Best of The West - February 2014

1855 Exquisitely handwritten letter from William Roberts, at Fort Point, California, July 26th, 1855, to his son Willie in S. Scituate, Rhode Island.

1862 This is a lot of five original counterfeit bills that were put into circulation during the War Between the States. There are two three dollar bi

1907 This piece of scrip was issued by the Oakland Clearing House on November 1, 1907. It is signed by Secretary George Meredith and the President of

The certificate is among the most important of all non-coin ephemera from the California gold rush coiners, because this company had the goal of produ

Obverse features a Mexican eagle with rabbit in talons. Reverse features ornately machined concentric circles with “50” in cenetr. Usually found with

c1850 Adams & Company, an express and forwarding agency of Boston opened a San Francisco office in October, 1849. D.H. Haskell was in charge. T...

c1850 Rare item from this obscure bank. Dunbar established this bank in 1850, where he redeemed at par the gold coins of Baldwin & Co. In 1851,...

c1850 Between 1849 and 1852 five express companies were put in operation in San Francisco. These Were Adams & Co., Page Bacon & Co., Palmer...

1819 Hentsch & Berton were the successors in 1863 to Henry Hentsch's banking and assay business in San Francisco. Hentsch was born in Genev...

c1850 Page, Bacon & Co. opened an express office in San Francisco in 1849. Although presumably a local concern, this company was in reality a b...

c1915 HK409 obverse, reverse: Exposition Guards / For Service; XF, ribbon with hanger. Reverse side has Exposition symbol, and Pan Pacific Internatio

1850 John Parrott was born in Virginia in 1810. As a young man he engaged in the mercantile business in Mazatlan, Mexico. He became very wealthy and

1850 Edward E. Dunbar arrived in San Francisco February 28, 1849. He became a commission merchant and auctioneer. By Sept. 1850 he opened Dunbars Cal

1858 Original "Golden Songster" book, as published by D.E. Appleton & Co. The cover reads "Containing the largest and most popul...

c1780 Rare and unique "Check" from Connecticut state treasurer "John Lawrance Esq." to citizen "Lt. Joseph Chapman" f...

c1928 Three pieces: 1) HK705, R4, hanger with red, white and blue ribbon, fine condition; 2) HK706, R4, EF, "Reception committee" hanger ...

1898 A brass medal with red, white, and blue enamel work representing American flags, on a brass hanger that is embossed "Camp Haskell". ...

c1867 8 pieces from this firm that is well known because of having issued territorial currency in the 1860s, now very rare. Seven are Red printed bil

c1893 Lot of three: 1) HK231, XF-AU prooflike, blue portrait hanger with ribbon; 2) HK231, different reverse, EF, "New York Anniversay Oct. 12...

c1904 Two pieces: 1) HK302, R3, hanger with blue, red, white and yellow ribbon, AU-UNC; 2) HK352c, R5, XF, gilt, 1908 U.S. Navy World Voyage. - HKA