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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1854 Liquor License at Fosters Bar for John Sing4360 - 1854 Liquor License at Fosters Bar for John Sing
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Fosters Bar was located on the North Fork of the Yuba River. It is now covered by the Bullards Bar Reservoir. It was one of the earliest and best know
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 100.00 - 200.00
Sold to C*****r for (80.00 + 20.00BP) = 100.00
 
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Sierra Nevada Wood and Lumber Co. Archive4361 - Sierra Nevada Wood and Lumber Co. Archive
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Wonderful and historic archive of the Sierra Nevada Wood & Lumber Company, Truckee/Hobart Mills, CA. Large lot. Very good condition. 1. Daily...
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 1,000.00 - 2,000.00
Sold to j***d for (500.00 + 125.00BP) = 625.00
 
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Very Rare Idlewild and Coast Stage Line Trip Ticket4362 - Very Rare Idlewild and Coast Stage Line Trip Ticket
Holabird Western Americana Collections
A very rare and previously unseen by us item. Unused and crisp! (Potter Collection) Date: c. 1900's Location: Idlewild, California HWAC# ...
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 100.00 - 200.00
Sold to c********r.. for (70.00 + 17.50BP) = 87.50
 
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Inyo by W Chalfant4363 - Inyo by W Chalfant
Holabird Western Americana Collections
The story of Inyo by W Chalfant, 1933 edition, hardbound, generally fine. Key reference on the history of Inyo County. This work has been reprinted ma
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 60.00 - 100.00
Sold to t****0 for (45.00 + 11.25BP) = 56.25
 
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Calaveras County / Archie Stevenot Glass Negative Collection--Gold Rush Pioneer Family4364 - Calaveras County / Archie Stevenot Glass Negative Collection--Gold Rush Pioneer Family
Holabird Western Americana Collections
These three boxes of glass negatives are from Archie Stevenot. Eight large negatives (5x7) includes the Pabst Administrative Mansion and the inside of
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 300.00 - 500.00
Sold to d*******s for (150.00 + 37.50BP) = 187.50
 
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Lake Tahoe Postcard Collection Plus Early Tahoe Reprints4365 - Lake Tahoe Postcard Collection Plus Early Tahoe Reprints
Holabird Western Americana Collections
55 items. 1) Lot of 46 postcards, most early, including 14 real photo. Real photo include a very rare view of Meyers in the 1940s; a rare shot of the
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 150.00 - 300.00
Sold to a******4 for (300.00 + 75.00BP) = 375.00
 
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Tahoe Tattler: Volume 1, Number 474366 - Tahoe Tattler: Volume 1, Number 47
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Tahoe's premium newspaper collectable. It is most noted for its advertisements (Steamer Leland Stanford, Grand Central Hotel, Tahoe Market, Tall...
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 100.00 - 200.00
Sold to j***d for (150.00 + 37.50BP) = 187.50
 
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Chinese Artifacts and Ephemera from Locke4367 - Chinese Artifacts and Ephemera from Locke
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Lot of eight. Most (all) of these items seem to have come from a Chinese Herb shop. Included are Chinese Herb Labels, Chinese lottery tickets with a h
Bidding Has Concluded
Start Price : 100.00 | Estimate : 200.00 - 500.00
 
 
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Certificate of Knights Templar Induction4368 - Certificate of Knights Templar Induction
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Beautiful Certificate with gold seal Greeting Sir Sidney Allcutt Butler a Member of this Commandery Five Shares of the Capital Stock of the Masonic Te
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 100.00 - 300.00
Sold to 8********l.. for (60.00 + 15.00BP) = 75.00
 
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Los Angeles, CA Area Prints (5)4369 - Los Angeles, CA Area Prints (5)
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Five 12" x 16" prints from Dewing Publishing Co. 1) Photogravure, Los Angeles by Thomas Hill 2) Under The Fan Palms by Albert Sterner-lef...
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 100.00 - 200.00
Sold to l******7 for (55.00 + 13.75BP) = 68.75
 
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Los Angeles 1854 Letter Sheet4370 - Los Angeles 1854 Letter Sheet
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Written to JW Britton of San Francisco and asking for supplies. Stamped "Adams & Co. / Express / Los Angeles" oval. Sent a $100 Adams ...
Bidding Has Concluded
Start Price : 100.00 | Estimate : 200.00 - 300.00
 
 
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Spanish 1854 Note4371 - Spanish 1854 Note
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Date Los Angeles November 25, 1854. Mentions Don Bernardo Yorba, dicha cantidad cenitida de San Francisco per Don Jose P Thompson. Bernardo Yorba was
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 300.00 - 500.00
Sold to 8********l.. for (170.00 + 42.50BP) = 212.50
 
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1855 Letter to John C. Marshall from WIlliam Geller4372 - 1855 Letter to John C. Marshall from WIlliam Geller
Holabird Western Americana Collections
This transcribed letter is for the sale of beef. When one thinks of the Gold Rush, one thinks of miners. But ranchers and farmer were equally importan
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 100.00 - 200.00
Sold to c********r.. for (70.00 + 17.50BP) = 87.50
 
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Unique 1854 Marysville Liquor License for an African American4373 - Unique 1854 Marysville Liquor License for an African American
Holabird Western Americana Collections
This 1854 liquor license is for Galnie (Gabriel) Simms. He opened the Franklin House on First Street near a cluster of other black owned businesses. T
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 100.00 - 200.00
Sold to C*****r for (110.00 + 27.50BP) = 137.50
 
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Two 1854 Marysville Liquor and Billiards Licenses.4374 - Two 1854 Marysville Liquor and Billiards Licenses.
Holabird Western Americana Collections
1) Liquor license for G. Woodward. 2) Liquor License for Brotherton & Bain. Signed by county treasurer John A. Paxton. This is the same John A. ...
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 100.00 - 200.00
Sold to C*****r for (85.00 + 21.25BP) = 106.25
 
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Early 1900's Yuba County Billheads4375 - Early 1900's Yuba County Billheads
Holabird Western Americana Collections
A nice selection of early 1900's bill heads from Yuba County. Some date from as early as 1881. there are also a few handwritten orders from the ...
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 100.00 - 200.00
Sold to p********e for (65.00 + 16.25BP) = 81.25
 
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Zamorano Press 1843 Letterhead4376 - Zamorano Press 1843 Letterhead
Holabird Western Americana Collections
This is pre-Gold Rush. "Departmento de las Californias" By Manuel Castanares. Castanares was of some importance. He was the administrator ...
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 300.00 - 500.00
Sold to 8********l.. for (325.00 + 81.25BP) = 406.25
 
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Napa, CA Ephemera4377 - Napa, CA Ephemera
Holabird Western Americana Collections
The Napa Hotel letterhead 1889. Tax Payer record for Napa Township, Capel? Valley Improvements on blue paper. Signed by Napa tax collector. (Potter C
Bidding Has Concluded
Start Price : 50.00 | Estimate : 100.00 - 150.00
 
 
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Napa-Sonoma, CA Region Prints (3)4378 - Napa-Sonoma, CA Region Prints (3)
Holabird Western Americana Collections
3 Dewing Publishing Co. Photogravures, 12" x 16" 1)Napa Soda Springs by Thomas Moessner 2) Russian River Valley by Thomas Moessner -some ...
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 100.00 - 150.00
Sold to C*****r for (65.00 + 16.25BP) = 81.25
 
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1858 New Idria note from noted California 49er4379 - 1858 New Idria note from noted California 49er
Holabird Western Americana Collections
This is an early 1858 note associated with early California mercury mining. Note to David Gibb of San Francisco to pay Mary Davis for $50. Signed by W
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 200.00 - 500.00
Sold to p********e for (80.00 + 20.00BP) = 100.00
 
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