SOLD
1,300.00USDto 3****m+ buyer's premium (253.50)
This item SOLD at 2014 Sep 14 @ 11:03UTC-7 : PDT/MST
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New Discovery
Archive of Ophir Ridge Gold & Silver Co. of Philadelphia, and Ophir GMC of Colorado, 1865-1866.
This archive features 18 documents from 1865-1866, including a previously unknown published map of Buckskin Joe and the Mosquito District. It sheds new light on this important early gold district which was part of "South Park".
Gold Discovered 1859, Mosquito District Organized 1861
Organized in 1861, the Mosquito District was one of the early lode districts in Colorado. Placer gold had been found two years earlier. Buckskin Joe, a mining camp named after popular figure Joe Higgenbottam who wore buckskin clothes, was at the center of the activity, though its name quickly changed to Laurette by 1865. At its height in 1861, it was thought that up to 5000 miners occupied the Buckskin Joe and Mosquito region, though this may have been an exaggeration. It was known as an organized "safe" community, not one tending to lawlessness, as was typical in some remote western mining camps.
One of the early placer miners of the region, Jim Reynolds, took off at the onset of the Civil War for Texas, where he formed a 22 man squadron of independent "Texan Guerrillas" with the intent of going back to South Park and robbing the mines and miners of their gold. After robbing wagon trains in Texas, they got to Colorado and began robbing stage coaches, relieving them of their treasure boxes. Caught in the act, the group was later captured and killed, though not before burying "large sums of silver dollars … for future use" before leaving Texas. (Hello, treasure hunters) (Hall, 1889, V1, p314)
Civil War Creates Mass Exodus From South Park
Some authors wrote that the "gold played out", but in fact, Civil War caused a mass exodus, and the region was abandoned. Fossett claimed that J. W. Smith of Denver was one of the early miners, taking in a reported $250,000 from these mines, but this too, seems unlikely. Miners through history have had a terrible time relinquishing claims that provided wealth. But Civil War "helped deplete the population" according to Eberhart (1959).
Additional factors weighed in during this period. Indian troubles in 1863-1864 caused significant uproar. Much of this is discussed at great length in Hall (1889).
Prospectors return after Civil War, Winter, 1865
The rebirth of Mosquito apparently came with the Ophir GMC and competing companies in late 1865. It appears eastern interests returned to the area immediately following the end to the Civil War and restaked mining claims, vigorously developing prospects. J. W. Smith is not among the claimants listed in the title papers within this document archive, though the title papers are only for the Ophir Co.'s claims. Harlan had New York lithographer Charles Hart make up a map of the district, which was printed and published, possibly for the benefit of the Ophir shareholders. The map in the archive shows 13 mineral lodes and 12 quartz mills, so the district must have been very active, regardless of the lack of national reporting.
In this archive, Harlan reports of rich ore specimens from the mines ranging from about $99 per ton to more than $275 per ton. He went as far as to have Jacob Eckfeldt, the US Assayer in Philadelphia perform assays to be sure the local assayers weren't playing tricks. In another letter back to the company's office in Pennsylvania, he sent a two ounce "nugget" of gold that was the product of reducing 200 pounds of ore.
The Ophir Gold MC of Colorado is not listed in Hollister (1867), but he does discuss the Buckskin Joe and Mosquito Districts in a single paragraph. The map shows the town plats for Sterling City and Laurette (originally named Buckskin Joe). The only comment made by Hollister is that Mosquito "sits among a rich cluster of quartz veins." These quartz veins are the subject of the map, showing the following lodes west and southwest of Sterling City: (north to south): Blacksnake Lode, Mosquito Lode, Orphan Bay Ext. Lode, Harlan Lode, Richmond Lode, Washington Lode #2, Lady Bryan Lode, Gould & Curry Lode. The Ophir lode sits immediately west and north of Sterling City, striking northeast and parallel to the road to Laurette. Harlan has placed notes in pencil and ink where the quartz mills were located along the South Platte River. He shows seven mills near Sterling City and an additional five mills at Laurette. He also noted five additional sites: Harlan Lode Ext., Central Park Lode, Ophir Zone Ext., Pennsylvania Tunnel, and a water power site on the South Platte, probably a ditch supplying a mill. A stage road is shown leading to Denver.
Unfortunately, there are no production reports of the Ophir GMC or other companies in the district that were easily attainable via the usual mining research channels. Annual Reports of companies operating in the district were unavailable at the time of this writing, if there are any.
Very little is published of the lode gold deposits of the Mosquito District prior to 1870. In fact, if we were to list the classic mining references of the period, there is no mention at all, other than the scant paragraph in Hollister. Thus this archive grants us a new look at the period.
With the decline of activity in the district, the mining claims were once again abandoned.
Second Exodus, 1867
With the unsuccessful efforts of the Ophir GMC, the district again fell to relative abandon with the exception of the placer deposits. The cause of the exodus this time were the discoveries of major placer gold deposits at nearby Alma and Fairplay, where more than enough gold was found to satisfy miners.
The discovery of silver in the nearby mountains, including production at Leadville, caused another round of serious prospecting in the early 1870's.
The Ophir GMC apparently was ultimately unsuccessful. Later development of the properties engulfed the claims under the name Orphan Boy and Phillips Consolidated GMC in 1874 and a bit afterwards. (Fossett) Numerous other mining companies of the same or similar name (Orphan Boy) would pop up in Colorado over the next seven years (See Corbett & Lingane). The mining camp of Mosquito (Sterling City) was still there in 1897, according to Corbett (1879). By then, Harlan, the man behind the original development in 1865-1866 was absent from the district. Gold produced from c1859-1866 amounted to about $2.5 million, according to Fossett (1880). Most of the deposits remained idle until after 1873.
Collection Inventory.
1. No date. Appx August, 1865. Map of the North End of the South Park Showing the great Gold & Silver regions of Park Co. Colorado, a lithograph of Charles Hunt, 99 Fulton St. NY. 16.5" long, 14" tall. Folded, not adhered to any report. Bright printing, no holes, pencil notes on the map from the Ophir Lode Company. Not in Howes. Not in Wagner-Camp. The changes made by Harlan are probably those sent to Hart for consideration if a new map was prepared. These additions were mentioned in two notes dated December 20, 1865.
2. Dec. 10, 1865. MS Central City. 1p. To Harlan in Denver from H. W. Quitzan. Reports of the "well timbered 6 x 10' shaft, 65 feet deep, with a horsepower whim on the top for raising ore.. The bottom has a 25' drift. Same width of vein at the bottom, superior quality, full of pyrite, etc.
3. Dec. 13, 1865. MS Denver City. 1p letter to Wootten & Bines from Harlan. Sent title abstracts and gold specimens.
4. Dec 7, 1865. Title Report. Claims staked 1865, etc. on the Ophir Lode. 5pp legal.
5. Dec. 20, 1865. MS Central City. To Charles Hart (Lithographer of the map) requesting "additions to the map of Park County lithographed for me last summer…" [This note dates the map]
6. Dec. 20, 1865. MS Central City. 1.5pp letter. To Bines & Wootten from Harlan. Sent a report on the property by Quitzon. This letter discusses Harlan's markings on the Hart map.
7. Jan. 17, 1866. Mint of the United States, Assay Office, Philadelphia. Signed by J.R. Eckfeldt, assayer. Discusses the results of mineral specimens from the Ophir, Harlan and Park lodes. $99.50 to $178 per ton. With cover addressed to J.E. Wootten in Cressona, PA.
8. (Early 1866?) No date. Instructions from Harlan to N. B. regarding the Pennsylvania Tunnel Mill.
9. April 13, 1866. "An act to incorporate the Ophir GMC" 4pp legal, bound.
10. (April, 1866, undated). Bylaws of the Ophir GMC of Colorado. 3pp, legal.
11. May 2, 1866. Minutes of Meting of Ophir Ridge GMC of Colorado. Signed by Moodie. Legal, 2pp.
12. May 4, 1866. Letter to S. Bulkley from Wm J Moodie, secty of Ophir Ridge GMC. Notice of meeting.
13. May 6, 1866. MS. Minutes of the Directors of the Ophir GMC. 1p.
14. May 6, 1866. Letter on Pacific House, Denver stationery. To W.H. Bines from Harlan. 2pp. Report of prospecting, mining.
15. May 8, 1866. Letter, 1p. MS Central City. To W.H.B. (Bines) from Harlan. Harlan still discovering rich ores.
16. May 8, 1866. MS Central City. Letter to Wootten & Bines from Harlan. 1p. "I have just made a test of the richness of our ores from 200 pounds I have. The enclosed nugget of gold weighing nearly 2 oz and worth about $32 in coin" (gold not present today)
17. Nov. 6, 1866. Report of Harlan to Directors of cash spent for the past year. 1p legal. ($10,156)
18. Nov. 16, 1866. Minutes of Meeting, Ophir GMC of Phil. 1.5pp. A move to sell nine shares at $1000 each. Lists shareholders.City: South ParkCounty: ParkState: CODate:
[PLEASE SEE LOTS 1119 AND 1120 FOR TWO EDITIONS OF ECKFELDT'S HISTORIC NUMISMATIC BOOK, New Varieties of Gold and Silver Coins, Counterfeit Coins, and Bullion]
Auction Location:
3555 Airway Drive Suite 309, Reno, Nevada, 89511, United States
Nevada Satte Sales Tax
Taxes:
| Tax | Rate | Desc. |
| NSST |
7.75% |
Nevada Sales Tax |
Buyer's Premiums:
| From (Incl.) | To (Excl.) | Premium |
| 0.00 |
Infinite |
19.5% |
Additional Fees:
| Fee | Amount | Applicable Locations | Applied To |
| Handling Fee |
5.00
|
Not Applicable
|
This fee applies to the total of the invoice
|
Shipping Details:
No Info Available
Payment Details:
Due on receipt of invoice.
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Great American Treasure Hunt
Absentee Bidding will end
Friday, September 12, 2014 at 5pm PDT,
Internet bids accepted any time
Terms and Conditions
1. This is a Live Auction conducted by Holabird’s Western Americana Collections (HWAC).
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From: To: Increment:
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$25 $95 $5
$100 $190 $10
$200 $475 $25
$500 $1,450 $50
$1,500 $3,400 $100
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any lot. Bidder’s sole remedy for any proven act or omission shall be rescission of sale and refund of the amount paid by Bidder.
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