"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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Hale & Norcross SMC Check, Leopold Kuh, Virginia City  1867  [173804]2279 - Hale & Norcross SMC Check, Leopold Kuh, Virginia City 1867 [173804]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Very rare! Dateline Virginia, Nev., March 2nd, 1867. No. 1390. Pay $24 to L. Kuh. Signed by C.C. Thomas as superintendent. Orange Nevada and US IR sta
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 300.00 - 500.00
Sold to B*********g for (140.00 + 35.00BP) = 175.00
 
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"Down Memory Trail to The Comstock in Pictures" by John J. "Count" Mahoney  1947  [164575]2280 - "Down Memory Trail to The Comstock in Pictures" by John J. "Count" Mahoney 1947 [164575]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Down Memory Trail to The Comstock in Pictures - by John J. "Count" Mahoney. No date listed, but its publication is mentioned in the Nevada...
Bidding Has Concluded
Start Price : 250.00 | Estimate : 500.00 - 1,500.00
 
 
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Bank of CA Promissory Note, W. Sharon, A. Hayward  1870  [173801]2281 - Bank of CA Promissory Note, W. Sharon, A. Hayward 1870 [173801]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Bank of California promissory note for $20,000 issued in 1870 in San Francisco to A(lvinza) Hayward. Signed by Hayward on reverse. Signed by William S
Bidding Has Concluded
Start Price : 150.00 | Estimate : 300.00 - 600.00
 
 
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Bonanza Mines and the Bonanza Kings of California by Dewey  1879  [164158]2282 - Bonanza Mines and the Bonanza Kings of California by Dewey 1879 [164158]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Very rare gilded cover, Bonanza Mines and the Bonanza Kings of California by S P Dewey, Their Five Years Reign. 1879. 87pp. Spine wear, repaired fron
Bidding Has Concluded
Start Price : 250.00 | Estimate : 500.00 - 1,500.00
 
 
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California at Close of 1860 by Edward Visher    [171212]2283 - California at Close of 1860 by Edward Visher [171212]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Includes EARLY Nevada! Over half the 3 page paper is mining. Includes notes on the Silver Region of western Utah (soon to be Nevada). He highlighted t
Bidding Has Concluded
Start Price : 500.00 | Estimate : 1,000.00 - 2,000.00
 
 
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Carson River Comstock Mills Stereoview Group    [164634]2284 - Carson River Comstock Mills Stereoview Group [164634]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Lot of 4 different. Some of the largest Comstock mills were built along the Carson River from Empire to below Dayton. Harnessing the water for power (
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 2,000.00 - 4,000.00
Sold to k********3 for (800.00 + 200.00BP) = 1,000.00
 
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CDV of C Street from the International Hotel, Virginia City, Nevada  c.1864  [164526]2285 - CDV of C Street from the International Hotel, Virginia City, Nevada c.1864 [164526]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Excellent early view of the main street in Virginia City, with Gillig, Mott & Co. hardware building identified on the right (makers of the famou...
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 1,000.00 - 2,000.00
Sold to 8********l.. for (400.00 + 100.00BP) = 500.00
 
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Claim Map of the Middle Section of the Comstock, c1920    [173201]2286 - Claim Map of the Middle Section of the Comstock, c1920 [173201]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
31 x 56" black ink on velum original claim map, 1" to 100', for the Comstock Merger Mines Inc. this map shows the gut of the Comstock ...
Bidding Has Concluded
Start Price : 250.00 | Estimate : 500.00 - 1,000.00
 
 
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Comstock "Bonanza Mines" Annual Reports: California and Consolidated Virginia  1877-80  [164351]2287 - Comstock "Bonanza Mines" Annual Reports: California and Consolidated Virginia 1877-80 [164351]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Lot of 2 different, both rare. The California and Con. Virginia were adjacent mines controlled by the Bonanza Firm and the site of the Big Bonanza dis
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 200.00 - 400.00
Sold to i***y for (100.00 + 25.00BP) = 125.00
 
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Comstock Lode Assay Office, DW Balch Ephemera Group  1869-76  [164606]2288 - Comstock Lode Assay Office, DW Balch Ephemera Group 1869-76 [164606]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Lot of 3. 1) Check-sized receipt for the Comstock Lode Assay Office, DW Balch Proprietor and Assayer. Virginia, Nev., March 10th, 1876. Deposit of 9,3
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 300.00 - 500.00
Sold to B*********g for (100.00 + 25.00BP) = 125.00
 
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Comstock Merger Mines Assay Comparisons, 1922    [173203]2289 - Comstock Merger Mines Assay Comparisons, 1922 [173203]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Original pen and ink on linen 17 x 30" dated Nov 1922 for the Comstock Merger Mines. This important document shows the comparison of multiple a...
Bidding Has Concluded
Start Price : 150.00 | Estimate : 300.00 - 600.00
 
 
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Comstock Mining Superintendent Check Collection  1863-1879  [173803]2290 - Comstock Mining Superintendent Check Collection 1863-1879 [173803]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Lot of 11. All have different supt. signatures! All have RNs or adhesive revenue stamps. This is a handpicked group of checks that represent all the g
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 400.00 - 1,000.00
Sold to o******x for (200.00 + 50.00BP) = 250.00
 
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Con. California & Virginia Mining Co. Bullion Receipts for Wells Fargo  1886-1890  [164478]2291 - Con. California & Virginia Mining Co. Bullion Receipts for Wells Fargo 1886-1890 [164478]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Lot of 3 Wells Fargo & Co. Express bullion receipts for the Con. California & Virginia Mining Company, the mines that were the site of the B...
Bidding Has Concluded
Start Price : 150.00 | Estimate : 300.00 - 600.00
 
 
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Con. Virginia Mining Co. Assay Office Memorandum for Woodworth Mill Sluice Bullion  1877  [164663]2292 - Con. Virginia Mining Co. Assay Office Memorandum for Woodworth Mill Sluice Bullion 1877 [164663]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Memorandum of Bullion for the Woodworth Sluice ("Consolidated Virginia Mining" crossed out). Consolidated Virginia Assay Office, Virginia,...
Bidding Has Concluded
Start Price : 150.00 | Estimate : 300.00 - 500.00
 
 
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Cons. Virginia Mine Square Set Compressed Wood Group    [166783]2293 - Cons. Virginia Mine Square Set Compressed Wood Group [166783]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Three cubes of dense compressed wood from the square set which was used to support the mine walls at the Cons. Virginia Mine. About 1.5x2.5x2.5"...
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 200.00 - 300.00
Sold to c*********p for (110.00 + 27.50BP) = 137.50
 
Details...Bookmark
Consolidated Virginia Mining Company Report of Bullion  1876  [164673]2294 - Consolidated Virginia Mining Company Report of Bullion 1876 [164673]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Extremely rare; we've only offered a few of these over the past decade. Report of Bullion from the Assay Office for the Consolidated Virginia Mi...
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 300.00 - 500.00
Sold to I*******r for (150.00 + 37.50BP) = 187.50
 
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Con-Virginia Hoisting Works, Watkins Stereoview    [170605]2295 - Con-Virginia Hoisting Works, Watkins Stereoview [170605]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Consolidated Virginia Hoisting Works, Virginia City Stereoview. Pacific Coast Views, C.E. Watkins, San Francisco. c.1876-79. "Consolidated Virg...
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 500.00 - 800.00
Sold to c*********p for (325.00 + 81.25BP) = 406.25
 
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Empire Mill Stereoview & Photograph, Comstock Lode    [164635]2296 - Empire Mill Stereoview & Photograph, Comstock Lode [164635]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Lot of 2. The Empire State Mill was located in Sixmile Canyon at foot of Sugarloaf. In the early 1870s, it had 15 stamps a 40-ton-a-day-capacity. The
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 400.00 - 1,000.00
Sold to 8********l.. for (180.00 + 45.00BP) = 225.00
 
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Gould & Curry Assay Office Bullion Memorandum for the Savage Mine, Devils Gate, Woodworth, & Central2297 - Gould & Curry Assay Office Bullion Memorandum for the Savage Mine, Devils Gate, Woodworth, & Central
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Memorandum of Bullion from the Savage Mining Co. Assayed at the Gould & Curry Assay Office. February 1867. At this point, the Gould & Curry ...
Bidding Has Concluded
Start Price : 200.00 | Estimate : 400.00 - 800.00
 
 
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Gould & Curry Assay Office Bullion Memorandum for the Savage Mine, Empire Mill, Booth's Mill  1867  2298 - Gould & Curry Assay Office Bullion Memorandum for the Savage Mine, Empire Mill, Booth's Mill 1867
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Memorandum of Bullion from the Savage Mining Co. Assayed at the Gould & Curry Assay Office. February 1867. At this point, the Gould & Curry ...
Bidding Has Concluded
Start Price : 200.00 | Estimate : 400.00 - 800.00
 
 
Details...Bookmark