723

Lake Tahoe Region Token Collection - Lake Tahoe, CA

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money / Exonumia - Tokens Start Price:1,500.00 USD Estimated At:3,000.00 - 6,000.00 USD
Lake Tahoe Region Token Collection  - Lake Tahoe, CA
Preview
Holabird-Kagin Americana Office
3555 Airway Drive Suite#309
Reno, NV 89511
Thursday Feb 20th, 10am-6pm
* Preview also available by appointment

Live Auction
Friday & Saturday
Feb 20 & 21, 2014
9am PDT starting time, both days

Location
Atlantis Casino & Resort
Paradise A Room
3800 S. Virginia Street
Reno, NV 89502

Lot Pick Up
Holabird-Kagin Americana Office
3555 Airway Drive Suite #309
Reno, NV 89511
Sunday February 23rd, 10am-1pm

As far as we know, this is the finest Tahoe region token collection ever assembled. It contains seven different tokens dating from about 1882 to 1900. It contains the great rarities, not some of the more common pieces. 1. The Custom House, J.B.C.//Brunswick & Balke Co. This choice token dates from 1882, when Joseph B. Campbell took sole ownership of the saloon and billiard parlors. Built in 1872 on a pier opposite the Grand Central pier in Tahoe City, it was originally owned by Campbell and James O. Forbes. It was the fourth saloon built at Tahoe City, and soon became the “custom” to go there and all who came to town aboard the steamers, such as the Gov. Stanford, went through the swinging doors, including perhaps every major San Francisco financier, as Tahoe City is the closest point to the Central Pacific Railroad at Truckee. In the early years, it was marked by a drunken gunfight. Campbell ran two billiards rooms- one for the ladies. He also had a post office and general merchandise store in addition to the saloon which boasted of Boca Beer and Tahoe Lager. The wharf was extended 250 feet to deeper water to accommodate all shipping. The local newspaper, the Tahoe Tattler, was published in the Grand Central Hotel across the wharf, though it only lasted from July 1881 to January 1882. Campbell died about 1900, and his brother Frank continued the business. These brass tokens, the size of a quarter, are very rare. It is believed there are no more than three known today. 2 and 3. Jellerson & Martell, Glenbrook//Brunswick, Balke Collender Co., nickel. The Jellerson Hotel (and saloon, restaurant) was built at Glenbrook in 1882, a gorgeous two story affair. It was so popular that by 1890 they built a second hotel , the Dirego House nearby. Frank S. Jellerson, from Maine, managed the hotel. E. Martell managed the saloon during the 1890’s. There are two different tokens, one simply marked “F.S. Jellerson” with no town name. This token dates from about 1882-1890. The Jellerson, Martell piece dates to about 1890-1900 and contains the desirable town name, Glenbrook. The earlier token has about ten pieces known, most of which were found at one time by metal detectorists more than a decade ago. The Glenbrook designated piece is extremely rare, with perhaps three known today. 4. Bijou Café, John Kellner, Proprietor//GF 5c IT. Brass. Bijou was a lumber settlement at the south end of the lake. With nice flat terrain, it also became a place where food stuffs could be grown. The short-lived Lake Valley Railroad ran through the area in 1891. This token is listed in Kappan, but I don’t think it is from California (FH). There are no listings for Kellner in California or Nevada in census data for 1900-1920 or in directories from 1888-1905, though he could have had a business that only lasted a whiff of time in this tiny somewhat seasonal community. 5. Boca Hotel Bar//GF 1 drink. Aluminum. This exceptionally rare token comes from the lumber and brewing town along the Truckee River just out of Truckee. It dates to about 1890-1900. The hotel was owned by a local lumber company and sported a saloon. The Boca Brewery was nearby, though it was marred in scandal and fire about the time this token was issued. 6. McKinney’s/GF 5c. MS62, the finest known, uncirculated, brass. John W. McKinney, a longtime resident and character at Tahoe built a place for folks to stay that became one of the preeminent lodges in California. He hosted everyone- from Lucky Baldwin and John Muir to all the San Francisco financiers. Over time he built about two dozen cabins as part of the resort, and by 1900 was “all the rage” of Tahoe. These tokens are probably a product of the post-1900 tourist boom. Perhaps a dozen to twenty are known today. 7. Col. F. M. Rickey’s Hotel, Markleeville//GF 1 drink. Brass. Markleeville is an indirect adjunct of Tahoe. As a lumber and mining community, it sits south of Hope Valley near South Lake Tahoe, near the once thriving mining camp of Silver Mountain. Rickey is one of the region’s most popular figures. He and his brother, T. B. Rickey had a huge livestock and ranching business, and were fierce competitors with Miller & Lux, who were never able to buy them out. Markleeville is in the middle of beautiful mountainous ranching land just over the hill from Tahoe (Luther Pass). Rickey ran the hotel in the 1890’s, when this token was made. As far as I know, there may only be one or two others. - HKA#66156