2147

CJ Arvidsson's Assay Office Memorandum, Placerville 1868 [158071]

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Mining Start Price:1,500.00 USD Estimated At:3,000.00 - 4,000.00 USD
CJ Arvidsson's Assay Office Memorandum, Placerville  1868  [158071]

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 the auction ends.

Very rare; this is the only one we know of. Memorandum of Gold Bullion Deposited at CJ Arvidsson's Assay Office. Dateline Placerville, February 28th, 1868. Deposit by CM McQuire. 19.75 ounces made into an 18.63 ounce bar, .845 fineness in gold. Signed by CJ Arvidsson. 5.25 x 10" Black print on blue paper. Folds, rough edges. Ex. John Ford Collection.
Arvidsson came to Placerville during the Gold Rush in 1851 from Sweden. He briefly worked as a carpenter, then focused on assaying and silversmithing. He found success and convinced his brother (Arvid) to join him. Their assay office burned down in the 1856 fire, but they erected a new building (which would later house the Tracey Shoe store). They also opened a jewelry store to complement their assay business, which made sense given that they were handling stunning California gold-in-quartz specimens on a regular basis. Arvidsson was also involved with another California assay business. He was a minor partner with John Agrell in the firm Agrell, Arvidsson & Co. This firm dissolved in 1855 and Agrell then partnered with Gorham Blake in the firm Blake & Agrell. Arvidsson's assay and jewelry business was a success and continued for many years in Placerville. See the Numismatics Section for other RARE California Assay documents. Placerville California Franklin Collection