December Dreams Premier Auction: Western Americana, Mining, & Numismatics (December 2021)

Auction Details

Welcome to our "December Dreams" Premier Auction, our final sale of 2021!

December Sale Highlights
This December Sale includes many highlighted collections, including parts of the Ken Prag Postcard Collection, Bill McKivor Token and Medal Collection, MacKenzie Montana Collection, and the Ron Lerch Western Directory Collection, all supplemented by some world-class great rarities from other private collections nationwide.

Fresh to the market is the Ron Lerch Collection of Western Directories. The collection numbers nearly 700 different directories, and here are presented about 200 directories as the first part of this major historic and all-important reference material collection, picked somewhat randomly from the collection. Most of the Western states have several directories offered in this first sale. Some of the key pieces in the December sale are the two very rare San Francisco Chinese business directories, as well as a number of very rare county directories of the nineteenth century. Directories are considered “primary source” material, and as such are essential in aspects of historical research. Few of the directories in the Lerch Collection have been digitized (with the Langley’s San Francisco an obvious exception).

Yes, the Prag Collection keeps on giving! This sale contains about 500 lots of postcards, but the majority, perhaps 350 lots, are from California. This large group offers some of the best and rarest postcards we’ve offered yet, from Pioneer cards (Private Mailing Cards, c1898-1902) to rare artists and themes, such as Disney (1930s cards) and the Titanic (both pre-sinking and post sinking from 1912).

Within these two massive collections is a common theme: Hawaii. The Prag Collection offers about 40 lots of vintage Hawaii postcards, and there are about 7 Hawaiian directories from the Lerch Collection.

Antiquarian photography is another key category for collectors, including many historic and possibly unique western stereo-view cards and photographs, and an absolutely fabulous Ansel Adams original photograph group from his Yosemite Series (all signed), highlighted by “Moon over El Capitan”, print No. 10, considered by many as one of his greatest photographs.

As always, we have a strong Native Americana section, with baskets (more coming in the next sale), jewelry and art. Speaking of Art, we have three early Salvador Dali signed lithographic prints, and a rather wonderful group of Japanese wood block and lithograph prints, many with original signatures.

The MacKenzie Montana Collection continues, with several hundred lots of historical Montana documents and ephemera.

The Railroad and Mining sections contain selections from several private collections with a number of rarities. This sale features premier California Gold Rush and Nevada Territory mining collections!

Our Numismatics section includes a collection of So-Called Dollars and new offerings from the Bill McKivor Nevada token and world-medal collection, not to be missed!

Make sure to use the Keyword search tool to find items in your collecting areas across the three auction days. As usual, our team is happy and ready to answer questions.

And please send us those great collections for 2022! Yours could be the next world record!

--Fred Holabird & Team--


Auction Schedule

Day 1, Friday, December 17th, 2021, Lots 1000-1610
Philatelic (1000-1527)
Military, Political, & Firearms (1528-1558)
Gaming (1559-1577)
Model Railroad & Toys (1578-1610)

Day 2, Saturday, December 18th, 2021, Lots 2000-2683
Books feat. Ron Lerch Directory Collection, Part I (2000-2229)
Mining Artifacts & Ephemera (2230-2363)
Stock Certificates & Bonds (2364-2683)
Mining (2364-2551)
Railroad (2552-2624)
Miscellaneous (2625-2683)

Day 3, Sunday, December 19th, 2021, Lots 3000-3614
Native Americana (3000-3044)
Art feat. Ansel Adams (3045-3087)
General Americana (3088-3388)
Geographically Sorted
Misc. Categories incl. Coffee Mill Collection
Numismatics (3389-3613)
Coins & Currency (3389-3397)
Medals & So-Called Dollars (3398-3447)
Tokens feat. Bill McKivor Nevada Tokens, Part II (3448-3614)
SHIPPING & HANDLING: Shipping is subject to a minimum charge of $19.00. Shipping and handling cannot be estimated prior to invoicing as it is based on the size and weight of your purchase. Additional shipping and handling costs, if required, will be re-invoiced for the balance due. Items are not shipped until the invoice is completely paid. Many buyers purchase a number of lots. Every effort will be made to include all lots in a single shipping charge calculated to cover the weight and size.SHIPPING & HANDLING: Shipping and Handling cannot be estimated prior to invoicing, based on the size a...
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Xray No.1 Arcade Coffee Mill [142385]3385 - Xray No.1 Arcade Coffee Mill [142385]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
With a whitehouse label, possible replacement. Macmillan 53. Sivonda 168. 14 x 6 x 8 Date: Country (if not USA): State: City: Provenance:
Bidding Has Concluded
Start Price : 150.00 | Estimate : 300.00 - 400.00
 
 
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Rare Cuban Consulate Document, Caibarien, Cuba, 1916 [141422]3386 - Rare Cuban Consulate Document, Caibarien, Cuba, 1916 [141422]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Document stating that the Trustee's of the de Pestre will, Goncer and Humphreys, were transferring to Edmund, Henri and Joseph Goncer along with...
Bidding Has Concluded
Start Price : 100.00 | Estimate : 200.00 - 400.00
 
 
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Cuba Cabinet Photo Set, 1890's (8) [141421]3387 - Cuba Cabinet Photo Set, 1890's (8) [141421]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Eight nice cabinet photos of early Cuba, circa the 1890's. The prize photo shows hundreds of barrels of what we believe to be Cuban rum in Havan...
Bidding Has Concluded
Start Price : 60.00 | Estimate : 120.00 - 300.00
 
 
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Lot Withdrawn3388 - Lot Withdrawn
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Lot Withdrawn
Bidding Has Concluded
Start Price : 200.00 | Estimate : 400.00 - 600.00
 
 
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Numismatic Gold Trophy Ring with 1/3 Stater, 6th Century, BC [142880]3389 - Numismatic Gold Trophy Ring with 1/3 Stater, 6th Century, BC [142880]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Men's Ring of one troy ounce of solid 14kt gold carefully holding a 1/3 Stater gold piece with the Lion motif, a 6th century BC coin that is one...
Bidding Has Concluded
Start Price : 3,500.00 | Estimate : 7,000.00 - 8,500.00
 
 
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Spectacular Dunbar & Co. Mint Letter of Gold Deposit for Return in Dunbar Gold Coin, 1851 [142888]3390 - Spectacular Dunbar & Co. Mint Letter of Gold Deposit for Return in Dunbar Gold Coin, 1851 [142888]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Exceptionally important letter signed by Dunbar & Co., March 31, 1851 noting the receipt of 192 9/16 ounces of gold dust at $17.125 per ounce to...
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 3,000.00 - 7,000.00
Sold to R******r for (2,000.00 + 500.00BP) = 2,500.00
 
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Four Coin Albums [141995]3391 - Four Coin Albums [141995]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Lot of four coin albums. Two are Fifty State Commemorative Quarters 1999-2008, Littleton Custom Coin Folder: filled with uncirculated state quarters.
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 100.00 - 200.00
Sold to C*****0 for (450.00 + 99.00BP) = 549.00
 
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Fort William McKinley Counter-stamped on Hong Kong One Cent Piece [142606]3392 - Fort William McKinley Counter-stamped on Hong Kong One Cent Piece [142606]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Rare Fort William McKinley (Philippines) counterstamp "10 / Ft. Wm. McKinley" on a 1901 Hong Kong one cent piece, dated 1901. Fort William...
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 100.00 - 200.00
Sold to p********n for (425.00 + 106.25BP) = 531.25
 
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Risque Engraved Coins - 2 [143100]3393 - Risque Engraved Coins - 2 [143100]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Two pieces: 1) 1891 French 10 Centimes. Graphic penis engraved over the top of Ceres; 2) 1772 British half penny. Reverse engraving shows Britannia si
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 100.00 - 200.00
Sold to r*****5 for (400.00 + 88.00BP) = 488.00
 
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Collectible Coins in Gold and Bronze [140827]3394 - Collectible Coins in Gold and Bronze [140827]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
This lot has two boxes of National Collector's Mint tribute $5 gold pieces, each set of nine. A $100 Million Gold Classics Collection of gold pl...
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 150.00 - 200.00
Sold to g*********r for (75.00 + 18.75BP) = 93.75
 
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Community Service Bureau Scrip Notes [141199]3395 - Community Service Bureau Scrip Notes [141199]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Two rare scrip notes from the community Service Bureau, Inc., a Washington Corporation at Tacoma, Washington. Trade Interchange certificates good for
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 100.00 - 200.00
Sold to q******s for (35.00 + 8.75BP) = 43.75
 
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Exposition Currency [136265]3396 - Exposition Currency [136265]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Three pieces of scrip from Panama California Expositions. 1915 San Francisco Days of Gold '49 Camp good for 50 bucks. (The 49 Camp, offered a g...
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 150.00 - 300.00
Sold to A********S for (170.00 + 42.50BP) = 212.50
 
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Panama California Exposition Scrip [136266]3397 - Panama California Exposition Scrip [136266]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Lot of two: 1) 1915 San Francisco Days of Gold '49 Camp good for 50 bucks. (The í49 Camp, offered a gambling experience in which chips cou...
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 100.00 - 200.00
Sold to b*******n for (130.00 + 32.50BP) = 162.50
 
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Panama Pacific International Exposition Medals [140934]3398 - Panama Pacific International Exposition Medals [140934]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Lot of two bronze medals from the 1915 Panama Pacific International Exposition in San Francisco. 1) HK-406: Obv.. Within circle, edifice; Louisiana Bu
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 120.00 - 200.00
Sold to b*******n for (85.00 + 21.25BP) = 106.25
 
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Panama Canal So Called Dollars: HK 398/ HK 414 [143072]3399 - Panama Canal So Called Dollars: HK 398/ HK 414 [143072]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Lot of two So Called dollars celebrating the completion of the Panama Canal: 1) HK-398: Obv.. Involved design depicting boat passing through Canal, fu
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 200.00 - 400.00
Sold to b*******n for (150.00 + 37.50BP) = 187.50
 
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San Francisco Medal Collection [136329]3400 - San Francisco Medal Collection [136329]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Lot of 19 medals from San Francisco. 1973 Cable Car Centennial, copper (5); Alcatraz "The Rock"; Islam Temple medal and belt buckle (1932)...
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 200.00 - 400.00
Sold to W********y.. for (100.00 + 25.00BP) = 125.00
 
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California Gold Tokens [136264]3401 - California Gold Tokens [136264]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Lot of two octagonal tokens. "Eureka" on the obverse with seated Minerva, and "1885" on reverse. One slightly smaller than the o...
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 100.00 - 200.00
Sold to 8********l.. for (120.00 + 30.00BP) = 150.00
 
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California Medal Collection [141202]3402 - California Medal Collection [141202]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Lot of 23 medals from around California. 1939 Golden Gate Expo; Yosemite National Park; 1901 Santa Clara County; 1954 Standard Oil of California; 1971
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 100.00 - 150.00
Sold to b*******n for (70.00 + 17.50BP) = 87.50
 
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Columbian Exposition So Called Dollar: HK 154 [143066]3403 - Columbian Exposition So Called Dollar: HK 154 [143066]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Obv.. Edifice; on ribbon above, around U.S. Govt. Building; below edifice, on ribbon, Width 351 ft / [to. l.] Length 421 ft, [to r.] Area 3.3 Acres //
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 100.00 - 200.00
Sold to L*****n for (65.00 + 16.25BP) = 81.25
 
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Columbian Exposition So Called Dollar: HK 154 [143068]3404 - Columbian Exposition So Called Dollar: HK 154 [143068]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Obv.. Edifice; on ribbon above, around U.S. Govt. Building; below edifice, on ribbon, Width 351 ft / [to. l.] Length 421 ft, [to r.] Area 3.3 Acres //
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 100.00 - 200.00
Sold to L*****n for (35.00 + 8.75BP) = 43.75
 
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