4202

Comstock Mill Check Collection incl. William Sharon Rarity [155513]

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Mining Start Price:250.00 USD Estimated At:500.00 - 900.00 USD
Comstock Mill Check Collection incl. William Sharon Rarity [155513]
SHIPPING & HANDLING: The customer is responsible for all shipping and packaging charges. We offer shipping service as a convenience to our buyers. Items are not shipped until the invoice and shipping charges are completely paid. Shipping costs will be calculated and billed separately after your items have been paid for. Purchases will be shipped via our approved, insured carriers: FedEx, UPS, USPS or DHL. Pick up is available from our Reno office, once you have received your invoice post auction
Lot of 10 different. Fantastic group! 1) Best is a Union Mill & Mining Company, Bank of California check issued to and signed by William Sharon for $50,000 (over $1 million today) in April 1875. Signature is partially torn off, as is seen in at least half of the current known pieces. Signed on the back by Sharon too (unaffected). There are only about a half dozen of these known! Red print, RN-D, San Francisco dateline. This check was issued at a critical time for the Bank of California. The Bonanza Firm had wrestled away control of the Comstock that the bank had established in the 1860s. Just 4 months after this check was issued, William Chapman Ralston would be dead, possibly by suicide. All other examples of this check known are also for huge sums of money issued to Sharon, clearly representing an internal reorganization of the company. The Union Mill & Mining Co. was the organization that managed the Bank of California's large number of Comstock mines and mills. (Fair, Flood, Mackay, & O'Brien later organized the Pacific Mill & Mining Co. to do the same for their properties). Sharon was one of the most powerful men on the Comstock, running the Bank of California for William Ralston. The bank made a fortune by loaning to mining companies and then seizing their properties when they defaulted. Sharon was instrumental in the creation of the Virginia and Truckee Railroad, which he wanted to connect the Comstock with the ore mills he owned along the Carson River (with Ralston). Later in life, he also served as a U.S. senator. 2-4) Three different Sapphire Mill / WS Hobart checks. Hobart was a key lumber and water industry figure. a) 1867 check signed by WS Hobart. (Nevada and Atlas crossed out). NV and US IR stamps. b) 1870 check with RN-B and NV adhesive revenue stamp. Issued for taxes on the Lucerne Mine. Signed for Hobart by Osborn. The Lucerne was in Silver City and became part of the Silver Hill group. c) 1874 check, RN-D, signed for Hobart by Raymond. 5) Mariposa Mill Company. 1871 check signed by mining millionaire and US Senator James G. Fair. RN-C. 6-7) Two different Bacon Mill checks. Both issued in 1870 and signed by Fair. One is manuscript and the other is a preprinted form (issued to Virginia & Gold Hill Water Co.). 8) Summit Mill check issued in 1866. Signed by Mason. NV and US IR stamps. 9-10) Two different Empire Mill & Mining Co. checks: one is very early (1862, territorial), signed by Sheldon; the other is 1867 and signed by RN Graves. Please inspect!

Date: 1862-1875
Country (if not USA):
State: Nevada
City: Virginia City
Provenance: