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Goldfield,NV - Esmeralda County - c1903 - First Strike, Goldfield Photograph :

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Photographic Images Start Price:100.00 USD Estimated At:200.00 - 400.00 USD
Goldfield,NV - Esmeralda County - c1903 - First Strike, Goldfield Photograph :
Miners pan for gold. Photograph measures 7”x5”, no matte, medium contrast—some yellowing, and focus is good—photo is mildly grainy. There is a crease running thorough the middle right of the photo and a stain on the upper left. Photographer not identified, but the work is reminiscent of A. Allen’s photography. Allen was active in Goldfield as early as 1903. The first discoveries near Goldfield came after the Native American Tom Fisherman brought gold samples to Tonopah. Billy Marsh and Harry Stimler sought out Fisherman’s stomping grounds and discovered float gold on Columbia Mountain. Float gold is small gold specks/pieces that have been carried downhill by streams or weathering. Gold panning was an effective way to identify whether or not gold deposits or perhaps veins were nearby or not. Stimler and Marsh named their first claim Sandstorm for the excessive wind and dust they encountered when first prospecting on Columbia Mountain. They must have been optimistic about their discoveries and named the camp Grandpa: the granddaddy of discoveries. Etched into the image of this photograph is, “No. 18, First, Stike, Goldfield”. Whether or not this is Stimler and Marsh working their Columbia Mountain Sandstorm Claim is not verified. On the other hand, it is a nice photo of an early panning operation at Goldfield.