Gold Rush Auction

Auction Details

Welcome to our Gold Rush sale of 2018!!

The sale features the Al Adams Gold Rush Memorabilia Collection
and a number of other prominent collections.

Mr. Adams has been collecting for over 40 years, and along the way assembled perhaps the best collection in private hands, making this sale a “Once in a Lifetime Event.” His specialty is an area few Americans ever knew about- the Georgia - North Carolina gold rush, c1799-1840’s, literally decades before the California Gold Rush. Just think about some of the great pieces in this collection:

*The first Gold Company stock certificate (1807)

*1830 Letter from Georgia Bank to US Mint asking what to do with the gold coming in

*Gold Lottery Tickets for Georgia land

*Gold Lot Deeds with Medals rarely seen by collectors

*Pigeon Roost Mining Co. scrip collection (1835-1838), possibly the finest assembled

*Belfast Mining Co. scrip collection (1830’s), finest assembled

*Dahlonega, Charlotte, San Francisco, Carson City, Denver, New Orleans, Philadelphia Mint gold bullion receipts

*Gold Rush era private assayer bullion receipts from California, Nevada, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Arizona

*1840’s, 1850’s and 1860’s mining company stock certificates from both the east (Appalachian gold belt) and the West (California, Nevada, Colorado) – the best offering to date.

*Over two dozen different Nevada territorial stock certificates.

These tidbits are part of this unique sale, which makes it the best offering of its kind in history.

The Gold Rush sale is nothing short of phenomenal.

The Gold Rush Setting

Here is the setting under which the gold discoveries in Georgia and North Carolina were made:

…Imagine a world before the civil war, before the gold rush, right after the United States was formed. We had just created our first coinage in the early to mid 1790’s. As a country, we had just 16 states by 1800, which crept up to 24 states by 1821 and remained there for 15 years! Development of the areas south and west of and in the original 13 states was slow. It was called the “western frontier”. The “America” then consisted of Native Americans and expats from western Europe looking for a better life. Most were farmers or merchants. The “scientists” of the western world remained in western Europe. Mankind dint know much about geology- indeed, the first geologic map was printed in Europe in 1799, and it would take another 25-30 years before we had anything similar in America. The science of ore deposits was not well understood, and was only just recently out from under the mystique of Alchemy.

Enter the discovery of a gold nugget in North Carolina in 1799. It took fully 29 years before substantive gold discoveries were made in Georgia and North Carolina. Here is the amazing part- these discoveries were made from good-old American ingenuity. Not one single miner had an education in mining in Europe. As far as is known, not a single man in the Georgia, North Carolina gold rush had been a miner. These men developed the ability to look for gold and mining systems on their own in the American wilderness, a marvelous feat of accomplishment – a true iconic part of American ingenuity at its best.

More on the Auction

To add to this remarkable collection are hundreds of mining artifacts, including many collected from Georgia mines, as well as a fantastic Numismatic library inclusive of many rarities.

*Other collections featured include the collection of Robert Bennett, a well known mining geologist who spent a good part of his career working the Goldfield district. During his 45-plus year career, he collected high grade ore specimens from many major mines he was lucky enough to work on, and these are dutifully included in this sale, as are gold and fabulous turquoise specimens from longtime collector Jerry Gray of Carson City.

*Our friend Vern Potter, a national ephemera dealer known to all, retired from the business and gave us his massive collection, some of which is here, including gold rush era exchanges, important maps, and special documents you haven’t seen in decades (more in coming sales!). Added to this are pieces from the Ken Prag Collection, which keeps on coming with great rarities!

*Gold rush era coins, such as a complete Hart gold token set, -all graded and holdered; a number of Carson City coins; a fabulous 999 fine golden egg custom made for an Arizona collector in 1982; gold rush era soda bottles in hues of cobalt blue, teal, green from San Francisco, Sacramento and Savannah; Nevada mining camp bottles; Pawnee Bill full color posters – an integral part of Western history all supplement an otherwise terrific sale; and choice western mining photographs.

*Rare books with a mining theme are also present, from several collections, including the Robert Fulton collection (former head of Univ. Nevada, reno in the 1920’s). A key piece from one of the collections is an inscribed Sutro Tunnel book to Melville Atwood from the “Father of Arizona” Charles D. Poston.

*The mining stock certificate collections offered here are among the best ever offered by us. They include four major collections. including the Laguna Collection of rare Arizona stocks, part of a major Bodie collection, antique firearms, and rare Tahoe gaming chips.

*Western revenue checks with a focus on the Comstock Lode

Auction Schedule

Day One (Lots 1000-1755)
Numismatics (1000-1577)
U.S. Mint (1000-1068)
Coins & Coins Collectibles (1069-1208)
Ingots (1209-1215)
Currency, Scrip, & Currency Collectibles (1216-1357)
Checks & Exchanges (1358-1424)
Tokens (1425-1489)
Medals (1490-1553)
Scales (1554-1581)

Wells Fargo & Other Express (1582-1693)
Adams & Co. (1582-1606)
Wells Fargo (1607-1676)
Other Express (1677-1693)

World’s Fair & Expositions (1694-1707)

Gaming (1708-1728)

Jewelry & Watches (1729-1755)


Day Two (Lots 1756-1770) & (Lots 2000-2731)
Gold Nuggets & Specimens (1756-1770)
Minerals (2000-2149)
Mining Part I (2150-2731)
Assay (2150-2278)
Explosives (2279-2291)
Mining Lighting (2292-2298)
Mining Artifacts & Tools (2299-2231)
Mining Art (2232-2354)
Geographic (Alabama-California) (2355-2731)

Day Three (Lots 3000-3727)
Mining Part II
Geographic (Colorado-Foreign) (3000-3691)
Books (3692-3727)

Day Four (Lots 4000-4717)
Bottles (4000-4094)
Railroadiana (4095-4222)
Passes (4095-4176)
Ephemera (4177-4222)
Civil War (4223-4259)
Pawnee Bill Broadsides (4260 & 4261)
Firearms & Weaponry (4262-4315)
General Americana feat. California & Georgia Gold Rush Ephemera
Geographic Sort (4316-4637)
Miscellaneous incl. Art, General Store, Maps, & Books (4638-4717)





SHIPPING & HANDLING: Shipping and Handling cannot be estimated prior to invoicing, based on the size and weight of your purchase. All shipping is subject to a minimum charge of $19.00. If additional shipping and handling costs are required, the buyer will be reinvoiced 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 of the package(s). NOTE: Some shipments (of unusual size, dimension, or weight) may require sp...
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Wells Fargo Gold Dust Receipt for DO Mills (Forest Hill, CA)1618 - Wells Fargo Gold Dust Receipt for DO Mills (Forest Hill, CA)
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Dateline Forest Hill, Aug. 29, 1860. A $3,700 package of (gold) "dust" is being sent to D.O. Mills in Sacramento from Hardy & Kennedy ...
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 100.00 - 200.00
Sold to m******3 for (110.00 + 27.50BP) = 137.50
 
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Wells Fargo Second of Exchange, Georgetown, CA, 18621619 - Wells Fargo Second of Exchange, Georgetown, CA, 1862
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Dateline Georgetown, Cal., Feb. 26th, 1862. No. 215.761, pay at sight to A.A. Hyatt, Agent, $100 at "your office in Boston." 20 cent red c...
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 200.00 - 400.00
Sold to m******3 for (140.00 + 35.00BP) = 175.00
 
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Wells Fargo Second of Exchange, Grass Valley, CA 18641620 - Wells Fargo Second of Exchange, Grass Valley, CA 1864
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Dateline Grass Valley, Cal. July 6th, 1864. No. 281.361, issued to S.P. Dorsey, Agent, for $100 in U.S. Gold Coin at "your office in Boston.&qu...
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 200.00 - 300.00
Sold to 8*****M for (120.00 + 30.00BP) = 150.00
 
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Wells Fargo Second of Exchange, Jackson, CA 18601621 - Wells Fargo Second of Exchange, Jackson, CA 1860
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Dateline Jackson, Cal., April 18th, 1860. No. 173.540. Pay at sight to G.S. Andrews, Agt., $100. Signed Wells Fargo & Co. Folds, missing upper l...
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 200.00 - 300.00
Sold to 8*****M for (110.00 + 27.50BP) = 137.50
 
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Wells Fargo Second of Exchange, La Porte, CA 1864, Payable in Gold Coin1622 - Wells Fargo Second of Exchange, La Porte, CA 1864, Payable in Gold Coin
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Dateline La Porte, Cala., Aug. 18th, 1864. No. 287.522. At sight, pay John Conly & Co. $50 in United States Gold Coin. Red circular 8 cent Calif...
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 200.00 - 300.00
Sold to s******6 for (425.00 + 106.25BP) = 531.25
 
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Ultra Rare Los Angeles Gold Rush Paper for Wells, Fargo & Co's Express1623 - Ultra Rare Los Angeles Gold Rush Paper for Wells, Fargo & Co's Express
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Los Angeles gold rush pieces are hard to find. This is the first one we have offered. For $118 on March 9, 1859. From Los Angeles to San Francisco. Fr
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 300.00 - 500.00
Sold to R****u for (150.00 + 37.50BP) = 187.50
 
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Wells Fargo Commission Envelope for Mariposa Gold Dust1624 - Wells Fargo Commission Envelope for Mariposa Gold Dust
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Oct. 4th, 1900. San Francisco Office. From A.W. Bales in Mariposa: “Have gold dust coined at Selby’s and return____”. Great vignette of train with W F
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 50.00 - 100.00
Sold to W****l for (55.00 + 13.75BP) = 68.75
 
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Wells Fargo Second of Exchange, Marysville, CA, 1855, Gold Rush1625 - Wells Fargo Second of Exchange, Marysville, CA, 1855, Gold Rush
Holabird Western Americana Collections
No. 37125. Dateline Marysville, Cal, Oct. 20th, 1855. Issued to Chas. H. Nedges, Agent, for $50. Signed Wells Fargo Co. Folds, piece missing from bott
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 150.00 - 250.00
Sold to 9***6 for (50.00 + 12.50BP) = 62.50
 
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Alfred Dixon, Wells Fargo Office and Gold Dust Dealer Business Card, Michigan Bluff, CA1626 - Alfred Dixon, Wells Fargo Office and Gold Dust Dealer Business Card, Michigan Bluff, CA
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Approx 2.75" x 4.5" business card from Alfred Dixon, Wells Fargo Office and Gold Dust Dealer in Michigan Bluff, CA. Also a dealer in gener...
Bidding Has Concluded
Start Price : 100.00 | Estimate : 200.00 - 400.00
 
 
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Wells Fargo Second of Exchange, Nevada City, CA 18621627 - Wells Fargo Second of Exchange, Nevada City, CA 1862
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Dateline Nevada, Nov. 18th, 1862. No. 248.974. Pay at sight to A.B. Tower, Agt., $100 at "your office in Boston." Pen cancelled. 20 cent r...
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 100.00 - 200.00
Sold to i*****l for (40.00 + 10.00BP) = 50.00
 
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1859 Wells Fargo Receipt from San Francisco to Oroville1628 - 1859 Wells Fargo Receipt from San Francisco to Oroville
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Joseph Ringot is sending Thomas Wells of Oroville $36.65 in coin. Wells was the Butte County District Judge and was the 'orator of the day' ...
Bidding Has Concluded
Start Price : 50.00 | Estimate : 100.00 - 200.00
 
 
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Philatelic Wells Fargo California Collection1629 - Philatelic Wells Fargo California Collection
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Lot of 9. Includes: Two Nevada covers. 1) Express Silver City, Nevada cover. To JN Vosburg of Placerville. Handwritten "AP Sheldon & Claims...
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 120.00 - 200.00
Sold to k****f for (60.00 + 15.00BP) = 75.00
 
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Two Placerville Wells Fargo 1860's Receipts1630 - Two Placerville Wells Fargo 1860's Receipts
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Both are for coin. 1) 1864. Coin valued at $5.00. From NA Hamilton to DO McCarthy of San Francisco. Signed by Crandall for agent TF Tracy. Hamilton wa
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 200.00 - 400.00
Sold to 8*****M for (75.00 + 18.75BP) = 93.75
 
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Three Wells Fargo Receipts for Bars from the Yellow Aster Mine1631 - Three Wells Fargo Receipts for Bars from the Yellow Aster Mine
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Each one of these receipts is for the shipment of a gold bar from the Yellow Aster mine being sent to the First National Bank at San Francisco. From t
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 100.00 - 300.00
Sold to i*****l for (50.00 + 12.50BP) = 62.50
 
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Wells, Fargo & Co Express; Rattlesnake to Dotan's Bar1632 - Wells, Fargo & Co Express; Rattlesnake to Dotan's Bar
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Two small mining camps. For $100 B(?) Clark & Company at Rattlesnake to AP Carlin(?) of Dotan's Bar. Dotan's Bar was located on the Amer...
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 200.00 - 500.00
Sold to 8*****M for (160.00 + 40.00BP) = 200.00
 
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Rare Wells Fargo Cover Card1633 - Rare Wells Fargo Cover Card
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Blue paper 7.5" x 10" folded in half. Office of Wells Fargo & Co, Sacramento, Jan. 7th 1856. Hon. WC Barnett, Senate, By inserting you...
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 80.00 - 100.00
Sold to m******3 for (170.00 + 42.50BP) = 212.50
 
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Secretary of State Official Business Envelope1634 - Secretary of State Official Business Envelope
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Manuscript "B. B. Redding, Sec. of State, Rec'd Jan 8, 1864."Light ovale that reads "Secretary of State / Paid / Office." Ad...
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 60.00 - 120.00
Sold to m******3 for (20.00 + 5.00BP) = 25.00
 
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Wells Fargo Way Bill between Two Generals1635 - Wells Fargo Way Bill between Two Generals
Holabird Western Americana Collections
This single package with a value of $10 is from General William C Kibbie of Sacramento to Brigadier General R Pacheco at San Louis (sic) Obispo. K
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 200.00 - 400.00
Sold to m******3 for (250.00 + 62.50BP) = 312.50
 
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Extra Rare Wells Fargo Receipt from San Bernardino to San Francisco1636 - Extra Rare Wells Fargo Receipt from San Bernardino to San Francisco
Holabird Western Americana Collections
From JH Davy to JP Newman. Value of $100. 1872. San Bernardino Wells Fargo paper has not passed through this off very many times in the last 40 years.
Bidding Has Concluded
Start Price : 100.00 | Estimate : 200.00 - 400.00
 
 
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1858 Wells Fargo Letterhead about Estate Liquidation1637 - 1858 Wells Fargo Letterhead about Estate Liquidation
Holabird Western Americana Collections
This letter is asking that the estate of J. G. Storey pay James robertson for teaching school. Signed by William B Storey. Storey was born in England
Bidding Has Concluded
Start Price : 50.00 | Estimate : 100.00 - 200.00
 
 
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