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1450

NV - Virginia City,Storey County - 1870s - Fredrick, M. M. Silver Flatware

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Western Americana Start Price:5,000.00 USD Estimated At:10,000.00 - 15,000.00 USD
NV - Virginia City,Storey County - 1870s - Fredrick, M. M. Silver Flatware
Session D is a Mail-Bid Only Auction. Absentee bids will be accepted only. No live bidding will be allowed. All winners will be contacted after the auction. BIDDING ENDS MONDAY JUNE 27 AT 5PM PACIFIC TIME!!!
Morris M. Fredrick, of Virginia Nev., had a jewelry store that also sold silver flatware typical of the period. According to Fred Holabird, “Fredrick had only a short run in Virginia City in the mid 1870s. The M. M. Fredrick business was truly one of the pioneer jewelry businesses in Nevada. It began as Eaves & Nye in Virginia City in late 1862 or early 1863." A few exceptionally rare "Nye & Co. silver pieces are known to exist. "William T. Eaves and Emanuel Nye started their jewelry store on the corner of C and Union Streets. Eaves lived in the building, perhaps in an apartment in the back or upstairs as was the common practice in Virginia City at the time. Nye, a carpenter in 1862 in Virginia City, lived on Stewart. Eaves was not present in 1862 for inclusion in Kelley's First Directory of Nevada Territory" [1862 and 1863 Nevada Territory Directories]. "Nye took over the pertnership in the mid 1860s. By 1867 the firm was known as Nye and Rothenbucher, according to Langley's 1863 Pacific Coast Business Directory for 1867. It seems that Nye sold out to Fredrick about 1867. "Emanuel Nye may have briefly left Viriginia City in the early 1870s. The name does not appear again until much later and then as a saloon proprietor. In 1871, the firm Nye & Co. was run by Issac Frederick, probably a relative of M. M. Fredrick. Both the Nye & Co. and the Fredrick businesses were listed at the same address, 36 South C Street in the 1871 Langley Pacific Coast Business Directory. They are listed as watch makers and jewelers. M. M. Fredrick took over the business and began using his own name in 1872, calling himself a 'manufacturing jeweler.' The business made it through the fire of 1875. By 1877 Fredrick was bulled as the 'Nevada Jewelry Manufactory,' as listed on his billheads and in the Bishop's Directory of Virginia City and surrounds in 1878. Meanwhile, Fredrick's business was doing so well that he opened two other businesses. The M. M. Fredrick House, a lodging establishment on the north east corner of Union and C Streets, was opened about 1876 and run by his son, M. M. Fredrick Jr. He also ran an auction business in 1876" [1876 Langley Pacific Coast Business Directory]. "By 1883 Fredrick was known as the 'Pioneer Watch Maker,' still located at the old shop address, 36 South C. His store and business was then twenty years old [McKenny's Oregon State Directory for 1883 (and business directory of some western states)]. This choice silver came from the boom period of the Comstock, produced during the Crown Point bonanza through the Big Bonanza of Mackay and Fair at the California & Con Virginia. The silver would certainly have been brought by the Comstock wealthy [Ref: Holabird, Holabird Americana's Reno Coin Show Auction #20, 2003, p.113]. Fredrick immigrated to the U. S. from Prussia in 1853. He lived in San Francisco in 1860 according to U. S. Census records. Further research indicates that M. M. Fredrick ended up living in Seattle's Ward 4 for both the 1900 and 1910 U. S. censuses.



The collection includes 78 pieces of silver flatware, perhaps the largest group of M. M. Fredrick pieces known. All contain an average of 1.205 oz of silver per piece for the table settings with the larger serving pieces weighing significantly more. Fabric lined wooden cases come with the silver. Also included with the lot are three M. M. Fredrick billheads. The first states on Feby 5, 1876, “M Desmond bought of M. M. Fredrick, Auctioneer & Commission Merchant, 36 and 38 South C. Street bet. Union and Taylor, 6 tumblers for 40¢, 1 glasses $1.00 and 4 yds. oil cloth @ .70¢ per yard for 2.80.” This paper was printed by Gold Hill Daily News print. Two holes, good condition. The second receipt, from Nevada Jewelry Manufactory to M. M. Fredrick, Dr., importer and manufacturer of Fine Watches, Jewelry, Diamonds and Silverware, printed by Times Power Press Print (not listed as a printer in Nevada), recorded three months worth of sales to the Board of Education on 19 March 1877: an 8-day Marine Clock, an 8-day lever, some other levers, an Award for the Fourth Ward School, a Police Badge by Cummings, repairing a clock by M. Christie, all for $57.40. Signed by M. M. Fredrick. The third receipt was to Adolph Sutro on 29 December 1877. Sales recorded were small pins, 1 dozen knives, a hand and glass for a watch, 2 rubber and gold Pen and Pencil sets with the cases, an engraving chip (?), putting 2 rings on each - a glove button and a toothpick, different ring and watch repairs, plus express charges (express was spelled with the first "s" looking like an "f" in the old way of spelling) for a total of $27. 35. Receipt on paper printed by Enterprise Steam Print. Fredrick's firm sold silver-plated ware, clocks, fine glass and china, cutlery, "'Brazilian Pebbles,' Optical Goods, Bronzes and Fancy Goods."

Details

In the first wooden box, lined in brown cloth, there are 43 pieces of Gorham silver - floral pattern. The set contains, 6 knives with mother of pearl handles stamped with “Landers Frary & Clark Etna Works,” another 6 knives (butter knives) with silver handles stamped Vanderslice & Co. SM, 6 serving spoons with the initials H. C. C. carved into the handles, 4 have M. M. Fredrick Virg. NV. Coin stamped on the reverse, 5 soup spoons all with the same initials and all have the Fredrick stamp on the reverse, 4 teaspoons with only the word “coin” stamped on the reverse but with the same initials on the handles, 6 fish forks initialed H. C. C. and the Fredrick stamp on the reverse, 6 dinner forks, all with the same initials and the Fredrick stamp on the reverse, 1 serving fork, initials F. J. P. with the Fredrick stamp on reverse, 1 sugar spoon, with the initials H. C. C. and the Fredrick imprint on the reverse, and 1 large serving ladle with the initials H. C. C. and the Fredrick imprint on the reverse. Good to excellent condition.



The second item in this lot is a small wall mounted glass and wood display case. It is lined with red cloth with two plastic mounts, and has two Gorham Medallion spoons, one a tablespoon, the other a teaspoon, in the case. The spoons are not in the mounts but resting on the bottom of the case. The case has “M. M. Frederick Virg. Nev. Coin” on the bottom middle. In good condition and ready to hang.



The third item in this lot is a wooden display box lined in red velvet and white satin containing 35 pieces of Medallion silver and one odd, heretofore unknown Fredrick pattern, serving ladle. The set contains, the serving ladle, which has a flower design and no initials but has M. M. Fredrick, Virg. Nev. Coin stamped on the reverse, a crumber engraved “Mr & Mrs Jas Kelly to Mr. & Mrs B Clark Dec 30th 1872” with the Fredrick stamp on the reverse, 1 serving fork with just the word coin. on the reverse, 10 tablespoons, 6 have the initial C on the reverse, all with the Fredrick stamp, 3 with the initials L. G. on the reverse along with the Fredrick stamp, 1 with the initials M. J. C. on the reverse with a well worn Fredrick stamp, and 1 with the initials G. E. and the Fredrick stamp, 8 teaspoons, 4 with the initial C on the reverse along with the Fredrick stamp, 1 with the initials K. M. and the Fredrick stamp all on the reverse, 1 with the initial R and stamped sterling and Shultz and Fisher on the reverse, and two with no initials on the reverse and only one of those has the Fredrick stamp, 1 dessert spoon or teaspoon with the initial R and Shultz and Fisher on the reverse, 1 Golden Gate commemorative teaspoon, with the gateway to San Francisco (no bridge) in the bowl, with the initial C and Fredrick’s stamp on the reverse, 1 fish fork with no initial on the reverse but it has the Fredrick stamp, and 13 forks, 6 of which have the initial C and the Fredrick imprint on the reverse, and 7 that have the initials L. G. on the reverse along with the Fredrick stamp. Good condition.
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