THE GOLDEN WEST AUCTIONS

Auction Details

The Golden West Sale encompasses three sessions of auctions covering some of the most important historical western material from the Gold Rush periods of California, Nevada and Colorado. The material has been assembled from many of the great western collections, as well as original material handed down within Gold Rush families, held intact for over 100 years.
Session A of the Golden West Sale encompasses the annual WESTS (Western States Token Society) token auction. This year the highlight is clearly and unarguably the finest Western Indian Trader, Fort & Territorial collection ever assembled at public auction. The more than 500 lot sale contains dozens of R9 and R10 tokens, many of which have not seen the light of day in at least four decades. Some ephemera also is included from Indian Trader sites. Indian Trader tokens are an important form of money exchanged between Indians and Anglos in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Trading Posts were a way of life in the isolated outposts of the western plains and mountains, swapping furs, rugs, coats and other items for food stuffs and equipment. There has never been a sale of this magnitude and importance. The end of this sale will include a comprehensive collection of Naval tokens never before offered and with NO ESTIMATES or MINIMUM BID REQUIREMENTS, as this offering will set the pricing precedent for naval tokens.
Session B encompasses many of the popular collecting categories. It includes a strong photograph collection of American saloon interiors, saloon ephemera and Gold Rush region saloon tokens, also known as Pioneer Minor Coinage. Part of the saloon section includes a large collection of the ultra-rare Good-for mirrors, one of the rarest forms of money, many with pictorial representations of the fabulous “gay-90’s” saloon girls, as well as advertising mirrors. This is the largest mirror offering since the Rosa sale of 1988. Most of the mirrors are so rare that only one to three specimens of each are known. The session will be rounded out by a collection of So-called dollars and Hibler Kappen related material, $50 slug facsimiles, Chopmarked coins, Golden Gate International Exposition Medals and more. Much of this section is from the well-known Bill Weber Collection.
Session C The highlight of the sale is certainly the newly discovered Washington Nugget, a nearly 100 ounce nugget (and several others) found in an unmined section of the Omega-Malakoff Tertiary Channel in February, 2010 that made national news. The nuggets are accompanied by two large original nineteenth-century bullion scales (Christian Becker, New York; Henry Troemner, Philadelphia), It is accompanied in the sale by some masterful original Gold Rush art, inclusive of a spectacular and early rendition of a miner, several broadsides- a miner in lithographic form, panoramic views of mining communities, a number of original Currier & Ives prints of the Gold Rush and Salt Lake City, stage coach pieces, and the Alaska 1893 Yukon/Alaska Miners Union Banner.
A massive Gold Rush banking collection covers the 1850’s through 1860’s in California and Nevada, with what is probably the largest Gold Rush period banking collection ever offered publicly. It contains more than 100 different Bills of Exchange, a form of the first circulating currency on the West Coast. A wonderful and large collection of Gold Rush banking documents augments this fine collection, along with original leather gold pokes and money belts.
Some of the highlights of the Gold Rush Collection are documents from the original 1910 San Francisco sale of the estate of James King of William, documents signed by Adolph Sutro, California coiner F. D. Kohler, and others. A very rare letter book from Nevada mining and railroad magnate Hume Yerington from the mid-1860’s contains incredible information about his life prior to his railroad successes.
A large collection of US Mint ephemera is included, including rare bullion receipts, photographs, lithograph, gold coin and other coin bank bags, as well as rare Carson City gold and silver coins. Accompanying the Mint ephemera is a section of California Counters and rare California Gold Rush tokens.
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Sacramento,CA - 1869-72 - Mills, D.O. & Co. Bank Checks :2249 - Sacramento,CA - 1869-72 - Mills, D.O. & Co. Bank Checks :
Holabird-Kagin Americana
Collection of two. 1) Issued Mar. 3, 1869 for $400. Signed Wm. Petrri. Cut cancelled at center with additional punches throughout. One orange 2 cent c
Bidding Has Concluded
Start Price : 38.00 | Estimate : 75.00 - 100.00
 
 
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Sacramento,CA - Sept. 25, 1852 - Mills, Townsend & Co. Check :2250 - Sacramento,CA - Sept. 25, 1852 - Mills, Townsend & Co. Check :
Holabird-Kagin Americana
Extra Rare. Pay “West for taking care of hogs since Rice’s Death.” West received $21.00 for his troubles from the Estate of W. A. Rice. The check is
Bidding Has Concluded
Start Price : 100.00 | Estimate : 200.00 - 400.00
 
 
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San Francisco,CA - Page, Bacon & Co. Checks (6) :2251 - San Francisco,CA - Page, Bacon & Co. Checks (6) :
Holabird-Kagin Americana
Lot of six. 1) Issued Aug. 21, 1852 to B.R. Brekilin for $200. Signed by Gro. Ensign. Vignette of ship bordered with anchor and chain at left, "...
Bidding Has Concluded
Start Price : 350.00 | Estimate : 700.00 - 1,500.00
 
 
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San Francisco,CA - 1855 - Page, Bacon & Co. Check :2252 - San Francisco,CA - 1855 - Page, Bacon & Co. Check :
Holabird-Kagin Americana
No. 613 issued Feb. 8, 1855 to Page, Bacon & Co. For $3605. Signed by Thomas Selby. The Selby Smelting and Refining Company was started by Thoma...
Bidding Has Concluded
Start Price : 100.00 | Estimate : 200.00 - 400.00
 
 
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San Francisco,CA - San Francisco County - c1850s - Palmer, Cook & Co. Bankers Checkbook :2253 - San Francisco,CA - San Francisco County - c1850s - Palmer, Cook & Co. Bankers Checkbook :
Holabird-Kagin Americana
Belonging to Morris A. Cohen. A bound checkbook with pre-printed dates of 185--. About half the checks have been used and the stubs remain. The othe
Bidding Has Concluded
Start Price : 500.00 | Estimate : 1,000.00 - 2,000.00
 
 
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San Francisco,CA - 1850's - Palmer, Cook & Co. Checks :2254 - San Francisco,CA - 1850's - Palmer, Cook & Co. Checks :
Holabird-Kagin Americana
Lot of three. 1) Uncut set of three unissued, undated checks c. 1850's. Brown on crème. O'Meara and Painter Printers, San Francisco. 2)...
Bidding Has Concluded
Start Price : 150.00 | Estimate : 300.00 - 500.00
 
 
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Shasta,CA - Nov. 4, 1854 - Rhodes & Company Check :2255 - Shasta,CA - Nov. 4, 1854 - Rhodes & Company Check :
Holabird-Kagin Americana
No. 3296 issued to L. Miller for $500. Signed Rhodes & Co. For L.R. Stevens. Vignette of Native American with bow and feathers. 8.75: x 4"...
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 100.00 - 200.00
Sold to 8***8 for (95.00 + 16.63BP) = 111.63
 
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Weaverville,CA - Trinity County - June 11, 1855 - Rhodes & Company Express & Banking Office Check :2256 - Weaverville,CA - Trinity County - June 11, 1855 - Rhodes & Company Express & Banking Office Check :
Holabird-Kagin Americana
This check for $2936.50 was made out to the Exchange Account for the Bank’s office in Shasta, California, signed by F. W. Blake as agent for Rhodes ...
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 750.00 - 1,000.00
Sold to 2***7 for (500.00 + 87.50BP) = 587.50
 
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Yreka,CA - Aug. 13, 1855 - Rhodes and Co. Checks (Yreka Office) :2257 - Yreka,CA - Aug. 13, 1855 - Rhodes and Co. Checks (Yreka Office) :
Holabird-Kagin Americana
Lot of three. 1) No 133. Issued for $392 to "Angee (Chinaman)" Aug. 13, 1855. Endorsed in Chinese on reverse. Cancelled. "Whitney&quo...
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 400.00 - 800.00
Sold to 8***8 for (700.00 + 122.50BP) = 822.50
 
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San Francisco,CA - 1858 - Sime & Co. Checks :2258 - San Francisco,CA - 1858 - Sime & Co. Checks :
Holabird-Kagin Americana
Lot of two. 1) Issued Dec. 10, 1858 to "Myself" for $20. Cut cancelled at right. . Signed Wm. H. Davis. 2) Issued Dec. 6, 1858 to N. Saund...
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 200.00 - 400.00
Sold to 8***8 for (75.00 + 13.13BP) = 88.13
 
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NV - 1864-1897 - Sutro Check Collection :2259 - NV - 1864-1897 - Sutro Check Collection :
Holabird-Kagin Americana
Collection of three. Rare Signatures. 1. Signed by Hugo Sutro in Austin N. T. February 7th 1864. Payable to Phillipson and Mansfield for fifty dollars
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 300.00 - 500.00
Sold to 2***7 for (160.00 + 28.00BP) = 188.00
 
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San Francisco,CA - Septmember 5, 1854 - Wells Fargo Check2260 - San Francisco,CA - Septmember 5, 1854 - Wells Fargo Check
Holabird-Kagin Americana
To Snow & Rey for $127 signed by the Citizens Steam Navigation Company, E. Chapman, Agent. Printed by Nesbitt & Co. Wallstreet on blue paper...
Bidding Has Concluded
Start Price : 75.00 | Estimate : 150.00 - 250.00
 
 
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San Francisco,CA - c1910-20 but unknown - Wells Fargo & Co. Bank Check :2261 - San Francisco,CA - c1910-20 but unknown - Wells Fargo & Co. Bank Check :
Holabird-Kagin Americana
This is a very rare, unissued, $20 travelers check on Wells Fargo & Co. Extremely Fine.
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 150.00 - 350.00
Sold to 2***1 for (375.00 + 65.63BP) = 440.63
 
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Carson City,NV - January 13, 1862 - Wells Fargo & Co. Bank Check :2262 - Carson City,NV - January 13, 1862 - Wells Fargo & Co. Bank Check :
Holabird-Kagin Americana
Identical check to the early Virginia City Wells Fargo check printed by Excelsior Print in S.F. This one is boldly signed by Nevada Territorial Govern
Bidding Has Concluded
Start Price : 100.00 | Estimate : 200.00 - 400.00
 
 
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Gold Hill,NV - June 15, 1863 - Wells Fargo & Co. Bank Check *Territorial* :2263 - Gold Hill,NV - June 15, 1863 - Wells Fargo & Co. Bank Check *Territorial* :
Holabird-Kagin Americana
Certificate of deposit with green ink on buff onion skin paper, manuscript dateline Gold Hill, N.T. Cancelled PAID through the signature. Fine.
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 100.00 - 150.00
Sold to 0***4 for (100.00 + 17.50BP) = 117.50
 
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Virginia City,NV - Storey County - October 7, 1861 - Wells Fargo & Co. Bank Check :2264 - Virginia City,NV - Storey County - October 7, 1861 - Wells Fargo & Co. Bank Check :
Holabird-Kagin Americana
Very rare check signed by Graves, a Superintendent of the Gould & Curry Mine in V.C. Only a few of these checks are known today, none of which h...
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 150.00 - 250.00
Sold to p********n for (50.00 + 8.75BP) = 58.75
 
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Carson City,NV - Ormsby County - 1861-1876 - Yerington and Kidder and H. M. Yerington Bank Checks :2265 - Carson City,NV - Ormsby County - 1861-1876 - Yerington and Kidder and H. M. Yerington Bank Checks :
Holabird-Kagin Americana
Collection of three checks. There is little evidence that Henry Yerington and John Flint Kidder had a partnership of any kind except for these checks
Bidding Has Concluded
Start Price : 100.00 | Estimate : 200.00 - 400.00
 
 
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Virginia City,NV - Storey County - 1867-1874 - Yerington Personal Bank Checks :2266 - Virginia City,NV - Storey County - 1867-1874 - Yerington Personal Bank Checks :
Holabird-Kagin Americana
Collection of four checks, one business check, and three personal. The first check, drawn on Wells, Fargo and Co. in Carson City on Sept. 10th 1867 p
Bidding Has Concluded
Start Price : 100.00 | Estimate : 200.00 - 300.00
 
 
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Helena,MT - Lewis and Clark County - April 19, 1901 - United States Assay Office Deposit Receipt :2267 - Helena,MT - Lewis and Clark County - April 19, 1901 - United States Assay Office Deposit Receipt :
Holabird-Kagin Americana
Gold Bullion Deposit receipt at the Helena, Montana Assay office for 19 oz of gold dust. The Helena Assay Office was authorized in 1874 and opened in
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 375.00 - 750.00
Sold to 2***7 for (200.00 + 35.00BP) = 235.00
 
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1873 - Coinage Act Document :2268 - 1873 - Coinage Act Document :
Holabird-Kagin Americana
Notice from Adams Express indicating receipt of $322,588.50 in gold coinage part of a lot of $701,000.00 of gold coin received Dec. 31, 1873. Receipt
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 300.00 - 500.00
Sold to 8***8 for (225.00 + 39.38BP) = 264.38
 
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