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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Original Currier and Ives California Color Print4460 - Original Currier and Ives California Color Print
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Original mid-1850s print by Currier and Ives entitled on the Coast of California. The view shows a cliff region with mountains surrounding, ships in t
Bidding Has Concluded
Start Price : 500.00 | Estimate : 1,000.00 - 2,000.00
 
 
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Currier & Ives Pictorial Reference4461 - Currier & Ives Pictorial Reference
Holabird Western Americana Collections
The world of Currier and Ives by Roy King and Burke Davis. Large-format, 1.5 x 2', 139 pages, indexed, full-size pictorial reference to the fabu...
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Estimate : 150.00 - 200.00
Sold to 8********l.. for (75.00 + 18.75BP) = 93.75
 
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1846 Map of Upper or New California4462 - 1846 Map of Upper or New California
Holabird Western Americana Collections
This map was produced before the California Gold Rush and after 1840. Walker Pass is mention (c 1830). No gold rush locations are mention (c1849). Lak
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 200.00 - 500.00
Sold to b*********r for (95.00 + 19.95BP) = 114.95
 
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Map, "California Gold & Quicksilver Mining Survey, 1848"4463 - Map, "California Gold & Quicksilver Mining Survey, 1848"
Holabird Western Americana Collections
This is a choice early California Gold Rush Map. The map points out three rivers where gold was found at this point: Feather River, American River was
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Estimate : 600.00 - 1,200.00
Sold to 8********l.. for (300.00 + 75.00BP) = 375.00
 
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Map of Oregon & Upper California, Gold Rush, 18484464 - Map of Oregon & Upper California, Gold Rush, 1848
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Map of Oregon & Upper California from the surveys of John Charles Fremont and other authorities, "This important and beautifully drawn map ...
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Estimate : 500.00 - 700.00
Sold to u********y.. for (200.00 + 50.00BP) = 250.00
 
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Map of Exploration of the West, 18544465 - Map of Exploration of the West, 1854
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Map of Exploration of the West by John Charles Fremont, Engraving by A. Zeese, 1854. This map was Drawn and Engraved Expressly for Fremont's Mem...
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Estimate : 400.00 - 800.00
Sold to 4*******x for (225.00 + 56.25BP) = 281.25
 
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Map of Public Surveys in California, 18544466 - Map of Public Surveys in California, 1854
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Map has a reproduced signature of California Surveyor General John (Coffee) Hays. This map was produced after the Mexican War of 1846-1848. This inter
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Estimate : 400.00 - 800.00
Sold to j*******t for (160.00 + 40.00BP) = 200.00
 
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Map of California by County, 18554467 - Map of California by County, 1855
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Map engraving & color by J.H. Colton. Vivid color, nice condition, only slight tearing at bottom of map, does not encroach on map. This map has ...
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Estimate : 200.00 - 300.00
Sold to b*********r for (110.00 + 23.10BP) = 133.10
 
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Map of California by Counties, 18604468 - Map of California by Counties, 1860
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Engraved & hand colored by Mitchell, p. 41, vivid color, very good condition (only slight tearing at left of map outside of the border, does not...
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 200.00 - 400.00
Sold to b*********r for (110.00 + 23.10BP) = 133.10
 
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Map of California, Nevada, Utah & Colorado, 18604469 - Map of California, Nevada, Utah & Colorado, 1860
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Rare! Choice, shows western forts & military preferred routes.Cartography & Color by Lithography, 1860, beautiful condition. "Bureau of...
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Estimate : 200.00 - 500.00
Sold to b*********r for (120.00 + 25.20BP) = 145.20
 
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Map of Public Surveys in California & Nevada Territory by Surveyor General in 18634470 - Map of Public Surveys in California & Nevada Territory by Surveyor General in 1863
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Map of public surveys in California & Nevada : to Accompany Report of Surveyor Genl., 1863. Lith. of J. Bien, N.Y. Surveyor General's Office...
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Start Price : 250.00 | Estimate : 500.00 - 900.00
 
 
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Map of California & Nevada, 18754471 - Map of California & Nevada, 1875
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Engraved & Hand Colored by Gray, double truck pp. 118 & 119. Map has Yosemite Inset, rare map. Very good condition. On Mat Board (not adhere...
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Estimate : 150.00 - 250.00
Sold to i*****l for (75.00 + 18.75BP) = 93.75
 
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Central Northern California Topo Maps, c1894-19154472 - Central Northern California Topo Maps, c1894-1915
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Group of 24 older topo maps of the mother lode region and surrounds.most are the older 1:125,000 series, but a few qre 1:62,500. Includes: Lassen Pea
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 150.00 - 300.00
Sold to j******y for (225.00 + 56.25BP) = 281.25
 
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Coastal and Misc. California Old Topo Maps, c1894-19154473 - Coastal and Misc. California Old Topo Maps, c1894-1915
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Group of 24 of the old 1:125,000 series topo maps, circa 1894-1915. Only a few are 1:62,500, and those are from the first period (1915-47). This is a
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 200.00 - 300.00
Sold to 2*****s for (250.00 + 62.50BP) = 312.50
 
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Map of California & Nevada, c.19004474 - Map of California & Nevada, c.1900
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Multi color map dated 1900 by Geo. F. Cram, Engraver and Publisher, from Chicago, Illinois. This is a beautiful map with vibrant color in excellent co
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 200.00 - 400.00
Sold to i*****l for (100.00 + 25.00BP) = 125.00
 
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Maps of the California Gold Regions by Wheat4475 - Maps of the California Gold Regions by Wheat
Holabird Western Americana Collections
A biblio-cartography of an important decade. Hardcover, 153pp with index. (Potter Collection) Date: 1942 Location: California HWAC# 59361
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 150.00 - 250.00
Sold to j******y for (75.00 + 18.75BP) = 93.75
 
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Western Gold Rush Prints4476 - Western Gold Rush Prints
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Four beautifully framed with cloth mats images of the goldrush. All of these are from the 1855 railroad reports. Prints include panorama of San Franci
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Estimate : 100.00 - 200.00
Sold to 4*******x for (50.00 + 12.50BP) = 62.50
 
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Clifford Collection Sale: The Most Important Gold Rush Material Ever4477 - Clifford Collection Sale: The Most Important Gold Rush Material Ever
Holabird Western Americana Collections
This is a must have resource for any serious California Gold Rush collector. Four items. 1) Hard cover "California Pictorial Letter Sheets.&quo...
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Estimate : 400.00 - 600.00
Sold to s******6 for (150.00 + 37.50BP) = 187.50
 
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Gold Fever by Ken Kutz4478 - Gold Fever by Ken Kutz
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Gold Fever by Ken Kutz, 1987. Hardbound with original dust jacket, 400 pages, indexed a great discussion of the Gold Rush using original philatelic po
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Start Price : 50.00 | Estimate : 100.00 - 200.00
 
 
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Gold Rush Books by Ship (3)4479 - Gold Rush Books by Ship (3)
Holabird Western Americana Collections
1) The Log of Apollo, Joseph Perkins Beach's Journal of the Voyage of the Ship Apollo, hardback; 2) Gold Fleet for California, by Bateson, hardb...
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Start Price : 60.00 | Estimate : 120.00 - 150.00
 
 
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