NOT SOLD (BIDDING OVER), HIGH BID WAS
50,000.00USD+ applicable fees & taxes.
This item WAS NOT SOLD. Auction date was 2012 Dec 08 @ 10:00UTC-8 : PST/AKDT
IMPORTANT NOTE ON BUYERS PREMIUMS:
Lot 100 to 343 have a premium of 15%.
The rest of the sale is 19.5% as noted in the listing.
Lot Pick Up: Holabird-Kagin Americana,
3555 Airway Drive Ste #309,
Reno NV 89511,
Sunday - December 9, 10am-4pm
Part A:
Murphys-Calaveras County Choice Lincoln-Negro Content and Bills of Exchange Discussion 1853 This lot includes two historically significant letters explaining how bills of exchange work. One of the letters also has exceptional political and racial content regarding negroes and Lincoln. The first letter is datelined Murphy`s Camp, Cal Co, Cal. Sept 19/(18)53, 4 long detailed pages. Includes cover with double ring “Murphy`s CAL., April 27” cancel, stamp cut from left corner. The second letter from 19 November 1860, is datelined Murphy`s. Cutting tells his brother that he wants to send a bill of exchange for $100, seeming to not trust regular mail. He wrote, “I have this day procured a bill of exchange for one hundred dollars from Wells Fargo & Company, San Francisco on Wells Fargo of New York, payable at sight to your order at the Bank of Commerce in Boston, which I shall forward through to you by WF&C Express, preferring this course to sending it by mail.” He later complains that his brother is paying too much in postage when sending him newspapers from the east.
“Thank you for (sending) two `True Flags` (a Boston newspaper 1851-1890). Why do you pay double postage when single is sufficient? The postage law on newspapers says, for each newspaper or other printed matter not exceeding 3 oz. in weight shall be sent for one cent. Your Flag package did not weigh quite 2.75 ounces--I weighed it.” Cutting goes on to say that 2 copies of the Flag weigh less than one copy of the New York Herald, New Orleans Delta, or New Orleans Picayune.
Several subjects are mentioned by Cutting to his brother, including his concern that their father is living alone, “By the way, Father writes me he is living alone--this is wrong and ought not be. His advanced age renders him liable to sudden attacks of indisposition more especially during cold weather.” He illustrates further, “Cough! How do you spell that word when you mean to convey an expression of shivering cold by articulation-but I`m flying off the handle, let me go back. Who sees to father`s wardrobe now?” This letter, colorfully written, shows Cutting`s fastidious nature, as well as his love for his father and, like all of his letters, is a great read.
It is clear that Cutting has very staunch opinions on politics. In a letter dated Dec. 1860 he discusses the recent presidential election. “We have quite an exciting time in California. No use my telling you anything about the result as the Pony (express) will have delivered the news long before this reaches you. I, as usual, am among the minority. Bell and Everett were my choice and got my vote. I cannot go the old Democratic Ticket & Party and you may bet high that I am no Black Republican.” Cutting then exalts that that the election hubbub is finally over. “I am glad the elections are over. It has been nothing but politics, politics, politics all this fall. Old Abe-nigger-nigger-nigger-Old Abe-go way nigger-let the nigger alone. Freedom-freedom-now they have Old Abe elected. I suppose we shall see what we shall see-nothing more-nothing less.” HKA#61177
Part B:
Part B CA, Murphys-Calaveras County Cutting Correspondence, 1853-1857 from Murphys 1853-1857 This lot includes 13 long, detailed letters: 9 from Ephraim Cutting, and 4 from Robert Cutting. Nine covers are present, though all have had stamps torn off. This correspondence discusses the problems of obtaining stamps for letters and the hope that Henry will send stamps or the new stamped envelopes. The brothers also discuss many topics related to mining. The 06 June 1853 letter mentions the “enormous big tree found in this country” but doesn’t disclose he is funding the project. This is the first mention of the Calaveras Big Trees in this correspondence. Ephraim sent a $2.50 gold coin and others attached to his 27 July 1853 letter, but they were gone when the letter arrived. He later wrote, “as to that $2 1/2 lost - tis my opinion your penny postman fingered it.” On 26 September 1853 Ephraim sent 4 gold dollars. The 7 November 1853 letter mentions other gold rushes; “About a year ago Australia was all the rage--many left good claims in Murphy`s and went there.” Other discussions of politics, racial issues, diseases, punishments for stealing and other crimes appear in these fine letters. HKA#61181
Part C:
Part C CA, Murphys-Calaveras County Cutting Letters About Civil War, Politics, Mining, & Lumber 1861-1873 This significant lot includes 16 letters and correspondence from 1861-1873. All of the letters written in this date range are included, except the SS Central America Letter from 18 October 1862, and a letter from 18 December 1862 describing Bills of Exchange in which Cutting also frankly discusses his views on “Lincoln and negroes.” These 16 letters discuss Civil War Politics: “The State of California is strong for the Union… Californians can fight, you bet!”, though Cutting displays “strong tendency to pro slavery”. The 1861 letter mentions buying out the Dickinson lumber business in Murphys; their mill was 7.5 miles away.
Cutting`s correspondence is well loved for his commentary. On 18 December 1862 he wrote “The people of California… have an inveterate hatred of all kinds of paper money.” On 14 July 1865 he professed that he was “glad the war is over--and now comes the tug to recover from its effects”. He mentions, in a 7 November 1865 letter, sending a “San Francisco Rose”, a color cutout card, present here with original color envelope for mailing, which is quite rare. He also laments in this letter that “Placer Gold Mining is about ‘played out’--quartz mining for Gold & Silver and Copper Mining are now the rage”. The 5 January 1868 letter mentions receipt of the huckleberry, blackberry, and grapevines; perhaps they were venturing to make wine. By 1868 “there is a general depression in all kinds of business”.
The last is a 2pp letter on printed lettersheet “Kimball & Cutting, Lumber Dealers, Murphy’s, Calaveras Co. Cal (1873)”. Five of the letters include covers, and there are at least 3 different varieties of Murphy’s cancellations--but all stamps are torn off. HKA#61198
Part D:
Part D CA, Murphys-Calaveras County First Murphys Correspondence 1832-52 This lot includes two groupings of material. The first group contains 10 long, detailed letters from Ephraim Cutting to Henry Cutting describing their first days and years in the new Gold Rush mining camp of Murphys. The second group contains 20 other early letters circa 1832-1849 that are family correspondence, not related to the Gold Rush, yet offer a good look at issues in America during that time.
Group 1: The first letter dated 9 November 1850 “Murphy’s Diggings Southern Mines - Cal” is one of the best Gold Rush letters we’ve seen in 35 years of business. Cutting wrote, “I consider it not only my inclination but a positive duty to inform you of my whereabouts and that I am still puffing and blowing among others in search of what is conceded to be by many--and especially California miners all the important article--gold--as it is my only business in this county. Perhaps I ought to tell you how I have succeeded to this time…” This first letter is so long and detailed that the transcript is 7 full pages, single spaced (8pp handwritten) and contains discussions of mining methods, successes, and business in general.
The brothers mined at Spanish Town for a while in 1850 in the “Dry Diggins” but the lack of rain drove them back to Murphys. The January 1851 letter discusses naming Murphys (Stoutenberg), and how Ephraim sent a piece of gold home to be made into jewelry. “(I am) a California miner out and out” he claimed, “–except rowdyism.”
Ephraim also discusses the mail system--a favorite topic--in his 22 December 1851 letter: “I never have patronized the express much and don’t intend to unless in case of emergency – they are too expensive for me.” The following July, he wrote “This gold diggings business is the most exciting–most depressing uncertain & lottery like occupations that ever was thought or heard of.” Also, that December, he reported “It looks a little singular to see men going around after a heavy rain picking up little pieces of gold where the rain has washed them in sight–it reminds me of us boys picking up old nails about election time.” The brothers sent back a pound of gold for their parents in September 1852. Unpleasant discussion of slavery in California highlights a November 25th, 1852 letter. Another letter speaks of a hanging and frontier justice: “Our cabin was robbed--the thieves caught tried and hung under the Lynch Code…” This correspondence contains the earliest known cancellation of Stockton, Cal and several unrecorded examples of cancellations from Stockton and Murphys. (See John Williams, California Postmarks).
The second part of this group is Cutting correspondence unrelated to California, 1832-1849, which contains 20 letters plus miscellaneous covers from Ephraim and other family members. It covers a wide range of places from St. Louis to New Orleans to Ipswitch, Massachusetts. This lot and the following lots, offer a diary style commentary on life and mining at Murphys. HKA#61184
Part E:
Part E CA, Murphys-Calaveras County SS Central America Content and Miners Ten Commandments Lettersheet This lot contains two historically significant letters. The first portion of this lot discusses the 1857 wreck of the SS Central America, often called “The Ship of Gold,” a 280-foot ship with over 550 passengers and crew and a cargo of $3 million in gold (the largest single shipment of gold at the time). This shipwreck had catastrophic effects on the Western and American financial markets, a disaster known today as “The Panic of 1857”. This letter, written by Ephraim Cutting near the fifth anniversary of the ship`s sinking, shows just how dramatic the effect on America was. The letter discusses the overland route for mail (reference obviously to the Pony Express) and its “bad repute.” Cutting wrote to his brother Henry, “I never thought much of the overland route--the steamer line was a shure shot--except once in a while as the Central America and Golden Gate--I sent no letter by either of these steamers.” This detailed 4pp October 1862 letter discusses the first U.S. Treasury $5 note Cutting received in his business. “There is but few of them in the Mountains yet--they do not pass current in this state for their full face, they are about 12 ½ pct in San Francisco. Gold and silver is our only currency--now though I suppose the Greenbacks will be getting thicker and thicker all the time.”
The second part of this lot is Cutting’s Miners Ten Commandments letter sheet correspondence from 1854. This outstanding 3pp letter from 25 July 1854 discusses the Miner’s Ten Commandments. “I send you a copy of the Miner’s Ten Commandments illustration--the illustrations are of but little account bearing but slight resemblance to an actual representation of what they pretend to convey to the ideas of a stranger – (I suppose however I might except the Elephant and the clapboard shanty) . . . perhaps I ought to tell you the whole truth so far as I know about these Commandments . . . –these however I consider very good indeed and well adopted as moral edicts for we outside barbarians and written so plain that he who runs may read and miners especially understand them. I herewith submit the Ten for your perusal and edifications--knowing you to be outside the pale of our church and perhaps standing as much in need of grace and the true means of civilization as certain other heathen of your New England tracts and teachers to bring them out of darkness and degradation.” This is certainly one of the best discussions of this lettersheet by a California miner that we’ve ever seen. HKA#61175
Part F:
CA, Murphys-Calaveras County
Delia Cutting Rare Photo Collection
c1858
This wonderful collection includes 6 original photographs (ambrotypes and daguerrotypes) and the original 4-page letter describing the photographs from 13 July 1858. This letter and photograph collection was sent by Ephraim cutting to his niece Delia Cutting in Chelsea, Ma. From Tunnel Hill, Ca. in July 1858. Included are 2 half-plate ambrotypes of the mine at Tunnel Hill. Scenes show the top and bottom sections of the operation, with Ephraim Cutting and John Kimball, the famous pair who became the major stockholders of the Union Water Company in the 1870s, in the foreground. Cutting wrote to his niece, “This is a view of the mining ground at Tunnel Hill, or that part of it where we are now at work endeavoring to gather gold.” Also included in this fantastic lot are portraits, also described in Ephraim`s letter. “I wrote you some time ago if an opportunity occurred, I would send you a picture of my pretty face and have improved my first chance to fulfill my promise. Whether it looks like me or not is for others to decide, not me.” About his partner`s portrait, he wrote, “I have sent also, an ambrotype of my partner (Mr. Kimball), the gentleman with whom I have been connected in business during my residence in California and for several years in New Orleans before we got infected with the gold fever.”
This lot also includes portraits of Ephraim`s brothers, Henry and Curtis Cutting. All of these rare ambrotypes and daguerreotypes are in very sharp condition, and 3 of the presentation holders are worn at the hinges. This is a one-of-a-kind pictorial archive from a very exciting time in history. HKA#61082
Auction Location:
tlantis Casino & Resort, Grand Ballroom#4, 3800 S. Virginia Street, Reno, Nevada, 89502, United States
Previewing Details:
Holabird-Kagin Americana,
3555 Airway Drive Ste #309,
Reno NV 89511,
Friday - December 7, 10am-6pm
Sales tax will apply, according to state law, for any items that ship to Nevada or California or are picked
up at our Reno, Nevada location, unless a current, valid re-sale certificate is provided at the time of
purchase.
Taxes:
| Tax | Rate | Desc. |
| NST |
7.725% |
Nevada Sales Tax: |
| CST |
9% |
California Sales Tax: |
Buyer's Premiums:
| From (Incl.) | To (Excl.) | Premium |
| 0.00 |
Infinite |
19.5% |
Additional Fees:
Shipping Details:
Shipping will be estimated prior to invoicing, based on the size and weight of your purchase. Additional shipping fees may be invoiced seperately. The buyer is responsible for arranging and paying for shipment of large or special items. A $5 handling fee will be included in the shipping charge. The customer is responsible for all shipping charges. We do not ship any purchases until the auction invoice is paid in full. Purchases will be shipped via our approved, insured carriers: Federal Express or the US Postal Service. All items shipped Federal Express will be insured for the full value determined at auction by Holabird-Kagin Americana at no extra cost to the buyer. Federal Express shipments will be sent the Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday following receipt of payment. Pick up is available from our Reno office the next business day after the auction. NOTE: Some shipments (of unusual size, dimension, or weight) may require special handling for which individual costs will be calculated and applied to the shipping charge on the invoice.
Payment Details:
IMPORTANT NOTE ON BUYERS PREMIUMS:
Lot 100 to 343 have a premium of 15%.
The rest of the sale is 19.5% as noted in the listing.
We accept Visa, Master Card, Money Order/Cashiers Check, Person Check, PayPal: HKAEbayRep@yahoo.com. A 3% discount is applied to the Buyer’s Premium on all sales. That discount will be reversed if payment is made with a credit card or through PayPal.
Accepted Payment Methods:
- VISA
- Master Card
- Money Order/Bank Draft
- Check/Cheque
- PayPal
IMPORTANT NOTE ON BUYERS PREMIUMS:
Lot 100 to 343 have a premium of 15%.
The rest of the sale is 19.5% as noted in the listing.
1. This is a Live Auction.
2. Live (Floor) Bidding: Please arrive a few minutes early to check in and receive your bidding paddle. We will open lots with more than one bid at the current high absentee bid or 50% of the low estimate at the auctioneer’s discretion. Please be sure to bid on the correct lots during the live auction. Our auction progress is at a rate of between 100 and 200 lots per hour. When the auctioneer says “sold”, he will identify the successful bidder by number and announce the winning bid amount. If you are not sure whether you won the lot or not, it is your responsibility to ask for clarification immediately. Tie bids are awarded to the first absentee bid placed if not advanced on the floor, or by a phone bidder, whoever is first. Auctioneer reserves the right to reopen the lot in the case of an immediate dispute at the actual time of the sale.
3. Telephone Bidding: Telephone bidding requests MUST be scheduled prior to this auction. If you do not schedule in advance, and choose instead to call on the day of the auction to request a line for bidding, you may find that we are unable to accommodate your request. Please limit your telephone bids to items of value greater than $500, or to a string of items with a similar total.
4. Agent Bidding: There are numerous professional agents available to assist you should you require this service. Please contact the office for a list or to arrange for representation on the floor during the live auction.
5. Live Auction Absentee Bidding: Absentee bids for the live auction must be received by Friday, December 7, 2012 at 5pm PST. It is your responsibility to submit all lot numbers and bid amounts accurately. Absentee bids should be equal to at least 50% of the low estimate if an estimate is provided. Bids on “No Lots” or “Withdrawn” Lots are considered no-bids. Bids made in amounts that do not conform to the bid increment table in item 8 below will be automatically rounded up or down by the computer, or rounded to the nearest proper bid increment at the discretion of the auctioneer.
6. Internet Bidding: Absentee and Live internet bidding are both available through our live auction network. If you wish to bid LIVE via the internet, you MUST pre-register. A live video and sound feed will be accessible during the auction for those bidding via the internet. Online bidding remains open through the live auction and online absentee bids may be placed anytime. Live bidding will open when the auction starts. Internet bidding is offered as a convenience for those who cannot attend the live sale. Please note that there may be delays or interruptions in internet connectivity that are beyond our control. Attending the live auction or arranging for an agent is the most reliable way to secure your bids.
WARNING: Auction participation through the live internet bidding site is not 100% foolproof. The technology for this process is still under review and development, and the operation of it and the corresponding internet connectivity issues are far beyond our control. Some folks have attempted to use the live internet bidding process as their primary method of bidding, and have been quite successful. Others have failed completely. Depending upon your computer, server, host, and other factors, internet signals may be delayed, such that bids may not be received in time. We cannot be held responsible for these delays, or for the lack of placed bids in a timely manner, or any other factors leading to unaccepted bids that are far beyond our control. Bidders should always have a backup plan for lots they highly desire. Live participation is best, followed by phone participation. We will not reopen lots for missed bids.
7. Reserves: Most of the lots in this auction are unreserved. Gold is generally reserved at or near spot, though it could be slightly below spot.
8. Bidding Increments: All bids must be submitted in U.S. dollars and in whole dollar amounts only in the appropriate increments as outlined below. If you choose to submit bids in an increment not listed below, your bid will be rounded to the nearest increment and you will be expected to pay the amount to which the bid was rounded should your bid be the winning bid. If you have any questions about an appropriate bid amount, please call us.
From: To: Increment:
$0 $29 $1
$30 $95 $5
$100 $190 $10
$200 $475 $25
$500 $1,450 $50
$1,500 $3,400 $100
$3,500 $9,750 $250
$10,000 $max $500
9. Bid Reduction: All winning absentee bids will be reduced, if necessary, to the next bidding increment up from the last competing bid, as long as the minimum bid requirement has been met. For example, if you submit an absentee bid of $1000 and the next highest competing bid is $250, then you will win the lot for $275.
10. Bid Information: Collectors often ask in advance the price level of a particular lot. We will give out the current high absentee bid until we close the day before the live auction. You may also view absentee bids online at www.holabirdamericana.com.
11. Bid Cancellation: If you wish to cancel or change a bid after you have submitted your bids to us due to an error, you MUST PHONE us to advise us of this. Bid cancellations through mail, email, or fax are not advisable. Errors are easy to make and we are happy to assist all callers.
12. All stock certificates, checks, warrants, and other financial documents sold herein are sold as antiquities, and have no financial, securities, or public trading value whatsoever.
13. We reserve the right to reject any bid we feel is not made in good faith.
14. The placing of a bid shall constitute the bidder’s acceptance of these terms of sale.
15. Buyer’s Premium: There will be a 19.5% Buyer’s Premium added to each lot. US coins, nuggets, and bullion are calculated at a 15% buyer’s premium. These premiums include a 3% discount for transactions paid with cash, checks, money orders or wire transfers. All other forms of payment are not subject to the 3% discount and the Buyer’s Premium will be calculated at 22.5% (18% on US coins, gold, & currency.)
16. Sales Tax: Sales tax will apply, according to state law, for any items that ship to Nevada (7.725%) or California (9.0%) unless a current, valid resale certificate is faxed to us at 775-852-8866 before bids are placed.
17. Invoicing: Shipping charges will be added to all invoices. Invoices are mailed or emailed within two business days after the close of all portions of the sale. Within 15 calendar days of receipt of invoice, payment is due in full to Holabird-Kagin Americana, 3555 Airway Dr., #308, Reno, NV 89511. Sales tax will be added to all sales picked-up after the auction or shipped to California or Nevada addresses, according to state law, unless a resale certificate is provided.
18. Payment: We accept Visa, Master Card, Money Order/Cashier’s Check, Personal Check, PayPal: HKAEbayRep@yahoo.com. A 3% discount is applied to the Buyer’s Premium on all sales. That discount will be reversed if payment is made with a credit card or through PayPal. All returned checks are subject to a $25 fee. Cash received in amounts greater than $10,000 is subject to the filing of IRS form 8300, as required by law.
19. Shipping: Shipping will be estimated prior to invoicing, based on the size and weight of your purchase. Additional shipping fees may be invoiced seperately. The buyer is responsible for arranging and paying for shipment of large or special items. A $5 handling fee will be included in the shipping charge. The customer is responsible for all shipping charges. We do not ship any purchases until the auction invoice is paid in full. Purchases will be shipped via our approved, insured carriers: Federal Express or the US Postal Service. All items shipped Federal Express will be insured for the full value determined at auction by Holabird-Kagin Americana at no extra cost to the buyer. Federal Express shipments will be sent the Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday following receipt of payment. Pick up is available from our Reno office the next business day after the auction. NOTE: Some shipments (of unusual size, dimension, or weight) may require special handling for which individual costs will be calculated and applied to the shipping charge on the invoice.
20. Non-Payment: Any lots not paid for within specified time frames will be cancelled. Any bidder who fails to follow the terms of payment may be barred from participating in future Holabird-Kagin Americana auctions, and will not be included on catalog mailing lists.
21. Return Policy: All items are guaranteed to be authentic unless otherwise noted. If authenticity is challenged, please call our office for assistance. You may return any piece that was significantly inaccurately described by calling our office within one week of receipt of item(s) and notifying us of the error and reason for return. We do not refund postage or insurance. We have attempted to describe the items and their condition accurately. If no condition is given, assume average. Please call us if you require a more specific condition report. Any items that are returned must be returned in the exact, unaltered condition. NGC certified tokens that are returned must be original, unaltered NGC holders. Any tokens removed from the original NGC/NCS certification holders or items returned in an altered condition are deemed not returnable under any circumstances. When we receive your bids we will assume you have read the description in the catalog, viewed the image of the item, have contacted us regarding any questions you may have on any lot and/or have previewed the lot in person. Therefore, returns are only accepted if prior approval is given by Holabird-Kagin Americana.
22. This sale is being held under the laws of the states of Nevada and California.
23. Neither Kagin’s, Inc. nor its subsidiary auction company Holabird-Kagin Americana shall be held responsible for any problem due to the bidders failure to follow the rules, terms and conditions of this sale, or any failure to bid due to the loss of the online auction process provided by any of the online auction networks; or missed bids, changed bids or cancelled due the bidders failure to follow the proper bidding procedure outlined herein.
We strongly recommend that you attend the live preview to see lots in their entirety. Conditions are not always noted, and large lots may not be itemized due to catalog restraints. For questions, detailed information, or additional images of any lot please contact our office at 775-852-8822. Bidders are responsible for understanding the condition of items. Condition noted are subjective, and may differ in the opinion of different people or collectors.