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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Outlook, Montana Original Town Plat [142994]3220 - Outlook, Montana Original Town Plat [142994]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Original blueprint, canvas mounted town plat of Outlook, Montana, a tiny "cowboy" town in far north-eastern Montana, right next to North D...
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 200.00 - 500.00
Sold to a****a for (70.00 + 17.50BP) = 87.50
 
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Philipsburg, MT General Commerce Billheads (160+) [142250]3221 - Philipsburg, MT General Commerce Billheads (160+) [142250]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Lot of over 160 general commerce billheads from various companies doing business in Philipsburg, MT around the turn of the 20th century. Most docs da
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 800.00 - 1,600.00
Sold to d*******f for (275.00 + 68.75BP) = 343.75
 
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Silver Bow County, MT Billheads & Manuscripts (15) [140862]3222 - Silver Bow County, MT Billheads & Manuscripts (15) [140862]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Lot of 15 Billheads and Letterheads from various enterprises throughout Silver Bow County, MT from the 1880s to 1914. Samples include billheads from
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 100.00 - 200.00
Sold to d*******f for (60.00 + 15.00BP) = 75.00
 
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Teton County, Montana Ephemera Collection [130670]3223 - Teton County, Montana Ephemera Collection [130670]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Six billheads and 25 letters/notes. See photo for billheads. From Power, Dutton, Brady (Commercial Bar and Hotel), Farmington, etc. Dups. Date: Cou
Bidding Has Concluded
Start Price : 50.00 | Estimate : 100.00 - 400.00
 
 
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Virginia City, Montana Photographs (38) [142253]3224 - Virginia City, Montana Photographs (38) [142253]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Lot of 38 B&W photographs depicting life and landscapes of Virginia City, MT c. 1860 - 1880. Eighteen 8" x 10" pictures -- seven alone...
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 100.00 - 200.00
Sold to r******g for (50.00 + 12.50BP) = 62.50
 
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Virginia City, MT -- Bank Billheads/Ledgers/Correspondence (130+) [142251]3225 - Virginia City, MT -- Bank Billheads/Ledgers/Correspondence (130+) [142251]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Lot of over 130 items. Deposit and withdrawal confirmations, ledgers, and related correspondence from banks doing business with firms in Virginia Ci
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 600.00 - 1,200.00
Sold to a********b.. for (300.00 + 75.00BP) = 375.00
 
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Virginia City, MT Variety Pack of Correspondence & Documents (40+) [142249]3226 - Virginia City, MT Variety Pack of Correspondence & Documents (40+) [142249]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Lot of over 40 items. Combination of commercial billheads, event programs, telegraphs, blueprints, cafe menus, and government licenses/billheads/corr
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 120.00 - 200.00
Sold to a********b.. for (60.00 + 15.00BP) = 75.00
 
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W.A. Clark Jr. Autographed Letter [142241]3227 - W.A. Clark Jr. Autographed Letter [142241]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Letter signed by renowned Virginia City attorney W.A. Clark, son of Copper King William Clark (who also served as a US Senator). Typewritten letter a
Bidding Has Concluded
Start Price : 100.00 | Estimate : 200.00 - 300.00
 
 
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Henry Elling Correspondence 1874-1879 [140369]3228 - Henry Elling Correspondence 1874-1879 [140369]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
This collection of letters are addressed to Henry Elling of Virginia City, Montana from 1874-1879. Over 20 pieces in all. Henry Elling (1842-1900) was
Bidding Has Concluded
Start Price : 200.00 | Estimate : 400.00 - 600.00
 
 
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Virginia City Players Stage Play Souvenir Programs (9) [142254]3229 - Virginia City Players Stage Play Souvenir Programs (9) [142254]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Lot of 9 souvenir programs from stage plays presented by the Virginia City Players. Dates from 1955 - 1990. All booklets in excellent condition. 19
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 100.00 - 200.00
Sold to d*******f for (45.00 + 11.25BP) = 56.25
 
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