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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Undated English Token Collection [136305]3600 - Undated English Token Collection [136305]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Lot of 16 tokens and medals from England without dates. Trade tokens: Albert Richard, tailor; John Watt; David Grieves. Queen Elizabeth, Disraeli, Bru
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 200.00 - 400.00
Sold to d*******f for (150.00 + 37.50BP) = 187.50
 
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Half Penny/Condor Tokens From the 1700s [136303]3601 - Half Penny/Condor Tokens From the 1700s [136303]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Lot of over 25 Half penny & Condor tokens dating from the 1700s. Most in the 1790s, but there's a 1733 Isle of Man half penny. Lancashire Ea...
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 200.00 - 400.00
Sold to b*********r for (475.00 + 104.50BP) = 579.50
 
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Augustus Cove Copper Token [143103]3602 - Augustus Cove Copper Token [143103]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
c1812 copper token. Augustus Cove, a dealer in China and Glass, was criminally and unjustly treated by the Grand Junction Canal Company when Cove took
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 200.00 - 400.00
Sold to 8********l.. for (60.00 + 15.00BP) = 75.00
 
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Civil War Tokens: Political [141206]3603 - Civil War Tokens: Political [141206]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Lot of eleven political civil war tokens. First In Peace, Flag of Our Union, Union Forever, Our Army, etc. Date: Country (if not USA): State:
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 150.00 - 200.00
Sold to 8********l.. for (190.00 + 47.50BP) = 237.50
 
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Civil War Storecard Collection [141200]3604 - Civil War Storecard Collection [141200]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Lot of ten civil war storecards. S. Pierce & Son, W. Unity, Ohio; Escherich, Chicago; C. Bahr, New York; Robert Wright dry good; M. L. Marshall,...
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 150.00 - 300.00
Sold to 8********l.. for (250.00 + 62.50BP) = 312.50
 
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Eclectic Token Group [141204]3605 - Eclectic Token Group [141204]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Lot of 14 tokens. 1902 South Africa; 1853 Tasmania; Austria; 1908 Germantown; 1910 Excelsior Shoe Co.; Louis XIV token, others. Date: Country (if
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 120.00 - 200.00
Sold to q******s for (40.00 + 10.00BP) = 50.00
 
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Frontier Queen  Tokens [142288]3606 - Frontier Queen Tokens [142288]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Lot of two of the same tokens: The Frontier Queen / Chas. H. / Lester / As / Galloping Dick / Novel / Torture Scene / By Indians /Tortured By Vitriol
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 100.00 - 200.00
Sold to p********n for (50.00 + 12.50BP) = 62.50
 
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Hard Times Tokens [136260]3607 - Hard Times Tokens [136260]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Lot of eight Hard Times tokens. HT-33: Illustrious Predecessor; HT-195: E. F. Sise & Co.; HT-244: H. Crossman; HT-32: Illustrious Predecessor; ...
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 200.00 - 300.00
Sold to S*****8 for (180.00 + 39.60BP) = 219.60
 
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Political Hard Times Tokens [136261]3608 - Political Hard Times Tokens [136261]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Lot of four Hard Times tokens with political messages. HT-66a: Substitute For Shin Plasters; HT-65: May Tenth 1857; HT-66: shin plasters; 1837 Not One
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 150.00 - 200.00
Sold to D*****6 for (100.00 + 25.00BP) = 125.00
 
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Good For Beer Token Collection [142285]3609 - Good For Beer Token Collection [142285]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Lot of twelve tokens all Good For Beer. Becker Brewing, Ogden, Utah; Blatz Brewing Company; American Theatre, Portland, Oregon; One glass Prima beer,
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 100.00 - 200.00
Sold to S*****8 for (55.00 + 12.10BP) = 67.10
 
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Good For Whiskey Token Collection [142281]3610 - Good For Whiskey Token Collection [142281]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Lot of eight tokens all good for whiskey. 1) GOOD FOR HALF BOTTLE OF WHISKEY / TELLER CITY / ALASKA // (blank) (cross cutout); Br. rd., 41 mm. (Benic
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 100.00 - 150.00
Sold to r*o for (160.00 + 40.00BP) = 200.00
 
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Green River Whiskey/Teachers/Bull Durham Tokens [142519]3611 - Green River Whiskey/Teachers/Bull Durham Tokens [142519]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Lot of four: two uncirculated tokens: It's Lucky to Drink / Green River / Whiskey // Green River / Whiskey / The Whiskey / Without Regrets; Br. ...
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 100.00 - 150.00
Sold to S*****8 for (100.00 + 22.00BP) = 122.00
 
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Brothel and Fantasy Token Collection [140933]3612 - Brothel and Fantasy Token Collection [140933]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Lot of about 35 medals depicting sexual acts or brothel tokens. Colony Club Burlesque; Palais Oriental, Brussels; Y. Jolivet, Londen; Aux ***, 75 Rue
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 200.00 - 400.00
Sold to 8********l.. for (375.00 + 93.75BP) = 468.75
 
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Maverick Token Collection [136267]3613 - Maverick Token Collection [136267]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Lot of over 75 tokens without attribution. Many good luck tokens, a birthday wish token. One I can attribute: Donald N. Sharp Memorial Hospital is in
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 200.00 - 400.00
Sold to 0*******a for (100.00 + 25.00BP) = 125.00
 
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Wooden Token Collection [136263]3614 - Wooden Token Collection [136263]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Lot of twelve pieces of wooden tokens. 1939 Hoquiam, Washington Jubilee Association GF 25 cents. 1939 Marshall, Missouri Centennial. 1971 Poway Coin C
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 100.00 - 200.00
Sold to q******s for (20.00 + 5.00BP) = 25.00
 
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