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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Ennis, Montana Billhead Collection-Key Pieces [130673]3190 - Ennis, Montana Billhead Collection-Key Pieces [130673]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Lot of 20 different billheads. See photo nicer billheads. Includes Otto Coss with horse and horseshoe vignette, Rural Route with horse drawn mail wago
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 200.00 - 400.00
Sold to d*******f for (50.00 + 12.50BP) = 62.50
 
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Fergus County, MT Billheads & Manuscripts (11) [140857]3191 - Fergus County, MT Billheads & Manuscripts (11) [140857]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Lot of 11 general commerce Billheads from various towns within Fergus County, MT. Included is a bill for $25 from E. Hodson, "Dealer in Floori...
Bidding Has Concluded
Start Price : 100.00 | Estimate : 200.00 - 600.00
 
 
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Flathead County, MT Billheads & Manuscripts (9) [140858]3192 - Flathead County, MT Billheads & Manuscripts (9) [140858]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Lot of 9 Billheads/Letterheads from various commercial enterprises based in Flathead County, MT around 1900. Included is communication from Dayton To
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 100.00 - 200.00
Sold to K*****i for (65.00 + 16.25BP) = 81.25
 
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Gallatin County, MT Billheads & Manuscripts (60+) [140859]3193 - Gallatin County, MT Billheads & Manuscripts (60+) [140859]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Lot of over 60 Billheads/Letterheads from commercial enterprises based in Gallatin County, MT during the late 19th century. Examples: Nichols &...
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 200.00 - 600.00
Sold to d*******f for (110.00 + 27.50BP) = 137.50
 
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Gould, MT Billheads (4) [142242]3194 - Gould, MT Billheads (4) [142242]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Lot of 4. Three billheads, one manuscript from Gould, MT. From Jay Gould Mining Company, Tremont Gold Mining and Milling Company, and H.A. Lawnsbery
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 100.00 - 150.00
Sold to c*********p for (50.00 + 12.50BP) = 62.50
 
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Granite County, Montana Ephemera Collection [130676]3195 - Granite County, Montana Ephemera Collection [130676]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Approximately 50 billheads and 25 letters/notes. See photo for key billheads. Includes many mining items: Prize Mine, Milwaukee Gold prospectus, Dorot
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 200.00 - 600.00
Sold to S***6 for (150.00 + 37.50BP) = 187.50
 
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Autographed Documents by Paris Gibson and Robert Vaughn of Great Falls [140371]3196 - Autographed Documents by Paris Gibson and Robert Vaughn of Great Falls [140371]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
This collection of documents has autographs from Robert Vaughn, Street Commissioner for Great Falls; and Paris Gilbert Parks Commissioner. c.1900. Bet
Bidding Has Concluded
Start Price : 200.00 | Estimate : 400.00 - 600.00
 
 
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Helena, MT General Commercial Billheads (L -M) (200) [142255]3197 - Helena, MT General Commercial Billheads (L -M) (200) [142255]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Lot of approx. 200 billheads from various enterprises throughout Helena, MT from the late 19th century. Companies represented in this collection hav
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 1,000.00 - 2,000.00
Sold to d*******f for (200.00 + 50.00BP) = 250.00
 
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Ward-Harlow-Elling Railroad Helena, Montana 1890's [140362]3198 - Ward-Harlow-Elling Railroad Helena, Montana 1890's [140362]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
This collection of correspondences between Ward and eastern financiers is a fascinating read. Over 50 pages of typed and hand-written communications o
Bidding Has Concluded
Start Price : 500.00 | Estimate : 1,000.00 - 2,000.00
 
 
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A. M.  Holter Lumber Business Ledgers 1870's Montana [140832]3199 - A. M. Holter Lumber Business Ledgers 1870's Montana [140832]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
There are over 200 pages of leger entries and correspondence from A.M. Holter and his lumber business in Helena. Montana. C. 1870's. Date: C...
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 1,000.00 - 2,500.00
Sold to a****a for (500.00 + 125.00BP) = 625.00
 
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