SS Central America Shipwreck Artifacts Auction, Part I (December 2022)

Auction CurrencyUSD Auction Location3555 Airway Drive Suite 309, Reno, Nevada, 89511, United States In Person PreviewPREVIEW:

Auction Details

The S.S. Central America Artifacts Auction catalog has 268 pages of detailed treasure stories about the people, jewelry, gold, and goods onboard the famous "Ship of Gold" that sank off the North Carolina coast in 1857 with tons of gold on board. While the coins and nuggets have already been sold and are in thousands of collections around the world, the artifacts are only just now being released, and are presented for the first time in a two-part sale in December 2022 and February 2023. Online auction platforms do not carry the wealth of information found in our printed catalog, inclusive of three-dimensional photographs of the items on the seafloor and a map where many artifacts were discovered. Order your limited-edition printed catalogs today and enjoy the fascinating world of the S.S. Central America treasure.

Part A of this December auction includes artifacts recovered from the actual shipwreck of the S.S. Central America.
Part B, starting with Lot 2000, offered the same day, presents some of the best California and Alaska Gold Rush material ever assembled for auction.

Fred Holabird
Holabird Western Americana Collections, LLC

AUCTION SCHEDULE

Part A  - S.S.Central America Artifacts
(Lots 1000-1271)

Ships Provisions (Lots 1000-1080)
Passenger Possessions (Lots 1081-1249)
The Business of Gold (Lots 1250-1271)

Part B -  Gold Rush Era Collectibles
(Lots 2000-2276)

Gold Specimens (Lots 2000-2069)
Mining Ephemera; Jewelry; Rare Books & More (Lots 2079-2276)
SHIPPING & HANDLING: The customer is responsible for all shipping and packaging charges. We offer shipping service as a convenience to our buyers. Items are not shipped until the invoice and shipping charges are completely paid. Shipping costs will be calculated and billed separately after your items have been paid for. Purchases will be shipped via our approved, insured carriers: FedEx, UPS, USPS or DHL. Pick up is available from our Reno office, once you have received your invoice post auction
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Books of the Gold Rush by Wheat, 1949 [158983]2246 - Books of the Gold Rush by Wheat, 1949 [158983]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Books of the California Gold Rush: A Centennial Selection by Carl I. Wheat. Published by the Colt Press in 1949. This is a selected bibliography of th
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 150.00 - 300.00
Sold to S**L for (170.00 + 34.00BP) = 204.00
 
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Letter of Introduction for Rebecca Bates [159459]1093 - Letter of Introduction for Rebecca Bates [159459]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Single-page letter of introduction for Rebecca Platt Bates, a member of the Cavalry Presbyterian Church in San Francisco, requesting special treatment
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 200.00 and UP
Sold to 8********l.. for (160.00 + 32.00BP) = 192.00
 
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Men's Socks, Dement Trunk [158703]1174 - Men's Socks, Dement Trunk [158703]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Form-fitting socks recovered from the Dement trunk found at the S.S. Central America shipwreck. 9" heel to toe, 9" heel to top. no holes. ...
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 200.00 and UP
Sold to R*******8 for (160.00 + 32.00BP) = 192.00
 
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Handkerchief. Easton Trunk [157067]1197 - Handkerchief. Easton Trunk [157067]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Handkerchief recovered from the Easton trunk found at the S.S. Central America shipwreck. Size is 20 x 20 inches. Stained, but the material appears so
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 200.00 and UP
Sold to b******a for (160.00 + 32.00BP) = 192.00
 
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Ladies' Dressing Gown, Easton Trunk [158725]1206 - Ladies' Dressing Gown, Easton Trunk [158725]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Ladies' dressing gown recovered from the Easton trunk found at the S.S. Central America shipwreck. Ladies dressing gown, 9 buttonholes and 9 but...
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 200.00 and UP
Sold to d*******f for (160.00 + 32.00BP) = 192.00
 
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Men's Cravat, Easton Trunk [158804]1216 - Men's Cravat, Easton Trunk [158804]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Cravat recovered from the Easton trunk found at the S.S. Central America shipwreck. Cravat that matches in color and cloth the gold sheen, green/brown
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 300.00 and UP
Sold to q********o.. for (160.00 + 32.00BP) = 192.00
 
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Men's Dress Shirt, Easton Trunk [158812]1225 - Men's Dress Shirt, Easton Trunk [158812]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Men's dress shirt recovered from the Easton trunk found at the S.S. Central America shipwreck. Three-stud collar opening, missing collar button....
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 200.00 and UP
Sold to 8********l.. for (160.00 + 32.00BP) = 192.00
 
Details...Bookmark
Men's Socks, Choice Condition, Easton Trunk [156751]1239 - Men's Socks, Choice Condition, Easton Trunk [156751]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Pair of cotton socks recovered from the Easton trunk found at the S.S. Central America shipwreck. Very little discoloring and excellent condition. 1...
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 200.00 and UP
Sold to R*******8 for (160.00 + 32.00BP) = 192.00
 
Details...Bookmark
Downieville Gold Rush Express & Banking Group [155373]2085 - Downieville Gold Rush Express & Banking Group [155373]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Lot of 2 different. 1) Adams & Co. Express and Banking House. Handwritten Downieville dateline above printed San Francisco. Nov. 11th, 1854. Fir...
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 300.00 - 400.00
Sold to a********o for (160.00 + 32.00BP) = 192.00
 
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Nevada City Banking & Express Group incl. Wells Fargo Gold Rush [155401]2104 - Nevada City Banking & Express Group incl. Wells Fargo Gold Rush [155401]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Lot of 3. 1) Wells, Fargo & Co. Second of Exchange. Handwritten Nevada, Cal. dateline, April 27th, 1855. Issued for $100 to agent CM Mulford. En...
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 300.00 - 500.00
Sold to d*****u for (160.00 + 32.00BP) = 192.00
 
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Two Nevada County Canal Stock Certificates for Hydraulic Mining [155347]2107 - Two Nevada County Canal Stock Certificates for Hydraulic Mining [155347]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Lot of 2 different. 1) Nevada County Canal Company. Incredibly rare; we had not seen one till this example popped up in the Prag Collection. Inc. Sept
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 300.00 - 600.00
Sold to f*********e for (160.00 + 32.00BP) = 192.00
 
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Rattlesnake Bar Coin Deposit Receipt, Gold Rush [155352]2116 - Rattlesnake Bar Coin Deposit Receipt, Gold Rush [155352]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Manuscript receipt. Dateline Rattlesnake, Jan. 12th, 1856. Received of Peter E. Mead $400 in coin for deposit. Signed Baldwin & Co. by GW Blackb...
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 300.00 - 400.00
Sold to p********n for (160.00 + 32.00BP) = 192.00
 
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Gold Rush Letter from Sacramento City, 1851 [151902]2119 - Gold Rush Letter from Sacramento City, 1851 [151902]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Letter dated January 12, 1851. Sent from Sacramento City on Jan. 14. Paid 40 stamp. Content includes (without causing damage) received two letters yes
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 300.00 - 500.00
Sold to c*****r for (160.00 + 32.00BP) = 192.00
 
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Burgoyne & Co. Second of Exchange, Gold Rush Era [155343]2141 - Burgoyne & Co. Second of Exchange, Gold Rush Era [155343]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Rare. Banking House of Burgoyne & Co. Dateline San Francisco, Feb. 11th, 1852. Second of Exchange. No. 10099, issued to Elizabeth Winston for tw...
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 300.00 - 500.00
Sold to c*********p for (160.00 + 32.00BP) = 192.00
 
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Fretz & Ralston Check and Cover, SF and Columbia [155389]2145 - Fretz & Ralston Check and Cover, SF and Columbia [155389]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Lot of 2. Fretz & Ralston were Ralph S. Fretz and William Chapman Ralston. In 1849, CK Garrison and Ralph Stover Fretz established a transportat...
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 300.00 - 500.00
Sold to j*****0 for (160.00 + 32.00BP) = 192.00
 
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California Senator William McKendree Gwin Autograph on Cover [155404]2213 - California Senator William McKendree Gwin Autograph on Cover [155404]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Autograph ("W.M. Gwin") in upper corner of small envelope to the Secretary of the Treasury. No contents or stamp. 2.75 x 5.25" While ...
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 300.00 - 500.00
Sold to d*******f for (160.00 + 32.00BP) = 192.00
 
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Exploration of the Valley of the Amazon by Herndon [156128]2263 - Exploration of the Valley of the Amazon by Herndon [156128]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Exploration of the Valley of the Amazon by Herndon, 1854. In 1857, Captain William Lewis Herndon sacrificed his life trying to save 600 passengers and
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 300.00 - 600.00
Sold to b******s for (160.00 + 32.00BP) = 192.00
 
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SS Central America Auction Catalogs (2) [158978]2269 - SS Central America Auction Catalogs (2) [158978]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
A) Catalog for Sotheby's 1999 auction, "Treasures from the SS Central America: Glories of the California Gold Rush." This catalog is f...
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 100.00 - 300.00
Sold to C*****r for (160.00 + 32.00BP) = 192.00
 
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Men's Socks, Dement Trunk [158751]1179 - Men's Socks, Dement Trunk [158751]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Socks recovered from the Dement trunk found at the S.S. Central America shipwreck. 2.25" form-fitting cuff, 14.5" overall length. 1 sock s...
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 200.00 and UP
Sold to b*******n for (150.00 + 30.00BP) = 180.00
 
Details...Bookmark
Handkerchief, Easton Trunk [157064]1195 - Handkerchief, Easton Trunk [157064]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Handkerchief recovered from the Easton trunk found at the S.S. Central America shipwreck. 18 x 18 inches. Stained, but the material appears to be soun
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 200.00 and UP
Sold to d****9 for (150.00 + 30.00BP) = 180.00
 
Details...Bookmark