Wild West Relics Auction April 2024

Auction CurrencyUSD Auction Location3555 Airway Drive Suite 308, Reno, Nevada, 89511, United States In Person PreviewPreview

Auction Details

April, 2024 HWAC Auction -Another Potential Million Dollar Sale of Rare Americana!
-Fred Holabird

Welcome everybody to our next live auction. Th sale closely follows a timed auction two weeks ago that saw a lot of action, with some good rarities as well as some great buys!
As we plow through the start of 2024, we find ourselves moving the rare collectibles into our live sales, while moving the rare lesser expensive items to the timed sales, which are getting more and more popular by the month.

April is no exception, as 2300 lots are up for grabs, again featuring many one of a kind discoveries and great rarities. When I write these introductions to the sales, it gets harder and harder to know where to start and how to structure the essay because of the sheer huge variety of collectible genres present in our sales. We easily offer at least 60 different categories!!

So this time, lets start with some of my favorite “discoveries,” which is impossible for me to place in my relative order of “wow!” effect. Top ten? Impossible! How about the top 20? ??

1. The Robert Matheson, Arizona Territory letter archive, c1883-1886, that discusses an Apache mine camp massacre, the “Bisbee massacre” and subsequent hangings. In more than 100 pp of letters, we get from the writer a very clear picture of the difficulties of life on the Arizona/Sonora mining frontier. See the Mining section.
2. Dr. Timothy Wilcox Arizona Territory (especially Ft. Huachuca) photograph archive, c 1860-1894. (see photography, antiquarian). Wilcox was an Army physician assigned to many of the western forts, particularly Ft. Huachuca and Ft. Niobrara. The photo archive has in excess of 350 original photos in one album alone, nearly all taken by Wilcox. He also traveled to Alaska and forts on the east coast before being assigned to Cuba for the Spanish-American War.
3. Goldwater Store Posse, Yuma/Tucson Photograph. Robert Paul was sent to Yuma to arrest one of the Goldwater Bros. for fraud. A large posse was sent, and the original mounted photo is a stunner. c1880.
4. Robert Paul ALS regarding a stagecoach robbery and murder. The sheriff made famous from the days of the Earps.
5. Famous Western artist Frederick Remington original c1903 prints. A remarkable discovery of original prints sold out of Remington’s own gallery with his gallery card still attached.
6. Barry & Patten embossed San Francisco whiskey bottle. This is the very first western whiskey merchant to place his product in an embossed bottle. They are exceptionally rare. This is a “crown jewel” for any western whiskey collector.
7. Frank Abadie, Eureka, Nevada knife edge coffin flask with full original label. Unquestionably one of the very top Nevada whiskey bottles of all time, and unique.
8. Maps. The map section is so darned good (spread between a map, antiquarian and mining sections) that I can’t pick just one. So I’ll pick the early “California as an Island” map. I know – some of you think California is an island anyway! This map has insets with it that make map reading from the 1700s exciting.. But the sections also contain rare Gold Rush period maps from two major collections.
9. Fort Weisport, c1756 map in which Ben Franklin was involved.
10. Boston Baseball Team stock certificates, 19teens. Stocks issued to and signed by the founders of the Boston baseball club (176376, etc)
11. Austin, Nevada Sack of Flour, Sanitary Commission autographed and signed petition of donations, original document for this very famous western mining charity event that made history. This document was thought lost to history. (169387)
12. Circa 1660 Ecumenical Farce, “Il Capitole del Frati” was banned by the Church before it was completed. This is a full edition, and may be the only full or complete piece known. Handwritten by the author.
13. Mining stock signed by famous California author Bret Harte. (136540). Author of “Luck of Roaring Camp” and other tales, Harte was a near contemporary of Sam Clemens in the California gold camps.
14. Fraser River Gold Rush glass negative collection (179017). A large collection of photographs, probably unpublished, of one or more trips from Vancouver north by steamer to the mining camps of the Fraser River region. The high quality images show the store sign fronts that allows for the identification.
15. Inventor of the Electric Car, Fritchie, 1903, archive. An incredible discovery of his personal papers and photographs. Exceptionally appropriate as the world finally moves toward electric cars, albeit 120 years later.
16. Hayden Survey, 9 Volumes. This remarkable multi-year expedition along parts of the American/Canadian border is well recorded and very rare. (178878)
17. Truckee Basin Directory, 1883. A great Tahoe rarity.
18. Giant Green Fluorite, (149346). One of the many outstanding mineral specimens in the sale, and a very colorful one!
19. Spectacular very dark blue turquoise squash blossom necklace (Navajo). This is the very deep blue color that was so popular in the 1980s and doesn’t seem to have been found in turquoise mines since then.
20. Virgina & Truckee Railroad Lantern. A near-mint example is among about 50 different railroad lamps (and more railroad china!). Be sure and watch for our next two sales (including timed), as we will be selling two of the best railroad pass collections ever offered at auction- the “Ron Lerch” and “Western Railroad” collections.

That’s quite a list! But its all here, with tons more great items, spread over four days – this time on a pair of successive weekend days so you don’t have to be troubled by auctions while at work.

We are always on the lookout for major collections! Please call us. 775 851-1859 or our toll free number 844 492-2766

DAY 1 - Sat, Apr 6 Lots 1000-1563
Art (1001-1098)
Jewelry (1099-1130)
Native Americana (1131-1271)
Maps (1272-1337) also see mining on day 5
World's Fair/Expositions (1338-1344)
Books (1345-1451)
Autographs (1452-1454)
Photographs (1456-1558)
Wilcox, Photo archive, c1860-1910
Tools (1559-1563)

DAY 2 - Sun, Apr 7 Lots 2000-2580
3d Collectibles (2000-2013)
Clocks (2014-2020)
Musical (2021-2022)
Furnishings (2023-2025)
Clothing (2026-2027)
Collectibles & Flatware (2028-2045)
Advertising (2046-2067)
General Store (2068-2084)
Bottles (2085-2166)
Saloon (2167-2181)
Gaming (2183-2190)
Tobacianna (2191-2199)
Cowboy (2200-2219)
Entertainment (2220-2263)
Circus, Toys. sports (2264-2295)
Transportation/Railroad (2296-2396)
Political (2397-2422)
Military (2423-2460)
Firearms & Weaponry (2461-2527)
General Ephemera (2528-2580)

DAY 3 - Sat, Apr 13 Lots 3000-3517
Stocks & Bonds (3001-3517)
Banking (3001-3024)
Mining (3025-3296)
Industry & Oil (3297-3366)
Railroad & Transportation (3367-3427)
Other (3428-3517)

DAY 4 - Sun, Apr 14 Lots 4000-4666
Minerals (4001-4032)
Mining (4033-4226)
Artifacts (4033-4041)
Ephemera (4042-4220)
Scales (4221-4225)
Numismatics (4226-4409)
Tokens (4410-4431)
Philatelic (4432-4566)
Stamps (4432-4458)
Covers (4458-4474)
WF/Express (4475-4519)
Postcards (4520-4566)
This auction will be split into 2 weekends. Please don't ask for your invoice until all sessions are completed. Thanks in advance for your understanding.

Shipping is billed separately. Pay your auction invoice early as purchases are packed in the order payments are received. Pick-up must be scheduled 24 hours in advance when you receive your shipping preference email after the auction. Invoices will go out immediately after all sessions the auction end.

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Rancho Grande Creamery Milk Jug [154983]2081 - Rancho Grande Creamery Milk Jug [154983]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Large embossed milk jug from the Rancho Grande Creamery in Las Vegas. Text on the front reads, "Rancho Grande, Cry/ 8 Las Vegas- Nev. 53."...
Bidding Has Concluded
Start Price : 100.00 | Estimate : 200.00 - 400.00
 
 
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Oklahoma Lard Tin Collection, 6 [172644]2082 - Oklahoma Lard Tin Collection, 6 [172644]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
6 Oklahoma lard tins with lids, c. 1910-30. Sweet Top, Blackwell, 8.25". People's Packing, OKC, 10.75", rust on lid and handles, some ...
Bidding Has Concluded
Start Price : 200.00 | Estimate : 400.00 - 1,000.00
 
 
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Thomas & Bro. Rare Pottery 1870s [177950]2083 - Thomas & Bro. Rare Pottery 1870s [177950]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Extremely Rare One-and-a-Half-Gallon Stoneware Jar. Stamped "THOMAS & BRO", circa 1873, ovoid jar with tooled shoulder and flattened...
Bidding Has Concluded
Start Price : 250.00 | Estimate : 500.00 - 1,000.00
 
 
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Pioneer Salt Storage Horn [179205]2084 - Pioneer Salt Storage Horn [179205]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
This horn was made for cooking. At first glance this horn looks like a long-hunter's gun-powder horn; however there is no powder residue. It sto...
Bidding Has Concluded
Start Price : 300.00 | Estimate : 600.00 - 1,000.00
 
 
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Bottle Advertising Lighted Display, You Gotta' See This One! [178332]2085 - Bottle Advertising Lighted Display, You Gotta' See This One! [178332]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Really neat lighted "Why You Should Never Drink Water" on pivoting front door. When door is opened it reveals a boy urinating into a pond!...
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 150.00 - 200.00
Sold to b*******n for (60.00 + 15.00BP) = 75.00
 
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Haas Bros Mineral Water Bottle [178396]2086 - Haas Bros Mineral Water Bottle [178396]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Cobalt Haas Bros/Natural/Mineral Water//Napa Soda. Applied top has a bubble on lip edge, it is NOT a chip. Napa California Fred Holabird Collection
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 200.00 - 500.00
Sold to 8********l.. for (190.00 + 47.50BP) = 237.50
 
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Haas Bros Mineral Water Cobalt Bottle [178581]2087 - Haas Bros Mineral Water Cobalt Bottle [178581]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Cobalt Haas Bros/Natural/Mineral Water//Napa/Soda. Mint except for minor surface wear which should be easy to buff. Napa California Fred Holabird C
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 200.00 - 500.00
Sold to 8********l.. for (190.00 + 47.50BP) = 237.50
 
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Napa Mineral Water Bottles, Classic Suite of 6 [178602]2088 - Napa Mineral Water Bottles, Classic Suite of 6 [178602]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
6 classic Napa mineral water bottles in various shades of aqua. Priest/Napa/Valley/Soda//Natural Water. Jackson's/Napa/Soda/Springs//Natural/Min...
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 280.00 - 400.00
Sold to d*******f for (250.00 + 62.50BP) = 312.50
 
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Napa Soda Bottle Pair [178584]2089 - Napa Soda Bottle Pair [178584]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Light aqua Nap/Soda/Phil Caduc//Natural Mineral Water long neck with pot stone above "P" in Napa. Cobalt Haas Bros/Natural/Mineral Water//...
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 200.00 - 250.00
Sold to 8********l.. for (150.00 + 37.50BP) = 187.50
 
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Napa Soda Dark Cobalt Bottle [178580]2090 - Napa Soda Dark Cobalt Bottle [178580]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Choice dark cobalt Napa/Soda/Phil Caduc//Natural/Mineral Water. The shoulder surface bubbles should be easy to buff out. No apparent chips or cracks.
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 200.00 - 300.00
Sold to M*********n for (120.00 + 30.00BP) = 150.00
 
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Napa Soda Springs Letter Sheet 1890s [176381]2091 - Napa Soda Springs Letter Sheet 1890s [176381]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Letter sheet from Napa Soda Springs dated in the 1890s. Nicely illustrated by H. Byrnes of San Francisco. There is a stamped name above the name Jacks
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 200.00 - 500.00
Sold to 8********l.. for (100.00 + 25.00BP) = 125.00
 
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P Somps Mineral Water Bottle, Rare [178591]2092 - P Somps Mineral Water Bottle, Rare [178591]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Rara aqua P. Somps/Mineral Water/Napa County/Cal. Some wear. No apparent chips or cracks. Napa California Fred Holabird Collection
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 100.00 - 150.00
Sold to 8********l.. for (130.00 + 32.50BP) = 162.50
 
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Nevada County Bottle Collection, 27 [168051]2093 - Nevada County Bottle Collection, 27 [168051]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Very nice collection of 27 Nevada City and Grass Valley bottles. 2 different Clinch clear embossed whiskey fifths. 3 different modern crown sodas. Lar
Bidding Has Concluded
Start Price : 400.00 | Estimate : 800.00 - 1,400.00
 
 
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C & K Deep Cobalt Soda Bottle [178945]2094 - C & K Deep Cobalt Soda Bottle [178945]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Ultra deep cobalt, one of the darkest ever seen. C. & K./Eagle Works/Sac City. No apparent chips or cracks, there is a lower side glass imperfec...
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 300.00 - 600.00
Sold to 8********l.. for (350.00 + 87.50BP) = 437.50
 
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Henry Winkle Soda Bottle  [178538]2095 - Henry Winkle Soda Bottle [178538]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Light aqua blob top Henry Winkle/Sac. City. c. 1850's Gold Rush.Lip chip with no glass missing and back neck and shoulder scratches. Please insp...
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 180.00 - 250.00
Sold to 8********l.. for (325.00 + 81.25BP) = 406.25
 
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Bay City Sodaworks Teal & Cobalt Pair [178944]2096 - Bay City Sodaworks Teal & Cobalt Pair [178944]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Pair of teal and cobalt Bay City Sodaworks/Co/S F bottles. Both have surface wear and lip chips. Please inspect. San Francisco California Fred Hola
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 120.00 - 180.00
Sold to 8********l.. for (375.00 + 93.75BP) = 468.75
 
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Classen & Co. Sparkling, Choice Color Run, 5 [178951]2097 - Classen & Co. Sparkling, Choice Color Run, 5 [178951]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Run of 5 choice colors, Classen & Co./Sparkling. Aqua-lip chips. Aqua teal. Teal-several small lip chips. Cobalt-2 lip chips. Dark cobalt. No ap...
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 1,500.00 - 1,700.00
Sold to e**********t for (750.00 + 187.50BP) = 937.50
 
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DS & Co. Soda Bottle Pair [178535]2098 - DS & Co. Soda Bottle Pair [178535]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Rare Empire Soda Works (au) / D. S. & Co. / San Francisco // 1861-1864 : Beautiful aqua glass, with striations and swirls. But, the top is bad...
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 200.00 - 400.00
Sold to 8********l.. for (110.00 + 27.50BP) = 137.50
 
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Embossed & Paper Label Whiskey Bottle Pair [178533]2099 - Embossed & Paper Label Whiskey Bottle Pair [178533]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Embossed and original paper labels. Clear fifth Weil Bros & Sons/San Francisco. Amber with stopper oval fifth Roth & Co./San Francisco. San ...
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 120.00 - 200.00
Sold to 8********l.. for (475.00 + 118.75BP) = 593.75
 
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Moorman, JH Cutter, AP Hotaling Dark Amber Whiskey Pint Flask, c1873-79 [178913]2100 - Moorman, JH Cutter, AP Hotaling Dark Amber Whiskey Pint Flask, c1873-79 [178913]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Moorman, JH cutter, AP Hotaling and Amber whiskey pint flask. This is an extremely rare applied top Amber whiskey flask. C. P. Moorman/only/manufactur
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 500.00 - 600.00
Sold to d*******f for (425.00 + 106.25BP) = 531.25
 
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