SOLD
3,000.00USD+ (525.00) buyer's premium + applicable fees & taxes.
This item SOLD at 2011 Nov 30 @ 19:31UTC-8 : PST/AKDT
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Collection of Mustang Ranch and Conforte Family Memorabilia compiled by Gordon Churchward
While Gordon Churchward attended the University of Nevada, Reno, in the 1970s, studying to get his MBA, he worked as a Maitre De at Harrah’s Hotel Casino. At about the same time, Joe and Sally Conforte opened the first legal brothel in Nevada. Mustang Bridge Ranch was first, followed by Mustang 1, 2, 3 and 4. Joe Conforte visited downtown Reno casinos, identifying high rollers and clientele for the ranches. As Maitre De of Harrah’s, Gordon was a perfect contact, and he and Conforte worked out a mutually beneficial arrangement whereby Gordon would set up dates for casino patrons at the ranch, and would receive free passes, tips, etc. It became known that if someone was “looking for a good time,” Gordon
could hook him up.
This lot is comprised of keepsakes Gordon collected while working with the Conforte family in the legalized prostitution industry of in the 70’s and 80’s. In 1972 Gordon bought the Julia Bulette Casino and Club in Virginia City, and while he opened a “red light museum” to attract visitors, the items from his personal collection were never displayed. This collection pre-dates the Oscar Bonavena murder, and is the a unique file of the Conforte period of Nevada legal prostitution assembled by someone personally involved with the Conforte business and the brothel industry. The inventory includes:
1987 Mustang Ranch Calendar featuring the working girls of America’s most famous brothel. Inscribed to Gordon from Joe Conforte, signed by 4 of the working girls.
Photo album containing 127 photos, including a number of the working girls taken at a Christmas party, held by the Conforte’s, at the Ranch. Many pictures are labeled, while some are signed. Included is a photograph of Sally Conforte wearing a $2,500 silver dress.
Envelope containing 74 photos of the girls at various ranches, identified on the back, including Sagebrush Ranch, Salt Wells, and the Mustang Ranch c1970s-1980s.
Wood Santa Fe Corona Grand cigar box containing approximately 25 yellow menus and about 100 business cards.
Auction Location:
Atlantis Casino Resort 3800 S. Virginia St., Reno, Nevada, 89502, United States
Previewing Details:
Preview is available at our Reno office located at 3555 Airway Drive Suite #308 by appointment only, anytime. Call 775-852-8822 to schedule a preview. Space is limited. Preview is open to
the public on 10/28/2010 from 12:00pm to 6:00pm at the Atlantis Casino Resort located at 3800 South
Virginia Street in Reno, Nevada.
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 |
17.5% |
Additional Fees:
Shipping Details:
Shipping will be calculated prior to invoicing, based on the size and weight of your purchase. 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:
A 3% discount is applied to all sales. That discount will be reversed if payment is made with a credit card or through PayPal.
(PayPal/Credit Card Purchases - 20.5% Buyers Premium)
Accepted Payment Methods:
- VISA
- Master Card
- Money Order/Bank Draft
- Check/Cheque
- PayPal
- See Payment Details
- Wire Transfer
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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.
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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.
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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 bidders acceptance of these terms of sale.
15. Buyers Premium: There will be a 17.5% Buyer’s Premium added to each lot. This premium includes 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 Buyers’ Premium will be calculated at 20.5%.
18. 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 re-sale certificate is faxed to us at 775-852-8866 before bids are placed.
19. 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. Payment is due in full within 15 days of receipt of invoice to Holabird-Kagin Americana, 3555 Airway Dr., #308, Reno, NV 89511. We accept cash, personal checks, money orders, wire transfers, etc. All returned checks are subject to a $25 fee. Cash received in amounts greater than $10,000 is subject to the filing of IRS 8300 forms, as required by law. 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.
20. Payment: 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.
21. Shipping: Shipping will be calculated prior to invoicing, based on the size and weight of your purchase. 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.
22. Return Policy: All items are guaranteed to be authentic. 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.
23. This sale is being held under the laws of the State of Nevada and California.
24. Kagin’s, Inc. nor its subsidiary auction company Holabird-Kagin Americana shall not 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.