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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Dahlonega, GA History Books (4)4539 - Dahlonega, GA History Books (4)
Holabird Western Americana Collections
I Remember Dahlonega By Amerson Volumes 1-4, softcovers. (Al Adams Gold Rush Memorabilia Collection) Date: Location: Dahlonega, Georgia HWAC#
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Start Price : 50.00 | Estimate : 100.00 - 200.00
 
 
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Dahlonega, Georgia History Books (5)4540 - Dahlonega, Georgia History Books (5)
Holabird Western Americana Collections
The Gold of Dahlonega by Harshaw, Dahlonega's Historic Public Square by Amerson, The Darien Bank by Sullivan, Numismatic Theatre Presentation on...
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Dahlonega, Georgia, Books (5)4541 - Dahlonega, Georgia, Books (5)
Holabird Western Americana Collections
4 paperback books by Anne Dismukes Amerson; 4 Volumes, "I Remember Dahlongega" & a hardback book "The Neighborhood Mint" by ...
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Estimate : 100.00 - 200.00
Sold to m*********s for (50.00 + 12.50BP) = 62.50
 
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Harrison W. Riley (Scoundrel or Entrepreneur) Bill of Sale4542 - Harrison W. Riley (Scoundrel or Entrepreneur) Bill of Sale
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Harrison Riley was well known in Dahlonega and the area. The court records are full of Riley's trickery and gambling on his road to riches. One ...
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Estimate : 600.00 - 1,000.00
Sold to e********v for (300.00 + 75.00BP) = 375.00
 
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Prints Signed, Spring & Winter in Dahlonega4543 - Prints Signed, Spring & Winter in Dahlonega
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Nice prints on watercolor paper. Framed and matted prints signed by Loraine Brewer marked 85/250, dated 12/19/1999. Frame of Spring in Dahlonega is 19
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Start Price : 150.00 | Estimate : 300.00 - 500.00
 
 
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4 Different Dahlonega Framed Prints4544 - 4 Different Dahlonega Framed Prints
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Rectangular street view signed by Winslow Crannel, 13" X 25.5". Rectangular color Doors of Dohlonega-January 2000 with 3 levels of color d...
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Start Price : 100.00 | Estimate : 200.00 - 400.00
 
 
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4 Different Signed Dahlonega Prints4545 - 4 Different Signed Dahlonega Prints
Holabird Western Americana Collections
4 color prints, all are signed by artists. Gold Digger Road-Auraria-1834, #171/300 by John Kollack, 13 x 19". "The Glory Hole"-Consol...
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Start Price : 90.00 | Estimate : 180.00 - 250.00
 
 
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Vintage Large Copper Still from Georgia4546 - Vintage Large Copper Still from Georgia
Holabird Western Americana Collections
62" tall hand built and hand soldered copper still with an outboard copper double column for unknown purposes. There is a 36" copper downs...
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Estimate : 1,000.00 - 2,000.00
Sold to g*****9 for (400.00 + 100.00BP) = 500.00
 
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1857 W.W. Woodruff & Co. Carriage Co. Lettersheet & Cover4547 - 1857 W.W. Woodruff & Co. Carriage Co. Lettersheet & Cover
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Illustrated lettersheet advertising the various coaches offered by the W.W. Woodruff Carriage Repository in Griffin, Georgia. Includes a handwritten m
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Estimate : 300.00 - 500.00
Sold to s*****n for (150.00 + 37.50BP) = 187.50
 
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Bank of Clayton County Stock Certificate4548 - Bank of Clayton County Stock Certificate
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Number 69 for three shares to LZ Gilbert and signed by president Gilbert and secretary King. Bank seems to have been incorporated c1909 and run until
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Start Price : 30.00 | Estimate : 60.00 - 150.00
 
 
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1836 Lexington, Georgia Stampless letter sheet addressed to George W Paschal4549 - 1836 Lexington, Georgia Stampless letter sheet addressed to George W Paschal
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Marked strongly with a reddish brown canceland a '10' with the '0' written over with a '2'. Addressed to George W Paschal of...
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 300.00 - 1,000.00
Sold to s*****n for (150.00 + 37.50BP) = 187.50
 
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Heritage of Lumpkin County, Georgia 1832-19964550 - Heritage of Lumpkin County, Georgia 1832-1996
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Hardcover 273pp (Al Adams Gold Rush Memorabilia Collection) Date: Location: Lumpkin County, Georgia HWAC# 58609
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Estimate : 80.00 - 150.00
Sold to c********3 for (40.00 + 10.00BP) = 50.00
 
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Lumpkin County Georgia History Books (3)4551 - Lumpkin County Georgia History Books (3)
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Hardcovers. Observations From a Peak in Lumpkin by Dean, History of Lumpkin County for the First Hundred Years by Cain, The Neighborhood Mint by Head
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Lumpkin County, Georgia History Books (4)4552 - Lumpkin County, Georgia History Books (4)
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Lumpkin County Cemeteries by Brooke, History of Lumpkin County for the First Hundred Years by Cain, The Neighborhood Mint by Head, Lumpkin County Pict
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Milledgeville 1843 Stampless Cover to Pigeon Roost's Milton Gathright4553 - Milledgeville 1843 Stampless Cover to Pigeon Roost's Milton Gathright
Holabird Western Americana Collections
This stampless letter sheet was sent on December 28, 1843 from Brown of Midgeville to Mllton H. Gathright of Dahlonega. Cast was '12' as wri...
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Estimate : 300.00 - 500.00
Sold to c********3 for (850.00 + 212.50BP) = 1,062.50
 
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Color Print of Tallapoosa, GA4554 - Color Print of Tallapoosa, GA
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Framed color print of 1892 Tallapoosa, GA looking northwest. Bird's eye view and notable town buildings including Piedmont Glass Works, Tallapoo...
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Estimate : 100.00 - 150.00
Sold to M****z for (90.00 + 22.50BP) = 112.50
 
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A History of White County, Georgia 1857-19804555 - A History of White County, Georgia 1857-1980
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Hardcover 389p (Al Adams Gold Rush Memorabilia Collection) Date: Location: White County, Georgia HWAC# 58610
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Estimate : 80.00 - 150.00
Sold to c********3 for (40.00 + 10.00BP) = 50.00
 
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1851 Cowperthwait Map of Georgia4556 - 1851 Cowperthwait Map of Georgia
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Thomas Cowperthwait map. Philadelphia. Excellent example of Cowperthwait's map of Georgia, colored by county and showing towns, rivers, canals, ...
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Estimate : 100.00 - 200.00
Sold to b*********r for (100.00 + 21.00BP) = 121.00
 
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Mammouth Print of a 19th Century House4557 - Mammouth Print of a 19th Century House
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Mammoth print of an old house possibly 1870's. Possible Georgia location. The house has a white picket fence, an elevated birdhouse and many fam...
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Start Price : 150.00 | Estimate : 300.00 - 500.00
 
 
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"Booger Masks" by Johnny Chattin4558 - "Booger Masks" by Johnny Chattin
Holabird Western Americana Collections
"Booger Masks" represents animals, people used as part of a 'Booger Dance' while going from house to house spring, joking and home...
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Estimate : 150.00 - 250.00
Sold to n********w.. for (60.00 + 15.00BP) = 75.00
 
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