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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Butte Gold & Silver MC Stock, Clyde Ledge, Austin [130829]2460 - Butte Gold & Silver MC Stock, Clyde Ledge, Austin [130829]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Clyde Ledge, Reese River Mining District, Lander County, N.T. (printed upper right). Incorporated October 20th, 1863. Dateline San Francisco, November
Bidding Has Concluded
Start Price : 150.00 | Estimate : 300.00 - 500.00
 
 
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Crittenden Gold & Silver Mining Company 1863 Territorial Stock [130771]2461 - Crittenden Gold & Silver Mining Company 1863 Territorial Stock [130771]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Reese River MD. This Nevada Territorial stock certificate was issued to A. K. Stearns and dated Dec. 29, 1863. It is for 100 shares (of the 600 issue
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 300.00 - 500.00
Sold to p********n for (160.00 + 35.20BP) = 195.20
 
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Fox & Robinson Mining Company Stock, Amador MD [130833]2462 - Fox & Robinson Mining Company Stock, Amador MD [130833]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Amador Mining District, Lander County, N.T. (printed upper left). Dateline Austin, February 1st, 1864. No. 58, issued for 5 shares to J Robinson. Sign
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 300.00 - 500.00
Sold to 2*****l for (150.00 + 33.00BP) = 183.00
 
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Friendship Gold & Silver MC Stock, Reese River District, Lander County [130832]2463 - Friendship Gold & Silver MC Stock, Reese River District, Lander County [130832]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Location: Reese River District, Lander County, Nevada Territory (printed in stock text). Incorporated July 6, 1863. Rare Stockton dateline, May 5, 186
Bidding Has Concluded
Start Price : 150.00 | Estimate : 300.00 - 500.00
 
 
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Gilbert & Knapp Cons. G&S MC Stock, Big Creek, Canon District, Nevada Territory [130791]2464 - Gilbert & Knapp Cons. G&S MC Stock, Big Creek, Canon District, Nevada Territory [130791]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Location: Chatfield Ledge, Big Creek Canon Mining District, Lander County, N.T. (printed upper left). Location: Chatfield Ledge, Big Creek Canon Minin
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 300.00 - 500.00
Sold to D******a for (225.00 + 56.25BP) = 281.25
 
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Henrietta Gold & Silver MC Stock, Burgess Ledge, Lander County [130794]2465 - Henrietta Gold & Silver MC Stock, Burgess Ledge, Lander County [130794]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Reese River MD. Burgess Ledge, Lander County, N.T. (printed under logo at left). Inc. Aug. 12, 1863. Dateline San Francisco, Oct. 22nd, 1863. No. 40,
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 300.00 - 500.00
Sold to 2*****l for (150.00 + 33.00BP) = 183.00
 
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Marie Muller Gold & Silver MC Stock, Lander County, Nevada Territory [130793]2466 - Marie Muller Gold & Silver MC Stock, Lander County, Nevada Territory [130793]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Reese River MD. Marie Muller Ledge, Lander County, N.T. (printed under logo). Inc. in Aug. 1863. Dateline San Francisco, Oct. 23rd, 1863. No. 42, issu
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 300.00 - 500.00
Sold to d*******f for (190.00 + 47.50BP) = 237.50
 
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Massachesetts Gold & Silver MC Stock, Reese River District, Lander County [130834]2467 - Massachesetts Gold & Silver MC Stock, Reese River District, Lander County [130834]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Massachusetts' Ledge, Reese River District (printed at top). Inc. Feb. 23, 1864. Dateline San Francisco, June 22, 1864. No. 21, issued for 20 sh...
Bidding Has Concluded
Start Price : 150.00 | Estimate : 300.00 - 500.00
 
 
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Middlesex G&S MC Stock, Amador MD, signed by David Buell [130831]2468 - Middlesex G&S MC Stock, Amador MD, signed by David Buell [130831]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Great Nevada autograph piece! David Buel was most well known for his role in the Sanitary Sack of Flour! Location: Amador Mining District, Lander Coun
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 400.00 - 600.00
Sold to p********n for (180.00 + 39.60BP) = 219.60
 
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Mills, Post & White Cons. Mining Company Stock, Territorial [130785]2469 - Mills, Post & White Cons. Mining Company Stock, Territorial [130785]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Includes RARE Territorial cert. Reese River Mining District, Lander County, N.T. Lot of 2. One is unissued. The issued stock is No. 139, issued for 9
Bidding Has Concluded
Start Price : 75.00 | Estimate : 150.00 - 300.00
 
 
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Mount Vernon Silver Company of Nevada Stock, 1865 [111918]2470 - Mount Vernon Silver Company of Nevada Stock, 1865 [111918]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Cert. #124, issued for 1250 shares at New York in 1865. Issued in Payment for Property to Abraham R. Van Nest. Patriotic theme throughout with eagle a
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 200.00 - 400.00
Sold to 8********l.. for (95.00 + 23.75BP) = 118.75
 
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Shoshone Chief Silver Mining Co. Stock Certificate, 1865 [130819]2471 - Shoshone Chief Silver Mining Co. Stock Certificate, 1865 [130819]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Incorporated in New York. No. 44, issued for 50 shares to Pelton on Dec. 16th, 1865. Signed by the president, Wm B. Hayward, and secretary L.R. Hutchi
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 250.00 - 400.00
Sold to d*******f for (130.00 + 32.50BP) = 162.50
 
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Bonita Gold & Silver MC Stock Certificate, Tesora Ledge, Lander County [130792]2472 - Bonita Gold & Silver MC Stock Certificate, Tesora Ledge, Lander County [130792]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Reese River MD. Tessora Ledge, Lander County, N.T. (printed under logo). Inc. August 12th, 1863. Dateline San Francisco, October 23rd, 1863. No. 38 is
Bidding Has Concluded
Start Price : 150.00 | Estimate : 300.00 - 500.00
 
 
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Lodi G&S MC Stock, Palmyra District, Nevada Territory, 1864 [130790]2473 - Lodi G&S MC Stock, Palmyra District, Nevada Territory, 1864 [130790]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Palmyra District, Lyon County, N.T. (printed in right corner). Golden Eagle Ledge, 600 feet (printed upper left). Dateline Como, Lyon County, N.T., Fe
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 400.00 - 600.00
Sold to 2*****l for (200.00 + 44.00BP) = 244.00
 
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Regent Mining Company Stock, Devils Gate [130862]2474 - Regent Mining Company Stock, Devils Gate [130862]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
#385 for 100 shares to Charles E Elliot trustee. Signed by president CS Wells trustee and secretary Elliot. 1881. Incorporated November 10, 1881. Loca
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 100.00 - 200.00
Sold to A*****0 for (50.00 + 11.00BP) = 61.00
 
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Enterprise Mining & Irrigating Company Stock [130824]2475 - Enterprise Mining & Irrigating Company Stock [130824]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
# 85 for 50 shares to JD Rich trustee in 1879. Signed by Daniel Bigley, president and F. H. Dells(?), secretary. Uncancelled. Location: Diamond Distri
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 100.00 - 150.00
Sold to d*******f for (45.00 + 11.25BP) = 56.25
 
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Four Diamondfield Mining District Stocks, Including a murder by an angry dance hall girl [130798]2476 - Four Diamondfield Mining District Stocks, Including a murder by an angry dance hall girl [130798]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
1) Two different Goldfield Midnight-Pawnee. RARE. No. 793, issued in 1907 Quite striking! 2) No. 446 issued in 1906. . According to the 1910 Mines Dir
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 100.00 - 150.00
Sold to 6****A for (60.00 + 13.20BP) = 73.20
 
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Eclipse Tunnel Company Stock, Humboldt County, Nevada Territory, 1864 [130779]2477 - Eclipse Tunnel Company Stock, Humboldt County, Nevada Territory, 1864 [130779]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Territorial Nevada stock issued in San Francisco on May 27th, 1864. Location printed on certificate: Sierra District, Humboldt County, Nevada Territor
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 300.00 - 500.00
Sold to A*******d for (190.00 + 47.50BP) = 237.50
 
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Richmond Mining Company Stock Signed by the Man who Wrote the 1904 History of Nevada [130822]2478 - Richmond Mining Company Stock Signed by the Man who Wrote the 1904 History of Nevada [130822]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Early #6 for 1 share at $100 per issue to Thomas Wren. February 1877 and signed by R.K. Morrison, secretary, and Wren as the company president (rare).
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 100.00 - 150.00
Sold to s***0 for (50.00 + 11.00BP) = 61.00
 
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American Mining Co. Stock [130825]2479 - American Mining Co. Stock [130825]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
# 775 for 10 shares to J. Henriques . Signed by J. M. Buffington and president Harmon. Dateline San Francisco December 23, 1870. Mine located at Gold
Bidding Has Concluded
Start Price : 75.00 | Estimate : 150.00 - 180.00
 
 
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