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

Auction CurrencyUSD Auction Location3555 Airway Drive Suite 309, Reno, Nevada, 89511, United States In Person PreviewPreview

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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Greeting Card Postcards from Santa Rosa [142023]1280 - Greeting Card Postcards from Santa Rosa [142023]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Lot of eleven greeting cards from Santa Rosa circa 1900-12. Merrie Christmas, Happy New Year, etc. Date: Country (if not USA): State: Californi
Bidding Has Concluded
Start Price : 50.00 | Estimate : 100.00 - 200.00
 
 
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Luther Burbank & His Home Postcards, Santa Rosa (9) [141372]1281 - Luther Burbank & His Home Postcards, Santa Rosa (9) [141372]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Nine early postcards, circa 1900-1906 show Luther Burbank and his home and California poppy fields. These are pre split back postcards. Some duplicati
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 100.00 - 150.00
Sold to l*******c for (20.00 + 5.00BP) = 25.00
 
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Luther Burbank Postcard Group, Santa Rosa (15) [128895]1282 - Luther Burbank Postcard Group, Santa Rosa (15) [128895]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Includes real photo postcards of the Burbank Gardens, the Luther Burbank school, his home, and the Cedar of Lebanon where he was buried. Also a nice v
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 100.00 - 150.00
Sold to d*******f for (50.00 + 12.50BP) = 62.50
 
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Modern Era Postcards and Ephemera from Santa Rosa California [142012]1283 - Modern Era Postcards and Ephemera from Santa Rosa California [142012]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Lot of over 35 postcards, storecards and ephemera from Santa Rosa California. Picture postcard of the Greyhound Bus Station. Date: Country (if not
Bidding Has Concluded
Start Price : 50.00 | Estimate : 100.00 - 150.00
 
 
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Santa Rosa 1906 Earthquake Damage Postcard Collection [142017]1284 - Santa Rosa 1906 Earthquake Damage Postcard Collection [142017]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Rare collection. San Francisco was not the only city destroyed by the earthquake of April, 1906. This lot of over 20 real photo postcards document the
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 500.00 - 700.00
Sold to l*********n for (250.00 + 62.50BP) = 312.50
 
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Santa Rosa Fraternal Homes Real Photo Postcards (9) [128896]1285 - Santa Rosa Fraternal Homes Real Photo Postcards (9) [128896]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Includes the Pythian Home (Knights of Pythias) -4 diff. views, the Odd Fellows Bldg. (4) with duplication and Cedar of Lebanon, Santa Rosa. Cards in n
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 100.00 - 150.00
Sold to m********s.. for (20.00 + 5.00BP) = 25.00
 
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Santa Rosa Pre Split Back Postcard Collection [142019]1286 - Santa Rosa Pre Split Back Postcard Collection [142019]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Lot of over 30 postcards of Santa Rosa before they split the back to write messages. Most produced by Edward H. Mitchell but also W. S. Hosmer of Sant
Bidding Has Concluded
Start Price : 100.00 | Estimate : 200.00 - 400.00
 
 
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Santa Rosa Real Photo Postcard Collection [142016]1287 - Santa Rosa Real Photo Postcard Collection [142016]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Lot of over 50 real photo postcards from the Sonoma County city of Santa Rosa. Court house, City Hall, Municipal Airport, Santa Rosa Avenue Bridge. Po
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 400.00 - 1,000.00
Sold to l*******c for (70.00 + 17.50BP) = 87.50
 
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Santa Rosa Rose Carnival Postcard Collection [142018]1288 - Santa Rosa Rose Carnival Postcard Collection [142018]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Lot of over 20 vintage postcards from the annual Santa Rosa Rose Carnival. Horse drawn floats, and portraits of The Festival Queens: Queen Geraldine (
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 300.00 - 500.00
Sold to l*******c for (60.00 + 15.00BP) = 75.00
 
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Santa Rosa, California Street Scene Real Photo Postcards (16) [128894]1289 - Santa Rosa, California Street Scene Real Photo Postcards (16) [128894]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Sixteen real photo postcards showing street scenes in Santa Rosa. Includes views of McDonald Avenue, 4th Street and the Redwood Highway. Also, two car
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 200.00 - 400.00
Sold to l*******c for (40.00 + 10.00BP) = 50.00
 
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Vintage Santa Rosa Postcard Collection [142004]1290 - Vintage Santa Rosa Postcard Collection [142004]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Lot of over 60 vintage postcards from the Sonoma County town of Santa Rosa. Chromo litho cards of buildings, street scenes, circa 1906-1910. Luther B
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 400.00 - 700.00
Sold to j*******h for (60.00 + 15.00BP) = 75.00
 
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Santa Rosa and Calistoga, CA Real Photos by Patterson (37) [118376]1291 - Santa Rosa and Calistoga, CA Real Photos by Patterson (37) [118376]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Nice collection of real photo postcards photographed by Frank Patterson. Photos include On Mt. St. Helena near Calistoga, Luther Burbank Gardens in Sa
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 150.00 - 200.00
Sold to n*****6 for (50.00 + 12.50BP) = 62.50
 
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Northwest Pacific Railroad RPCs at Scotia Along Eel River, Cal (3) [141412]1292 - Northwest Pacific Railroad RPCs at Scotia Along Eel River, Cal (3) [141412]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Three rare real photo postcards show the railroad tracks along the Eel River at Scotia. This was the route for the Northwest Pacific Railroad. This ro
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 120.00 - 200.00
Sold to D****7 for (35.00 + 8.75BP) = 43.75
 
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Sebastopol, California Apple Show RPPCs [134385]1293 - Sebastopol, California Apple Show RPPCs [134385]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Lot of 15 real photo postcards from different years of the Sebastopol Apple Shows. Included: 1911 (1), 1912 (6 different), 1913 (2 different), 1914 (f
Bidding Has Concluded
Start Price : 150.00 | Estimate : 300.00 - 400.00
 
 
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Sebastopol, California Early RPPCs (3) [134342]1294 - Sebastopol, California Early RPPCs (3) [134342]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Lot of 3 different early real photo postcards. 1) Street view mailed 1907. 2) Congregational Church. Not mailed. 3) Bird's-eye view of Central S...
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 120.00 - 200.00
Sold to Y******O for (40.00 + 10.00BP) = 50.00
 
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Sebastopol, California Postcard Collection [134352]1295 - Sebastopol, California Postcard Collection [134352]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Lot of 39 postcards plus 4 pieces of ephemera. No real photo postcards. A mix of early printed and modern. Some duplication. Includes some nice color
Bidding Has Concluded
Start Price : 80.00 | Estimate : 160.00 - 300.00
 
 
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Sebastopol, California RPPC Collection (18) [134348]1296 - Sebastopol, California RPPC Collection (18) [134348]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Lot of 18 real photo postcards of Sebastopol. Eleven are white border. Views include: Catholic church; high school; Main St.; Ives Memorial Park; Twin
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 180.00 - 260.00
Sold to j*****0 for (50.00 + 11.00BP) = 61.00
 
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Seigler Hot Springs, CA Postcards (31) [141281]1297 - Seigler Hot Springs, CA Postcards (31) [141281]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
A nice variety of thirty-one postcards in Seigler Springs, Lake County, California. Cards feature a swimming pond, cottages, iron baths, arsenic sprin
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 100.00 - 200.00
Sold to l*******c for (30.00 + 7.50BP) = 37.50
 
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Old Shasta Postcards (4) [141399]1298 - Old Shasta Postcards (4) [141399]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Four old Shasta, California postcards. Black and white real photo cards. Home of Major Reading built in 1847, Shasta County 1851. Includes one real ph
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 100.00 - 150.00
Sold to l*******c for (60.00 + 15.00BP) = 75.00
 
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Shasta General Postcards (45) [141400]1299 - Shasta General Postcards (45) [141400]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Forty-five postcards of Shasta, California. A nice mixture of color and real photo cards. Scenic views of Mt. Shasta. Snowy views of Mt. Shasta are pa
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 100.00 - 200.00
Sold to j*******h for (55.00 + 13.75BP) = 68.75
 
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