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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Bodie and Esmeralda (Aurora) Early Mining Districts Pamphlet [123547]2240 - Bodie and Esmeralda (Aurora) Early Mining Districts Pamphlet [123547]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
By Joseph Wasson, San Francisco. Spaulding, Barto & Co. Steam Book and Job Printers, San Francisco, 1878. 60 pp. With 2 folding maps of mining c...
Bidding Has Concluded
Start Price : 500.00 | Estimate : 1,000.00 - 1,500.00
 
 
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Bodie, California 1879 Stereoview of a Freight Wagon on Main Street, Exceptionally Rare [123544]2241 - Bodie, California 1879 Stereoview of a Freight Wagon on Main Street, Exceptionally Rare [123544]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Photo by R. E. Wood, who was a traveling a landscape stereo photographer from Santa Cruz active from 1875-1905. Each photo measures 3"x 4"...
Bidding Has Concluded
Start Price : 750.00 | Estimate : 1,500.00 - 2,000.00
 
 
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Houseworth Stereoviews of Hydraulic Mining In Columbia, Tuolumne, California [123693]2242 - Houseworth Stereoviews of Hydraulic Mining In Columbia, Tuolumne, California [123693]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Views show mining at the very rich Columbia area - now a state park near Sonoma on the south end of the Mother Lode. Notice the lifting wheel in each
Bidding Has Concluded
Start Price : 250.00 | Estimate : 500.00 - 800.00
 
 
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James Mills & Company Third of Exchange - brother of and partner with D. O. Mills [126749]2243 - James Mills & Company Third of Exchange - brother of and partner with D. O. Mills [126749]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Possibly unique. James Mills and brother Edgar arrived in California first. Darius Ogden Mills followed. In 1850 the company was listed as Auction and
Bidding Has Concluded
Start Price : 500.00 | Estimate : 1,000.00 - 2,000.00
 
 
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Forbestown Consolidated Gold Mines Queen Lease [123750]2244 - Forbestown Consolidated Gold Mines Queen Lease [123750]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Payroll log of Miners name, time pay rates and monthly pay. August 1912 to August 1913. Interestingly the pay rates varied from $2.50 to $4.00 per day
Bidding Has Concluded
Start Price : 50.00 | Estimate : 100.00 - 200.00
 
 
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Handwritten Incorporation Paper and two Wells Fargo Express documents, 1850's [123736]2245 - Handwritten Incorporation Paper and two Wells Fargo Express documents, 1850's [123736]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
1) A draft of the Forest Hill Slope Company's stock options: for tunnel mining, $28,000, 10 years, 56 shares, seven trustees named. Unique and O...
Bidding Has Concluded
Start Price : 300.00 | Estimate : 600.00 - 800.00
 
 
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Hydraulic Mining at Gold Run C. P Stereoview [123696]2246 - Hydraulic Mining at Gold Run C. P Stereoview [123696]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
This is quite possibly the same gravel cliff seen near the Gold Run exit on I-80. Reilly #345. J. J. Reilly Stereoview, Views of American Scenery Ser
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 400.00 - 600.00
Sold to b*******n for (200.00 + 50.00BP) = 250.00
 
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Kennedy Mine map  down to the 1850 foot level; Shows ore stopes mined before 1890s [123663]2247 - Kennedy Mine map down to the 1850 foot level; Shows ore stopes mined before 1890s [123663]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Hand drawn longitudinal section map - very rare. Shows the ore bodies of the famous Kennedy Mine. Discovered in 1856 and producing up until 1942 reach
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 300.00 - 500.00
Sold to l******8 for (225.00 + 56.25BP) = 281.25
 
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Great Western Quicksilver Mining Camp Photograph, Lake County, California [123625]2248 - Great Western Quicksilver Mining Camp Photograph, Lake County, California [123625]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
This is an important mine with a rare fabulous photograph!!! The Great Western Quicksilver Mine was a mercury mine in California, near Middletown in L
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 300.00 - 400.00
Sold to C*****r for (140.00 + 30.80BP) = 170.80
 
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Alpine and Mono Counties Mining Books [126851]2249 - Alpine and Mono Counties Mining Books [126851]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
1) The Story of Early Mono County by Ella Cain. 166 pages. Photos. Excellent condition. 2) California Journal of Mines and Geology. April 1940. Articl
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 100.00 - 150.00
Sold to S***6 for (40.00 + 10.00BP) = 50.00
 
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Photograph of "Mr. Lindgren's Camp, New York Flat, Butte Co., Cala." [123624]2250 - Photograph of "Mr. Lindgren's Camp, New York Flat, Butte Co., Cala." [123624]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
New York Flat is southeast of Oroville. Contrast is superb. Lindgren was a famous mining engineer. Photograph is 4 x 5". Mount is 7 x 9". ...
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 100.00 - 150.00
Sold to 2*****s for (55.00 + 12.10BP) = 67.10
 
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Malakoff Diggins, North Bloomfield, Nevada County, California Stereoviews [123695]2251 - Malakoff Diggins, North Bloomfield, Nevada County, California Stereoviews [123695]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
1) Watkins Stereoview – Pacific Coast #1819 Malakoff Diggings – North Bloomfield Gravel Mining Co. Located 26 miles NE of Nevada Cit
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 1,300.00 - 2,000.00
Sold to b*******n for (650.00 + 162.50BP) = 812.50
 
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Three Mining Documents: San Andreas Copper and San Carlos [130586]2252 - Three Mining Documents: San Andreas Copper and San Carlos [130586]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
1-2) Two 1884 papers relating to the San Andreas Copper Mining Company. The company was certified in California and a brief mention was made of it in
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 100.00 - 200.00
Sold to C*****r for (40.00 + 8.80BP) = 48.80
 
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Recollections of California Mining Life, Henry DeGroot, 1884 [142893]2253 - Recollections of California Mining Life, Henry DeGroot, 1884 [142893]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Recollections of California Mining Life, Henry DeGroot, 1884. Primitive Placers and First Important Discovery of Gold. The Pioneers of the Pioneers, T
Bidding Has Concluded
Start Price : 1,000.00 | Estimate : 2,000.00 - 3,000.00
 
 
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"A Prospecting Party" Illustrated Gold Rush Letter Sheet, Baird 209 [142889]2254 - "A Prospecting Party" Illustrated Gold Rush Letter Sheet, Baird 209 [142889]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
"A Prospecting Party", illustrated gold rush letter sheet lithograph by Britton & Rey, San Francisco. Four illustrations in horizontal...
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 1,000.00 - 2,000.00
Sold to a********b.. for (600.00 + 150.00BP) = 750.00
 
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Bar Room in the Mines and Long Tom Illustrated Letter Sheet, Baird 7 [142891]2255 - Bar Room in the Mines and Long Tom Illustrated Letter Sheet, Baird 7 [142891]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Britton & Rey lithograph Bar Room in the Mines and Long Tom. Two choice miners' life scenes. The top illustration includes gambling and salo...
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 1,000.00 - 2,000.00
Sold to b*******n for (1,300.00 + 325.00BP) = 1,625.00
 
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Gold Rush Lettersheet, Baird 209, A Prospecting Party [142890]2256 - Gold Rush Lettersheet, Baird 209, A Prospecting Party [142890]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
"A Prospecting Party", illustrated gold rush letter sheet lithograph by Britton & Rey, San Francisco. Four illustrations in horizontal...
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 800.00 - 1,400.00
Sold to l********r.. for (400.00 + 100.00BP) = 500.00
 
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Hallidie & Co  Lettersheet, 1859, Wire Rope Mfgrs [142896]2257 - Hallidie & Co Lettersheet, 1859, Wire Rope Mfgrs [142896]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
California gold rush lettersheet in the form of a 4pp, blue wove paper introductory first page, testimonials and list of prices on the second page, fo
Bidding Has Concluded
Start Price : 750.00 | Estimate : 1,500.00 - 2,500.00
 
 
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Miners Life Illustrated California Gold Rush Letter Sheet, Baird 164 [142892]2258 - Miners Life Illustrated California Gold Rush Letter Sheet, Baird 164 [142892]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Miners Life Illustrated California Gold Rush Letter Sheet, Baird 164, Britton & Rey. This untitled lettersheet has four illustrations in the hor...
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 1,000.00 - 2,000.00
Sold to l********r.. for (600.00 + 150.00BP) = 750.00
 
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James King of William Assassination/ Surrender of Casey & Cora Lettersheet, Baird 4 [142866]2259 - James King of William Assassination/ Surrender of Casey & Cora Lettersheet, Baird 4 [142866]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Famous vigilante illustrated letter sheet showing the assassination of James King of William and the vigilante execution of Casey & Cora. Ullman...
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 1,200.00 - 2,500.00
Sold to j******n for (600.00 + 150.00BP) = 750.00
 
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