"Christmas Chronicles", 2023 December Live Auction

Auction CurrencyUSD Auction Location3555 Airway Drive Suite 308, Reno, Nevada, 89511, United States In Person PreviewPreview

Auction Details

Christmas is coming early to our Collectors this year! Welcome to our Holabird's 2023 Christmas Chronicles, our biggest sale of the year!


The Christmas Chronicles December Auction is our Grand Finale of 2023 and we've included every collecting category as a Christmas Thank-You for our valued customers.

December is loaded with BRAND NEW ITEMS featuring collectibles from the Robert Coelln Western Collection, The Jan Garvis Mining Collection, The Franklin Collection, The Herzog Collection, The Chunlin Zhu Natural Wonders Collection, The Gary Bracken General Store Collection, plus many others!
No matter what you collect we encourage you to browse the entire online catalog for the DECEMBER LIVE AUCTION as hidden rarities are scattered throughout the sale! While our December's Sale includes an incredible selection of RARE Antique Photographs, you will also find photographs peppered in almost every other section, like the never-before-offered original, antique photograph of Doc Holiday and Big-Nose Kate you will find listed in our Cowboy section!
We've worked hard this fall to clear out our warehouses and list another big group of MINERAL DISPLAY SPECIMENS from the Chunlin Zhu Collection! Many of you have purchased massive specimens from this collection for incredible prices and dealers have made huge profits in this category since our premier sale over a year ago. We are proud to offer another BRAND-NEW GROUP of spectacular display specimens, as we are reaching the last of the Chinese pieces. This may be one of your last chances to purchase pieces like this well below wholesale -- just in time for the 2024 Tucson Gem and Mineral Show! We recommend pick-up for the larger pieces as shipping prices on some of these rocks are restrictive but this has offered an unbelievable opportunity for nearby customers willing to make a trip to Reno. And while you are in the neighborhood, don't miss the General Store items from Bracken, another collection that is coming to a close. For Dealers who enjoy a winter vacation in Reno/Tahoe, picking up from our year-end sale will definitely give you a leg up on your 2024 profit margin!
If you aren't within driving distance of Reno, no worries! December has an incredible variety of ephemera, coins, jewelry, and other easy-to-ship items for you to cross off your wish list this Christmas and if you won in our Black Friday Weekend Timed auction and your shipment did not go out early, we will combine your items and ship both orders together to save you money on your shipping invoice.

Thank you and happy bidding!

Day 1
Art (1000-1051)
Photography (1052-1138)
Native American Art (1139-1162)
Imported Collectibles (1163-1201)
Home (1202-1215)
Souvenir Plates (1216-1225)
Silverware (1226-1230)
Jewelry (1231-1241)
Native American Artifacts (1242-1392)
Maps (1393-1418)
Books (1419-1535)
Entertainment (1536-1551)
Musical Instruments (1552-1555)


Day 2
Minerals (2000-2052)
Mining (2053-2400)
Cowboy (2401-2438)
Tobacciana (2439-2452)
Bottles (2453-2476)
Saloon (2477-2492)
Gaming (2493-2501)
Firearms-Weapons (2501-2509)
Military (2510-2552)
Political (2553-2587)

Day 3
Sports (3000-3009)
Tokens (3010-3023)
Badges (3024-3037)
Numismatics (3038-3181)
Coins (3039-3056)
Currency (3057-3083)
Ephemera (3084-3112)
Ingots (3113-3149)
Exonumia & Medals (3150-3182)
SS Central America (3183-3213)
Transportation (3214-3300)
General Collectibles (3301-3332)
Tools (3333-3334)
General Store (3335-3411)
Ephemera,
Geographically Sorted (3412-3593)

Day 4
Stocks & Bonds (4000-4429)
Including mining, railroad, etc
Philatelic - Postal History (4430-4465)
Postcards (4466-4486)
Stamps – USA (4487-4521)
Stamps – Worldwide (4522-4528)
Wells Fargo & Express (4529-4576)
Firefighting Memorabilia (4577-4579)
Fraternal Organizations (4580-4582)

Shipping is billed separately. Pay your auction invoice early as purchases are packed in the order payments are received. Pick-up must be scheduled 24 hours in advance when you receive your shipping preference email after the auction. Invoices will go out immediately after the auction ends.

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G.W. Bell Assay Office - Silver Bars Receipt, rec'd from Dalls Mill, Franktown, NV  1864  [169261]2259 - G.W. Bell Assay Office - Silver Bars Receipt, rec'd from Dalls Mill, Franktown, NV 1864 [169261]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
G.W. Bell Assay Office, Savage Mine, Dalls Mill, Franktown, NV, 1864. Nevada territorial deposit of Silver Bars (bullion crossed out) deposited for th
Bidding Has Concluded
Start Price : 150.00 | Estimate : 300.00 - 500.00
 
 
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CDV of Mines of Gold Hill, c 1863    [170603]2260 - CDV of Mines of Gold Hill, c 1863 [170603]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
CDV of Quartz Mills at Gold Hill, Nevada, photo circa 1863-4, sold in 1865. Fantastic CDV by Lawrence & Houseworth. "738. Quartz Mills at G...
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 1,000.00 - 2,000.00
Sold to G********m.. for (500.00 + 125.00BP) = 625.00
 
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Forman Shaft, Gold Hill, Nevada Mounted Photograph    [164651]2261 - Forman Shaft, Gold Hill, Nevada Mounted Photograph [164651]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
No. 927. "Foreman[sic.] Shaft, Gold Hill, Nev." No photographer listed. Probably c.1900-10. 5 x 8" photo on 7.75 x 10.75" mount....
Bidding Has Concluded
Start Price : 150.00 | Estimate : 300.00 - 400.00
 
 
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Gold Hill Stereoview, No. 4158    [171665]2262 - Gold Hill Stereoview, No. 4158 [171665]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Stereoview of Nevada's mining history, overlooking "Gold Hill, from the Reservoir" by Watkins' New Series, Yosemite and Pacific Co...
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 300.00 - 500.00
Sold to S********e for (275.00 + 68.75BP) = 343.75
 
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Letter to Early Comstocker Vignot With Reference to Ormsby  1860  [173858]2263 - Letter to Early Comstocker Vignot With Reference to Ormsby 1860 [173858]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Letter datelined San Francisco, January 23rd, 1860. Addressed to Jean Vignot in Gold Hill, Utah Territory, from notary public E. Dupree. Mentions prom
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 500.00 - 1,000.00
Sold to c********e for (550.00 + 137.50BP) = 687.50
 
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Map of Gold Hill Front Lodes 1864  1864  [167524]2264 - Map of Gold Hill Front Lodes 1864 1864 [167524]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
14.5 x 23.5" black and white litho by Oakley and Thomson Boston. Survey July 1864 Westcoatt on claims located in sept and oct of 1859. The map ...
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 1,000.00 - 3,000.00
Sold to 8********l.. for (500.00 + 125.00BP) = 625.00
 
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Mining Stock Issued to & Signed by Almarin B. Paul, Gold Hill Banker & Mining Man  1882  [164613]2265 - Mining Stock Issued to & Signed by Almarin B. Paul, Gold Hill Banker & Mining Man 1882 [164613]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
This is a California mining stock issued to an important figure in California and Nevada mining history. Location: Nimshew, Butte County, California (
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 500.00 - 1,000.00
Sold to 8********l.. for (250.00 + 62.50BP) = 312.50
 
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1919 Foldout Pocket Map of the Divide!  1919  [171210]2266 - 1919 Foldout Pocket Map of the Divide! 1919 [171210]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
This was exactly the time that the Divide became the place to mine. It was between Goldfield and Tonopah. Forty different mines listed in index. Priva
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 300.00 - 600.00
Sold to c********e for (160.00 + 40.00BP) = 200.00
 
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Florence Goldfield Mining Assay Archive    [175734]2267 - Florence Goldfield Mining Assay Archive [175734]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
The Florence was and still is the key gold producing mine in Goldfield, NV. It is one of the early discoveries well discussed in Zanjani's book ...
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 300.00 - 600.00
Sold to O*********n for (100.00 + 25.00BP) = 125.00
 
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Goldfield Nevada  Ephemera Collection(19)  1900s  [171515]2268 - Goldfield Nevada Ephemera Collection(19) 1900s [171515]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Goldfield ephemera collection of 19 pieces, including eight (8) picture postcards of the region, a check written by the Tonopah and Goldfield Railroa
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 240.00 - 500.00
Sold to 8********l.. for (120.00 + 30.00BP) = 150.00
 
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Vernal Mine Assay Report Archive    [175735]2269 - Vernal Mine Assay Report Archive [175735]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Archive of about 23 assay reports from 1913 from mill screenings, "grabs" etc. up to about 7oz/ton of gold. Goldfield Nevada Franklin C...
Bidding Has Concluded
Start Price : 150.00 | Estimate : 300.00 - 400.00
 
 
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Abstract of Mining Production in Lincoln County    [150405]2270 - Abstract of Mining Production in Lincoln County [150405]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
For March of 1870. Three mines are listed by owner. The Ely & Raymond Ò one of Lincoln County's most famous mines Ò was the main p...
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 300.00 - 400.00
Sold to f*****E for (120.00 + 0.00BP) = 120.00
 
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George Wingfield Letter  1928  [170590]2271 - George Wingfield Letter 1928 [170590]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
This is a letter to A.H. Lawry of Goldfield, Nevada and signed by George Wingfield. It basically tells Lawry to not remove ore samples from his mine
Bidding Has Concluded
Start Price : 100.00 | Estimate : 200.00 - 400.00
 
 
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Bullfrog Check Collection, 4    [173362]2272 - Bullfrog Check Collection, 4 [173362]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
2 pictorial Bullfrog checks 1909 and 1910. 2x non pictorial Bullfrog Bank & Trust 1907. "The Bullfrog mining district was a boom for Nevada...
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 200.00 - 250.00
Sold to c*****r for (90.00 + 22.50BP) = 112.50
 
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Grub Stake Request Letter  1928  [172978]2273 - Grub Stake Request Letter 1928 [172978]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Handwritten letter from one Charles G. Aldridge of Schurz, Nevada to M.H. Poehlman, requesting help in securing a grubstake of $500 from George Wingfi
Bidding Has Concluded
Start Price : 40.00 | Estimate : 80.00 - 100.00
 
 
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Bacon and Trench Mills, c1870s, Stereoviews, Silver City  c.1870s  [173784]2274 - Bacon and Trench Mills, c1870s, Stereoviews, Silver City c.1870s [173784]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Lot of 2 different mills. These mills were in the vicinity of the original discovery site for the Comstock by the Grosh brothers. Both stereoviews are
Bidding Has Concluded
Start Price : 500.00 | Estimate : 1,000.00 - 1,800.00
 
 
Details...Bookmark
Silver City Stereoview, Rare!    [173127]2275 - Silver City Stereoview, Rare! [173127]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Rare c. 1868 Silver City, NV stereoview by G L Hepburn showing buildings and a wood trestle. Some brown toning on both images, please inspect. Silver
Bidding Has Concluded
Start Price : 250.00 | Estimate : 500.00 - 700.00
 
 
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Two Silver City Territorial Stereoviews  c1864  [171207]2276 - Two Silver City Territorial Stereoviews c1864 [171207]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Two old and historic steroviews. 1) GL Hepburn. Hand written No. 3, Silver City, Nevada. Shows mine in front of city. 2) Handwritten ‘Silver
Bidding Has Concluded
Start Price : 300.00 | Estimate : 600.00 - 1,000.00
 
 
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Tonopah Assayer Receipts (36)  1900s-1920s  [173320]2277 - Tonopah Assayer Receipts (36) 1900s-1920s [173320]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
A group of 36 assayer certificates of assay from R.H. Officer & Company, Jameson & Davidovich, Tonopah Assay Office and Electric Shop, The ...
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 300.00 - 500.00
Sold to 8********l.. for (100.00 + 25.00BP) = 125.00
 
Details...Bookmark
Comstock Mining Check Collection incl. William Sharon Rarity  1864-1882  [173856]2278 - Comstock Mining Check Collection incl. William Sharon Rarity 1864-1882 [173856]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Lot of 13. 1) Best is a Union Mill & Mining Company, Bank of California check issued to and signed by William Sharon for $50,000 (over $1 millio...
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 400.00 - 800.00
Sold to 8********l.. for (200.00 + 50.00BP) = 250.00
 
Details...Bookmark