"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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Sutro Tunnel with Shafts Hand Draw Map, c. 1878    [175697]2319 - Sutro Tunnel with Shafts Hand Draw Map, c. 1878 [175697]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Hand drawn map of the Sutro Tunnel by Hoffman & Craven, c. 1878. Ex-Moran, Virginia City surveyor files. Shows 3 shafts intersecting including t...
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 500.00 - 900.00
Sold to I*******r for (250.00 + 62.50BP) = 312.50
 
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Theall & Co. Important Assays for "Bonanza King" James G. Fair as Supt.  1867  [164667]2320 - Theall & Co. Important Assays for "Bonanza King" James G. Fair as Supt. 1867 [164667]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Lot of 2. These important assay documents show James G. Fair "doing his job as superintendent," says FH. Fair is taking multiple samples o...
Bidding Has Concluded
Start Price : 250.00 | Estimate : 500.00 - 1,000.00
 
 
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Two Different Con. Virginia Mining Company Annual Reports  1880-1913  [164475]2321 - Two Different Con. Virginia Mining Company Annual Reports 1880-1913 [164475]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Lot of 2 different for this famous mine owned by the Bonanza Kings and the site of the Big Bonanza discovery. 1) Report Upon Proposed Exploration on t
Bidding Has Concluded
Start Price : 600.00 | Estimate : 1,200.00 - 2,000.00
 
 
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Two James G. Fair Mining Letters  1860s-80s  [164489]2322 - Two James G. Fair Mining Letters 1860s-80s [164489]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Lot of 2 for Bonanza King mining millionaire and US Senator James G. Fair. 1) Letterbook copy of letter sent by Fair in the 1860s when he was superint
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 300.00 - 500.00
Sold to i***y for (120.00 + 30.00BP) = 150.00
 
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Union Mill & Mining Co. Promissory Note Signed by William Sharon PlU.S. Bonus  1870  [164498]2323 - Union Mill & Mining Co. Promissory Note Signed by William Sharon PlU.S. Bonus 1870 [164498]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Lot of 2 Bank of California items. 1) Bank of California Note to pay Union Mill & Mining Co. $7500.00 dated May 9th, 1870 in Gold Coin. Signed b...
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 300.00 - 500.00
Sold to S********e for (130.00 + 32.50BP) = 162.50
 
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United States Internal Revenue Tax Document for Savage Mining Co. Assaying  1870  [164602]2324 - United States Internal Revenue Tax Document for Savage Mining Co. Assaying 1870 [164602]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
This is a great companion piece for ingot collectors because it is for the Savage Mine having to pay tax on bullion (like the tax stamps on ingots). D
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 500.00 - 800.00
Sold to e******n for (250.00 + 62.50BP) = 312.50
 
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Utah Mine Stereoview Photograph  c.1870s  [164636]2325 - Utah Mine Stereoview Photograph c.1870s [164636]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Noe's Views, No. 29 South C Street, Virginia, Nevada. Reverse has paper label identifying this as the Utah Mine Hoisting Works. The contrast is ...
Bidding Has Concluded
Start Price : 200.00 | Estimate : 400.00 - 800.00
 
 
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V&T Railroad Receipt Signed by Emanuel Penrod, One of the Original Comstock Discoverers  1872  [16442326 - V&T Railroad Receipt Signed by Emanuel Penrod, One of the Original Comstock Discoverers 1872 [1644
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Extremely rare Comstock autograph. Virginia & Truckee Railroad receipt, Carson, March 14th, 1872. Issued to E. Penrod for 9 7/8 cords of nut pin...
Bidding Has Concluded
Start Price : 500.00 | Estimate : 1,000.00 - 2,000.00
 
 
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Van Wyck & Co. Assay Office Receipt Collection for NumeroU.S. Mills  1864-65  [166983]2327 - Van Wyck & Co. Assay Office Receipt Collection for NumeroU.S. Mills 1864-65 [166983]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Lot of 10 receipts. All are for bullion deposits by the Savage Mining Company. Almost as soon as the news of a strike in Esmeralda (Aurora) reached th
Bidding Has Concluded
Start Price : 150.00 | Estimate : 300.00 - 800.00
 
 
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Van Wyck Assayer Archive, Savage MC Ores, 1865    [167528]2328 - Van Wyck Assayer Archive, Savage MC Ores, 1865 [167528]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Twelve original assay certificates for Comstock Assayer Van Wyck representing ores sent to eleven different mills for reduction to bullion._x000D_ Thi
Bidding Has Concluded
Start Price : 600.00 | Estimate : 1,200.00 - 2,500.00
 
 
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