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Grand Prize Mining Co. Stock Possibly Issued to Dan DeQuille 107435

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money / Stock & Bond - Mining Start Price:300.00 USD Estimated At:600.00 - 1,200.00 USD
Grand Prize Mining Co. Stock Possibly Issued to Dan DeQuille  107435
SOLD
300.00USD+ (66.00) buyer's premium + applicable fees & taxes.
This item SOLD at 2019 Oct 06 @ 14:21UTC-7 : PDT/MST
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This is an intriguing piece for Nevada history collectors. First, this is a rare Comstock mining stock. Second, it is signed by William Sharon's nephew, who came to the Comstock and took over many of the operations for his uncle. Third, it could be issued to famous Nevada author (and close friend of Mark Twain) William Wright, aka Dan DeQuille. Location: Flowery Mining District, Storey County, Nev. (printed in the left border). Inc. Sept. 19th, 1878. No. 224, issued for 550 shares to William Wright on May 10th, 1879 in Virginia (City), Nevada. Not endorsed on the back by Wright. Signed by president Oliver and secretary W.E. Sharon. Not cancelled. Black border and print, small Nevada state seal vignette. Enterprise Steam Print. Deep folds, light wear. 5 x 9" Could this be the same William Wright that is better known by his pen name, Dan DeQuille? Maybe. First, Dan DeQuille was still in Virginia City and working for the Territorial Enterprise at this time. Only 3 years prior, he had published his history of the Comstock, "History of the Big Bonanza," with help from his close friend Mark Twain. However, there was another William Wright living in Virginia City at this time that was involved in mining (as a superintendent). Since the back of the stock is not endorsed, we have no way of definitively saying this is Dan DeQuille. But it seems very likely. Wright came to California in 1857 looking for gold. He started working for the Territorial Enterprise in 1862 and soon adopted the pen name. In 1863, another unsuccessful miner-turned-writer, Samuel Clemens, started working at the Territorial Enterprise also. DeQuille stayed in Virginia City until the demise of the Enterprise in the early 1890s. In the later 1880s, the Golden Prize was involved in litigation with the Lady Bryan Mining Company, the dominant mining property in the Flowery District. The Grand Prize owned the Dreadnaught Claim (E&MJ March 10th, 1888). City: Comstock, Flowery Lode State: Nevada Date: 1879