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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Hastings Consolidated Gold & Silver MIning Company Stock Certificate2444 - Hastings Consolidated Gold & Silver MIning Company Stock Certificate
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Extra rare! Number 88 for 200 shares to EL Bolleo. Signed by secretary Charles H Mann and vice president LW Trenton. Incorporated in 1881. Hastings C
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 150.00 - 250.00
Sold to f*****E for (60.00 + 15.00BP) = 75.00
 
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Mowry Silver Mining Company Stock Certificate2445 - Mowry Silver Mining Company Stock Certificate
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Number 87 for 50 shares to Lyman A Ford in 1881. Signed by Hirem A Johnson and Hutchinson. Looks almost new! No pinholes, dog ears, edge issues or dis
Bidding Has Concluded
Start Price : 75.00 | Estimate : 150.00 - 250.00
 
 
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Silver King MIning Company Stock Certificate2446 - Silver King MIning Company Stock Certificate
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Number 6376 for 50 shares to Francisc W Tappan in 1888. Signed by Joseph Nash and H Noble. Printed by Bancroft in San Francisco. Uncancelled. Pinal Co
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 200.00 - 400.00
Sold to b*****s for (200.00 + 50.00BP) = 250.00
 
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Sun Dance Gold Mining Company Stock Certificate2447 - Sun Dance Gold Mining Company Stock Certificate
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Another rare Arizona stock certificate. Number 121 for 5000 shares issued to GH Whitacre. Signed by LA Davies and KL Hollister. They operated the Silv
Bidding Has Concluded
Start Price : 75.00 | Estimate : 150.00 - 250.00
 
 
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Extra Rare Peer Mining Company Stock Certificate2448 - Extra Rare Peer Mining Company Stock Certificate
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Number 1079 for 500 shares to George Grant, Trustee in 1885. Signed by Aug. Waterman and RN Tollis. Printed by Britton & Rey of San Francisco. V...
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 150.00 - 300.00
Sold to f*****E for (110.00 + 27.50BP) = 137.50
 
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Two Rich Hill Mining Stock Certificates2449 - Two Rich Hill Mining Stock Certificates
Holabird Western Americana Collections
1) Blue Bell Mining Company. Number 277 for 500 shares to RL Duvall. Signed by George Crawford and William Chalfant Jr. 1907. Great condition. Heavy f
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 100.00 - 150.00
Sold to j****l for (50.00 + 12.50BP) = 62.50
 
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Ferre Mining Company Stock Certificate2450 - Ferre Mining Company Stock Certificate
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Number 89 for 20 shares to TW Belcham. Signed by president P Whitmer and secretary JC McFarland. Incorporated in Illinois with headquarters in Bloomin
Bidding Has Concluded
Start Price : 75.00 | Estimate : 150.00 - 300.00
 
 
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Choice Patagonia Silver MIning Company Stock Certificate2451 - Choice Patagonia Silver MIning Company Stock Certificate
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Number 83 for 100 shares to Walter A Hamlin trustee. 1880. Signed by Hamlin and Honore. Printed by American Bank Note Company. The original Patagonia
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 200.00 - 400.00
Sold to 8***1 for (375.00 + 82.50BP) = 457.50
 
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Big Stick Gold Mining Company Stock Certificate2452 - Big Stick Gold Mining Company Stock Certificate
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Named for Teddy Roosevelt's, "Speak Softly and Carry a Big Stick." Number 443 for 200 shares to Frederick E Hoyt Sr. Signed by H Leon ...
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 300.00 - 400.00
Sold to f*****E for (120.00 + 30.00BP) = 150.00
 
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Windsor Consolidated Mining Company Stock Certificate2453 - Windsor Consolidated Mining Company Stock Certificate
Holabird Western Americana Collections
RARE! Number 253 for 200 shares to A Masterton. 1881. Signed by James Hy. Greensward and John M Masterton. Outside of a few pin holes and a small colo
Bidding Has Concluded
Start Price : 75.00 | Estimate : 150.00 - 250.00
 
 
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Tombstone Mill and Mining Company Stock Certificate2454 - Tombstone Mill and Mining Company Stock Certificate
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Number 344 for 50 shares to JA Witmer. Signed by Curbin, Gilroy and Burnham. 1881. Vignette in upper right corner of 3 Indians on a cliff overlooking
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 300.00 - 400.00
Sold to b*****s for (160.00 + 40.00BP) = 200.00
 
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Amaranth and Q. N. Mining Company Stock Certificate2455 - Amaranth and Q. N. Mining Company Stock Certificate
Holabird Western Americana Collections
This is a very rare stock certificate from the Tombstone Mining District. Entitles J. N. Airkley to fifty shares. Signed by C. A. Shelles as secretary
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 200.00 - 300.00
Sold to d**********3 for (80.00 + 20.00BP) = 100.00
 
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Emerald Mining Company Stock Certificate: EB Gage Signature2456 - Emerald Mining Company Stock Certificate: EB Gage Signature
Holabird Western Americana Collections
This nice looking emerald on white stock is number 63 for 1000 shares issued to E. B. (Eliphalet Butler) Gage. Little is known about the Emerald Minin
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 240.00 - 400.00
Sold to b*****s for (475.00 + 118.75BP) = 593.75
 
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Gordon Mining Company Stock Certificate2457 - Gordon Mining Company Stock Certificate
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Number 67 for 100 shares to Sarah O Ludborough. Signed by JC Johnson and JM Pattee. Vignette has been worked into the stock below the company name. Ni
Bidding Has Concluded
Start Price : 100.00 | Estimate : 200.00 - 400.00
 
 
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Sterling Silver Mining Company Stock Certificate2458 - Sterling Silver Mining Company Stock Certificate
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Incorporated in Pennsylvania. Cert. #79 issued to H.T. Fisher for 740 shares. Signed only by the secretary A.E. Nimbstadler (?). U/C. Printer not note
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 150.00 - 300.00
Sold to B******1 for (80.00 + 20.00BP) = 100.00
 
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Tribune Gold Mining and Milling Company Gold Bond2459 - Tribune Gold Mining and Milling Company Gold Bond
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Number 1185 for $100. Signed by George Moore and Charles White. Bond registered to M. D. Lloyd. Excellent condition! Brown seal is strong. Vignette of
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 60.00 - 100.00
Sold to 8********l.. for (30.00 + 7.50BP) = 37.50
 
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Morning Star Mining Company & Castle Dome Mining Company: Assay and Lease2460 - Morning Star Mining Company & Castle Dome Mining Company: Assay and Lease
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Morning Star Mining Company statement of ore is from December 15, 1883. 46,043 pounds gross! Assayed at $4,200.72. The Morning Star was one of the pri
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 200.00 - 400.00
Sold to b*****s for (100.00 + 25.00BP) = 125.00
 
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Union League Silver Mining Company Stock Certificate2461 - Union League Silver Mining Company Stock Certificate
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Another early 1880's Arizona mining certificate. Number 112 for 250 shares to Charles Cobb. Signed by George Dickson and George W Dickson Jr. Un...
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 200.00 - 400.00
Sold to 1*****c for (100.00 + 25.00BP) = 125.00
 
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Four Jerome / Verde Mining Stock Certificates2462 - Four Jerome / Verde Mining Stock Certificates
Holabird Western Americana Collections
1) Black Hills Copper Company. 1905. Number 648 for 125 shares to Sidney Starr. Signed by RA THomas & (?). 2) Verde Chief Copper MIning Company....
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 100.00 - 200.00
Sold to j*****0 for (50.00 + 12.50BP) = 62.50
 
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Two Different Standard Smelting & Refining Company Stock Certificates2463 - Two Different Standard Smelting & Refining Company Stock Certificates
Holabird Western Americana Collections
1) Green. Certs are for exactly 100 shares. Number C394 for 100 shares to Albert H Collier. Signed by Brockett and Douglas. Rare vignette fo the actua
Bidding Has Concluded
Start Price : 100.00 | Estimate : 200.00 - 300.00
 
 
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