Sizzling Summer Western Americana Auction (August 2021)

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

Auction Details

Welcome to our August 2021 sale, the "Sizzling Summer Western Americana Auction!"

Our August sale is full of “hot stuff” across the board, and features some of the best collections in their genre offered publicly in a long time.

*The “California” Collection of Native American Jewelry*
The California Native American jewelry collection includes nearly 400 lots of fine, artistic silver and turquoise jewelry from a major collection.

The group of Native American jewelry presented by Holabird Western Americana Collections, LLC, is from the collection of a long time California collector. Collecting over several decades, the collection features some incredible pieces—the main part of the collection is represented by bolos from Zuni Pueblo in New Mexico. There are also necklaces, bracelets, rings, belt buckles, and brooches. Much of this jewelry collection is “museum worthy art.”

The Zuni people are famous for their inlay—both mosaic inlay and channel inlay. The Zuni petit-point and needlepoint work in stones is just as well-known. The collection focuses on pieces from c1940s-60s. Some Zuni artists represented are: Dan Simplicio, Leo Poblano, Lambert Homer Sr., the Edaakies, Frank Vacit, Dexter Cellicion, Myra Tucson, Elliot Qualo, Annie Quam Gasper, Alonzo and Helen Hustito, Velma Lesansee, Horace Ilue, and many others. Most of the jewelry made before 1970 was not hallmarked. We have named the artists of each piece whenever possible, however, some are “attributed to,” and others we were unable to identify.

Many of the artists are presented in the books by Toshio Sei, published by Schiffer. Toshio Sei began collecting Zuni jewelry in 1993 and has written several books on the various forms of Zuni jewelry. Besides presenting the artists, he has done much research and gives detailed analyses that explain connections of artists and styles, thus giving us history and meanings for the pieces of jewelry. A number of the pieces offered here are illustrated in his books.

The “California” collection also includes jewelry from the Navajo, Santo Domingo Pueblo, and the Hopi. You will find amazing pieces of jewelry from all of these Native people and will have a difficult decision deciding on those to choose for your own collections!

For Western bolo tie collectors, this is truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, with the largest sale of its kind ever held.

*The Western Collections*
We received two major collections containing outstanding items--both for their visual appeal and historical importance.

The first centers around Arizona and Colorado ephemera (19th century photos and documents) related to major mining camps, supplemented by gorgeous oil paintings of Native American and Western scenes by Douglas Rosa. One of our favorites from this collection is a framed photo of Tombstone prostitute “Amelia” (in classic prostitute attire) with her business license.

The second Western collection includes incredible military items (highlighted below), rare Western postcards, and a fantastic library including rare firearms references.

*Militaria*
This section is phenomenal, highlighted by George Armstrong Custer’s holster and gun belt, which is accompanied by a long history. Added to this is a major collection related to the Mexican War and Pancho Villa, including a photo-diary by Arizona photographer Walter Horne. Of great interest will be the associated collections from the Prag Collection and others, rounding out a phenomenal section on the Civil War, Spanish American War, and both World Wars.

For the Firearm collector is a large library of historical books on guns, hunting and related, with some of the all-time key references. These complement a large collection of rare books. Exploration researchers will love the Arctic Exploration library and other early works on Western exploration.

*Ken Prag Collection*
Wow! There are three distinct parts of his collection in this sale: ephemera, postcards, and stocks.

First and foremost, most or all of the material is from his unsorted acquisitions for decades. We found amazing items here. Like the Bodie & Bridgeport Telegraph archive with a message about a failed robbery of the SF mint right after the earthquake!

There is a wealth of paper ephemera, particularly from California. The postcards (over 500 lots) are stunning, and among the best offered so far, with exceptionally rare views in both RPC and printed format. Large collections include California (incl. Tahoe and Yosemite) and Hawaii. Nearly every lot has great cards, and you won’t want to miss this opportunity. Pioneer cards? Hundreds of them. One of the sections we had the most fun with is the gaming section--postcards with a gaming or playing card theme. This collection is now in about 20 lots, comprised of hundreds of cards.

*Numismatics*
A large offering of foreign and US coins, medals, counters, and other exonumia. Includes a C. Bechtler Dollar; Carson City Mint morgans; a fantasy Wells Fargo & Co. Express, Goldfield Iron Strongbox; and a large selection of California and Western tokens and Good For mirrors (ex. Ron Lerch Collection).

*Other Highlights*
Stocks and Bonds: Another fantastic selection from
perhaps a dozen collections. Features rare Arizona pieces and foreign mining stocks from the Prag Collection.

Railroadiana: Another great batch of railroad passes from an incredible Western collection we have been selling over the past year and a half. Also, a rare Colorado railroad section, and a collection of Virginia & Truckee Railroad ephemera from the Prag Collection.


Auction Schedule

Day 1, Thursday, August 5th, 2021, Lots 1000-1605
*General Americana (Lots 1000-1605)
Geographic Sort (1000-1251)
World’s Fair & Expositions (1252-1286)
Gaming (1287-1311)
Bottles & Saloon (1312-1342)
Marbles & Toys (1343-1365)
Jewelry (1366-1421)
Clothing (1422-1452)
Music (1453-1465)
Miscellaneous incl. Photos, Furnishings, Ephemera (1466-1605)

Day 2, Friday, August 6th, 2021, Lots 2000-2596
*Transportation (2000-2153)
Railroad (2000-2119)
Aviation & Automobile (2120-2153)
*Philatelic (2154-2596)
Stamps & Covers (2154-2175)
Postcards (2176-2596)

Day 3, Saturday, August 7th, 2021, Lots 3000-3606
*Native Americana (3000-3387)
Jewelry (3000-3271)
Artifacts, Art, Baskets, Pottery (3272-3315)
Ephemera incl. Rare Photographs, Postcards, & Books (3316-3387)
*Military incl. Custer and Pancho Villa Collections (3388-3514)
Chronologically Sorted (Civil War, Spanish American, WWI, WWII, etc)
*Political (3515-3535)
*Firearms feat. Firearms & Weaponry Historical Books (3536-3606)

Day 4, Sunday, August 8th, 2021, Lots 4000-4606
*Cowboy & Western (4000-4040)
*Art (4041-4105)
*Mining (4106-4189)
*Stocks & Bonds (4190-4310)
*Numismatics (4311-4505)
*Tokens (4506-4606)

Day 5, Monday, August 9th, 2021, Lots 5000-5583
*General Books (5000-5072)
*Bargains & Dealer Specials (5073-5583)
General Americana (5073-5189)
Philatelic (5190-5408)
Stocks & Bonds (5409-5479)
Numismatics incl. Dies, Coins, Counters, & Tokens (5480-5583)
SHIPPING & HANDLING: Shipping is subject to a minimum charge of $19.00. Shipping and handling cannot be estimated prior to invoicing as it is based on the size and weight of your purchase. Additional shipping and handling costs, if required, will be re-invoiced 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.SHIPPING & HANDLING: Shipping and Handling cannot be estimated prior to invoicing, based on the size a...
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Zuni Knifewing Bolo  [137197]3250 - Zuni Knifewing Bolo [137197]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Unknown artist--Knifewing bolo. Inlay with twisted wire edging. 1.25" x 1". Date: c 1940's-50's Country (if not USA): State: ...
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 100.00 - 150.00
Sold to C******3 for (40.00 + 10.00BP) = 50.00
 
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Zuni Knifewing Pin  [137241]3251 - Zuni Knifewing Pin [137241]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Probably Teddy Weahkee design, Knifewing pin--green turquoise, jet mother of paerl, spiny oyster mosaic inlay, with silver embellishments. Great colle
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 500.00 - 700.00
Sold to 8********l.. for (425.00 + 106.25BP) = 531.25
 
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Zuni Peyote Bird Bolo  [137128]3252 - Zuni Peyote Bird Bolo [137128]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
This Peyote Bird is attributed to Homer and Myra Vacit, though we are not certain. No hallmark. 2" x 1.5". Black tie, silver tips. Date: ...
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 300.00 - 500.00
Sold to d*******f for (120.00 + 30.00BP) = 150.00
 
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Zuni Roadrunner  [137140]3253 - Zuni Roadrunner [137140]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Rough cut turquoise inlay roadrunner set in tortoise shell, set in etched silver. This is a very charming example of early inlay. Bolo tips in silver
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 700.00 - 800.00
Sold to d*******f for (600.00 + 150.00BP) = 750.00
 
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Zuni Saiyatasha Bolo  [136584]3254 - Zuni Saiyatasha Bolo [136584]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Saiyatasha--Long Horn Kachina--turquoise, jet, spiney oyster, shell. This piece appears to by very old, some small cracks in some of the inlay. Unsign
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 500.00 - 600.00
Sold to i*******d for (250.00 + 62.50BP) = 312.50
 
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Zuni Sun Face by Myra Tucson  [136963]3255 - Zuni Sun Face by Myra Tucson [136963]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Belt buckle with Zuni sun face by Myra Tucson (1935-), who began work in the 1940s and is mentioned in most all the books. This buckle is inlaid with
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 300.00 - 500.00
Sold to 8********l.. for (150.00 + 37.50BP) = 187.50
 
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Zuni Peyote Bird Bolo   [136940]3256 - Zuni Peyote Bird Bolo [136940]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
beautiful vintage Peyote bird--inlay of onyx, turquoise, coral and mother of pearl. 3" x 1.5". Hallmarked symbol, but we could not find th...
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 200.00 - 300.00
Sold to 8********l.. for (150.00 + 37.50BP) = 187.50
 
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Classic Turquoise Necklace  [137695]3257 - Classic Turquoise Necklace [137695]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
stunning piece measuring 24" in length. Date: Country (if not USA): State: City: Provenance: Salvatore Falcone Collection
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 200.00 - 400.00
Sold to b**********n for (325.00 + 81.25BP) = 406.25
 
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Group of Native American Earrings & Cuffs  [137222]3258 - Group of Native American Earrings & Cuffs [137222]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Earrings: One pair pierced, the rest are screw on or clip. 3 pair Zuni inlay--sun-face, floral, geometric. 1 pair turquoise petit point. 1 pair natura
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 100.00 - 150.00
Sold to d*****m for (160.00 + 40.00BP) = 200.00
 
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Ladies silver rings (5)  [137750]3259 - Ladies silver rings (5) [137750]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
This is a lovely set of five ladies rings: oval mother of pear stone size 6; larger mother of pearl oval with feather motif size 7; round turquoise s
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 140.00 - 200.00
Sold to 8********l.. for (75.00 + 18.75BP) = 93.75
 
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