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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Four Views of Mining in Alaska2364 - Four Views of Mining in Alaska
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Lot of 4. 1) 5 x 7" black and white photograph of two miners and their dog standing in front of their snow-buried cabin. Album paper stuck to b...
Bidding Has Concluded
Start Price : 100.00 | Estimate : 200.00 - 300.00
 
 
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Klondike Gold Rush Stereoviews2365 - Klondike Gold Rush Stereoviews
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Lot of 6, all different. Includes: Klondyke City, showing Dawson across the mouth of the Klondyke River, Alaska (Kilburn, 1899); Gold Miners as Work,
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 150.00 - 200.00
Sold to j*****0 for (75.00 + 18.75BP) = 93.75
 
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Klondike Gold Rush Stereoviews: Chilkoot Pass & Sheep Camp, Alaska2366 - Klondike Gold Rush Stereoviews: Chilkoot Pass & Sheep Camp, Alaska
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Lot of 6, 5 different. All are Keystone Company, c.1898. Views include: Bound for the Klondike Gold Fields, Chilkoot Pass (x2); Miners and Packers Cli
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 150.00 - 200.00
Sold to j*****0 for (85.00 + 21.25BP) = 106.25
 
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Alaska Mining Scenes (Stereoviews & Postcards)2367 - Alaska Mining Scenes (Stereoviews & Postcards)
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Lot of 4. 1) Two stereoviews: Kilburn "Bird's-eye view of Bennett City, Alaska, c.1899" and Keystone "Starting for the Gold Field...
Bidding Has Concluded
Start Price : 50.00 | Estimate : 100.00 - 120.00
 
 
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Eagle River Mining Company Stock: Variety 12368 - Eagle River Mining Company Stock: Variety 1
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Number 359 for 1 share to CHS Jackson in 1905. Signed by secretary JJ Cobb, and president CD Mallary. A little toning on the left where it was attache
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 50.00 - 100.00
Sold to u******i for (45.00 + 11.25BP) = 56.25
 
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Eagle River Mining Company Stock: Variety 22369 - Eagle River Mining Company Stock: Variety 2
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Number 756 for 2 shares to CHS Jackson in 1915. Signed by secretary JJ Cobb and president EY Mallary. Very slight tears at top of folds and very light
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 50.00 - 100.00
Sold to u******i for (90.00 + 22.50BP) = 112.50
 
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Kenai-Alaska Gold Company Stock Certificate, 19122370 - Kenai-Alaska Gold Company Stock Certificate, 1912
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Inc. in the Territory of Alaska. No. 161, issued for 14,267 shares to Charles Van Bergen on Aug. 7th, 1912. Signed by James Hayden, president, and sec
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 50.00 - 100.00
Sold to 8********l.. for (45.00 + 11.25BP) = 56.25
 
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Klondike "Magic Lantern" Broadside for Carson CIty, Nevada Lecture2371 - Klondike "Magic Lantern" Broadside for Carson CIty, Nevada Lecture
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Gorgeous framed broadside advertising "All About Alaska and the Klondike Gold Fields," "A Grand Illustrated Klondike Lecture Enterta...
Bidding Has Concluded
Start Price : 200.00 | Estimate : 400.00 - 1,000.00
 
 
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High-Quality Nome, Alaska Mining Photograph, c.19012372 - High-Quality Nome, Alaska Mining Photograph, c.1901
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Mounted photograph (6.5 x 8.5") showing three miners on the beach shoveling gravel into a rocker. High contrast. A few smudges and one vertical...
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 200.00 - 400.00
Sold to 8********l.. for (100.00 + 25.00BP) = 125.00
 
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Nome Region Original Photographs, c.1901, Alaska Gold Rush2373 - Nome Region Original Photographs, c.1901, Alaska Gold Rush
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Lot of 7 black and white and sepia photographs of the Nome Region, c.1901. They range in size from 3.75 x 4" to 6.75 x 4.75." Two views s...
Bidding Has Concluded
Start Price : 50.00 | Estimate : 100.00 - 200.00
 
 
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The Corson Gold Mining Company Stock Certificate2374 - The Corson Gold Mining Company Stock Certificate
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Number 965 for 100 shares to Gilbert Woods in 1902. Signed by AB Dodge and John W Corson. Corson must have named this company after himself! Incorpora
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 60.00 - 100.00
Sold to 8********l.. for (40.00 + 10.00BP) = 50.00
 
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Klondike Watch Fob2375 - Klondike Watch Fob
Holabird Western Americana Collections
This is a watch fob decorated with an engraved totem pole. Likely came from the Klondike area back in the late 1890's. The fob was found in mini...
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 60.00 - 100.00
Sold to c********3 for (30.00 + 7.50BP) = 37.50
 
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Alaska Dogsled Postcard Mailed During the Height of the Alaska Gold Rush, with Steamer Markings and 2376 - Alaska Dogsled Postcard Mailed During the Height of the Alaska Gold Rush, with Steamer Markings and
Holabird Western Americana Collections
This 1905 postcard has obverse of a dogsled team. It was sent from Udakta which was in Dutch Harbor in the city of Unalaska in the Aleutian Islands. R
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 250.00 - 500.00
Sold to m*****y for (125.00 + 31.25BP) = 156.25
 
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United Yukon Company, Ltd. Stock Certificate, 18992377 - United Yukon Company, Ltd. Stock Certificate, 1899
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Gorgeous stock from right in the Klondike Gold Rush. Inc. in West Virginia. No. 2253, issued for 15 shares to Caroline E. Beck on August 7th, 1899. Si
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 120.00 - 200.00
Sold to 8********l.. for (95.00 + 23.75BP) = 118.75
 
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Major Collection of Juneau and Treadwell Gold Mining Postcards2378 - Major Collection of Juneau and Treadwell Gold Mining Postcards
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Approx 68 chromolitho and RPC postcards of gold mining and related themes in Juneau and Treadwell. Views of Treadwell Gold Mines, Forty Stamp Mill, Do
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 400.00 - 600.00
Sold to t**b for (225.00 + 56.25BP) = 281.25
 
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Alaska/Yukon Area Gold Mining Stocks (3)2379 - Alaska/Yukon Area Gold Mining Stocks (3)
Holabird Western Americana Collections
1)Klondike, Yukon and Copper River #547 i/u to O Washburne 15 shares, 1897, singed by acting president Vrooman?, possibly only 3 known 2)Quesnell Hydr
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 200.00 - 300.00
Sold to t*******d for (140.00 + 35.00BP) = 175.00
 
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Alaska-Klondyke Gold Mining & Development Co. Stock Certificate, 18972380 - Alaska-Klondyke Gold Mining & Development Co. Stock Certificate, 1897
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Inc in Colorado. No. 62, issued for 100 shares to Chas. B. Keen on Sept. 10th, 1897 in Colorado Springs. Signed by president William P. Bonbright and
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 150.00 - 300.00
Sold to 8********l.. for (110.00 + 27.50BP) = 137.50
 
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Cover and Letter Promoting Alaska Gold Rush Mine, 18982381 - Cover and Letter Promoting Alaska Gold Rush Mine, 1898
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Lot of 4 pieces that all were sent together to Augustus Stanton in Boston in 1898 from Edward C. Davis & Co., Bankers & Brokers. Davis is pr...
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 60.00 - 90.00
Sold to 6*****b for (60.00 + 15.00BP) = 75.00
 
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Klondike-Yukon & Copper River Company Stock Certificate, 18972382 - Klondike-Yukon & Copper River Company Stock Certificate, 1897
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Inc. in Montana. Mines on the Yukon. No. 535, issued for 8 shares to Oscar Washburn on Dec. 4th, 1897. Signed by F.B. Vrooman as acting president and
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 120.00 - 200.00
Sold to a*******u for (95.00 + 23.75BP) = 118.75
 
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Map of Alaska & Yukon Gold Fields2383 - Map of Alaska & Yukon Gold Fields
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Cartography & color by Lithography by Crowell & Kirkpatrick. This map is of Alaska and part of British America, the Yukon Gold Fields and Ro...
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 100.00 - 200.00
Sold to f*****E for (40.00 + 10.00BP) = 50.00
 
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