Snyder.
Thumbnail 2526 San Francisco,CA - c1900s - Jewelers Scale : Start Price: 300.00High Bid: 300.00Estimate: 600.00 - 900.00 Fancy custom mahogany case. Very good condition and quality with all weights, balance and pans in tact. 15cm x 7cm rectangular.
Thumbnail 2527 San Francisco,CA - c1849-1850 - Miners Bank and Savings Surveying Notes : Start Price: 1,250.00High Bid: 2,100.00Estimate: 2,500.00 - 4,000.00 1). Unissued for 25 cents in gold dust. Alta, CA. Vignette of sailing 5 masted ship. This is an outstanding bright, sharply printed example, with a small cutout in the signature plate. This is the most common of all the fractional series of this note, with perhaps ten to twenty known, but this example is easily among the best, if not in the top two. Ford acquired it in 1958. There is a small tape repair to the rear to fix a small tear. R6. From the John J. Ford, Jr. Collection. The Miners, Bank of Savings of Alta California. Little has been written on this bank, and, in fact, little is known. The phrase “Miners Bank” was used in 1849 and 1850 to refer to a bank headed by Stephen A. Wright of San Francisco. A second Miners Bank, The Miners Exchange and Savings Bank, was also in San Francisco in 1849, and it is entirely possible that the Miners Bank of Savings of Alta California was formed as a take off (name copycat) of the Miners Bank of Stephen Wright, who had issued gold coins in 1849 made by Broderick and Kohler. It is unknown at this time if this is the same Miners Bank that issued the currency, but it is very doubtful, because there are currency notes from the Stephen A. Wright Miners Bank, datelined San Francisco, 1849 and signed by Wright and Haight. But the two are definitely related, as discussed below. None of the period references, particularly the newspapers such as the Alta Californian, suggest or mention a company with a similar name, or a company with the Savings Bank of Alta California affiliation. The notes from this bank are rare. All known, with the exception of one, are less than $1 scrip fractional currency. The most common of the series are the 25 cent notes, of which the author knows of approximately eleven different notes. Six of these have the appearance of being issued, but with the evidence presented in the Stack's Sale of the Ford Collection, that issuance is in doubt until the actual notes can be inspected. All six are currently in a private collection. The Ford Collection examples of the 25, 50 and 75 cent notes: these notes were printed by Gavitt & Co. of Albany, New York. A $1.00 note has since been discovered. They were not printed by the same company that printed the 1849 Miners Bank notes signed by Stephen A. Wright and Haight, printed by Danforth & Huffy of New York City. John E. Gavitt ran a bank note engraving and printing business in Albany based in the Exchange Building. At the time, there were seven banks in Albany. No Miners Bank was listed in the Albany Directory in 1849 [Hoffman's Albany Directory for 1849-50; Albany; 1849]. In an article of the Portsmouth Journal, May 11, 1850, A Miners Bank $3 note was shown to an Albany newspaper. The author said, "The new State of California, in the absence of the means of converting the gold dust readily into coin, it seems is favored with the facilities of a paper circulation. The Albany Atlas states that it has been shown a $3 bill of the most approved pattern, and in the best style of Danforth & Huffy, of New York, purporting to be issued by 'The Miners Bank of California,' J.E. Fuller Cashier, and William H. Graham, President. The bank is located at San Francisco" [Holabird, 2008, 245]. The immediate question arises, did members of the Albany banking community, after reading this in their newspaper, embark on a currency scheme of their own? This is excellent fodder for an evening cocktail discussion. 2). Unissued for 50 cents in gold dust. Alta, CA. Vignette of seated young woman. This note from the Ford Collection was rated R5 by Stack's, but that may be too lenient. While no formal census exists, it is doubtful that there are more than six of these fifty cent notes. This piece was acquired buy Ford from the Allen Brand Collection in 1959. It, like the 25 cent note, was filled in at a later date. None of the specimens known to the author are circulated. This is an excellent example, lightly card mounted for preservation with the reverse fully visible, with “Jun 11 1935 R.G.J.” and a note regarding Ford's acquisition. Possibly R8. From the John J. Ford, Jr. Collection
Thumbnail 2528 San Francisco,CA - 1849 - Miners Bank of Savings of Alta California 25 Cent Note : Start Price: 600.00High Bid: 1,200.00Estimate: 1,200.00 - 1,500.00 This is an outstanding bright, sharply printed example, with a small cutout in the signature plate. This is the most common of all the fractional series of this note, with perhaps ten to twenty known, but this example is easily month the best, if not in the top two. Ford acquired it in 1958. The original acquisition envelope with Ford's handwriting is included with the piece. There is a small tape repair to the rear to fix a small tear. R6. From the John J. Ford, Jr. Collection.
Thumbnail 2529 San Francisco,CA - c1855 - Miners Bullion Scale - Christopher Becker & Becker Co. : Start Price: 3,750.00High Bid: 7,500.00Estimate: 7,500.00 - 12,500.00 Although Ernest Child in his Tools of the Chemist relates that Christopher Becker was the pioneer American balance maker, it may be more correct to state the he was a pioneer in the United States in the making of scientific balances and to a certain extent, other scientific instruments. Henry Troemner began making scale and balances in Philadelphia in 1844, at least eleven years prior to Christopher Becker's introduction to analytical balances in 1855. Becker was, nonetheless, one of ten balance manufacturers to begin making assay balances, as well as other specialized and general scales and balances, but also to the analytical balance, the bullion balance, as well as other specialized and general scales and balances. Christopher Becker was born in Filsum, near Hannover, Germany in 1803 or 1804. . . . In Utrecht in 1847, Christopher participated in the Exhibition of Production and National Craftsmanship and Arts by entering several items which included an "essaibalans", a wheat and grain scale with horn pans. (Could this latter scale be the original idea for the many hand-held pocket balances used during the gold rush years in the United States? These also had horn pans, but no other markings, and were seen advertised in several instrument supply catalogs of the U.S. During the gold rush era.) . . . In 1854 or 1855, the Beckers and four sons emigrated to America, where Christopher began manufacturing nautical and astronomical instruments in an observatory at 54 Columbia St., Brooklyn, New York. [There the] New York city directories classify Christopher an instrument maker living at 25 Hicks in Brooklyn from 1856 to 1859. From 1859 to 1862 the directories show that he lived at 54 Columbia. Shortly after the beginning of the American Civil War, the family returned to The Netherlands, where they established a balance factory in Antwerp. Here they were joined by other sons who had not accompanied the family to America in 1854. After the Civil War in the United States, Becker, along with is wife and Christian and Ernst, returned to the United States and established a new factory in Hudson City, New Jersey. (The other two sons stayed on the continent and established Becker's Sons in Rotterdam and Delft, Holland and H.L. Becker Fils, in Brussels, Belgium. The trade mark or logo used by Henry was the American eagle and flag. Might this have been the source for the many pocket balances used during the early American gold mining era and sold by literally all the instrument and mining suppliers of that time?) Upon the death of Ernst in 1892, the name Becker Brothers was changed to Christian Becker [excerpted from Shannon, The Assay Balance, 1999, 49-51]. These Becker scales offered here are very similar to the historic "Parrott" gold scales. Those scales made in New York in 1850s by Becker were shipped to John Parrott and son in San Francisco. Showtime auction services auctioned those scales from the Norman Rubenstein Collection April 2nd and 3rd 2005 - Lot 761 for $23,600.00. These scales were shipped to Justin Caire Importer and Dealer Assay Materials - 521 and 523 Market St. San Francisco, California. Included in this lot is a contemporary print-out for Becker Bullion and Gold Scales balance Nos 29 & 31. A nest of weights from one quarter troy oz including 1/2, 1, 2, 4, 8, and up to 32oz troy. Overall size of the scale: height is 35" x 34" long x 11" wide. Also included with the scale is a large glass case. Condition average.
Thumbnail 2530 San Francisco,CA - c1850s - Miners Bullion Scale - Henry Troemner Co. : Start Price: 1,500.00High Bid: 6,000.00Estimate: 3,000.00 - 6,000.00 "The Troemner family is an old ancestral line of Germany. . . . It is thought that Henry, together with his brother John, arrived in Port of New York on or about May 18, 1832. One source indicates F. Meyer accompanied them to the United States. . ." [Shannon, 1999, 102]. Troemner's friendship with F. Meyer resulted in their going into business in April 1840 as F. Meyer & Company with offices of Decatur Street (now Marshall St.). Records show the company made 'prescription, jewelers and grocer's scales and weights.' After several years, Troemner became the successor to this business and although the name did not change, perhaps this may have been the start of the Troemner Balance Company. Sometime around 1844, he decided to stablish his own scale and balance manufacturing business and his name appears in the 1844 Philadelphia Business Directory as a scale manufacturer. It is believed he established his first office with $500 he had saved. His first factory was located at 196 High Street where he remained until 1853, when he moved to 240 Market Street. At this time he employed three men and during the year produced goods with a value of about $5000. . . . Not long thereafter, he received a contract to make the balances for the U.S. Mint at Philadelphia; he performed his work so satisfactorily that he was able to continue making bullion balances for the Treasury Department. In 1857 he constructed all the balances, weights, etc., required for the U.S. Mint, Custom Houses, and Repositories and several scales for the Mexican Mint. Some of the balances made for the Assay Office in New York, and for the Branch Mint of San Francisco, cost as much as $1,000, and one made several years prior cost $1,250. Besides balances like these, which must turn with a thousandth part of a grain, Mr. Troemner constructs Patent Balances that will weigh twelve ton [excerpted from Shannon, The Assay Balance, 1999, 103]. Two additional items are also included with this lot: a copper pan for weighing dust and nuggets. Thirty cm long x 17cm at its widest point x 8cm high. Second item is a solid mahogany nest for holding weights 13" long x 2-5" wide x 4" high. Nine holes that are sized for larger weights approximately from 1/2 oz up to ten pounds. A set of weights is also included. A contemporary to the era brass plumbob was in one of the scale weight openings. Base of scale is 31" long x 13" wide x 3 1/2" high. Overall height is 31", balance arm is 24" long. Condition average wear.
Thumbnail 2531 San Francisco,CA - c1849 - Miners Gold Scale : Start Price: 150.00High Bid: 170.00Estimate: 300.00 - 600.00 Dark black crackle color with orange interior. J. H. & Co. Barely discernable gilt lettering along with federal eagle. "Phil" meaning Philadelphia barely legible. Smaller oval size, 1/2, 1 ,2 and 4 DTW weights. Includes pans, twine, and arm. Measures 12cm x 6cm.
Thumbnail 2532 San Francisco,CA - c1849 - Miners Improved Gold Scale : Start Price: 300.00High Bid: 600.00Estimate: 600.00 - 1,200.00 Dark green color with gold lettering. Gold scale oblong shape. Manufactured expressly for California. Flying eagle above shield with arrows and olive branch. Pan and arms in tact but no weights included. Condition good and readable with a few dents. Measures 14cm x 7cm.
Thumbnail 2533 San Francisco,CA - c1849 - Miners Improved Gold Scale : Start Price: 200.00High Bid: 450.00Estimate: 400.00 - 800.00 Burgundy color with gold lettering and eagle. Gold Scale oval in shape. Manufactured expressly for California. Enclosed weights of 6, 5, 4, and 2 DWT's with pan and arm in tact. Lettering discernable but condition only fair. Measures 16cm x 7cm.
Thumbnail 2534 San Francisco,CA - c1849 - Miners Pocket Scale : Start Price: 300.00High Bid: 800.00Estimate: 600.00 - 1,000.00 Orange color with central eagle and leaf surround. No obverse lettering on oval scale. Condition very good with good paint. Pans, arm, and chains in good condition with four weights 4, 2, 1, 1/2 DTW. Measures 16cm x 8cm.
Thumbnail 2535 San Francisco,CA - c1850s - Miners Scale : Start Price: 150.00High Bid: 225.00Estimate: 300.00 - 600.00 Dark green covering, rectangular box with eagle holding olive branch and arrows. Clasp broken but contents in tact. Blue velveteen interior with fitted pans, arm, and cord suspension. Trap door lid holding six assorted small weights. Measures 14cm x 7cm.
Thumbnail 2536 San Francisco,CA - c1863 - Northern Light Gold & Silver Mining Company : Start Price: 300.00Estimate: 600.00 - 800.00 Stock Certificate no 65 from the Northern Light Gold & Silver Mining Company for 5 shares valued at $100 each issued to J.P. Hamley. When the stocks were issued Northern Light Gold & Silver Mining Company had 800 shares valued at a total of $80,000. Beneath the elegant vignette of an eagle holding wreath and a quill of arrows is a bold light under-print reading $80,000. There is a small black and gray border. On the left margin is a 10¢ revenue stamp. It is signed by Treasurer John Gorman and President A. Budd. Printed by Robbins & CO Print; it measures 5 ¾” x 9 ¾”. The reverse side is blank. There is a single crease in the center. Otherwise, the certificate is in Very Good condition with no fading or aesthetic damage.
Thumbnail 2537 San Francisco,CA - February 28th, 1850 - Pacific Mail Steamship Company Bill of Lading : Start Price: 750.00Estimate: 1,500.00 - 2,000.00 Bill of Lading for Macondray & Co. Shipment of gold dust valued at $10,000 on the steamer Oregon, commanded by Patterson going from San Francisco to Panama. SS Oregon (1848–1861) was built for the Pacific Mail Company and launched on August 5, 1848, sailing from New York for San Francisco on December 8, 1848, calling at Panama City and arriving at San Francisco on April 1, 1849. The steamer sailed regularly on the San Francisco to Panama City route until 1855 and made one further voyage in 1856. This bill of lading is for 52 lb package containing 625 troy oz of gold dust. Once at Panama, scheduled to transfer by mule over to the Atlantic side where it was picked up by a steamer owned by Howland & Aspinwall bound for New York, February 28, 1850. Exceptionally early piece. The package was insured by three different insurance companies, equally divided, according to a handwritten note on the back of the document. Macondray & Co. was one of the businesses described by Bancroft in his detailed canvas of San Francisco businesses in 1850. Stains at center and left corner, chip at top. This wonderful receipt is a rare circumstance of one of the very large, private gold dust shipments from California to New York. While receipts of significantly lesser amount survived, few survived in the $10,000 value range because they were generally secret, and often traveled east under the direct care of an agent. Pacific Mail Steamship company was founded in 1848 by several New York merchants who contracted with the U.S. Government to carry mail, but shortly after business began gold was discovered in California and the company became a key transporter good and people to and from the business center of the California Gold Rush, San Francisco.
Thumbnail 2538 San Francisco,CA - c 1850s - Pacific Mail Steamship Company Bill of Lading : Start Price: 500.00High Bid: 500.00Estimate: 1,000.00 - 2,000.00 Bill of Lading for Parrott & Co. Shipment of gold coin on the steamer the Golden Age, commanded by Watkins valued at $15,000 going from San Francisco to Panama. Another shipment on the same ship as previously described. The markings on the box are similar to the last bill of lading described. The reverse of this receipt has two original adhesive California revenue stamps. One is a bill of lading first $10.00 and the second is a bill of lading first $20.00 stamp. The piece is signed at lower left by T. Deidesheimer, an unknown relation to famous Comstock Engineer Phillip Deidesheimer. The shippers of this lot were Parrott & Co., San Francisco bankers. Very Fine with some album mounts on the back.
Thumbnail 2539 San Francisco,CA - Apr 4th, 1859 - Pacific Mail Steamship Company Bill of Lading : Start Price: 500.00Estimate: 1,000.00 - 2,000.00 Bill of Lading for Crosby & Dibblee. Shipment of gold bars on the steamer the Golden Age, commanded by Watkins valued at $21,000 being sent from San Francisco to Panama. In 1859, when this document was issued, it was more commonplace to melt the dust into bars for shipment. This receipt is important because it shows the markings that would have been present on the box that contained the bars, such that had this ship sunk, the contents would easily have been visible by location of the markings on the outside of the box. Separated at center along fold. Importantly, the reverse has two original adhesive California revenue stamps. One is a bill of lading first $40 and the second stamp is a bill of lading first $2.00.Original California Gold Rush bills of lading for gold shipments with revenue stamps are rare.
Thumbnail 2540 San Francisco,CA - September 28, 1854 - Page, Bacon & Co. Banker Certificate of Deposit : Start Price: 50.00Estimate: 100.00 - 200.00 No. 23710, “P. Kandlett has deposited in this office eight hundred dollars Payable to self or order on return of this Certificate with is endorsement hereon.” It is signed by teller C. Valentine (?) and by the person who cashed the note, which is unreadable. The reverse is endorsed by “P. Kandlett.” Top center is a vignette of Page, Bacon and Co.’s three-story San Francisco bank building, while bottom center is the California state seal. Vertical “Page, Bacon & Co. Bankers”, with slight damage on left side. Does not indicate that it is a Bill of Exchange but acts as one, with no reference to first, second, or third. Dated September 28, 1854.
Thumbnail 2541 San Francisco,CA - 1868 - Put's Original California Songster Pocket Book : Start Price: 150.00High Bid: 120.00Estimate: 300.00 - 500.00 This is a small pocket-size booklet of songs from ""The Land of Gold," paper covered, published by D.E. Appleton & Co. Of San Francisco in 64 pgs., 4th Ed., "25th Thousand." Three vignettes of California scenes by Anthony and Baker adorn the front, captioned "Arrival of the Greenhorn." Printed below is: "Giving in a few words what would occupy volumes, detailing the hopes, trials and joys of a miner's life." "Old Put" was the pseudonym for John A. Stone, who published several of these songbooks. This a wonderful collection of songs of the Gold Rush era.
Thumbnail 2542 San Francisco,CA - 1859-1860 - San Francisco Directory : Start Price: 500.00High Bid: 1,000.00Estimate: 1,000.00 - 2,000.00 By Henry G. Langley. Measures 5 3/4" x 9" x 1" deep. 466 pages total. About the first ten pages are full page business ads followed by the directory cover page with San Francisco's city seal at the top center. After, is a prefactory, table of contents, and an advertisement index, then leading into the city's historical/general reviews. A very small section for names "received too late for regular insertion" is added just before the general directory (pages 49 through 291). Next is a street and business directory followed by a few pages for business ads, then the appendix and more ads till the end of the book. Light brown hard cover with dark brown binding. Cover is slightly faded, binding is also faded and completely ripped along the edges and top, where both front and back are merely attached by two thick strands of thread (very fragile). Foxing along the edges of pages but all print is entirely legible. Good overall condition.
Thumbnail 2543 San Francisco,CA - 1861 - San Francisco Business Directory : Start Price: 250.00High Bid: 475.00Estimate: 500.00 - 1,000.00 By Henry G. Langley. Directory measures 5 1/2" x 8 3/4" x 1 1/2" deep. 575 pages total. The first few 65 pages are business ads followed by an A-Z advertisement index. The proceeding 45 pages are San Francisco's History and Stats up to 1861. Directory of names fills over half of the books content. Public streets begin on page 362 through 370, including plazas, places of entertainments, halls, and public buildings. The business portion of the directory begin on pages 371 through 408. Pages 409 through 496 is the appendix, followed by more pictorial advertisements. Good overall condition. Binding is in good shape with no tears. Front cover is legible, although very dark and torn at the two bottom corners. Warping due to moisture on the front and back cover, but inside pages not affected. All pages are legible, not faded and in excellent condition for its time. Seems that only one page has been torn out, possibly one of the business ads. Rare.
Thumbnail 2544 San Francisco,CA - 1864-1865 - San Francisco Business Directory and Mercantile Guide : Start Price: 600.00High Bid: 1,200.00Estimate: 1,200.00 - 2,000.00 By B.F. Stilwell & Co. Measures 6" x 9 1/4" x 1" deep. 384 pages total. Dark brown cover with gilt lettering, engraved gold designs and borders on cover and binding. The first few pages include the preface, general index, and home manufactures. The business directory is from pages 1 through 379. Almost each company has their own full page ad to the left of the description. Page 380 through 384 is an index of advertisers names. Inside front cover has a "sticker" 'Mining & Sci. Press Library. No. 149.' Stains along the edges of a few pages. Very good overall condition with minor foxing on the inside covers. Rare.
Thumbnail 2545 San Francisco,CA - 1852 - San Francisco County Bond : Start Price: 500.00High Bid: 850.00Estimate: 1,000.00 - 2,000.00 Measures 17” x 13.50.” Not mounted. Has coupons one through twenty. Bottom row of coupons has several small tears. Some darkening on the bottom row of coupons. Some slight foxing. This bond was for “Floating Debt.” Signed by “Commissioners of the Bonded Debt of The County of San Francisco.” The Commissioners who signed the bond are F[rederick] D. Kohler, prior California State Assayer and ingot manufacturer, who was also a Chief Engineer of the Volunteer Fire Department in 1850, O. H. Frank, and S[teven] R[andall] Harris, who was also Mayor of San Francisco from January 1852 to October 1852. David Jones bought the $100.00 bond in July of 1852. The bond says redeemed but does not have a date. All the coupons are signed by Harris.
Thumbnail 2546 San Francisco,CA - 1858 - San Francisco City and County Bond : Start Price: 150.00High Bid: 100.00Estimate: 300.00 - 500.00 Bond number 754. Measures 16.75” x 14.” Includes coupons 27 through 59 signed by E. W. Burr. The back of the bond is green with a flowery border mixed with peach color. A red stamp says “Pay to the order of Wm. Hooper, Secy.” The front of the bond has a black border and supposedly is white but the peach from the back has leached through to the front. The bond was purchased by [illegible] F. Willey in the amount of 1,000.00. Signed by the fund commissioners, E. W. Burr, President, who was a former mayor and who also was the founder of San Francisco Savings and Loan in 1857, an institution he had been associated with since its formation as a savings society in 1854, it’s main partner was the infamous Henry Meiggs. E. S. Mickle signed as Auditor, and William H. Tillinghast was treasurer. Hand written across the front of the bond “This bond [illegible] by the Commissioner of the Funded – Sept of 1851 and canceled Sept 18 1871 by Thomas H. Selby, Mayor.” Selby came to the Gold Rush with other Forty-niners and eventually set up business as a smelter.
Thumbnail 2547 San Francisco,CA - 1858 - San Francisco City and County Bond : Start Price: 150.00High Bid: 150.00Estimate: 300.00 - 600.00 Bond number 203 for One Thousand Dollars at six per cent annum. The City and County owed the “Dana Bro’s” $1,000. Water damage and yellowing. Measures 16” x 21.” Black border. The vignette is top center of the bond and is the San Francisco City Hall with people walking in front of it and placed on the porch. Gaslight lamps line the portico and a wrought iron fence borders the well manicured lawn. The bond has all the glued on coupons except for the number one slot which is hand written in. All the coupons are signed by E[phraim] W. Burr, who was mayor frm 1856 to 1859, begin in 1859 and end in 1885. The total interest the Dana Brothers made on their investment was $660.00. Cancelled on 5 January 1868, Demand number 5010. The bond is signed by the Fund Commissioners: E. W. Burr, President of the Board of Supervisors, E. Mickle, Auditor, and William H. Tillinghast, Treasurer. According to Bancroft, Mickle and Tillinghast were merchants at E. Mickle and Co. on Battery Street in 1849-1850. Tillinghast later became a banker. In 1876, Tillinghast was one of the financiers of the Oregon and California Railroad [Bancroft, Vol. VI, Vol VII, 1888 & 1890]. Burr also was a banker who devoted himself to the Savings and Loan Society in which he was associated with Henry Meiggs for a time before Meiggs hasty departure in 1855.
Thumbnail 2548 San Francisco,CA - San Francisco County - 1866 - Stagecoach Line Broadside "Overland Mail Route to C Start Price: 7,500.00High Bid: 11,000.00Estimate: 15,000.00 - 20,000.00 This remarkable colorful broadside of high quality and condition contains an important wood block print by Eastman and Keith of San Francisco. This is arguably one of California landscape artist William Keith’s finest wood block prints, made at a time when he had just begun venturing into the art of oil paintings. Keith was known as the poet-painter by John Muir. His wood blocks and engravings were a part of his early career after studying art in Germany. He became more known as a painter but clearly made his living doing engravings as well. This block may have been issued to W.D. Carter (printer) for more widespread use in advertising. Measuring 11” x 14”, it dramatically depicts a California Stage Company “Concord” stagecoach racing through the countryside pulled by six charging horses. Dated July 19, 1866, the broadside advises potential customers to contact the ticket office at Arringoni’s Hotel Portland, Oregon. The text reminds customers that they will enjoy “picturesque scenery” and that “travelers avoid risk of ocean journey”. “Overland Mail Route to California/ Through in Six Days to Sacramento...Oregon Line of Stage Coaches... H.W. Corbett & Co., Proprietors Oregon Stage Line. Portland, July 19, 1866.” W. D. Carter, Printer, Front St., Portland, Oregon. Rare, and in exceptional condition.
Thumbnail 2549 San Francisco,CA - 1893 - Sutro, Adolph Checks (3) Adolph Sutro checks (3) Adolph Sutro checks (3); Start Price: 100.00High Bid: 225.00Estimate: 200.00 - 300.00 Lot of three items, each signed by Adolf Sutro: 1) Check #1249, payable to Henry Marsden dated January 20, 1893 for $18.00. Stamped “paid” on front, endorsed on reverse. Stamped “for deposit with London and San Francisco Bank, Ltd." and “Pay only through clearing house Jan 30, 1893, London and San Francisco Bank, Ltd.” 2) Check #1250 payable to Janet McKenzie [sic] dated January 20, 1893 for $10.00. Stamped “paid” on the front. The reverse has the endorser’s signature as Janet S. Mackenzie. 3) Check #1359 payable to J.F. Sullivan dated February 15, 1893 for $85.75. Only contains a purple “P” on front with endorsement signature on reverse. There is a reference to a J.F. Sullivan as a student at St. Ignatius College in 1855-57. In addition, an Honorable J.F. Sullivan is mentioned in the San Francisco Call, September 17, 1895 as having given a welcome-home speech for Archbishop P.W. Riordan when he returned from a trip to Europe. It is unclear whether this is the same J.F. Sullivan [Ref: chroniclingamerica.loc.gov].
Thumbnail 2550 San Francisco,CA - 1869, 1874. 1895 - Sutro Collection: Gold Rush Book, White Border RPC, and Newspa Start Price: 100.00High Bid: 120.00Estimate: 200.00 - 400.00 Adolph Sutro: A Brief Story of a Brilliant Life, written by Eugenia Kellogg Holmes and illustrated by Carl Dahlgren. Published by the Press of San Francisco Photo-Engraving Co. Original. Rare and in excellent condition. Measures 5” x 6.25.” Fifty-six pages. Six illustrations. Ten photographs. Reddish brown cloth cover with gilt engraving of a Dahlgren illustration on the front of an Adolph Sutro monument. The author, Eugenia Kellogg Holmes, is a mystery figure. Searching U. S. Census records of the time period yielded no results. Looking through San Francisco City Directories also yielded no results for her or the publishing company that published the book. Thus, the book must have been privately published. Since information is so hard to find on the author, the name might be a pseudonym. However, Carl Dahlgren was real. He was a famous illustrator who contributed six illustrations to the book, including the gilt one on the cover. Included with the book is a special section of The Daily Independent---Supplement for Virginia City, Nevada, Saturday, 31 October 1874. J. D. Bethel managed the paper and John I. Ginn was the editor. Sutro, the financial backer of the paper, created it to back his senatorial campaign. The special section of the paper printed a Sutro lecture on “Mines and Mining” that Sutro gave at “Piper’s Opera House, Virginia City, and in all the principal, towns and mining camps in the state of Nevada.” Included on the first page is an illustration of a “Cross Section through Crown Point Shaft showing the East & West Ledges.” In the lecture, Sutro names people who were opposed to the Sutro Tunnel project in 1868. They were: William Sharon, Charles Bonner, John B. Winters, John P. Jones, J. W. MacKey, Thomas G. Taylor, F. A. Triple and Isaac L. Requa. Lastly, a white border RPC showing men sitting in a horse-drawn wagon on tracks, leaving the Sutro Tunnel building. The tunnel was commenced on 19 October 1869. Written in white at the bottom of the photo card is “5 miles long, lode, 1800 ft.” Nothing is written on the back of the card. Most white border RPC’s were made in the 1910s for tourists to purchase. There is no way to date when the actual picture was taken.
Thumbnail 2551 San Francisco,CA - 1895 and 1896 - Sutro Correspondence as Mayor : Start Price: 100.00High Bid: 100.00Estimate: 200.00 - 400.00 Collection of six. Series of three letters from Sutro’s secretary Taylor Rogers to Mr. A. C. Unsworth, From Unsworth to Rogers, and from Rogers to Adolph Link in New York City, 1895; One letter from “Wm. Browne of the Apollo Mandolin and Guitar Trio to the Honorable Adolph Sutro, Mayor,” 1895, requesting the Mayor give him a location for a line of vision to sketch “a number of Sutro Heights mementos.” A letter of reference written “To Our Mayor” from Francis and Cabral (who are wholesale food dealers) concerning a “Mr. Antoine Silva” and his employment by Sutro. Finally, a note to the “Hon. Adolph Sutro from O. F. von Rhein and Company (signed by Rhein), Auctioneers.” Very good condition.
Thumbnail 2552 San Francisco,CA - 1891 and 1895 - Sutro Heights Letters : Start Price: 100.00Estimate: 200.00 - 400.00 Lot of three. 1) From Alex Watson, agent, “from the Office of Adolph Sutro, 74 Montgomery Block, San Francisco, 8 Aug 1891” regarding: a. Buying rope for Mr. Flanagan; b. Mrs. Hobbosse’s Attorney called to talk about the settlement of her two lots, on which she owed $104.66; c. Mr. Bates came by in person to see Sutro about purchasing “fractional blocks on the Beach adjoining Blocks 625 and 720”; Watson says that along with his letter, he had two enclosures, four Pay Rolls, the “monthly allowance list,” and checks – numbers 511 to 523 inclusive. On onion paper. Well preserved. We do not have the enclosures Watson wrote about. 2) On letterhead of Jas. S. Hurry, 17 April 1895, “Real Estate and Insurance, House and Broker, full charge taken of property for absentees”, from Jas. Scobie and C. Voegtlin [sp] to Adolph Sutro regarding employment of Chas. Vogtlin [sp]. Scobie had employed him in the past and can recommend his work to Sutro. 3) A letter from Otto von Geldern, Civil Engineer to Adolph Sutro, 14 September 1895 regarding hiring him as the engineer for the proposed Sutro Library project and “affiliated colleges.” Geldern says he “should be able to serve you efficiently and faithfully.” Geldern goes on to describe his experience as an engineer and hopes his name will not be overlooked in contemplation of future “magnificent” Sutro projects. Very good condition.
Thumbnail 2553 San Francisco,CA - 19 September 1871 - Sutro's signed Black Leather Passport with Gold Embossed Eagl Start Price: 500.00High Bid: 750.00Estimate: 1,000.00 - 2,000.00 The passport includes a French visa with the words Majesti l’Emperer [sic] crossed out with three red lines and the word Republique written in above in black ink. Pages are not attached to the spine. The leather cover still holds a shine and has little wear. Includes Sutro’s physical description and signature. Measures 6” x 3.75” (length and width). According to U. S. State Department statistics between 1830 and 1873, a period of 43 years, the U.S. issued over 130,000 passports to U.S. citizens. Between 1877 and 1909 the U.S. issued three times as many passports in the same time span. According to Hubert Howe Bancroft, Sutro finally secured the funds to “build his tunnel” in 1871. Thus, Sutro must have secured his funding from European sources. Bancroft said “the Pacific coast is indebted [to Adolph Sutro] for the construction of the largest and most costly drain tunnel in the world, 12 ft wide, 10 in height, more than five miles in length, including lateral branches, and costing nearly $5,000,000, its object being to drain and cool the levels of the Comstock Lode” [Bancroft, 1890, p 750-751, fn 14]. The Sutro Tunnel Company issued a stock pamphlet at the same time stating its rights and privileges. One of the rights was if the company discovered any mines during the tunnel excavation, they were to retain exclusive ownership. It also announced a “New Era in Mining.” By freeing mines from water and supplying miners with fresh air it gave miners the opportunity to work “two thousand feet below the surface of the mountain. The miners will enter into . . . the tunnel and work upwards from below, by simply letting the ore fall down of its own weight” [Sutro Tunnel Company, 1871, p 2, 5]. While some miners worked from below, others could work from the top down, thus doubling the efforts to find ore and making mining more productive, less costly, and gaining more income for the owners. So while there was a great outlay of expenditure to construct the tunnel in the beginning, the mine owners would reap other monetary rewards (like those from the sale of water) after construction had been completed. The tunnel was completed in 1878 [Bancroft, 1890, p 750-51, fn 14].
Thumbnail 2554 San Francisco,CA - November 15, 1850 - U.S.S. Tennessee Steamship Letter Regarding Gold Shipment : Start Price: 1,000.00High Bid: 700.00Estimate: 2,000.00 - 3,000.00 This letter details multiple gold shipments sent to Ludlow BeeBee and Company in Philadelphia from their agent in San Francisco. The letter describes a major gold shipment sent “by last steamer” that contained five boxes of gold dust with a substantial value apparently in excess of $10,000. The letter also contains a detailed inventory of a shipment on this steamer of gold dust that includes a number of parcels going to different people, each identified. The four-page letter continues to detail other shipments and requests the Mint returns of gold dust submitted in July 1850. This steamer did not sail many more trips; it sank July 21st, 1851. This letter is particularly unusual because of the large amount of gold described in the shipment. Generally, the condition is Fine plus. This is not the same SS Tennessee that later became the SS Republic.
Thumbnail 2555 San Francisco,CA - c1918 - Wells Fargo & Co. Express Receipt Book (Chinese) : Start Price: 50.00High Bid: 250.00Estimate: 100.00 - 300.00 Receipt book for Wells Fargo & Co.'s Express from a Chinese merchant in San Francisco. The merchant was Kung Yuen & Co at 1015 Grant Ave. The entries are in English, with notes in Chinese. About 25 pages have data, and the remaining several hundred pages are blank with the Wells Fargo information at top.
Thumbnail 2556 San Francisco,CA - 1893 - Wells Fargo Original Desktop Cabinet : Start Price: 1,500.00Estimate: 3,000.00 - 5,000.00 Original Wells Fargo & Co.’s Express Secretarial Cabinet. Walnut (pine? Construction) This original desktop secretary was manufactured specifically for Wells Fargo & Co. Express. It contains numerous cubby holes with a variety of shapes to handle everything for the agent. This specific piece still has the original 1893 Wells Fargo & Co. Express lost or stolen money order broadside from 1893 adhered to the inside back door. This cabinet reportedly migrated from California to Nebraska about 1913 or so. Wells Fargo sold a portion of their business to the railway express agency and this cabinet went along with an agent or an office. There are a number of other labels adhered to the back door which include a railway express at Juniata Nebraska. There is also a partial pacific express label from the same location. The cabinet appears to have been used by the railway express agent from through at least 1942 based on original paperwork left in a cabinet drawer. On the outside of the door are two original brass tags. A.)“ Tyler Desk Company St Louis Missouri”, the manufacturer of the cabinet. b.) equipment number 636914 The overall condition is good. There are chips to the top wood plate in the rear, as wells as a few repairs to wood splits. The finish is nice and has a natural walnut finish.
Thumbnail 2557 San Francisco,CA - 1855 - Wells Fargo & Co. Stamp with San Francisco Herald Shipping Manifest : Start Price: 250.00High Bid: 300.00Estimate: 500.00 - 1,000.00 Blank ship’s manifest bound to the Office of the San Francisco Herald located on Montgomery Street in San Francisco, CA. This beautifully preserved manifest has a Wells Fargo Express California stamp on its cover: usage that is extremely rare and almost never seen. The manifest was never filled out. It has four distinct areas for the ships general manifest, list of passengers on the obverse and “vessels left” and “vessels spoken” on the reverse. The latter two lists are divided into 6 categories which are as follows: “Class, Vessels’ Names, Masters, Where From, Where Bound, Remarks.” The manifest is printed on large 16” x 22” blue paper which contains a small vignette of ship. The manifest was pocket folded and has defined creases. The paper is exquisitely intact and holds all original colors with little to no fade. The Wells Fargo & Co stamp is below the manifest title on the obverse and retains its clarity with an orange hue. Very Fine Condition.
Thumbnail 2558 San Francisco,CA - 1866 - Wells Fargo Handbill Announcing Merger with other Stage Companies : Start Price: 375.00High Bid: 550.00Estimate: 750.00 - 1,500.00 Very rare handbill announcing the merger of Wells Fargo, Pioneer Stage Company, Overland Mail Company and Holladay's Overland Stage Company. The handbill asks the agents to forward and exact inventory of Wells Fargo and Company property "in you charge as agent". First one Fred has seen in 30 years. Very Fine.
Thumbnail 2559 San Francisco & Chico,CA - 1857, 1875 - Wells Fargo & Co.'s Express Early Receipts : Start Price: 150.00Estimate: 300.00 - 400.00 Two receipts for collection of personal notes in which Wells Fargo would attempt to collect the monies due. Very Fine.
Thumbnail 2560 San Francisco,CA - c1859 - Wing, John D. & Co. Ad Sheet : Start Price: 150.00High Bid: 150.00Estimate: 300.00 - 500.00 The ad sheet cautions the public to beware of counterfeits and " spurious imitations" of their products: Saleratus, Super Carbonate Soda, Cream Tartar, & Soap Powder. These products are manufactured "Expressly for Us," packed only in 12 pound boxes and comes with their trademark (J.D.W. Printed within a horizontal diamond). They are also the manufacturers of Golden Gate Saleratus that comes in 50 pound kegs. All of their products are sold by Goodwin & Co. On Front Street in San Francisco. 8.5" x 11."
Thumbnail 2561 San Francisco,CA - 1854 - Wreck of the S.S. San Francisco Rescuer's Medal : Start Price: 5,000.00High Bid: 9,000.00Estimate: 10,000.00 - 20,000.00 “PRESENTED TO ROBINSON MILLER, a seaman attached to the Amer. Ship Lucy Thompson by the MERCHANTS & CITIZENS of NEW YORK as a testimonial of their deep sense of his human and courageous conduct in assisting to rescue the passengers, officers & crew of the Steamer San Francisco in their perilous exposure on the ocean after the destructive gale of the 24 December 1853.” This medal was awarded to Seaman Miller for singularly distinguishing himself while participating in the rescue and life saving efforts associated with the sinking of the S.S. San Francisco. By all accounts Seaman Miller was only one of the many crewmembers on board nearby passing ships that rendered aid and assistance to those on board the S.S. San Francisco. As a result Miller and a few other brave sailors were singled out for individual acts of heroism as the inscription on this medal notes - for his “courageous conduct” as the sinking San Francisco’s passengers and crew were experiencing “their perilous exposure on the ocean.” As bad as the loss of life was, it could have been much worse for those on board the sinking ship. Given the weather conditions and the duration and intensity of the storm between the time it was encountered on December 24th and several days later when the last of the survivors were finally removed from the distressed ship, all 750 persons on board the S.S. San Francisco could easily have perished had Miller and men like him not put their own lives in jeopardy to render assistance. One of the survivors gave the following eyewitness account of conditions: “The sea was a complete mess of foam – boiling and swelling like a cauldron.” He also recalled “the sky was black with clouds, the rain poured in torrents, and in all directions the vision was limited by roaring billows white with froth and foam, the wind blew a perfect hurricane.” [Ref: Daily Alta California, February 16, 1854] The same article paints an even gloomier image regarding those who lost their lives: “From all sides came the piercing cries of the drowning soldiers.” He went on to explain that the storm was so violent that “no efforts were made to rescue any, for all efforts to that end were useless.” The storm quickly overpowered the San Francisco with deadly results. “Two days after leaving New York, the San Francisco’s lifeboats were washed away, her upper saloon and promenade decks were pounded into splinters by the crashing waves and her engines were drowned. Soon afterwards, she lost her masts and both funnels and was tossed about helpless amid high waves, her fate and the lives of her passengers and crew uncertain.” [Ref: Stack’s Catalog, John J. Ford Collection]. We believe the depiction on the obverse of the medal of rough seas, and specifically that of seamen in a lifeboat going to the aid of persons on board the sinking ship, is in itself sufficient testimony of their selfless acts of heroism. Exactly what specific heroic deed or deeds seaman Miller undertook that ultimately lead to his rescuer’s medal is an elusive mystery today - just 154 years after the fact. Was he one of the crewmen who manned the little rescue boat pictured on the medal? Surely additional research would confirm or disprove this theory. Regardless, Miller was at the very least partly responsible for saving the lives of many who otherwise would have been lost to the depths of the ocean. The sinking occurred during the height of the California gold rush. It was a time when the exploits of brave men, some real and some contrived, often appeared in print. All of the passengers aboard the S.S. San Francisco were traveling to California, and some probably had dreams of becoming rich miners, but there were also nearly 500 military personal on board, 150 of who were lost as a giant wave swept them overboard in a single instant. “On the 28th of December the Boston Bark Kilby, in spite of heavy weather took a hundred survivors on board, then was obliged t
Thumbnail 2562 San Francisco/Sacramento,CA - 1854-1880 - California City and State Comptroller Warrants : Start Price: 200.00High Bid: 200.00Estimate: 400.00 - 600.00 Lot of five. 1) Unissued, unnumbered warrant c. 1850's listing Andrew J.. Moulder Comptroller of City of San Francisco. Black on blue with script, gothic and modern typefaces. 2) No. 1089 issued Sept. 4, 1854 to H. W. Seale for $100. "Grading & Plan Ring Beale Street." Signed S. R. Harris. Fine. Vignette of crowd at front of government building at center. Floral design at right. Slight stain at right. Fine. 3) State controller's office warrant No. 1194 issued Jan. 27, 1855 for $112 for "Mileage For Senators." Cut cancelled at center. Vignette of man with American flag, Native Americans, mining scene, train, woman with staff and bear. Endorsed on reverse. Fine. 4) State controller's office warrant No. 1452 issued Feb. 2, 1863 to J. Sullivan for "Labor" ($1.25). "Construction of State Capitol" handwritten on reverse. Vignette of capitol building, man, train, miners. Fine. 5) State controller's office warrant No. 2838 issued Dec. 8, 1880 to J. Y. Taylor for $102.50. "Drainage District No. 1 Construction" handwritten. Endorsed on reverse. Vignette of train with Native Americans and miners at bottom, woman with staff, capitol building and wolf at top. Fine.
Thumbnail 2563 San Jose,CA - c1852 - Gambling Complaint : Start Price: 150.00Estimate: 300.00 - 600.00 A handwritten complaint of playing cards at night in San Jose with a bet of $48.00 and Plaintiff, Meyer Livy claims defendant Adolph Helm cheated Livy of the money. Watermark paper, one page of four used, reverse of second page shows adherence to an album. Otherwise Very Fine. A very early Gold Rush gambling reference.
Thumbnail 2564 San Jose,CA - 1889 - San Jose Directory : Start Price: 400.00High Bid: 400.00Estimate: 800.00 - 1,000.00 L. L. Bettys Publisher. Printed and bound by Pacific Press Publishing Co. 255 pages total. The first few pages show a list of county officers of that year, as well as a list of school districts and a short description about Santa Clara County. Divided by locations in A to Z format, and within the locations are a list of names in A to Z order. Very simple directory - last name, middle initial, first name, followed by the occupation and which street or road it is located on (whereas another directory may have the full address instead). Along the borders of each individual page are "D.D. Wass", "Schemmel's Music House", and "Schroeder Bros." accompanied with each of their full addresses, all of them in different fonts and print sizes per page. Yellow-like hard cover and torn off red binding. Dark stains on both front and back. Minor foxing within the pages. Fair condition of the cover and great condition of the pages with no tears, fading, or ripped out pages.
Thumbnail 2565 Santa Clara,CA - 1852-1870 - California Official Documents : Start Price: 250.00High Bid: 250.00Estimate: 500.00 - 1,500.00 Lot of 10. 1) 1852. Handwritten legal sized "Census Return of Productions of Santa Clara County". Filed with clerk H.C. Milne by M.B. Henson on Nov. 19, 1852. Contains list with: horses, mules, cows, beef, cattle, hogs, sheep, goats, fouls, onions, cabbages, carrots (bushels), beets (bushels), grape vines, fruit trees, tons of hay, number of bricks, bushels of barley, oats, corn, wheat, potatoes, and beans. Also contains number of acres of cultivation (19,000) and amount of capital investment ($1,152,325). Early document of value of land and goods in Santa Clara County. 2) Nov. 9, 1853. Handwritten document penned by Samuel C. Head, Administrator of Estate of Jose M. Sanchez to the board of supervisors Santa Clara County. Asks for tax relief on acreage in Santa Clara County assessed at the wrong amount of land. Signed Saml C. Head. 3) Nov. AD 1863. Handwritten document stating tax payment on San Luis Gonzaga Rancho overlapping Merced, Monterey and Santa Clara Counties (total acreage 48000). Tax valuation of land assessed. "Signed D. Hughes, Notary Public". 4) April 2, 1870. Handwritten document regarding levied and assessed taxes in Santa Clara County. County purposes listed as General Fund, Road, School, Infirmary Fund, WP Railroad, SF and SJ Railroad, Squirrels and Gophers, Road Poll Tax. Seal present on document. 5) June 25, 1853. Handwritten document assessing value of land in Santa Clara (87,470 acres) set at $613,810. 1853 value and "depreciation of property genreally" within Santa Clara County. Signed J.A. Moutraz. 6) March 3, 1862. Handwritten document regarding "30 head of mares at $25 per head (Monterey County). Signed James A. Clayton, Clerk. 7) Undated unissued document signed by James A. Clayton. 8) Nov. 4, 1863. Handwritten document regarding valuation of personal property: cattle, sheep and horses in Santa Clara County. Signed by James A. Clayton. 9) Nov. 2, 1862. Handwritten document regarding valuation of Hall's Rancho. Signed by Frederic Hall and James A. Clayton. 10) Handwritten document regarding the valuation of personal property. Signed L. Gavitt and James A. Clayton.
Thumbnail 2566 Santa Cruz,CA - 1863 - Pacific Gold and Silver Mining Co. Stock Certificate : Start Price: 250.00High Bid: 375.00Estimate: 500.00 - 1,000.00 Silver Mountain. Certificate No. 88 issued to Samuel Fair for 10 shares on December 29, 1863. Signed by Fair as President and Joseph V. Southern as Secretary. Vignette of miner pushing ore cart out of mine portal. Hydraulic mining vignette at left edge. Purple border and print. Cancelled by red pen. Printer: Towne & Bacon, SF. 5.5 x 10". "Location, Silver Mountain, Santa Cruz County, Cal." Some dings to edges. Professionally repaired 2 inch tear at right upper corner. Revenue stamp for 25c affixed at right. This exceptionally rare certificate was thought to be a printer error, however, it is in fact for exactly as it states: Silver Mountain, Santa Cruz County. A number of the early people to Santa Cruz County had been miners. These included Edward West, a California miner who worked in Silver Mountain, Alpine. When he left and made his home in Santa Cruz, he worked for the California Powder Works. Silver Mountain is a real place name in Santa Cruz, popular today for its viticultural crops. While we could not find any reference to mining in this part of the County, all of the bench marks are present – from pioneers who worked in Silver Mountain in Alpine to the specific place name in Santa Cruz. Thus we believe the certificate is correctly printed.
Thumbnail 2567 Sisson (Shasta),CA - c1918-1919 - Wells Fargo & Co. Delivery Records Book Wells Fargo delivery Reco Start Price: 400.00High Bid: 300.00Estimate: 800.00 - 1,600.00 Two Large books, 6 x 17" containing several hundred pages each of prepaid shipment records of packages sent from the Wells Fargo Sisson, CA office, 1918 and 1919. Both appear complete, which is unusual. "lest Wagonmen forget" instructions for wagon men adhered on front inside cover. There is space for twelve line entries per day, but usually only half are filled out each day.
Thumbnail 2568 Sisson (Shasta),CA - c1919 - Wells Fargo & Co. Way-Bill Receipt/Serial Stamp Device : Start Price: 150.00High Bid: 425.00Estimate: 300.00 - 600.00 Lot of two. 1) Original sealed packet of ten way bill receipts, 3.5 x 6". Office copies. 2) Original serial number stamping device from the Sisson Wells Fargo Office, which was later the Railway Express Office. The area of the town of Sisson, renamed Shasta in 1924, was known first as Strawberry Valley, and then as Berryvale. The name Sisson came from a prominent land owner Justin Sisson.
Thumbnail 2569 Sonora,CA - Tuolumne County - March 4, 1853 - Stanislaus Central Bridge Co. Stock Certificate : Start Price: 250.00High Bid: 300.00Estimate: 500.00 - 1,000.00 Measures 9 x 6 1/2". Incorporated in California in October 1852. Cert. #106, entitled Benjamin F. Moulton to One Share. Signed by C. Gunn as secretary and Byrne as president. Three vignettes, one of a ship on water, the second of a horse-pulled wagon on a bridge over a lake/river, the third of a train. No stamp. Black border and print. Good condition with minor stains due to the ink (writings). This company was open for one ride. The inaugural buggy ride over the bridge broke the bridge and sunk the company.
Thumbnail 2570 Stockton,CA - 1850 - Pilgrim Mining Company 49'ers Document : Start Price: 125.00High Bid: 150.00Estimate: 250.00 - 500.00 Handwritten sworn statement dated Stockton Feb 22, 1850 certifying that James Clark, Master and Representative of the owners of the Bark Yeoman of Plymouth, released all claims of said owner on Elisha Kingman. Elisha Kingman was a member of the Pilgrim Mining Co., whose members were aboard this ship bound for California March 18, 1849, arriving in San Francisco on October 2, 1849, a trip of 198 days. The Bark Yeoman was built in 1833 in Plymouth as a "brig" and afterward was upgraded to a "Bark". This note is clearly in reference to a claim Kingman or the owners of the Yeoman had against one or the other. It is signed by Clark and witnessed by Thomas Segivich. [Ref: W. T. Davis: Plymouth Memories of an Octogenarian 1906] Very Fine.
Thumbnail 2571 Stockton,CA - San Joaquin - May 20, 1849 - Stockton, Wm. B. Receipt : Start Price: 500.00Estimate: 1,000.00 - 2,000.00 This is a hand written receipt for 86 oz from Mical White to Stockton, who was an early resident of California. He is not, however, the namesake of Stockton, California, who was Commodore Stockton. This is a classic and very rare ‘49er receipt for gold.
Thumbnail 2572 Tracy,CA - c1905-1906 - Wells Fargo & Co. Agent's Money Order Receipt Books : Start Price: 150.00Estimate: 300.00 - 600.00 Group of seven receipt books, about 3.5 x 4.5" each, c1905-6. Each book has the cash endorsement stamps at right "not payable for over XX Dollars". Fairly rare. These are not seen often.
Thumbnail 2573 Tracy/Porterville,CA - c1907 - Wells Fargo & Co. Money Way-Bills and Express Receipt Books : Start Price: 250.00High Bid: 200.00Estimate: 500.00 - 900.00 Lot of two. 1) Two Wells Fargo Money Way Bill books showing packages of coin or papers sent by WF via railroad. FF Foster and M R Fothergill, agents for WF at Tracy and Porterville. About 100pp each, 4 x 14". 2) Large original receipt book with 16 line entries per page. A few pages are missing from the front. Each package was signed for by the receiving party at the right. About 300 pages.
Thumbnail 2574 Washington,CA - Nevada County - Washington Gold Nugget ~ 100 Ounce Whopper : Start Price: 125,000.00High Bid: 400,000.00Estimate: 250,000.00 - 400,000.00 98+ troy ounces The Washington, California Nugget - A New Discovery ! By Fred N. Holabird, copyright 2010, all rights reserved Abstract. The discovery of a huge, nine pound natural gold nugget was announced earlier this year in national news. The nugget was brought to my attention in late summer, and I met with the owner and looked over the property. The resulting research underscores the importance of the nugget. It is from a portion of the famous “blue lead” Tertiary channel now known as the Omega-Malakoff Channel, located near Washington, California. The area was first mined by hand in 1852, and the science of hydraulic mining was invented in this very region in a directly adjacent channel near Nevada City in Nevada County, California. The uncleaned Washington nugget’s physical characteristics match exactly those discussed by Josiah D. Whitney and his co-author W. H. Pettee in his epic The Auriferous Tertiary Gravels of the Sierra Nevada, published in 1880. This large nugget may be the sole remaining large nugget from California. It was standard practice to melt large nuggets into ingots, and thereby convert the prize into cash. No such nuggets have been found by the author at the Smithsonian or the California State Collection at Mariposa. This paper is divided into several parts with additional subparts: Abstract Personal Narrative California Gold Nugget Overview California Gold-Bearing Tertiary Gravels Literature Review and Study History of Hydraulic Mining Personal Narrative Every now and again something really fun happens. The other day a fella walked into our office and told me about a 100 ounce nugget he found near Nevada City. Ha! While 100 oz nuggets are known from Australia and Mexico, I couldn’t think of a single specimen still in existence from California. Or at least any that I had seen or known of in museums, including the Smithsonian and the Mariposa Gold Museum. Then something even more special happened. He opened up his box and got out the nugget. After I screamed and got back up off the floor from shock, he said he had been told to clean it and what did I think? I said “heck no, that rock, sand and gravel attached to it is proof positive of where it is from.” He, like you are now, was in complete puzzlement. You see, the proof is in the pudding, and the pudding was still attached to the nugget, It was a verifiable, real authentic gold nugget from the “blue lead”, or bottom most layer of the Tertiary gold channels in California. The natural rock still attached was the absolute proof. Backtrack thirty years— I was a young field geologist for a mining company that liked to mine placer deposits, or anything else that would produce gold in ingot or natural form quickly. They had their own 250 ton per day mill, which was currently, at the time, fed by ores from the Moho mine in central western Nevada. One of the mining engineers on staff was a very accomplished placer guy. I was assigned to look at property submittals, and quite a raft of California central mother lode placer properties fell into my lap. Among them were Dutch Flat-Gold Run and more than I can remember. I got polished up on the latest professional papers by Lindgren and others on the Tertiary deposits of California, and proceeded to investigate about a couple of dozen of these properties. Most were from the upper sections, or later depositional periods of the Tertiary channels, but there were a few that were in the gut of the action for the primary Tertiary channels that were not buried under volcanic cover, and a few that were. I got to see the original “blue lead” basal conglomerate up close and personal, albeit the only exposures of the original material were in pillars left to hold up underground workings. I had the great opportunity to sample many of these pillars just for the fun of it. I say that, because they could not be removed unless the whole operation turned into an open pit. The pillars held up the roof, so if gone, no more underground workings. Smash! This specific rock unit was generally well cemented. In places it was a clearly defined blue hue, but when oxidized, turned a red-brown. In places where it was near surface, it was generally red, and hard as heck. It took a pick to break it apart, and it wasn’t easy. So when our new friend with the big nugget opened his box, there in front of me were thirty year old memories of my work on the “blue lead” and other basal conglomerates of the Tertiary section of California gravel deposits. The texture, content, and color is unmistakable, and I’m sure there are other geologists out there with the same memories. You never forget it. It was the real McCoy. Unmistakable. I screamed in excitement. I can think of at least three other geologists who have spent more time on the central mother lode Tertiary gold deposits than me, and I think we all secretly share the same quest- to find that giant gold nugget. To have one sitting in front of me at that moment was special beyond words. “Don’t clean it. Don’t touch it. That crusty stuff is the proof of where it comes from”, I said to the owner, and related the story. It is the ultimate provenance – irrefutable proof positive of its origin. My immediate secret thought was “is this the largest verifiable California nugget in existence? Didn’t they melt everything else?” And so the quest began, and also a new friendship. People have always asked me over the years, “what do you collect?” and my answer is the same- friends. To me, they make the world go round. After a few months, I had a chance to see the property and walk the land where this mammoth nugget came from. There is no way the owner can publish the exact location, or even his name, even though he owns the property fee-simple. In today’s crazy world, that would lead to nothing but trouble. I later learned that the nugget came from the Nevada City-Washington area. After in-depth research, it is clear that the nugget came from the Omega-Malakoff Tertiary Channel as defined by nineteenth century geologist Josiah Dwight Whitney. California Gold Nugget Overview Natural gold nuggets from California are and were plentiful. Indeed, millions of ounces of gold has been produced from the seemingly inexhaustible natural supply in California since 1848. But even the “large” California gold nuggets, in general, are small compared to others throughout the world, especially Australia. Some authors have stated that anything over ten or twenty ounces from California is rare. But the nuggets of huge size- upwards of 100 troy ounces or more, are among nature’s great rarities. In fact, until now, it has been assumed that none of the original large nugget discoveries from California still exist. It appears all were melted. The mechanism of reporting a big natural nuggets in the nineteenth century, as well as today, was through the media. But to a nineteenth century miner, the prize wasn’t the nugget itself, it was the cash that the nugget generated when it was melted into an ingot and sold. This is the manner that most nuggets are found reported through time – how much the miner received when he sold the nugget to a bank or assay office. In each case, the end result was the same – no more nugget. An ingot was created. Another issue surfaces that is equally important. Today, as well as in the nineteenth century, there is confusion among the public sector about the definition of the word nugget. Non-geologists view a nugget as a piece of visible gold of nearly any size. They generally do not have the background to differentiate between a naturally occurring crystalline gold in quartz specimen versus the erosional product of the same rock. A true nugget is just that- the erosional product of crystalline or massive gold as it occurred naturally in the original vein or lode. It is a stream or river cobble, and found in the erosional environment of rivers and streams, along with other erosional detritus that mother nature has made into rounded pebbles, boulders and sand. Historically, this differentiation was not always known, thus it can be difficult to interpret a nineteenth century author’s description of a 500 ounce “nugget”, when in fact it is a piece of gold in quartz mined from a lode deposit, and thus was not a true “nugget”. Hanks Publishes List of Huge Nuggets Henry G. Hanks published a paper on California gold nuggets in the Second Report of the State Mineralogist in 1882. Hanks was an accomplished assayer, first working in the mines at Inyo in the early 1860’s until he and his company were all run out by the Indians. With gold nuggets fascinating the world populace, he later took it upon himself to write a paper on the subject. It was the first of its kind, followed by another important, detailed article by eminent mining geologist William Phipps Blake in 1885. The timing of the articles was important because they followed the most important paper ever published on the California placer gold deposits, written by Josiah Dwight Whitney and William Pettee in 1880, The Auriferous Gravels of the Sierra Nevada of California. Hanks published a list of 83 of the largest or most famous of the world’s gold “nuggets” of 100 troy ounce size or larger. The first 26 “nuggets” on his list, all over 140 troy ounces, were found in Australia. The first important California nugget was found by a soldier in Stevenson’s regiment of New York Volunteers in 1848 along the Mokelumne River weighing 20-25 pounds. It was taken to San Francisco, given to Colonel Mason for safekeeping, then sent by General Beale to New York where “it fanned the smoldering flame” of the California Gold Rush. This set the stage for future public exhibitions of large nuggets, ingots and rich ore specimens to dive interest in western mines. On the Hanks list, it can be difficult to ascertain which specimens are indeed real placer nuggets versus the large masses of gold in quartz. As an example, the famous Fricot “nugget” is on Hanks’ list, and it is clearly not placer gold. Today, it is also the only remaining specimen from this famous list, now housed in the California State Collection in Mariposa. A few of Hanks’ other entries are notable: • A fifty pound gold quartz nugget was found near Columbia, Calaveras County, Cal. After it was broken up, it yielded an ingot of 396 troy ounces. • In 1851 in French Ravine in Sierra County, a nugget weighing 426 ounces was found. • A nugget found not far from this one in 1855 weighed 186 ounces. • At Gold Hill, near Columbia, a flattened and smooth worn nugget of 360 ounces was found by Mr. Virgin. • “A miner known to old-timers as Dan Hill…, famed as a finder of gold nuggets and as a drinker of whiskey…” found a nugget as big as his head in a creek near Nevada City. He sold it for $12,300.” Two of these two localities- French Ravine, and Columbia, appear to have produced some of the largest nuggets in California’s history, and Hanks cited many more examples. California Gold-bearing (Auriferous) Tertiary Gravels Virtually all of the known large nuggets, as well as the huge rich pockets of placer gold from California are suspected to have come from the Tertiary channels. These were the first of the ancient channels to cut or erode the new surfaces that were exposed after the mountain building geologic events, known as orogenies, with associated global warming in late Miocene (23.8 to 5.3 million years ago) to early Pliocene (5.3 to 1.8 million years ago), about 5 to 6 million years ago. After the emplacement of the early gravel units, a series of volcanic flows covered large portions of the California foothill belt, which covered parts of the early gravel deposits. This period was followed by a period of global cooling, marked by the development of massive grasslands and large mammals in the lowlands, accompanied with glaciation (ice ages) in some of the higher areas. The discovery of the large nuggets in conjunction with the huge amounts of gold coming from geologic-select areas led to unprecedented work on the California gold deposits. Whitney Report Breaks Barriers on Understanding the Source of Nuggets California had hired prominent mining geologist Josiah Dwight Whitney in 1860 as State Geologist to write a number of papers on California geology and other natural science topics, inclusive of the ancient river channels that produced so much gold, of which little was known. His work led to the publication of a professional paper on the elevated fossil (Tertiary) gravel deposits of California that harbored the famous “blue lead” and were so monumentally rich in gold, especially the giant nuggets. These massive Tertiary gravel beds were part of an ancient river system that flowed into the “gulf”, which later became the Sacramento Valley. Whitney’s plans to publish were thwarted when the California legislature informally disbanded the California Geologic Survey in 1868, then formalized it in 1874. Whitney’s paper on Tertiary Gravels was later published by Harvard in 1880. But this important, epic paper never discussed the nuggets themselves. Whitney’s work was the first of its kind and was, and still is a thorough examination of completely different geologic terrain not seen before elsewhere in the world. The report is monumental and has stood the test of time. Today, much of what he wrote about has been mined out completely, and it is thus the best surviving record of “what was, and is no more.” The term “blue lead” was originally derived from the physical appearance of the basal most, gold-rich portion of the Tertiary gravel conglomerates of the Sierra Nevada foothill belt. Whitney, in 1880 stated: “It is supposed that the blue lead was once the bed of a large river, about fifty miles eastward of the present position of Sacramento River and parallel with its course.” This term then gradually morphed into a slang description of the basal conglomerate unit of the first of the Tertiary channels wherever it occurred in the California foothill belt. This unit was always rich in gold. While California produced an unprecedented amount of gold the world had never seen before, it also brought in millions in capital for exploration and in the general business infrastructure of the mining business. Indeed, mining was responsible for arguably 90% of the state’s economy, and also responsible for a huge proportion of the nation’s economy because it added $50 million a year for ten consecutive years of new money (gold) to the American economy during the 1850’s alone. But the California legislature was oblivious to the capital coming in, because it wasn’t getting a big enough piece of the action, so it cancelled Whitney’s efforts to inform the public about its geology and mineral resources – a move that sounds familiar today. The state government literally cut off the key information necessary for future capital investment into mining – its key economic resource, and in so doing cut its own throat. But all was not lost. By 1880, they realized their mistake and began the office of the California State Mineralogist, who carried out the very same duties, though not to the extent of the technical papers of the California Geologic Survey. Whitney spent several years mapping the gravel deposits of California, starting at the southern end and working his way north. He was unable to complete the job by the time the State legislature began dismantling the department in 1868. It was a massive job, he said, because there was little or no topographic information that could be used for accurate base maps for their geologic mapping of the tertiary channels. Most of what was out there was incorrect. He was able to utilize a portion of the topographic data produced by and for the Central Pacific Railroad, which cost the railroad more than the entire two year monetary allotment by the State Legislature for the entire geologic division. Uncompleted by the time of dissolution, Whitney chose instead to complete the work at his own expense, and to do so in a timely manner, he hired geologist W. H. Pettee to complete the northern gravel explorations, which are published as an appendix to Whitney’s main work. Pettee discussed the elevated channels near Nevada City and Washington in good detail, noting that mining had stopped “years ago”, and the area lay deserted. The condition of affairs at the time of my visit was one of extreme quiet… The gravel deposit at Alpha is nearly exhausted and very little work has been done there for several years. I have not been able to find any allusion to the place in either of Browne’s or Raymond’s reports, which cover the years 1866 to 1875. In early days, as I have been told, Alpha was one of the most lively camps in the mountains, with two six horse stages daily from Nevada City. When I was there I found but two men” … “The original gravel at Alpha covered an area of, as nearly as I could estimate, seventy five acres, about four fifths of which has been removed. That which is left is either upon the borders of the deposit, or on its southern side, towards the main ridge. He noted that the bedrock had a gradual fall, with no specific crevice or deepened channel to mark the central part of the channel. There is no blue gravel to be seen, the lowest layers having a decidedly reddish color… the top gold is very fine; but nuggets of considerable size have been found on the bedrock. The largest gravel mines of the region were the Malakoff, North Bloomfield, Omega and Alpha. Pettee estimated the Omega at 300 acres. He wrote that “the bedrock has been uncovered over about one third of that area.” The Omega was cut by four different modern drainages. The lower stratum is decidedly blue in color when freshly exposed, but it changes very rapidly to a yellowish or reddish tint under the action of the atmosphere.”… “The bedrock is nearly flat in the transverse direction, showing no signs of a deep central channel or trough. From the lower or southwestern extremity there is an uninterrupted outlet for the channel, across Scotchman’s Creek, to Alpha. Whitney and Pettee’s hypotheses regarding the origin and modes of deposition of the California Tertiary gravels was tested and further developed, refined and redefined. It was a major breakthrough in the science of geology, especially economic geology, though the term had not yet been invented. Their work was of such high quality that it remains the standard reference work on California auriferous Tertiary gravels today. Other Reports of Gold Nuggets W. H. Pettee’s report contained in Whitney’s epic The Auriferous Gravels of the Sierra Nevada, California, 1880, stated that the gold in the old elevated channels was generally fine. Waldemar Lindgren in his various short papers within the USGS Folio series covering the foothill belt in the 1890’s as well as in his important summary report the Tertiary Gravels of the Sierra Nevada of California , discusses others yet, and the tendency for the large nuggets to be from Tuolumne and Sierra Counties. Thomas Hurley published a book on The Famous Gold Nuggets of the World in 1900. He reported that Sailor Diggins, near Downieville and Nevada City, produced a number of nuggets weighing about 100 ounces and up. Overwhelmingly, however, the historical reports mention the nuggets being melted into ingot form and sold. In only one case, the famous Fricot nugget, which is crystalline gold, can any record of its continued existence be found. As an example, Hurley cited one of the largest recent nugget discoveries: “The biggest nugget found in California in the last thirty years was picked up in Sierra County. It was melted less than twelve years ago by a New York goldsmith, after it had been used far and wide for exhibition purposes.” In another example, in El Dorado County, “in 1850 a 121 ounce chunk of gold was dug out with a common spade from the bank of the American River, near Lawson’s Bar. It brought $19,400” (when melted and sold.) Lindgren reported in 1911 that the usual size of the gold grains in the larger channels in the Sierra Nevada were fine to medium fine, about the “size of wheat kernels.” The data given by Hanks and Blake regarding the occurrence of nuggets show that in the main channels large masses of gold are on the whole rare. Most of the masses noted are from gulches or minor streams close to the croppings of the Tertiary channels. Placer Distribution The distribution of placer gold is that it is concentrated upon the bedrock surface, the product of eons of natural winnowing or sorting, with the heavy minerals settling through less dense rocks, pebbles and sand to the floor, occupied by “bed rock”. Pay streaks develop along the bedrock, usually in the crevices, cracks, or lowest points of erosion of the original surfaces. Crevices, reported Whitney in 1880, varied in size, width, depth and length. They could be as little as “small elongated furrows” a few inches wide to “one or two feet in depth and often several feet in length” at places such as Todd’s Valley, to tens of feet wide and nearly 60-80 feet deep in areas such as Columbia in Sonora County. The richest were perhaps those of fifteen to twenty feet deep or deeper. In Nevada County they (Tertiary gravels) are barren in the extreme eastern part, but soon after entering the metamorphic area they become greatly enriched, first by the Washington belt of quartz veins and second after crossing the long complex dike known as the Serpentine belt, reported Lindgren. The crest of the Sierra at the time of the deposition of the Tertiary channels stretched from about Quincy to Markleeville, in an almost near-straight line, from northwest to southeast. Drainage was west, into a main channel, and from there into the “gulf”, as Lindgren and others called it, now occupied by the Sacramento Valley. He further stated: The largest and richest masses of Tertiary gravel known in the Sierra Nevada are found in (the Colfax) quadrangle and derived their contents from a great number of gold-quartz veins. … It is impossible to obtain exact data regarding the total amount of gold produced in this quadrangle. That part of Nevada County which is contained in it has certainly produced $60 million.” … “On the south fork of the Yuba several important gravel bodies are found. These included the Alpha and Omega, among other locations, though these were two of the largest elevated ancient Tertiary gravel deposits. Two of the largest camps that were directly associated with the Omega-Malakoff Channel were the Alpha and Omega, though there were at least a dozen more mining camps located at various points along the channel. These are, in order from east to west, Diamond Creek, Omega, Alpha, Gold Hill, Jefferson Hill, Cotton Hill, Relief Hill, North Bloomfield and Malakoff. Lindgren cited the Alpha as having has 5 million cubic yards removed, with “75 acres remaining … with banks of 90 feet high”, which might indicate that the deposit was only half mined. The reported overall grade was 13.5 cents per cubic yard, or $8.82/cubic yard in today’s figures with gold at $1350/ounce. A grade this low is only attackable by the lowest cost mining methods, such as hydraulicking, which is exactly what happened. The pay streak, of course, was much richer. This resulted in a mining operation nearly immediately, as reported by Mac Boyle in 1918. The Omega had 12 million cubic yards mined, with a reported 40 million “still available”. This was also attacked immediately by the post-1900 mining boom sprouted by the great deposits discovered at Goldfield and Tonopah Nevada, which yielded millions of ounces of gold and silver within a decade. Miners flocked to the old Tertiary channels and mined whatever they could. Pettee reported on another ancient channel that extended about a quarter mile up Scotchman’s Creek, one of the modern drainages transecting the ancient channel. A tunnel had been drive into it, which is “now buried seventy feet beneath tailings” it seems almost beyond question that this deposit came from the washing away by natural causes of a portion of the old channel between the Alpha and Omega, and it is probable that it has been caught where it is in consequence of a change in the courses of the ravines, for there is some evidence that there was formerly a different outlet, a little down the Yuba… or Scotchman’s creek… The high spur of gravel on the east of the creek indicates that there was once a large body of gravel at this point. The ground is worked by a company, whose claim also covers the deep mass of tailings in the creek, which have come from the alpha and Omega mines. Hydraulic mining can never be carried on here on a large scale, on account of lack of space for a dump. Other Nearby Tertiary Channels Whitney and Pettee’s work showed several significant early Tertiary channels. These include the Scotts Flat-You Bet Channel and the Excelsior-Dutch Flat Channel. The Washington Nugget The recently discovered large nugget came from an unmined portion of the Omega-Malakoff Tertiary Channel. It is one of the primary and early channels of the Tertiary period, containing portions of the famous “blue lead” so well known through history for its production of tremendously rich pockets of gold nuggets. The nearest town today is Washington, not far from Nevada City. The nugget was discovered while prospecting on private property when a metal detector was used over what was thought to be a relatively shallow or thin gravel unit consisting of old mined tailings from the old hydraulic mines that cleaned out the Tertiary channels. Unknown to all, the shallow ten foot thick gravel unit was sitting on top of a virgin segment of the well cemented basal unit (blue lead) of the Omega-Malakoff Tertiary Channel, probably covered by hydraulic tails before it was ever discovered, seen, or observed by 1850’s miners. The natural erosion of the tailings over the past 150 years removed most of the tailings cover, and exposed some bedrock nearby, indicating a potential “target” to modern day prospectors. This remarkable discovery produced three huge nuggets, of which this near-100 ounce nugget is the largest, within just a small space. They were firmly cemented in the basal conglomerate, or “blue lead” portion of the gravel in what must have been a small crevice or chute, resulting in their deposition in one confined space. The original conglomerate is still adhered to the nugget, a formal record of its unique provenance and proof beyond all other factors that it is indeed a product of the “blue lead”, and more particularly from this specific portion of the blue lead. The very physical character of the conglomerate is specifically consistent with Pettee’s descriptions of the basal conglomerate in the Omega-Malakoff channel. The source of the Washington Nugget is such that I leaned strongly toward technical papers for detailed research. The fact that the great Tertiary channels are the source, leads to these publications. A search of normal historical publications located next to nothing. In example, Lardner & Brock’s History of Placer and Nevada Counties , discusses nothing of the channels themselves, and only a little on the associated towns and mining camps that sprung up around the specific channel that sourced the nugget. Literature Review and Study. Whitney thoroughly reviewed the literature on the gold rush region in The Auriferous Gravels of the Sierra Nevada, which will not be rewritten here. A few pre-Whitney (1880) publications bear mentioning: J. Ross Browne, in his epic Mines and Mineral Resources West of the Rocky Mountains (1868) stated what may have been the initial report later used by all subsequent authors regarding the area later known as the Omega-Malakoff Channel: The rich hydraulic diggings at Gold Hill, Alpha, and Omega and other places, now mostly worked out, are on this range.” He was referring to a previous statement: “The evidence is conclusive that the channel extends a considerable distance up the mountains, perhaps 20 or 25 miles, and there is no reason to doubt that every thousand feet of its length holds its million of treasure.” “Besides this, large quantities of gold are found in the smaller channels that were probably once tributaries of the main streams, as well as in the alluvium… J. D. Whitney wrote The Metallic Wealth of the United States (1854), six years before he was named California State Geologist and 25 years before his auriferous gravels paper. His early work failed to discuss the California Gold Rush adequately in detail, probably because he had not yet been there, and instead had to rely on the reports of geologists W. P. Blake, P. Tyson, and T. B. King. His opening statement underlies the importance of the gold rush: we come now to speak of a country whose golden wealth surpasses anything yet known to have been discovered, and which, in its influence on the market of the world, is to be ranked among the great events of modern times. He discussed the new method of mining, called hydraulic mining “the most extensive operations thus far undertaken in California, belong rather to the department of hydraulic engineering than that of mining.” Browne, and others, consider the method to have been developed in Nevada County where the massive dry ancient channels lie far above the active river systems. Whitney was so enthralled by the richness of the California discoveries, that he became the chief geologist for the California Geologic Survey and later wrote the premier paper on the Tertiary Gravels of California, published in 1880. The American Mining Magazine, edited by William J. Tenney (1850’s) was the first technical mining Journal in America. It tried steadfastly to report on California production, though it was exceptionally difficult to report from a region that was essentially inaccessible to a reporting mining engineer, unless he wrote specific letters to the editors. Activity was so heavy by engineers and geologists in the gold region, that direct reporting rarely occurred. In general, reports from California were taken from local newspapers that made their way to New York, where the magazine was published, or from written observations of field geologists. The American Mining Magazine was perhaps the first to note a major change in mining in California. In the early 1848-50 period, mining operations were carried out by generally inexperienced miners with impunity. As the years crept along, the distinct need for science and technology to find and process more and different kinds of ores from different deposits, inclusive of the invention of hydraulic mining became apparent. The application of science and skill through methods suited to extract it from its combinations will yield yet a rich supply. In other words, there are some indications of an approaching change in California, from a mere gold-washing country, to a scientific, intelligent gold mining country. Observations about the early methods from technical mining men were rarely found anywhere except the technical journals. Tenney wrote in 1853 this was a rude attempt to apply the practical knowledge of the gold miners of the Atlantic States to mining under the novel state of social affairs which existed in California. To a certain extent, this particular case was a failure. The small results obtained in consequence of feeble machinery, under the high expenses which prevailed, were the principal cause. Low expenses and more powerful machinery, or sufficiently low expenses with the same machinery, would probably have made this instance a prosperous case. Many journals reported that the mines were worked out. Often these reports were made to reporters by unhappy miners, who had fallen on their luck. Moreover, the reports came from those inexperienced and unknowledgeable about mining operations in general. The Mariposa Chronicle of May 15, 1854, in facetious response to nationwide reports that the California mines were worked out, reported (through Mining Magazine) that the following, found during the last two or three months within a mile of Mariposa, will testify: one lump of 52 ounces; one of 50 ounces and $1; one of quartz and gold, which contained 147 ounces of gold; another of quartz and gold weighing 192 pounds, containing about 180 ounces; besides smaller ones of twelve ounces and less, too numerous to mention. The mines are worked out – entirely exhausted – of course they are. Edward F. Bean in Bean’s History and Directory of Nevada County, California, 1867 does not discuss the tertiary channels by name, but there were notes on the towns contained within the Omega-Malakoff Channel. He reported that the first settlements at Omega were in 1850. This writeup indicates that there were about thirty gravel claims, and about $1.5 million taken out. He mentions up to 150 feet of gravel above bedrock, with water supplied by the south Yuba Canal Company ditch, the Diamond Creek Ditch and the Omega ditch. Two fires destroyed the town, one in 1861 and another in 1863. Alpha was formed in 1852, and at its height in 1854-5, $1.25 million in gold was produced. The post-Whitney (1880) references, are however, very important, because there was a period of intense exploration and production in California in the Tertiary gravels after the publication of Whitney’s report of 1880, and another intense period of exploration and production after Lindgren’s various reports of the 1890’s, followed by his important summary work published in 1911. Each of his works were far more accessible to the general public than were Whitney’s which were published while he was a professor at Harvard. A few other notes from early sources are added here that were not part of Whitney’s discussion. One of the most important groups of papers was published within Henry Hanks’ Second Report of the State Mineralogist, 1882. This massive tome contains at least four major separate papers on placer mining: “Placer, Hydraulic and Drift Mining” (Hanks); “Hydraulic Mining” (Hanks); “Notes on Hydraulic Mining” (F.W. Robinson); and “Hydraulic and Drift Mining” (Henry DeGroot). August Bowie’s A Practical Treatise on Hydraulic Mining in California, 1885, only discussed the holding reservoirs necessary for operation of hydraulic equipment in use to mine portions of the Omega-Malakoff Tertiary Channel. By the time William Irelan produced his massive Tenth Annual Report of the State Mineralogist (1890), the mines of the ancient channel, principally at Alpha and Omega, were long dead and forgotten. Frisk’s Nevada County Mining Review, 1895, carries just a few sentences, all under the typical category of “gravel mines” near Washington and along that portion of the Yuba River. The Mining and Scientific Press might offer something, but time disallowed a thorough search. The 1890’s produced a flurry of published papers by the newly created United States geologic Survey. Waldemar Lindgren began an important series of papers published in conjunction with early geologic maps known as the Monograph series. Each monograph covered a specific USGS published topographic quadrangle, and Lindgren provided textual discussion of the geology with each monograph. Eight different monographs were published covering the Sierra Nevada foothill belt. These papers created a stir in the mining world, and were directly responsible for increased exploration and production of auriferous Tertiary gravels in California. They were culminated by his 1911 summary paper, mentioned at length previously. Mac Boyle’s Mines and Mineral Resources of Nevada County, 1918, also only briefly mentions the production from these channels, citing, without specific reference, the work of Pettee and Lindgren, nearly word for word in places. The most recent scholarly work is Hydraulic Mining in California, A Tarnished Legacy by Powell Greenland, published in 2001. It covers much of what is found here and much more regarding hydraulic mining. Hydraulic Mining “Invented” In Nevada County Mankind has always used water for the separation of gold from gravel. After all, it is the natural process in streams and rivers. Mankind’s earliest forms of gold recovery are not known and are, for now, lost to history. The earliest known manmade gold artifacts appear to come from two separate places, both approximately 2200-2600BC. These include the gold mines used by early Egyptians in Nubia, now underwater under Lake Aswan, and the Irish gold mines, as evidenced today by the existence of several magnificent gold collars, of which little to nothing is known of their specific origin, though there are known ancient historical gold mining sites. The first publication discussing hydraulic mining in a technical manner is by J. Ross Browne published in 1868. This important publication shows that the process of hydraulic mining was invented for specific use in a Tertiary channel immediately adjacent to the Omega-Malakoff channel that produced the Washington Nugget, further underscoring the importance of this wonderful nugget. Browne researched the process and interviewed a number of people and reviewed written works. His original account is so good, a portion of it is worthy of reproduction here: The hydraulic system came into use in Nevada County in 1853, and enabled miners to work with profit a vast amount of auriferous ground that would never have paid by the old process of sluicing. About April, 1852, A. Chabot, mining near Nevada City, used a hose of some thirty five or forty feet in length, through which the water was conducted from the top of the bank to the bottom of his diggings. There was no pipe or nozzle at the end, but still it was found to be a giant saving in sluicing off the earth and gravel that had been picked down, and also a convenience in cleaning up the bedrock. So far as known, the hose was not used that season on any other claims, and it does not appear that Chabot discovered the great advantage that would result by directing the stream of water against the bank. This discovery was made by E.E. Matterson a year later. In April, 1853 Matterson and his partners, who were working a claim on American hill, rigged up a hose, attached a nozzle at the end, and directing it against the bank, , as water is thrown upon a building by a fire engine, and found that a small stream of water would do the work of a hundred men in excavating earth. Very soon after, this the hydraulic was adopted by the miners throughout the country wherever water and a sufficient fall could be procured. Successive improvements have been made in hydraulic mining, until the appliances now in use but little resemble those of 1853; but the principle is the same, and to Matterson is due the credit of the important discovery. This discovery led to the construction of ditches all over the country to carry water to the elevated Tertiary gravel deposits and enabled their mining. Ditch companies were formed in large numbers, stock floated, and mines charged by the miners inch for the water. Conclusion The Washington Nugget may be the sole remaining authenticated large gold nugget of 100 troy ounce caliber from the California gold region. It came from one of the best producing Tertiary channels and from the very area where hydraulic mining was invented. The story surrounding the nugget is important, and underlies the importance of not melting any more of the great nuggets. This nugget is thus one of the great gold specimens in California, and has a place in history along with the famous Fricot “Nugget”, the most famous of the surviving old crystalline gold specimens mined during the gold rush period.
Thumbnail 2575 Washington,CA - Nevada County - Washington Gold Nugget ~ Medium : Start Price: 8,000.00High Bid: 17,000.00Estimate: 16,000.00 - 20,000.00 This fabulous bean shaped specimen was found in the Nevada City and Grass valley area and is a typical example of a nugget that 49'ers would have found during the great California Gold Rush. 10.16 troy ounces. Measures approx 92mm x 34mm at widest points.
Thumbnail 2576 Washington,CA - Nevada County - Washington Gold Nugget ~ Small : Start Price: 3,250.00High Bid: 7,700.00Estimate: 6,500.00 - 8,000.00 Another great example of a typical nugget that 49'ers would have found during the great California Gold Rush. 4.06 Troy ounces. Measures 62mm x 24mm at widest points.
Thumbnail 2577 Yuba City,CA - c 1850 - Sierra Quartz Mining Co. Stock : Start Price: 150.00High Bid: 100.00Estimate: 300.00 - 500.00 Six of these are known all of which were unissued. This one is c. 1850's. Possibly for the Pennsylvania or Jefferson ground. During 1863-1867, the total produced for the area was $409k. Total for the area was $539k. This early document is prior to the 1863-7 totals available. Likely from Brown's Valley District organized in July, 1853. Principal towns in the area included Brown Valley (quartz), Timbuctoo (channel), Smartsville (channel), Sucker Flat (channel), Camptonville (channel), Brownsville (channel), Hansonville (quartz). Small engraved vignette of eagle with ribbons. Additional vignette of with ornaments surrounding "Capital Stock, $300,000. X-Rare. Fine. 10" x 4".
Thumbnail 2578 CO - Byers, C. H. Receipt : Start Price: 100.00Estimate: 200.00 - 400.00 An unusual handwritten receipt in script: "George Stroh Treasury of the Mountain Company the assessment No 13 of Geo A. Snyder 12 shares $120 one hundred and twenty dollars cash the sam to my account." Signed by C.H. Byers. It measures about 4" x 3". At the top right is a tear about 1 1/2" long. It seems as if someone had perhaps tried to "repair" it with a strip of scotch tape. This document may possibly be from the Colorado Territory. The location and date of this document is unknown. There is no information available at this time about Byers, Stroh, or Snyder.
Thumbnail 2579 Canon City,CO - Fremont County - c1875 - Colorado State Penitentiary Stereoview : Start Price: 150.00Estimate: 300.00 - 600.00 Images of Colorado State Penitentiary, with part of the town of Canon City, Colorado, in the background. Measures 7" x 4", mounted on beige cardstock. Contrast is medium, while focus is good. The images is very fine, with minimal blemishes noticeable. The matte is also VF, with even the corners intact. On the reverse is an attached paper: "Gurnsey's Rocky Mountain Views, Published at Colorado Springs, Colorado. Scenes on the line of the Denver & Rio Grande Railway," while "22, Canon City" have been added in pen. Included is a paragraph describing the establishment of the penitentiary in 1868. The drive to locate it in Canon City was from Thomas Macon, a local attorney and member of the Territorial Legislature who was fairly new to the area at that time [Ref: colorado.gov/dpa/doit/archives/pen]. While "Gurnsey's Rocky Mountain Views" is not mentioned in Mautz, Byron "Ben" H. Gurnsey was active in Pueblo (1872-75, with Eugene Brandt (1875), and in Colorado Springs (1872-80) [Mautz, 1977, p. 169].
Thumbnail 2580 Central City,CO - Clear Creek, Gilpin County - c1875 - Bird’s Eye View Stereoview : Start Price: 200.00High Bid: 550.00Estimate: 400.00 - 800.00 Each side measures 3 ¼’’ x 3 ¼" and 6 ¾x 3 ¼ ". Medium contrast and focus is sharp. A fingerprint smudge can be seen on the top center of the stereoview. Watermark can be seen on the upper left corner. Bottom right corner is slightly worn. Bottom edge of is also worn slightly. Description on the back “No.111 Beauties of the Rocky Mountains For the Stereoscope. Central City. C. Duhem & Bro., Denver, Colorado. Shows the town of Central City from above several wood and brick buildings and a lovely white church can be seen in the forefront with a view of the mines in the distance. Central City grew out of the Pikes Peak Gold Rush of the 1850s. The population grew to the thousands by the turn of the 20th century, but profits diminished by the 1920s. The Duhem brothers were active in Denver from 1869 to 1872. And owned a studio at 448 Larimer from 1872-1879. They produced a great number of stereoviews of Colorado scenes. The studio ended in bankruptcy in 1874 [Mautz, 1997].
Thumbnail 2581 Cripple Creek,CO - Teller County - c1900 - Colorado Photographs : Start Price: 350.00Estimate: 700.00 - 1,000.00 Group of 22 photographs mounted on three pages of crème three ring binder backing paper for a photo album. The pages measure 11 1/2” by 9 ¾.” All the pages have four photos back and front except one. It has two 7 ½” by 4 ½” photos instead. Some have captions, others do not. One photograph is of Altman Colorado, taken on November 20, 1897. Viewers can see Pike’s Peak in the distance. Another photograph is of the “San-Gre-De- Christo Range” taken from Cripple Creek Colorado. This photo was taken by Webster and Yelton Photo. Both photographers are listed in Carl Mautz’s photographer reference book but are listed as working separately. The photo notes the address of the studio as Carr and 3rd in Cripple Creek. Both photographers were active in the area between 1899 and 1900. All the photos are in good condition with clear focus and sharp contrast. There are pictures of towns, main streets, mining, lumbering, buildings, landscapes, and railroads. There are two photos of groups of people posed in front of trains. Their clothing represents turn of the 20th century era. Women have on shirtwaists, and long skirts, with straw hats (for the most part) donning ribbons and flowers. The men have on bowler hats or woolen caps and all have on three piece suits with either long ties or bow ties, which was more the fashion of the era.
Thumbnail 2582 Denver,CO - Denver Cosolidated City and County - November 14, 1860 - Clark, Gruber & Co Letter Denve Start Price: 1,000.00Estimate: 2,000.00 - 3,000.00 Note to Waddell (Prior to Russell/Clark, Gruber & Co.) Russell, Majors and Waddell were the proprietors of the famous Pony Express. William H. Russell, one of the three was the principal owner of the 1860 Denver banking firm of Turner and Hobbs, considered “The first real banking organization in Denver.” The firm of Clark & Gruber opened July 20, 1860, after obtaining coin presses and dies in Boston. That year they issued $10 and $20 gold coins. This is a note for $100 payable to William B. Waddell (of the Pony Express Firm, Russell, Majors & Waddell) by John R. Martin. John Martin worked for the pioneer apothecary, W. Graham, and was listed in the 1866 Directory. Graham had the first drug store in Denver, and apparently Martin went to work for him in 1860 upon his arrival in Denver. Martin is not listed in the 1859 Denver Directory. There is an endorsement on the reverse by Waddell. Whether Waddell was involved as a silent investor with William H. Russell in the Turner & Hobbs bank is unknown. Regardless, this note may have been paid in gold coin struck by Clark, Gruber & Co. This is certainly one of the earliest known Denver banking documents in private hands, and has everything going for it: It is signed by an original owner of the Pony Express, and it was issued in Denver at the beginning of the Colorado Gold Rush. Generally Very Fine.
Thumbnail 2583 Denver/Leavenworth,CO - Feby 12, 1861 - Clark, Gruber & Co. Document : Start Price: 2,500.00High Bid: 3,000.00Estimate: 5,000.00 - 7,000.00 This document was issued from Clark Gruber's Leavenworth Bank. They held a note issued by R. Bradford & Co. for which they were unable to collect funds. This document is a protest note in an attempt to collect a debt and was officially recorded at the courthouse. It is one of the few printed documents from Clark Gruber & Co. during their initial coining period, and should make little difference to the collector whether issued at Leavenworth, KS or Denver. The firm of Clark & Gruber opened July 20, 1860, after obtaining coin presses and dies in Boston. That year they issued $10 and $20 gold coins.
Thumbnail 2584 Eagle County (?),CO - July 14, 1895 - Colorado and Illinois Milling and Mining Company Stock Certifi Start Price: 150.00Estimate: 300.00 - 500.00 Incorporated in Illinois in 1892. Cert. #282, issued to Wm. Dammeron in 1895 for 100 shares. Signed by William Boldenwick as president and Wm. Greiner, Jr., secretary. Vignette of 7 miners working underground with picks. Rust-colored border and underprint, gilt seal. Uncancelled. Printer not noted. Meas. 8. x 10.5." Datelined Chicago, Illinois. Property may be located in Eagle County.
Thumbnail 2585 Fort Saint Vrain,CO - c1860-1861 - St. Vrain Early Denver Bill of Lading : Start Price: 250.00High Bid: 250.00Estimate: 500.00 - 1,000.00 Handwritten and issued to Sir Charles Autibie July 1860 to June 1861 for various goods: saddles, bridles, powder horn, powder, hoes, mill saw files, half round files totaling $405.40. St. Vrain was built twenty miles east of the Rockies as a fur trading post in what would later become the state of Colorado, just north of Fort Vasquez. The fort was named after Ceran St. Vrain, its notable builder. The fort was built at the convergences of the Platte River and Saint Vrain Creek. Ceran Saint Vrain had gone back east by the time of this bill of lading but the fort, along with the previously built Old Bent's Fort and Fort Vasquez continued trading operations. The forts were noted to have been situated in a central location for trading with Native Americans, trappers, mountain men, the robe trade of the plains as well as overland wagon train traffic out of Santa Fe [Ref: Hafen, vol I., 75]. At the time, Bent, St. Vrain & Co. issued a complaint to the Supt. Of Indian Affairs stating that "renegade Americans" had also set up shop in the area and kept large stock of Mexican whiskey "for the purpose of trading with the Indians of the country" [REF: Hafen, 77]. 6.25" x 7". Fine.
Thumbnail 2586 Leadville,CO - Lake County - c1885 - Birds-Eye View & Mill and Mine Stereoviews : Start Price: 150.00High Bid: 150.00Estimate: 300.00 - 500.00 Lot of two stereoviews. First is a photograph of a mill and mine in Leadville, Co. Each half measures 3" X 3" on a cream matte, measuring 3 1/2" X 7". The matte has light wear on the bottom left corner. Contrast is medium, while the focus is only good. On the bottom right is "2876" Leadville, Col. On the reverse is "Photographed and published by Kilburn Brothers, - - Littleton, N.H. Benjamin and Edward Kilburn were famous for producing and distributing thousands of stereoviews between 1867 and 1909 [Mautz, 1997]. This view is circa 1885. The second is a birds-eye view of Leadview, Co. Each half measures 3 3/4" X 3" on a cream matte measuring 4" X 7". The matte has a fold crease in the middle from being bent in the past. Contrast is medium, while focus is good. On the bottom is " Elevation 10,300 feet - No. 186. Leadville from California Gulch". On the left side is "Colorado Views," On the right side is "J. Thurlow Photo. Manitou, Col." James Thurlow was born in England in 1831. He died in Manitou in 1878. He arrived in America, circa 1874. Came to Manitou in 1878 and opened a portrait and landscape studio, also producing stereoviews. After his death, his negatives were bought by Weitfle, and his studio was sold to Mrs. Galbraith [Mautz, 1997].
Thumbnail 2588 Manitou Springs,CO - El Paso County - c1880 - Manitou Springs Rare Town Shot Steroview : Start Price: 150.00Estimate: 300.00 - 500.00 Rare Stereoview, each side measures 3 ¾’’x 3 ¼’’ and 6 ¾’’x 4’’ on tan matte. Medium contrast and focus is sharp. Very little wear, very small black spots on the lower left corner. Also small white marks throughout the stereoview. The matte has very small wear on the bottom right edge. Photographer and publisher unknown. On the front there is a number and title “No. 426. Manitou From the North.” The stereoview looks down upon the town, showing several homes and buildings. Many appear to be two stories. Located 65 miles south of Denver, Manitou Springs was a town formed around the Pikes Peak Gold Rush of the 1850s. But the town soon found fame for a different reason. By the 1880s and 90s visitors came to the area is search of a cure for tuberculosis from Manitou’s surrounding springs. The springs also attached several Presidents and celebrities like P. T. Barnum and Thomas Edison [Ref: manitousprings.org/history.aspx].
Thumbnail 2589 Deadmans Gulch,Dakota - c1876 - Deadmans Gulch Gold Panning Photograph *Territorial* : Start Price: 150.00High Bid: 375.00Estimate: 300.00 - 600.00 A view of three miners, one a young man, panning for gold. Image measures 9" x 7 1/2", mounted on white linen matte measuring 12" x 9". Contrast is medium to high, while focus is good. The faces of the two miners facing the camera can be seen clearly. The image is pulling away from the matte, with several 1/2" tears in the image noted, one repaired by tape on the face. The matte has several areas of discoloration along the edges, otherwise very fine. The image shows two miners panning for gold, while a third, younger miner stands above the river on a sluice box, holding a shovel. Printed at the bottom right corner: "Miners Panning Out Gold At Deadmans Gulch, Black Hills, Dakota." Just below appears to be the name Coules, possibly a partner to McBride, who produced stereoviews in Deadwood, Dakota Territory [Ref: Mautz, 1997]. While homesteading, settling, and railroad construction were all underway in eastern South Dakota in 1857, the Black Hills area was still part of Indian Country. The area was initially mapped by military reconnaissance in 1856, but Lt. Col. George A. Custer began a rush to the Black Hills when gold was discovered during his 1874 expedition. Over the next 15 years the Hills were “civilized” by settlements, railroads, industry and agriculture, leaving the native peoples of Dakota relegated to “reservations” [Ref: blackhillsbadlands.com].
Thumbnail 2590 Sioux Falls,Dakota South - Minnehaha County - 1883 - Corner Stone Laying for Masonic Temple Stereovi Start Price: 150.00Estimate: 300.00 - 600.00 Stereoview measures 7’’x 4’’. Medium contrast and focus is sharp to medium. There are watermarks and a few spots from wear on the top half. Edges of the matte have slight wear. Back of the matte has a description of the event.“ Laying of the Corner Stone---Masonic Temple. Sioux Falls, Dakota, August 8, 1883. No. 2 Down Phillips Avenue to the Temple, the procession formed—open ranks officers of the Grand Lodge passing through the temple. AA Round, Photo Artist.” The stereoveiw shows a large group of people gathered on a street. A band is playing and several Freemasons a dressed in traditional outfits.
Thumbnail 2591 Washington D.C.,DC - District of Colombia - 1861-1863 - Adams & Co. Bills of Lading : Start Price: 100.00Estimate: 200.00 - 300.00 Three Bills of Lading from Adams & Co for the values of $45, $50, and an undisclosed amount. There are two printed on blue paper by W.M. Innes. The other is yellow and printed by Nesbitt & Co in New York. The two bills on blue paper are dated August 24, 1863 and have a vignette on the left side of industrious mining operation. The yellow bill is from Boston, dated December 3, 1861 and has no vignettes and 3 fold creases. All reverse sides are blank. Good Condition.
Thumbnail 2592 GA - March 31, 1870 - Southern Express Bills of Lading : Start Price: 50.00Estimate: 100.00 - 300.00 Lot of three. 1) Issued to A.J. McGaughey for $124. Signed H.L. Spencer, company agent. Red on white. Serifed titling. 2)Issued Aug. 2, 1880 for $15 to J.A. Braun. Signed Lovett. Red on crème. San serifed titling. 3) Issued Jan. 8, 1870 to A.J. McGaughey for 1 package valued at $61.50. Signed H.L. Spencer. Black on white. Gothic style titling. Southern Express main office was in Augusta, GA but they had offices throughout the south during this time. Fine.
Thumbnail 2593 Delamar,ID - Owyhee County - c1895 - DeLamar Photograph : Start Price: 150.00Estimate: 300.00 - 600.00 Photograph of a mining community nestled along the banks of a river. The image measures 8 1/2" x 6 1/2", mounted on dark olive cardstock measuring 12" x 10". Contrast is medium, with yellowing throughout image, while the focus is good. A few small spots are visible on the image, otherwise very fine. The matte is also in good condition, with some wear noted on both the left upper and lower corners. "R.G.M. Co." written in pen with arrow pointing toward hill in background. "Hedum, Silver City, Idaho," imprinted on lower right corner. Charles C. Hedum was born in Norway in 1875 and arrived in the U.S. In 1888. Partner in Hedum & Bishop, c1895-98 in Delamar and Silver City [Ref: Mautz, 1997, 205]. Just to the left of the center of the photograph appears to be the mill building for the DeLamar Mine on Jordan Creek. The barren hills demonstrated how much timber from the area was harvested both for fuel in the mill and for support underground [Ref: idahohistory.cdmhost.com]. De Lamar (also DeLamar) is a ghost town in Owyhee County, Idaho, United States. Its elevation is 5,463 feet (1,665 m), and it is approximately six miles west of Silver City. Formed around the De Lamar Mine, established in 1888. Named for mining magnate and former sea captain Joseph Raphael De Lamar, the mine and community quickly boomed and busted, declining after 1890. Despite the community's decline, it continued to exist as a populated community for several decades; it was the location of a summer-only post office from 1917 to 1930 [Ref: ghosttowns.com].
Thumbnail 2594 Dewey,ID - Owyhee County - c1880 - Dewey Photograph : Start Price: 150.00Estimate: 300.00 - 600.00 Photograph overlooking the valley containing Dewey. Measures 8 1/2" x 6 1/2", mounted on dark olive cardstock measuring 12" x 10". Contrast is medium to good, with area of yellowing and fading in the upper part of the image. The focus is good. A few small smudges and one small indentation noted in the upper right, otherwise very fine. The matte is in good condition. Wear marks on bottom right and upper left corner, the bottom left corner missing, and several worn areas are also noted on matte. "Hedum, Silver City, Idaho," imprinted on lower right corner. "Dewey, Idaho" is handwritten in pencil on the reverse. Cannot be verified. Charles C. Hedum was a partner in Hedum & Bishop, c1895-98 in Delamar and Silver City [Ref: Mautz, 1997, p. 205]. Dewey is located in Owyhee County. Dewey was originally named Booneville, but was named for Colonel Dewey after he bought the mine in 1896, rebuilt the town, and constructed a three story hotel. The opening of a new post office, the presence of a twenty stamp mill, and the possibility of being the terminus for Boise, Nampa and Owyhee Railroad, the town had potential. However, within several years the hotel burned down, mining declined, and Dewey faded away [Ref: ghosttowngallery.com/htme/dewey.htm].
Thumbnail 2595 Placer District,ID - Boise County - July 16, 1864 - Great Cons. Boise River GSMC Stock Certificate * Start Price: 200.00High Bid: 325.00Estimate: 400.00 - 800.00 Simple black border and print. Vignette of river through mountains. There is a man pushing an ore car on track outside tunnel at right, and a man with a horse and carriage approaching a bridge at the center. Incorporated Oct. 14, 1863. Issued to Michael Herr for 25 shares. Boise River GSMC took over the Pioneer on Granite Creek. The Pioneer was the first Quartz mine on the creek and "the poorest rock in the Pioneer assayed $62/ton." The best ore classes brought in $6,000-20,000 a ton at the time. Pioneer City, the location of the mine, began in 1862 after a group of six prospectors from Walla Walla worked their way to the area. One man (Grimes) was killed during the journey. The party returned to Walla Walla and formed a group of 52 men to prospect the area. They arrived to the then named Grimes Creek area on Oct. 10, 1862. A substantial fort and corral were built at the site. By Jan. 1, 1863, 2000-3000 people had arrived for the operations that would begin in the spring. $18/day was a common wage for workers [Bancroft, 1890, 429]. Fine. 4.5" x 10".
Thumbnail 2596 Silver City,ID - Owyhee County - c1880 - Silver City Photograph *Territorial* : Start Price: 150.00Estimate: 300.00 - 600.00 Photograph overlooking the valley containing Silver City. Measures 8 1/2" x 7", mounted on dark olive cardstock measuring 12" x 10". Contrast is medium, with some yellowing and fading in the upper third of the image. The focus is good. Quite a few small spots are visible against the mountains and skyline in the background, otherwise very fine. The matte is also in good condition, with some wear noted on all four corners. "Hotel" and "Bank are written in pen on two of the buildings, while two small arrows appear to point out a building and a road. "Hedum, Silver City, Idaho," imprinted on lower right corner. "Silver City, Idaho" is handwritten in pencil on the reverse. Cannot be verified. Charles C. Hedum was a partner in Hedum & Bishop, c1895-98 in Delamar and Silver City [Ref: Mautz, 1997, p. 205]. Silver City, located in Owyhee County, hit its peak in the 1880s. A gold and silver mining town, it had a population of around 2,500 and approximately 75 businesses. Silver City was the county seat from 1867 to 1934, at which time it was moved to Murphy. The city's distinctions include having the first telegraph service in Idaho. A line was built north from Winnemucca, Nevada, in 1874, and in 1875 the line was continued from Silver City to Boise City. Another first was the printing of a daily newspaper, The Idaho Avalanche, edited by W. J. Hill in 1874. Considered one of the best of the early papers in the West, it was also the first daily newspaper in Idaho Territory [Ref: ghosttowngallery.com/htme/silvercityid].
Thumbnail 2597 Silver City (Owyhee),ID - Owyhee County - 1868 - DuRell & Moore Documents *Territorial* : Start Price: 125.00Estimate: 250.00 - 500.00 Two notices of payment from the Office of DuRell & Moore in Silver City (Owyhee) Idaho Territory. The transactions were being completed between the First National Bank of Idaho and the Bank of California for the amounts of $1000 and $297.38 respectively. They are dated January 18, 1868 and May 13, 1868. The letter in May states that DuRell & Moore were in the process of closing their business. Both documents are addressed to Portland, Oregon, signed by DuRell & Moore and are on lined paper with company letterhead. Fine Condition.
Thumbnail 2598 IL - c1850s - Adams & Co. Express Brass Franking Stamp : Start Price: 50.00High Bid: 250.00Estimate: 100.00 - 200.00 Adams & Co. Express brass franking stamp. Made by Jas Murdock Jr., die sinker, Cincinnati. “Adams Express Company URSA 6457 ILL” with three star surround.
Thumbnail 2599 Chicago,IL - c1893 - Buffalo Bill Cody "Programme," Stereoview : Start Price: 150.00High Bid: 350.00Estimate: 300.00 - 500.00 Lot of two items: 1) "Buffalo Bill's Wild West and Congress of Rough Riders of the World Historical Sketches, & Programme." Dated Chicago, IL, 1893. Program is 64 pages, in color, fully illustrated with numerous photographs and drawings, and measures 7" x 9". Item includes a "Facsimile of Col. W.F. Cody's Commission as Brigadier-General in the National Guard (of the State of Nebraska)" and, of course, a history of Cody's life and exploits. The show programme itself has 19 "acts," including: Miss Annie Oakley "illustrating her dexterity in the use of Fire-arms, Col Cody himself shows his "Unique Feats of Sharpshooting," and "The Battle of the Little Big Horn, Showing with Historical Accuracy the scene of Custer's Last Charge." 2) Stereoview of "1392. Buffalo Bill." Measures 7" x 3 1/4", mounted on orange cardstock. The image shows Cody, on horseback, aiming a rifle downfield. He appears to be in park with brick buildings as the backdrop. The contrast is medium, while the focus is good. Several small spots can be seen in the center top of the right image. The matte shows some wear along the right and left edges, as well as in each corner. "C.W. Woodward, Rochester, N Y" is printed vertically along the left border, while "New York City And Vicinity" is printed vertically along the right. The photographer, Charles Warren Woodward, was born in 1836 in Orange MA, moved to Rochester around l862-63, and became fine art goods dealer. Between 1870-78, he ran the Rochester Picture Frame Depot, which dealt in looking glasses, chromos, Stereoscopes, and stereo views. In 1882 Woodward became director of the Union View Co., also in Rochester, producing landscape and architectural views and photographic supplies. In 1884, Henry C. Albee became a partner in "Woodward and Albee," located at 175 Front Street. The following year the firm was called the Woodward Stereoscopic Company, having been set up under the name of Woodward's wife, Charlotte [Ref: geh.org/link/BN/woodward-by-struble.html].
Thumbnail 2600 Wichita,KS - Sedgwick County - c1880 - Street Scene Stereoview : Start Price: 150.00High Bid: 150.00Estimate: 300.00 - 600.00 Each side measures 3 ¾’’x 3 ¾’’and 7’’x 4’’ on tan matte. Medium contrast and focus is good. Matte has four very small black dots on the upper right corner. Bottom left and right corners are bent slightly. A few spots appear on the upper part of the stereoview. Shows a busy street scene of early Wichita (unverified). Description on the back identifies the photographer as J. R. Riddle. Riddle owned and operated a studio in Topeka from 1872 to 1886. Also on the back, a handwritten message in 19th century handwriting “Early Wichita I think.” Several hardware and lumber store signs can be seen on the buildings. Conestoga wagons can be seen scattered on the streets. Wichita was incorporated in 1870, and the city soon boomed to a population of 24,000 in the 1880s and 90s.
Thumbnail 2601 New Orleans,LA - New Orleans Metropolitan Area - 1860 - SS Republic Lithograph : Start Price: 1,500.00Estimate: 3,000.00 - 4,000.00 Rare SS Republic Lithograph. Measures approximately 2” x 3” and is on card stock backing. This is one of the only known views of the SS Republic when it was known as the SS Tennessee. There is small caption on the bottom reading “US Gunboat Tennessee G Wiggins Commander.” The lithograph has very sharp contrast and fine clarity. The waves in the sea are detailed to near perfection, capturing nearly every ripple. Each port hole, crew member, mast, smoke stack, rescue raft and contraption is shown in fine detail. During the California Gold Rush the ship was used to transport miners to Panama and Nicaragua who would then continue their travels to the Sierra Nevada Mountains. The ship was stranded in New Orleans when the Civil War broke out, captured by the Confederacy and used as a blockade runner during the war. After the war it was used for civilian transport and renamed the USS Mobile, and later renamed the SS Republic. On October 25, 1865 it was lost to a hurricane off the coast of Georgia. Very Fine Condition.
Thumbnail 2602 MT - July 1, 1876 - Montana Territory Gold Bond *Territorial* : Start Price: 200.00Estimate: 400.00 - 600.00 Gold bond issued by the Territory of Nevada for $1000 indebted to the Kountze Brothers on July 1, 1876. The bond measures 10 ¼” x 14” and has a grey ornate border. There are two vignettes; one of a tiered subterranean mining operation on the left side and another of a steam engine in the title. Directly above lies a small paragraph detailing the laws in which the bond was issued. There are two gilded gold words on the certificate. In the center is gilded “1000” left adjacent is “original”. On the bottom right are two small oval “paid” stamps dated July 21, 1867. Attached to the bottom of the bond are small $50 interest notes numbered 1-14. Each note provided interest for a six month period. Notes 1 through 6 have been used. Signed by Governor of the Territory B.F. Potts, Auditor D. Heuthbert, and Treasurer D.H. Weston. Small round holes are punched through the Governor’s signature and the Treasurer’s. Red “received” across the middle of the obverse. Green reverse. The territory of Montana was carved out of the Idaho territory and existed from 1864, when President Abraham Lincoln created it, until 1889 until the time it was admitted to the Union as a state. Very Fine Condition.
Thumbnail 2603 MT - 1867 - Oregon Stage Company Payment Document *Territorial* : Start Price: 200.00High Bid: 200.00Estimate: 400.00 - 800.00 Lot of two. 1: Handwritten document of cash payments from March 1867 to individuals including stage agents, blacksmiths, tolls, saddler, advertising, salaries, board and feed and hostlers. Lists names of individuals at left, trade and amount at right. Sixty-five lines of names handwritten on lined ledger paper. Totals of payments listed on opposite of page. Good condition with slight edge tearing. Previously folded, creases somewhat tight. 2. 2: January, 1867. Additional names listed on two sheets (73 names total) including A.E. Mayhew from Deer Lodge County, an early lawyer who first practiced in miners' courts then in the territorial courts. Mayhew served as a representative of the House in early Montana Territory politics. Significantly, Mayhew served in the legislature that established its first state convention. Though seen as not an entirely organized system by the federal government at the time, specifically wrangling against observing laws enacted in the Montana Territory by the state legislature, statehood was debated openly and led its first governor to threaten secession of the Territory to British Columbia [Bancroft, 1890]. Certainly many names listed in this collection of cash payment by the Oregon Stage Company, including Mayhew, had their own ideas of statehood and what that would mean for the future fo the Montana Territory. Good condition, previously folded, creases tight. 8.5" x 13".
Thumbnail 2604 Alder Gulch,MT - Sept. 18, 1865 - California Mining Co. Tax Receipt *Territorial* : Start Price: 400.00Estimate: 800.00 - 1,000.00 Tax receipt No. 331 issued to company of California Mining for placer mining in Alder Gulch. Gold was discovered in the region of Alder Gulch in May 1863. The first year, $10,000,000 was taken out. The area housed 10,000 in temporary camps by late 1863. Alder Gulch included a number of connected towns linked throughout the 14 mile gulch. It was named after the alder bush that was prevalent in the area. The largest of the camps was Virginia City, which also became the capital of Montana prior to its relocation to Helena (Last Chance Gulch). This receipt for taxes on mining operations issued to the California Mining Co. in 1865 would have been during the rush to Alder Gulch. Three years after gold was found there, over $300,000,000 had been taken out of the ground. The diggings are noted to have been the richest gold placer deposits ever discovered. Fine. 3.5" x 4".
Thumbnail 2605 East Bannack,MT - East Bannack Gold and Silver Stock Certificate *Territorial* : Start Price: 200.00High Bid: 400.00Estimate: 400.00 - 800.00 Cert. No 103 issued to George W. Abbe for 800 shares. Abbe also signed as president of the East Bannack GSMC. Therefore this cert. Issued to the president. Gold was found in the East Bannack as early as 1856 by an unknown mountaineer who brought a bag of dust to Major Culbertson at Fort Shaw. Reluctant to take it as the real thing, Culbertson was encouraged by a man only known as "Ray" to exchange goods to the mountaineer for his bag of dust. The mountaineer insisted its value to be $1000 in trade. Culbertson exchanged the bag for a supply of horses, arms, amunition, blankets, tobacco and other goods to the value requested. In 1857, Culbertson sent the bag to the mint to discover that its value was $1525 [Sanders, 169-7]. The mountaineer, who said he travelled and prospected alone, was never seen by Culbertson again. The transaction subsequently led to a vast mining interest in the area from 1857 forward. East Bannack GSMC owned a steam-quartz mill at Shober Ledge in 1866 which was managed by David Worden [Bancroft, 1890, 723]. It was incorporated in New York only two years prior (Oct. 29, 1864). Several other names listed on the copy of the filed incorporation included are listed in the New York directory as having been merchants: Jeremiah Milbank, John H Browning. Others listed appeared to be associated with an office based at 76 Nassau New York, NY. The only other name on the certificate than Abbe is Joseph B F Grady Secr. Vignette of miner with wheel barrow with goddess at left motioning toward him. Orange 25 cent cancelled stamp at left on front and another at top on reverse. Incorporation seal blind stamped at lower left. Fine. 10.25" x 6.25". Includes rough photocopy of the incorporation record issued in New York.
Thumbnail 2606 Fort Benton,MT - Chouteau County - Glick and Powers Licenses *Territorial* : Start Price: 250.00Estimate: 500.00 - 1,000.00 Lot of two. 1) License No. 4073 issued June 24, 1867 to "The Merchant Prince" Thomas C. Powers. Powers' first license to operate business in the Montana Territory. Granted June 20, 1867 to September 27, 1867. Powers came to be known for his astute business practices throughout the Montana Territory. He opened a general store in 1867 at Fort Benton. In 1874, Powers in association with I.G. Baker built the steamer Benton to increase the speed of travel of goods throughout the Territory and to neighboring states. He was held in high esteem by Montanans having been elected to serve as United States Senator in 1890-1895. Fine. 3.5" x 4". 2) License No. 5186 undated but issued to J.S. Glick this well known Montana doctor and surgeon. Expires July 25, 1867. $20. Fine. 3.5" x 5.75". Known for saving many lives throughout the Montana Territory.
Thumbnail 2607 Fort Benton,MT - Chouteau County - 1867 - Northwest Fur Co. License *Territorial* : Start Price: 150.00Estimate: 300.00 - 600.00 License No. 4070. Issued June 21, 1867. Granted March 1, 1867 to Feb. 29, 1868. American Fur Co. Based in Benton, MT folded in 1864. Subsequently, ownership transferred to Northwest Fur Co. Fort Benton was a main hub for free trade between Canada and America. Discovery of gold in the area was responsible for Benton's rapid growth. Steamboats could not continue further on the Missouri River than Benton so from there Stampeders continued over land from into the outlying areas distributing goods [REF. Healy, 28-29]. Fine. 3" x 4".
Thumbnail 2608 Oneida County,MT - July 12, 1867 - Oneida Montana Gold and Silver Mining Co. Stock *Territorial* : Start Price: 200.00High Bid: 425.00Estimate: 400.00 - 800.00 Cert. No. 91 issued to Benjamin D. Gilbert for 43 shares. Early previously unknown certificate and mine. A railway is noted to have been built from Ogden, UT north 167 miles to Oneida (existing at that time 53 miles north of the Idaho border on the Fort Hall Indian Reserve) [Bancroft, 1890]. Fort Hall currently exists in the state of Idaho, previously overlapping in the Dakota Territory (1864) and Wyoming Territory (1868). Oneida County, ID was known in the 1885 to have numerous sawmills, saltworks and gold and silver mines [Bancroft, 1890]. It is possible that the mine existed apart from the Fort Hall area and could have been operating in the more common Alder Gulch area (Virginia City or East Bannock) in the Montana Territory. However, there is no mention of the mine's existence or its value during the year 1867, Idaho or Montana Territories by Browne, Raymond or Fry's Traveler's Guide. This remains an early example of an undocumented claim believed to be west of the Rockies. X-Rare. Fine. 10.25" x 7".
Thumbnail 2609 Virginia City,MT - Madison County - 1865-1867 - Chinese Gambling House Licenses *Territorial* : Start Price: 250.00Estimate: 500.00 - 1,000.00 Lot of three. 1: License No. 3571 issued March 15, 1864 to "Sam Pau, Chinaman". Granted March 15-April 15, 1867. $50. Fine. 4" x 5". 2: License No. 2587 issued Nov. 18, 1866 to Long Sing. Granted Nov. 18-Dec. 18, 1866. $50. fine. 4.25" x 5". 3: License No.1806 issued Sept. 21, 1865 to Sam Hing & Co.. Granted Sept. 15, 1865-Oct. 15, 1866. $50. Fine. 4.5" x 5". Evidence of early Montana Territory gaming enterprises as well as Chinese immigration to the Alder Gulch area (specifically Virginia City). Licenses to early entrepreneurial business owners who may have immigrated to the area looking for wealth.
Thumbnail 2610 Virginia City,MT - Madison County - c1866 - Daguerreotype License *Territorial* : Start Price: 150.00Estimate: 300.00 - 600.00 License No. 3699 issued on May 15, 1866 to J.M Fickett & Co. (daguerreotypist). Granted May 8, 1866-Aug. 11, 1866. Important document to early photography. One of only two known licenses issued to a daguerreotypist working in the Montana Territory during the gold rush years. Fine. 4" x 4.75".
Thumbnail 2611 Virginia City,MT - Madison County - Sept. 12, 1865 - Glick, J.S. Tax Receipt *Territorial* : Start Price: 200.00Estimate: 400.00 - 800.00 Tax receipt No. 1722 issued to Jerome Glick for property valued at $1100.00. $15.40 paid. Intact, uncut document to the famous doctor who saved the life of crooked sheriff Henry Plummer. Plummer was later lynched by the Vigilantes of Montana. Description of property list "one horse". Fine. 4" x 9.25".
Thumbnail 2612 Virginia City,MT - Madison County - 1865-1867 - Kinna, John License and Receipts *Territorial* : Start Price: 500.00Estimate: 1,000.00 - 2,000.00 Lot of seven. Store owner and Vigilantes of Montana member, John Kinna documents. 1: License no. 3582. Issued March 18, 1887. Granted March 1 to June 1, 1887. $15. Good Condition, punched. 2: License no. 3654. Issued April 27, 1866. Granted March 1 to June 1 ,1866. $30. Good condition, punched. 3: License no. 3842. Issued June 15, 1867. $15. 4: License no. 2408. Issued May 15, 1867. Signed by the county collector. County also noted. Good condition, punched. 5: License no. 2430. Issued Nov. 30, 1865. Granted Dec 1, 1865 to March 1, 1866. $15. Madison County. Signed by the collector. Good condition, punched. 6: Tax Receipt No. 483. Receipt for tax paid on merchandise (value $5600). Taxes broken out line by line. Issued for Kinna, Nye and Co., Sept. 1, 1865. Good condition. 7: Tax Receipt No. 482 for 1 building (value $540, likely the store). All issued in Virginia City, MT. The first meeting of the Vigilantes of Montana took place in the back room of Kinna's store in 1863 [REF. Sanders vol 1., 218]. See lot of Pfouts documents for additional information.
Thumbnail 2613 Virginia City,MT - Madison County - 1865 - Licenses (Vigilantes of Montana) *Territorial* : Start Price: 200.00Estimate: 400.00 - 600.00 Lot of two. 1) License No. 2268 issued Oct. 31, 1865 to James Williams (Executive Officer Vigilantes of Montana). Granted Sept. 1, 1865 to Sept. 1, 1866 for operations of ranching. $30. 2) License No. 2269 issued Oct. 31, 1865 to James Williams for operations at his corral. Granted Sept. 1, 1865 to March 1, 1866. $30. Fine. 3.75" x 5".
Thumbnail 2614 Virginia City,MT - Madison County - 1866-1877 - Orem, John "Con," Business License Documents *Territ Start Price: 500.00Estimate: 1,000.00 - 2,000.00 Lot of 8. 1: Lic. No. 2842 issued March 19, 1866 for the operation of an unnamed saloon (possibly "The Champion"). Granted March 17 to June 17, 1866. Virginia City, MT. $50. Location believed to be where Orem bought drinks for his patrons after his 185 round boxing match with Hu8gh O'Neil. Fine. 2: Lic. No. 1692. Expiration "Jany 13, 1867". $50. Possibly for his theater business. Fine. 3: Lic. No. 3622. "Dance House" business. Issued April 17, 1866. Granted March 1, 1866 for a period of "Seven Nights." $35. Fine. 4: Lic. No. 2197. Issued Sept. 16, 1865. Granted for Aug 20-Sept. 20, 1865. $50. 5: Lic. No. 2196. "Retail Liquor Dealer". Issued Sept. 16, 1865. Granted July 20-Oct. 20, 1865. Fine. 6: Lic. No. 3621. Issued April 17, 1866. "Minstrelle Troupe". Theater License. Granted Apr. 14-May 14, 1866. 7: Lic. No. 1702. No issue date. Expires Nov. 13, 1866. Possibly for his theater business. Signed by the county collector. 8: Lic. No. 2088. No issue date. Expires Dec. 15, 1866. $50. Possibly for his theater business. Fine. These documents show the variety of entrepreneurial enterprises of "Con" Orem in Virginia City, MT. Though only in the area for roughly three years, his impact throughout the early Montana Territory is evident in this collection. After leaving the scene in 1867, his last known business, his saloon, was seized for tax revenue and the building was eventually raized. Though Orem's businesses seem to have vanished from the Montana Territory in a rather short period of time, his colorful personality and his desire to entertain his patrons shows in the variety of remaining documents exhibited in this collection.
Thumbnail 2615 Virginia City,MT - Madison County - 1865 - Orem, John "Con," Hurdy Gurdy House Documents *Territoria Start Price: 200.00High Bid: 200.00Estimate: 400.00 - 800.00 Lot of two. Licenses permitting John "Con" Orem to operate the Hurdy Gurdy house in Virginia City, MT. 1: Lic. No. 643 issued Sept. 20, 1865. Granted Sept. 20-Oct. 20, 1865. $50. Signed by county collector. 2: Lic. No. 455 issued May 6, 1865. Granted April 20-May 20, 1865. Madison County, MT. Signed by county collector. Both fine condition. Con Orem ran the Hurdy Gurdy House between 1865 and 1867. Orem was also a prize fighter during this time and he once fought a fight of 185 rounds. The fight ended in a draw. The Hurdy Gurdy house was a dancing establishment where men could by drinks and pay for dances with "first class dancer(s)" [Sanders, vol. 1, 186"]. Though owner Con Orem has been known to not be a drinker himself, there is evidence that the Hurdy Gurdy house was a relative success. Orem disappeared in 1867 and his whereabouts were unknown. Fine.
Thumbnail 2616 Virginia City,MT - Madison County - 1867 - Orem, John "Con," Sparring Exhibition License *Territoria Start Price: 100.00Estimate: 200.00 - 400.00 License for "Con" Orem's "sparring match" off the books, which later became a winter time prize fight with Billy Dwyer. Across the face of this license is written "Not Taken Credited Back on Book." License No. 2690 Issued Feb 1, 1867. Granted Feb. 11, 1867. Beaver Head County. Orem often called himself the "Middleweight Champion of the United States." Orem fought a number of fights during his time in the Montana Territory, often for quick money after his numerous attempts at other businesses folded. It is believed that his saloon was named "The Champion". He is thought to have a been a successful entrepreneur with a colorful personality. Stories of his life were often published in the Montana Post leading him to be considered "the most publicized man in the Territory" [REF. Barsness, 222].
Thumbnail 2617 Virginia City,MT - Madison County - October 23, 1865 - Peter Daley Tax Receipt and License *Territo Start Price: 250.00High Bid: 250.00Estimate: 500.00 - 1,000.00 Lot of two. 1) Tax Receipt No. 283 issued October 23, 1865 to Peter Daley. Property value $9610. Tax paid $153.76. Fine. 3.5" x 3.75". 2) License No. 2243 to operate "Hotel with Liquors" issued Oct. 23, 1865 to Peter Daley. Daley owned the Robber's Roost at Ramshorn Gulch, where road agents would often meet and do their planning. He also owned ranches and/or wikiups throughout Jefferson and Madison counties as well as at Wisconsin Creek and Mill Creek. Fine. 3.25" x 5".
Thumbnail 2618 Virginia City,MT - Madison County - 1865 - Stage Line Licenses and Tax Receipt *Territorial* : Start Price: 500.00Estimate: 1,000.00 - 2,000.00 Lot of five. Licenses issued to A.J. Oliver to operate a stage line business in the Montana Territory. 1: License no. 929 Issued July 14, 1865. $60. Granted March 1- Dec. 1, 1865. Issued as a Common Carrier. Printed in black on lined paper. 2: License no. 2201 Issued Oct. 12, 1865. $30. Granted Sept. 1 to Dec. 1, 1865. Issued in Virginia City, MT. Fair condition. 3: License no. 2437 issued Dec. 1, 1865. Granted Dec. 1, 1865 to March 1, 1866. $30. Good Condition (4 punches). 4: License no. 3623 Issued April 18, 1865. Granted March 1 to June 1, 1866. $34. All 3.25"x5". Some roughly cut. 5: Tax Receipt no. 213 for $184.88. Territorial, County, Poor, School tax and interest broken out line by line. Property #236. "Due 10.77 scrip" penciled at bottom. Good condition (2 punches). 3.5" x 4". Stage lines throughout Montana Territory connected mining camps to one another. Oliver operated three lines in the territory between 1865-1866. The Express carried U.S. Mail between Virginia City and Helena (its capital). The Tri-Weekly Line covered Helena to Blackfoot (Ophir) and the Daily Line covered Diamond City to Helena. While stage lines were popular throughout the territory, many "treasure stages" (those carrying valuables) were often robbed. Many passengers lost lives or were harmed due to hold-ups, mostly by road agents. Fares on the Tri-Weekly from Virginia City to Helena ran $25. Oliver also ran a line from the territory as far south as Salt Lake City [REF. Sanders, vol. 1, p.285].
Thumbnail 2619 Virginia City,MT - Madison County - Dec 17, 1866 - Wells Fargo & Co. Licenses 1866-1867 *Territorial Start Price: 200.00Estimate: 400.00 - 800.00 Lot of two Licenses permitting Wells Fargo to operate as an Express Common Carrier Business in the territory of Montana. 1: License no. 4231 issued 1866. "Expires Dec 17, 1867. $200." No county or city noted 2: License no. 2427 issued 1866. "Expires Dec. 17, 1867. $70." Signed by U. Roberts collector. Montana Territory organized from the Idaho Territory in 1864 by act of Congress. Montana Territory existed between 1864 and 1889 when it was admitted to the Union as the state of Montana. These early territorial documents gave Wells Fargo the ability to do business there. Fine.
Thumbnail 2620 Albuquerque,NM - 1850's-1880's - Railway Express Sealer and Two Boxes Original Sealing Wax : Start Price: 150.00High Bid: 750.00Estimate: 300.00 - 600.00 Original lead sealer for sealing coin bags and other goods from the Railway Express. This piece is marked from railway Express, "Albuqu to Los Ang." Also included are two original boxes of wax used for the Wells Fargo wax seals.
Thumbnail 2621 NV - 1877, 1878, 1891, 1920 - Comstock Related Stocks : Start Price: 375.00High Bid: 375.00Estimate: 750.00 - 1,500.00 Lot of six. 1) Dayton Gold and Silver Mining Company. Measures 9 ¼’’x 4 ½’’. Issued to Gracker V. Suydam for 50 shares on October 5, 1877 in San Francisco. Incorporated April 26, 1872 in California. Signed by President K.A.P. Harmon and Secretary W.E. Dean. Black border and black print. A small vignette of a dog next to a safe is located on bottom. Several creases appear latterly on the stock from being folded in the past. A few rips appear on the top edge and bottom edge. Bottom and top right corners have been bent. Cancellation marks appear as pin size holes on the left side, also two blue cancellation stamps appear on the back. 2) Monarch Consolidated Gold and Silver Mining Co. Measures 9 ½ ’’ x 4’’. Incorporated under the laws of Nevada August 25, 1891. No. 34, issued to DF. Dafarris for 3000 shares. Signed by President T.R. Hofe and Secretary James P. Judga. A vignette of a miner standing with his tools appear on the left side. Black border and print. Several creases appear latterly on the stock from being folded in the past. A smudge mark appear on the lower right corner. Pin size cancellation marks appear on the left side. And there purple cancellation stamps on the back. 3) Nancy Gold and Mining Co. Measures 8 ½’’x 4’’. Incorporated under the laws of California, November 25, 1861. No. 969, issued to W. Y. Cornwald for 50 shares. Signed by President P. Clantin and Secretary G.E. Rlpinny. Vignette of a male angle with a horn and a bird is located on the bottom of the stock. Black border and print. Very little wear. A small watermark appears on the upper right side of the stock. Cancelled. 4) Mt. Davidson Consolidated Gold and Silver Mining Co. Measures 9 ½’’ x 5 ½’’ Incorporated under the laws of Nevada April 8, 1875. No. 353 issued to George B. Heill for 100 shares. Signed by President R. Kurman and Secretary Frank D. Lurmun. Black border and print. Vignette on the a mountain with as small mine and building in the forefront. Wear on the edges of the stock. Top left and right corners are ripped off slightly. Bottom edge is worn slightly. Cancellation marks on the back with purple stamps. 5) Unissued from the Chance Silver Mining Company. Measures 9 ¾’’x 5 ¼’’ No. 896, incorporated on February 2, 1874 in Nevada. Vignette shows several men working nearing a mining refinement factory. Black border and print. Almost no wear, a small fingerprint is present on the top left edge. 6) New Comstock Mining Company. Measures 11 ½’’ x 9 ¾’’ Incorporated under the laws of the state of Arizona, February 20, 1901. No 786 issued to Helen S. Schwartz for 193 shares on August 17, 1920. Signed by President Charles Sutro and Secretary Sidney Sehward. Vignette of an eagle sitting on an American shield. Black border and print with gold embossed seal and safety print. Two creases are preset down the middle on the stock from being folded in the past. Two rips are on the top edge, and part of the edge on the top is bent slightly. The left corner has been bent in the past. Two hole punches are present on the embossed seal, for cancellation purposes.
Thumbnail 2622 NV - 1862 - Nevada Territory Bond *Territorial* : Start Price: 350.00Estimate: 700.00 - 1,500.00 Extra Rare. Framed in gold plastic, measuring 21” x 17.” Under glass. Trimmed from original size. Number 7. The amount of 500 is displayed in the middle in pink. Signed by Orion Clemens as “Acting” Governor. Clemens wrote in “Acting” in his own hand. Pressed by the official territorial seal of 1861. Michael Reese purchased the bond on February 2nd. Also signed by P. G. Childs, the territorial auditor. Stamped paid Feb. 1866 in blue. Black border. A vignette under the masthead shows a miner holding an American Flag, with a water mill on the left, a gully, and then a rock cabin with smoke coming out of the chimney on the right, in the background. Small vignette at bottom of Governor Nye's head and shoulders. James Nye was appointed territorial governor by Abraham Lincoln. Orion Clemens was appointed territorial Secretary. He was the first and only territorial Secretary. According to Fred Holabird, Nye spent so much time in San Francisco, Orion acted more often as the governor than not. Holabird also relates that Clemens had a good chance of becoming Nevada’s first State Governor but at the last minute dropped out of the race to become involved in temperance work. Being involved in temperance work in a state full of miners who drank was not a wise political move. After that, Clemens' career went down hill. Clemens would move back east and finally settle in Iowa for the remainder of his life. He really had no luck at anything else he tried, including farming, and his brother, the famous writer Mark Twain, would support Clemens until he died.
Thumbnail 2623 Aurora,NV - Esmeralda County - May 2 1863 - Lexington Consolidated Gold & Silver Mining Stock : Start Price: 500.00High Bid: 900.00Estimate: 1,000.00 - 2,000.00 Incorporated March 2d, 1863. Issued to R.G. Lundham on May 2, 1980. Signed by Secretary E.W. Kirsten and President B.F. Parton. Endorsed on reverse. Lithographer not noted. Cancelled. Measures 9 7/8” x 5 3/8”. Black print on crème paper with black border. A 25c revenue stamp is at left. Signature and date on stamp do not match the Secretary's signature and date on the certificate, but no evidence exists that this stamp is not genuine (no hidden damage, no glue from removed stamp, etc.). Vignette of woman center and vignette at left covered by stamp. Certificate No. 35 for 12 shares. Some creases and small folds at corners but in good condition.
Thumbnail 2624 Aurora,NV - Probate Court Embossing Seal : Start Price: 500.00High Bid: 750.00Estimate: 1,000.00 - 2,000.00 Embossing seal from the Probate Court in Esmeralda County, Nevada Territory. Net weight 8oz. The circumference is 5.495 inches and has a diameter of 1.75 inches and a height of 1/2”. There are two lines of text. The first line is circumferential “Probate Court Esmeralda County.” The second line is also circumferential and is written in Latin underneath the first line. In the center is a vignette of a sun rising over mountains which surround a picturesque valley. Brass material, Good condition.
Thumbnail 2625 Austin,NV - Lander County - December 15, 1864 - Stranger Gold and Silver Mining Company Stock Certif Start Price: 200.00High Bid: 425.00Estimate: 400.00 - 600.00 Stock number 125 from the Stranger Gold and Silver Mining Company in Austin, Lander County Nevada Territory. Measures 9" x 4.5". Stranger Gold and Silver Mining Company had capital stock valued at $70,000 spread over 700 shares when the stock was issued. Vignette of small mining camp in the center of certificate. Gray and black border with 25¢ postage stamp woven in to the left side border. Reverse signed by Adam Stoneberger, recipient. Excellent Condition.
Thumbnail 2626 Austin,NV - Lander County - 1863 - Sutro and Hugo Sutro Signed Receipt *Territorial* : Start Price: 150.00High Bid: 100.00Estimate: 300.00 - 500.00 Adolph Sutro and Hugo Sutro receipt from Dayton and Austin, Nevada Territory 26 October 1863. Signed by Hugo Sutro. Pay to the order of G. Langtry, Twenty Nine Dollars, Value received, and charge the same to the account of/to Adolph Sutro Esq. Dayton, N.T. Adolph would go on to become influential in forming the State of Nevada and become the Mayor of San Francisco. Hugo appears on early Nevada tax rolls for 1864. See the write-ups in the catalog on Adolph Sutro, the Sutro Brothers, Hugo and Theodore Sutro for information.
Thumbnail 2627 Carson City,NV - c1850-1861 - Carson City, Utah Territory Cover : Start Price: 250.00Estimate: 500.00 - 1,500.00 Yellow cover measures 4 5/8" x 3 1/8”, with left side cut open, rip on reverse flap. Addressed to “Mrs. Ann L. North . . . Onondaga Co., N.Y.” Sender not identified, but letter mailed in Carson City, Utah Territory; (“straight line” canceled in blue). Green George Washington stamp with Roman numerals in top left and right corners. Handwritten on cover “July 13.” Another date, unexplained was handwritten on front cover: “7-12-61.” The Utah territory included all of today’s Utah, Nevada (except a small portion of today’s southern Nevada), the western one-third of Colorado and a small piece of southeastern Wyoming [Elliott, 1987, 52]. Its existed only from 1850 until 1861, making this an unusual item. Carson City residents felt that the territorial government, headed by Governor Brigham Young, was not protecting the settler’s property or legal rights. Between 1850 and 1861, the Mormon Church sent groups of settlers to the Carson Valley in an effort to control the politics. Given the evidence, this item likely contained a letter from a Mormon settler to a Mormon woman in upstate New York, the birthplace of Mormonism. On September 5, 1857, a large wagon train made up of 123 wagons and about 450 persons left the Carson Valley for Salt Lake City [Elliott, 1987, 57]. The politics of the Carson Valley was in turmoil while awaiting the Comstock discovery in 1859.
Thumbnail 2628 Carson City,NV - Ormsby County - 1865 - State of Nevada Bond : Start Price: 125.00High Bid: 125.00Estimate: 250.00 - 400.00 In wood gilt frame measuring 21” x 17.” Under glass. Pressed state seal. Orange border. Two corner vignettes of a hunter and of miners working in a mine. The entrance is in the background. Centered under the bond heading is a vignette showing the variations of Nevada’s topography. Mountains are in the distance and a desert in between. An ore mine and produce wagon are on the left and on the right a mill and Native Americans look on in the hills. Small vignette at bottom of a cherub sitting on a wolf. Cert. #43 in the amount of $500.00. [Illegible] Lewis purchased the bond. Signed by H. G Blasdell, the first state governor of Nevada from 1864 to 1870, and Alanson W. Nightingill, who came west in the Gold Rush from Ohio. In 1863, Nightingill was a delegate to the Nevada Constitutional Convention, and wanted to change the name of Nevada Territory to the state of Humboldt. He was the state’s first controller from 1864-1867. Supposedly Nightingill died in Carson City in 1870, but the city does not have a gravesite listed for him. Yubaroots.com says that Nightingill died there in 1868 and is buried in Marysville City. Nightingill is a very interesting character in Nevada history. He was a captain in the Washoe Regiment of Company C, also known as the Truckee Rangers, who took part in the battle of Pyramid Lake in 1860. He was part of a group of 105 men led by Major Ormsby and included Snowshoe Thompson among it’s members. Also he led an expedition to Surprise Valley in 1863. For his military efforts he was awarded a grant of land [Sweet, 2008, 2-5]. Apparently, upon leaving office as state controller, Nightingill became the sheriff of Ormsby County but he became the first sheriff to resign from that office in 1868.
Thumbnail 2629 Carson City,NV - Ormsby County - 1887 - Wells Fargo & Co. Express Receipt Book : Start Price: 200.00Estimate: 400.00 - 800.00 Large original receipt book from E. Pierce, the Carson City agent. All goods were signed for at the right. The book has has 12 line entries per page, with about 200 pages.
Thumbnail 2630 Carson City,NV - Ormsby County - 1865 - Yerington, H.M. Letterpress Book : Start Price: 3,750.00High Bid: 5,250.00Estimate: 7,500.00 - 10,000.00 Measures 9" by 11." Weighs 2 1/2 pounds. Contains both ruled paper, alphabet pages, and parchment copy paper on which Henry Marvin Yerington, General Superintendent of the Virginia and Truckee Railroad, recorded his letters from 1865 to 1873. Leatherbound with gold lettering on the spine. Minimal page damage although there is some creasing toward the end of the volume. Most letters are readable. Good condition.
Thumbnail 2631 Dayton,NV - Lyon County - 11 May 1863 - Sutro Letter, signed *Territorial* : Start Price: 250.00High Bid: 250.00Estimate: 500.00 - 1,000.00 “We the undersigned hereby claim two claims of two hundred feet . . . on the Whitman ledge.” Regarding the Whitman Company. The Mining Claim was recorded in Book A. P. [illegible] of the Seconds of Indian Springs District. On white, blue-lined note paper. The edges are worn on the left side and there is a crease running down the middle. The right middle crease has a tear about 3/4" long.
Thumbnail 2632 Dayton,NV - Lyon County - 1863 - Sutro's Emma Gold and Silver Mining Co. Stock Certificate *Territor Start Price: 750.00High Bid: 1,700.00Estimate: 1,500.00 - 2,500.00 Extra rare. Measures 9” x 5.” Not mounted. Black on white. Fairly good condition. Few nicks around the edges, the right bottom corner shows some folds. A nickel sized stain in the lower center. J. H. Kinkead, a future governor of Nevada, bought 10 shares of Sutro’s Emma Gold and Silver Mining Co. on February 14th. Number 13. Vignette on the left side of the stock has a sphere containing converted paddle wheel ship as a steam ship on choppy water flying a U. S. flag. Under the sphere is the American Bald Eagle with it's feet on the Liberty Medal that is resting on some rocks. What seems to be plow handles are behind the medal, and a ship’s anchor rests on a rock to the left of the medal. There is a small vignette of a dog laying next to a safe. The mining company had only incorporated on February 5th in Nevada Territory with Capital Stock of $600,000.00. Apparently, the Company consolidated the San Francisco Company - Neighbor Ledge, the Great Western Company - Great Western Ledge, the Murphy Company - Ball Ledge, and the Kinkead Company - Snow Ledge, into one. Signed by Adolph Sutro, President and B. P. Hazeltine, Secretary. On the back, the stock has been assigned to J. W. Lees and is signed by J. H. Kinkead. Witnessed by P. Childs in July of 1863. Fred Holabird says, "The Emma was a prospect named after Sutro's daughter. It was near the Sutro Tunnel entrance, located up in the hills near the #1 shaft for the Tunnel. Hazeltine was a partner in a clothing store in Dayton with Sise" [Holabird, 2000, 83]. For other great Sutro items, please see our California section.
Thumbnail 2633 Ely,NV - White Pine County - February 1, 1867 - Hamilton Gold & Silver Mining Company of Nevada $100 Start Price: 300.00High Bid: 450.00Estimate: 600.00 - 900.00 The company was incorporated in 1866. This is a first mortgage bond, #3979, held by William Bigler of Clearfield, Pennsylvania. William Bigler signed as a Trustee, along with Alex. Ramsy, president, and L. Tiegler, secretary. Vignette at center of miners with lighted helmets working in underground with picks and shovels. Two smaller vignette: one of an American bald eagle and the other of a farmer carrying a United States flag. Black border with green under printing on crème paper. Ten coupons are attached. Entire document measures 14.5 x 15.5.” There is a 3” lateral tear at left on the center fold. The town of Hamilton was developed in 1868 with the discovery of silver—so rich that the area attracted 10,000-25,000 people in a short time, and the “…silver was found in such quantities to pay most of the Civil War debt” [Ref: www.elynevada.net/things%20to%20do/ghosttowns.html]. In 1887 big-scale production came to an end—no deeper veins were found. By then, however, a total of $22,000,000 in silver bullion had been shipped [Ref: www.elynevada.net/things%20to%20do/ghosttowns.html]. This bond is rare for its very early date and high denomination. Fred Holabird has not seen one like this before now.
Thumbnail 2634 Esmeralda County,NV - April 14, 1863 - Tennessee Gold and Silver Mining Company Stock *Territorial* Start Price: 300.00High Bid: 800.00Estimate: 600.00 - 900.00 Esmeralda District. Incorporated in 1862. Cert. # 40, issued to Charles Hosmer for 10 shares. Signed by Jas. H. Van Reed, president, and by J.H. Blood, secretary. Great vignette of a small locomotive at center, and a dog guarding a safe at bottom. Black border and print, with light red underprint (Esmeralda District). Applied 25ct revenue stamp at left. Uncancelled. No printer noted. 5.5 x 10.25.” Datelined San Francisco. Van Reed was a real estate agent in San Francisco, and Blood was a professional mining secretary, per Langley, 1864. Chas. Hosmer owned several mining stocks, per Langley.
Thumbnail 2635 Esmeralda,NV - 1862-1863 - Esmeralda, NV/CA Cover Collection : Start Price: 200.00High Bid: 700.00Estimate: 400.00 - 600.00 Lot of three. 1) March 28, 1862 to Miss Lizzie Charles (Santa Clara, CA). One red 3 cent cancelled stamp at upper right. Neat handwritten script. Irregularly opened at right. Fine. 2) April 24, 1863 to Miss Esther H. Wheeler (Bow, New Hampshire) One red 3 cent cancelled stamp at right. Opened neatly at right. Neat handwritten script. Fine. 3) August 3 (no year noted on cover, seal c. 1863.) to Mr. A.D. Blodgett, NY. Green 10 cent stamp uncancelled at right. Opened neatly at right. Minor staining. Good.
Thumbnail 2636 Fay,NV - Lincoln County - 1899 - Fay Nevada Mine Photograph, 1899 : Start Price: 200.00Estimate: 400.00 - 800.00 Photograph of 1899 Fay, Nevada Mining Camp. This photo measures 9 ¼” x 7 ¾” is mounted on a card stock backing. Fay, Nevada was located approximately 24 miles east of Pioche, NV and was the replacement for the former mining camp of Deerlodge. In this photo 7 miners are standing adjacent to the mine shaft opening used to extract the gold and silver ore which can be seen on the right side of the photograph. Located in the left of the photo stands a hazardous looking structure that would have served as the miners’ bunk house. Fay was in its prime between 1900-1901. The town's decline began in 1915 and continued until 1924, when the last residents left and the post office closed its doors. The photo is in good condition with some minor frays on the sides, otherwise uncompromised. The cardstock backing is in reasonable shape with slight damage in the corners.
Thumbnail 2637 Gold Hill,NV - Storey County - May 18, 1863 - Belle Union Gold and Silver Mining Company Stock *Terr Start Price: 300.00High Bid: 500.00Estimate: 600.00 - 900.00 Silver Star District. Incorporated in Nevada in 1863. Cert. #115, issued to H.H. Flagg for 87 shares. Signed by R.T. Huntley, president, and by R.W. Billet, secretary. Vignette at left of allegorical woman with eagle and shield, and at bottom a dog’s head. Black border and print. Printer: Enterprise. Uncancelled. 4 x 9.” Datelined Gold Hill, N.T. Kelley notes that the district was “in the hills to the east of Comstock.” Although Huntley is not listed in the 1863 Virginia City directory, Billet is noted as a stock broker (per an article in the Territorial Enterprise). Flagg lived on Telegraph Street in Gold Hill and was for a short time a banker there. Checks do exist from his bank from the 1860s. He was also a state senator and Gold Hill city officer [Kelley].
Thumbnail 2638 Gold Hill,NV - Storey County - November 19, 1863 - Gilmore Gold and Silver Mining Company Stock *Ter Start Price: 300.00High Bid: 1,150.00Estimate: 600.00 - 900.00 Gold Hill District. Incorporated in 1863. Cert. #103, issued to D.R. Dale for 20 shares. Signed by H.G. Hill, president and W. Doolin, secretary. No vignette. Black border on green paper with green underprint (Gilmore). Applied 5ct revenue stamp at left. Uncancelled. Printer: Enterprise Job Print. 4 x 9.25.” “Gold Hill District, Storey Co., N.T.” is printed beneath masthead. Not listed in Becker’s atlas of 1883. Hill and Doolin were both miners in Virginia City, per Kelley’s 1863 directory. Doolin went on to become a state senator and assemblyman from Nye County in 1868 [Angel].
Thumbnail 2639 Gold Hill,NV - Storey - Gold Hill Collection : Start Price: 750.00High Bid: 1,000.00Estimate: 1,500.00 - 3,000.00 Lot of 13 pieces. This collection is of 12 different mines operating in the Gold Hill area during its peak production : 1) Original Keystone Silver Mining CO. Incorporated Aug 7, 1877. Comstock Ledge, Virginia NV. No. 2581 issued Apr. 15, 1881 for 3 shares. Signed R.E. Brewster. 2) Exchequer Mining Co. Incorporated July 19, 1865. No. 32273 issued Jan. 17, 1887 for 50 shares. Manuscript cancelled across face. Signed C. Hirschfield, Pres. 3) Original Keystone Silver Mining Co. No. 2618 issued nov. 1, 1892. Signed P.H. Kramer, Pres. 4) Woodville Cons. Silver Mining Co. Incorporated Jan. 14, 1875. No. 2849 issued Apr. 26, 1875 for 5 shares. Signed Robert S. Leonard, Pres. 5) Leviathan Mining Co. Incorporated Jan. 8, 1874. No. 7691 issued May 5, 1879 for 100 shares. Signed C.W.M. Smith. 6) Curtis Cons. Mining Co. Incorporated Sept. 1878. No. 749 issued March 2, 1880 for 100 shares. Signed Smith, Pres., H.S. Storie, Secr. 7) New York Mining Co. Incorporated June 4, 1874. No. 1571 issued Nov. 1, 1875 for 10 shares. Signed J.H. ?, Pres., H.C. Koebler, Secr. Vignette of Manhattan Island with ships. 8) Benton Cons. Co. Incorporated July 31, 1878. No. 6142 issued Oct. 26, 1880 for 100 shares. Signed Monroe Thomson, V-Pres., Watson, Secr. 9) Seg. Belcher & Mines Cons. Incorporated June 11, 1887. No. 6010 issued Jan. 16, 1891 for 5 shares. Signed Thomas Anderson, Pres. 10) St. Louis Mining Co. Incorporated May 26, 1876. No. 2289 issued Mar. 4, 1889 for 50 shares. Vignette of port with city and ships. Signed A.K.R. Shannon, Pres., D.C. Bates, Secr. 11) Consolidated New York Mining Co. Incorporated Nov. 23, 1887. No. 1840 issued ar. 7, 1892 for 20 shares. Signed by (?) Pres., Secr. Red manuscript cancel across face. Vignette of Statue of Liberty. 12) Consolidated Imperial Mining Co. Incorporated Apr. 13, 1876. No. 7844 issued June 28, 1898 for 50 shares. Signed James Newland, Pres. Br. On crème. 13) Consolidated Imperial Mining Co. No. 41054 issued Aug. 2, 1879 for 20 shares. Signed by (?) Pres., Secr. Blk on crème. Slight staining and slight wear to paper.
Thumbnail 2640 Gold Hill,NV - Storey County - March 25, 1863 - Wide Awake Gold & Silver Mining Company Stock *Terri Start Price: 350.00High Bid: 1,000.00Estimate: 700.00 - 1,100.00 Gold Hill District. Incorporated 1863 in Nevada Terr. Cert. #32, issued to J.J. Griffith for 10 shares. Signed by Joseph Gaflower, president, and by A. Lufkin, secretary. Nice vignette at center of miner standing at entrance to a mine tunnel with loaded ore cart to one side. A 2nd vignette at left of an early explorer standing on a precipice with an “Excelsior” flag, and a 3rd small vignette at bottom showing clasped hands. Black border on green safety printed background. Uncancelled. Printer: Towne & Bacon, San Francisco. Applied 25 ct. revenue stamp at lower left. Datelined Gold Hill. Measures 5.5 x 10.25.” This property is not listed on the Becker map of 1883, and neither is Laflower listed in 1863. J.J. Griffith was a partner in (J.H.) Ralston & Griffith, attorneys in Gold Hill. He lived at the International Hotel [Kelley, 1863]. One inch tear at right margin.
Thumbnail 2641 Goldfield,NV - Esmeralda County - c1908 - Goldfield Lapel Pin : Start Price: 200.00High Bid: 500.00Estimate: 400.00 - 900.00 A gold-colored lapel pin with a pan for mining gold as its centerpiece and "Goldfield" visible on a "scroll" located near the top of the pan, holding several "specimens" located at the bottom of the pan. The pan is mounted on a crossed pick and shovel. On each side of the pan, between the pan and the head of the pick and shovel, are a pair of silver and gold-colored grape leaves, along with a bunch of grapes, all wrapped by a golden rope. The mining town of Goldfield was founded in 1902, and within a few years became the largest city in Nevada. At its peak the population approached 30,000 and included three newspapers, five banks, and a mining stock exchange. It also contained arguably the longest bar in any mining town, in Tex Rickard’s Northern Saloon, which used up to 80 bartenders at a time. Rickard’s old Victorian house remains, and he is also remembered for building the original Madison Square Garden in New York City, as well a organizing the famous Nelson-Gans prize fight in Goldfield in 1906 [Ref: goldfield.travelnevada]. Unique piece.
Thumbnail 2642 Goodsprings,NV - Postage Seal : Start Price: 150.00High Bid: 600.00Estimate: 300.00 - 400.00 Mining town postage seal stamp c. 1905. Datelined Nov. 5 3pm 1905. Single ring metal seal with wooden handle. This stamp is from prior to the boom between 1910-1915 when most modern buildings were constructed. The town was once in the most prolific mining area in Clark County, NV. Goodsprings has one of the oldest continuously operating saloons in Nevada (over 90 years old). The post office was erected sometime at the early part of the 20th century. This seal is a part of the early history. 5" x 2".
Thumbnail 2643 Humboldt County,NV - December 26, 1867 - Chico Gold and Silver Mining Company Stock : Start Price: 250.00High Bid: 350.00Estimate: 500.00 - 700.00 Hardin District. Incorporated in 1867. Cert. #96, issued to Ira A. Weatherbee for 53 11/13 shares. Signed by J. Bidwell as president, no other signatures. Vignette at right of mountain mine site with horse and wagon in front, and ore cart to the upper left. Black border and print. Uncancelled. No printer noted. 4.5 x 8.5.” Datelined Chico, Butte County, Cal. “Emerald Lead. One Foot to the Share” printed at center beneath masthead. John Bidwell came west as part of the Bartleson party and crossed the Great Basin [Angel, 1881].
Thumbnail 2644 Humboldt County,NV - May 27, 1864 - Eclipse Tunnel Company Stock *Territorial* : Start Price: 300.00High Bid: 1,150.00Estimate: 600.00 - 900.00 Sierra District. Incorporated in 1863. Cert. # 189, issued to Irvin Brown for 5 shares. Signed by John M. Henry, president, and by Wetzlan or Wetzlar as secretary. Vignette of ore cart being pushed out of the mouth of a tunnel. Black border on light pink safety printed paper, with black print. Uncancelled. Printer: Towne & Bacon, S.F. Applied 25ct revenue stamp at left. Location: Sierra District, Humboldt County, N.T. is printed to left of vignette. 5.5 x 10.5.” Datelined San Francisco. The secretary could possibly be Gustavius Wetzlar. Irvin Brown was a real estate and money agent, according to Langley’s 1864 directory. There are several listings for John M. Henry. This one was possibly a street contractor, according to the same reference. The Sierra District was organized in 1863 across the Buena Vista Valley to the east of Star Peak at the north end of the East Humboldt Range, 10 miles northeast of Mill City. Dun Glen (later named Chafey—or Chaffey—for the mine there) was the business center for the district. The district has been a continuous producer and fairly profitable [www.nevadaobserver.com/ history%20Of%20Humboldt%20County%20(1912)].
Thumbnail 2645 Humboldt County,NV - August 29, 1865 - Humboldt River Gold & Silver Mining Company Stock : Start Price: 250.00High Bid: 400.00Estimate: 500.00 - 1,000.00 Sierra Mining District. Incorporated in New York. Cert. #85, issued to J. Groshorn Herriot in 1965 for 40 shares. Signed by Jno. P. Hogeboom, President, and by Wm. S. Davidson, Secretary. Vignette of 3 miners hard at work pounding a claims stake. Small vignette of a dog at bottom center. Black border and print. “Situated in Sierra Mining District Humboldt County, Nevada” printed beneath vignette. Applied 25 ct. Revenue Stamp at left. Uncancelled. Printer: E.S. Dodge & Co., NY. 7.5 x 11.5.” Datelined New York. A very early certificate from a rich mining district.
Thumbnail 2646 Lander County,NV - July 25, 1863 - Carolita Gold and Silver Mining Company Stock *Territorial* : Start Price: 300.00High Bid: 800.00Estimate: 600.00 - 900.00 Leviathan Ledge. Incorporated in 1863. Certy. #93, issued to George R. Turner for 10 shares. Signed by Wm. H. Stevens, president, and M. Allison Wheeler, secretary. Two vignettes: at center, a mounted Indian with long lance, and at right an eagle perched atop a shield, holding an olive branch. Applied 25 ct. revenue stamp at left. Black border on light green safety printed background, with black print. 5.75 x 10.25.” Uncancelled. Printer: Towne & Bacon, San Francisco. Datelined San Francisco. Carolita is the diminutive of the name Carol. M.A. Wheeler was a general partner in Wheeler & Gallagher, owners of Reese River Agency, a prominent company in San Francisco, and Turner was a partner in Turner & Short, civil engineers and surveyors [Langley, 1864].
Thumbnail 2647 Lander County,NV - April 13, 1866 - Consolidated Silver Mining Company Stock *Territorial* : Start Price: 250.00Estimate: 500.00 - 800.00 Reese River and Union Districts. Incorporated in New York. Cert.#7, issued to Cynthia P. Hand for 50 shares. Signed by John H. Chewin, president, and Thos. F. Gould, secretary. Vignette at center of miners underground, allegorical women, an Indian and explorer, with city and harbor backdrop. A 2nd vignette at left, cross section of buckets being lowered by winch from the surface to miners below. Black border and print on crème paper. Uncancelled. 7 x 10.5.” Printer: Sloat & Janes, N.Y. Applied 25ct. revenue stamp at right. Datelined New York. FH surmises that this property was probably the Monte Christo of Six Mile Canyon—an educated guess.
Thumbnail 2648 Lander County,NV - October 24, 1863 - Pride of the East Gold and Silver Mining Company Stock *Territ Start Price: 300.00High Bid: 800.00Estimate: 600.00 - 900.00 Reese River District. Incorporated in 1863. Cert. #129, issued to Sam’l Winans for 10 shares. Signed by John B. Frank, president, and by Wm. T. Reynolds, secretary. Vignette at center of 2 people walking up a tree-studded slope above a river canyon. Black border and print, with 2 applied revenue stamps at left (20cts & 5cts). Small vignette at bottom of a dog guarding a safe. Printer: Robbins & Co’s Print, S.F. Uncancelled. 5.5 x 9.5.” The census of 1860 reveals that there were 3 Winans brothers–Stephen, Robert and Samuel—living in Nevada County, California and working as masons.
Thumbnail 2649 Lander County,NV - July 21, 1863 - Webster Gold and Silver Mining Company Stock *Territorial* : Start Price: 300.00High Bid: 800.00Estimate: 600.00 - 900.00 Queen City Ledge, Reese River District. Incorporated in 1863. Cert. #126, issued to Mary Polack for 4 shares. Signed by E.M. Derby, president, and Theo. Wetzel, secretary. Center vignette of miner at mouth of tunnel with loaded ore cart at hand; a small dog’s head vignette at bottom; and an eagle atop a shield at left. Uncancelled. Printer: Towne & Bacon, S.F. Applied 25ct revenue stamp at left. Black border and print on green safety printed paper. Datelined San Francisco. According to Langley’s 1864 directory, Derby was as Commission Merchant in San Francisco, and Wetzel was a partner in Wetzel & Pichoir, stock exchange brokers and mining company secretaries. Mary Polack was a real estate agent.
Thumbnail 2650 Lovelock, Halfway House, Seven Troughs,NV - Pershing County - c1906 - Nevada Photographs : Start Price: 150.00Estimate: 300.00 - 500.00 Rare Photographs measures 4’’x 3 ¼’’, medium contrast and focus is sharp. All have writing in pencil on the back, all in good condition with wear. Photographer is undefined, but the names of two men are identified as Billy J Frank and Jim Tears. First photo is of a wooden building located at Halfway House. The sign on the building “Go to Town Seven Troughs” acting as a place where stages were available to go to the town of Seven Troughs. Five men stand outside; this place may have also acted as a saloon. Next is of team of wagons on the road carrying lumber and supplies. Ten mules are seen pulling the front, while one man clearly stands near the wagons. Another is of the same team but pictured from the front. Next is a photo of three men standing with two white horses that are attached to a wagon. Lastly there is a photo of a stagecoach being pulled by eight horses standing idle in a town of Lovelock. The Trinity Pass began in 1906, today many buildings once located on the pass are gone.
Thumbnail 2651 Lyon County,NV - March 31, 1864 - Daniel Webster Gold & Silver Mining Company Stock *Territorial* : Start Price: 500.00High Bid: 1,150.00Estimate: 1,000.00 - 1,500.00 Devil’s Gate Mining District. Incorporated in 1863. Cert. #136, issued to John Carmichael for 10 shares. Signed by David Hunter, president, and by Alex Stott, secretary. Vignette of Daniel Webster at center, with red underprint ($1,000,000), and small flag vignette at bottom center. Black border and print with 2 applied revenue stamps (20cts and 5cts) at left. Datelined San Francisco. Printer: Robbins & Co’s, SF. 5.25 x 9.5.” On the Bancroft map of 1865 (Map of Virginia, Gold Hill, Devil’s Gate and American Flat), the Daniel Webster is up Negro Canyon, and was part of the Brunswick Lode. It is one of the mines where the tight turn is on the truck route from Silver City to Virginia. The Becker map of 1883 is in error as to the proper location. David Hunter was in real estate, and Alex Stott was a dealer in lamps and oils, according to Langley’s 1864 directory.
Thumbnail 2652 Lyon County,NV - 1877-78 - Devil's Gate Stock Certificates : Start Price: 150.00High Bid: 150.00Estimate: 300.00 - 500.00 Lot of two items: 1) Goodman Gold and Silver Mining Co., incorporated December, 1873. Certificate No. 190, issued for 100 shares to J.H. Hettell (endorsed on reverse). Signed by John H. Mills as President and L.B. Hastings as Secretary. "Devil's Gate Mining District, Nevada." printed at center top. Vignette of miner with pick and rifle on left center and miner working underground at top right. Black border and ink on white paper, with embossed seal at center left. Hand cancelled in red ink on face with assessment stamp no. 4 and 5 on reverse. 2) Industry Gold & Silver Mining Company, incorporated Oct. 2, 1877. Cert. No. 29, issued for 50 shares to Wm. M Laughlin, Trustee, on Oct. 16, 1878. Signed by Chas T. Rehan as President and J.E. Sisson as Secretary. "Devil's Gate Mining Dist., Lyon Co. Nev." printed below company name. Vignette of miner loading ore into cart labeled "industry" at top left while company name ornately printed. Black border and text on white paper. Embossed seal at center bottom. Uncancelled. Lith. Britton, Rey & Co. S.F. No foldlines, both extremely fine pieces.
Thumbnail 2653 Panaca,NV - Lincoln County - 1938 - Panaca CCC Camp Panorama : Start Price: 125.00Estimate: 250.00 - 500.00 An Erwin photograph taken from a hillside above the camp, shows the entire layout of C.C. C. (Civilian Conservation Corps) Camp No. 2513 at Panaca (Camp SCS-3), Nevada. There is no activity to be seen around the camp, apart from a cow grazing on the hillside. Measures 6.5 x 17,” and is quite faded. Panaca was established in 1864 by Mormon settlers who found it a spot with plentiful water for crops and livestock. A few years later silver ore was found nearby, and that led to the founding of Bullionville in 1869. The C.C.C. was established in 1933 by Franklin Delano Roosevelt in the hope of solving both the need for jobs during the Great Depression, and the need for public infrastructure improvements. The workers were young unemployed, unmarried men who worked for $30 a month (of which $25 was sent home to their families and $1 was kept by each man for entertainment, haircuts and cigarettes). The program, which provided conservation work, instruction in the trades and a general education, came to an end in 1942 because of the new need for men and materials to fight WWII. Nevada had 54 C.C.C. camps during those years.
Thumbnail 2654 Rawhide,NV - Mineral County - 1969-1973 - Nevada Historic Mining Camps : Start Price: 150.00High Bid: 150.00Estimate: 300.00 - 400.00 Lot of 19 Historic Mining Camps of Nevada issues; among these issues are Editions 1-5. First of all, there are 4 copies of Edition 1: Water Supply for the Comstock, 1969. 2 copies are signed by author Hugh A. Shamberger. Each is 53 pages, includes a detailed index, and can be identified by its textured tan colored-cover. Second, 5 copies of Edition 2, Rawhide 1970. This edition was dedicated to the still surviving influential members of Rawhide, NV, Charles MCleod (b1878), Leo Grutt (b1879) and Joseph McDonald (b1891. Each copy is a 50 page brown cover colored copy with a printed image of the ghost town of Rawhide. Third, 3 copies of Edition 3: Seven Troughs, 1972. All three of the Seven Troughs copies are signed by author Hugh A. Shamberger; each is 57 pages, includes a detailed index, and has a yellow colored cover with an image of a booming Seven Troughs area. Next, 4 copies of Edition 4: Rochester 1973. Each copy is 65pg, includes an index, and has off-white covers with an image of Rochester. Last, 3 copies are of Edition 5: Fairview 1973. Each has a textured-green cover, has 61 pages and has a detailed index. The lot as a whole is in good condition; there are, however, some slight page discolorations on a minimum number of copies, in addition to small tears along the bindings. All pages and text blocks are near new. All the copies come with fold out maps, printed photos and illustrations, various statistical summaries included.
Thumbnail 2655 Reno,NV - Washoe County - c1958 - Les Garcia Custom Engraved Spurs : Start Price: 300.00Estimate: 600.00 - 1,000.00 A pair of handmade women's spurs with 1/2" wide bands--the outside band on each is silver with an engraved design. Each neck is 1 1/2" long with a 12-point rowel. The light brown leathers have a hand-tooled floral pattern. These spurs were custom made for the owner by Les Garcia, son of the famed G.S. Garcia of Elko, Nevada and are engraved with the name "Garcia" inside the band. They are in perfect condition and could easily be used today. A true family heirloom.
Thumbnail 2656 Ruth,NV - White Pine County - c1910 - Ruth Photographs : Start Price: 300.00Estimate: 600.00 - 1,200.00 Three photographs on black matte measure at 6 ¾’’x 9 ¾’’. Focus is sharp, and medium contrast. Then photos have yellow age marks and wear on the edges. No photographer identified. The first is of three different business buildings. The first one “Ruth Drug Co.” The second “W.F. Squire General Merchandise Market and Grocery. And the last store “Ruth Café.” Three cars are parked in front of the stores; people are clearly seen seated in the vehicles. The second is of a large building next to a series of smaller buildings housing different stores. One titled “Hughes Store” with a smaller underneath that in partly covered up but the word “Furnishings” can be seen clearly. A smaller building on the right side “Goodman Tidball Merc Co. Three cars are present in front of the stores. The last is of the Star Pointer Hotel. It’s a large building with two people seated on the porch. Several small homes are seen in the distance and one has a parked car in front. Ruth is a town west of Ely. Home to several copper mines, this turn of the century mining town boomed until the Great Depression. At it’s peak population Ruth was home to over 2,200 people.