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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Las Vegas and Tonopah Railroad Brochure4200 - Las Vegas and Tonopah Railroad Brochure
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Time table, officers, and description of route through Johnnie, Beatty, Rhyolite, Bonnie Clare, Goldfield, Tonopah, Manhattan and Hornsilver in 1910.
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 100.00 - 200.00
Sold to i*****l for (110.00 + 27.50BP) = 137.50
 
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Carson & Colorado Railroad Timetable 1882, Reprint4201 - Carson & Colorado Railroad Timetable 1882, Reprint
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Reprint. Time Table No. 7. To Take Effect on Sunday, Jan. 1st, 1882. For the Government and Information of Employees only. Lists times and stops for t
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 50.00 - 100.00
Sold to i*****l for (50.00 + 12.50BP) = 62.50
 
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Comstock & Other Nevada Railroad Ephemera4202 - Comstock & Other Nevada Railroad Ephemera
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Lot of 6 items from three different Nevada railroads: Nevada & California; Carson & Colorado; and Virginia & Truckee. 1) Rare letterhead...
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 100.00 - 300.00
Sold to l*******c for (200.00 + 50.00BP) = 250.00
 
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Two Virginia & Truckee Railroad Pay Cards, 18764203 - Two Virginia & Truckee Railroad Pay Cards, 1876
Holabird Western Americana Collections
1) Issued Aug. 23rd, 1876 for a laborer who worked 19 days ($3 a day). Signed by the foreman. Back says E.J. Page, Va. Yard Gang. 2) Issued Oct. 5th,
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 100.00 - 200.00
Sold to i**b for (50.00 + 12.50BP) = 62.50
 
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Virginia & Truckee Railroad Press Book from 1884 to 18864204 - Virginia & Truckee Railroad Press Book from 1884 to 1886
Holabird Western Americana Collections
One of a kind! A full 498 copies of letters sent by D. A. Bender to various people as secretary of the VIrginia & Truckee Railroad. Includes an ...
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 1,000.00 - 3,000.00
Sold to 6*****b for (800.00 + 200.00BP) = 1,000.00
 
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Nevada Railroad & County Map, 18814205 - Nevada Railroad & County Map, 1881
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Beautiful hand colored double truck map of Nevada Railroad & County Map. Color & Lithography by Cram. Excellent condition. On Mat Board (not...
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 200.00 - 400.00
Sold to p********n for (120.00 + 30.00BP) = 150.00
 
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Plans for Western Pacific Railroad Depots in the Nevada Desert4206 - Plans for Western Pacific Railroad Depots in the Nevada Desert
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Three blueprints, 18 x 24" made for the Western Pacific Railway of a standard 20 x 32' Desert Depot. This standard plan was to be made for ...
Bidding Has Concluded
Start Price : 200.00 | Estimate : 400.00 - 800.00
 
 
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Rand McNally Pocket Railroad Map of Nevada, 19054207 - Rand McNally Pocket Railroad Map of Nevada, 1905
Holabird Western Americana Collections
12pp with index with foldout map. Front cover has a 1" tear (Potter Collection) Date: 1905 Location: Nevada HWAC# 58950
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 100.00 - 200.00
Sold to i**b for (70.00 + 17.50BP) = 87.50
 
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New Jersey Junction Railroad Co. Bond Signed by J.P. Morgan, 18864208 - New Jersey Junction Railroad Co. Bond Signed by J.P. Morgan, 1886
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Very rare autograph piece! $1,000 bond No. 2015 issued June 30th, 1886. Signed by the president, vice-president and secretary on the front. Signed by
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 500.00 - 1,000.00
Sold to j******d for (250.00 + 62.50BP) = 312.50
 
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Framed Boston Hartford & Erie RR Bond with RNs4209 - Framed Boston Hartford & Erie RR Bond with RNs
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Large framed bond, 18 x 23". $1000 bond signed by John S. Eldridge as presidient. W.(?) N. Otis as Secretary.The bond is very attractive with t...
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 100.00 - 150.00
Sold to a****y for (50.00 + 12.50BP) = 62.50
 
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