The Big Bonanza Auction: Mining, Philatelic, Numismatics, Americana (March 2023)

Lot of 2. Both with rare imprinted revenue B16a. Key autograph pair of two (Mackay & Fair) of the four "Bonanza Kings." The Mariposa M...

Lot of 8: 4 different pairs of Mackay/Fair signatures. John Mackay and James G. Fair were two of the four millionaire members of the "Bonanza F...

Lot of 2. Both are Morgan Mill, Nevada Bank of San Francisco, printed checks with light purple Pacific Mill & Mining Co. stamps. 1) 1879 check i...

Lot of 2 different. The Occidental Mill was associated with the Occidental Mine, located 1.25 miles east of Gold Hill. The mill was built in 1870, 1/4

Lot of 2. Rare. This Ophir Mill was sometimes referred to as the New Ophir Mill to distinguish it from the 1860s mill located in Washoe Valley. This l

Lot of 7. The Ophir Mine is one of the oldest claims on the Comstock and the discovery site for the Virginia City branch of the lode. It was located a

Lot of 4. 1) Rare 1874 Bank of California check issued to the Carson Wood Company, signed by Fair. Manuscript "Pac. M&M Co." written n...

Lot of 2. Each is on the check form with green print and RN-D imprinted revenue. 1) No. 131, issued to the Virginia & Gold Hill Water Co. in 187...

Lot of 3. 1) Nevada Bank of SF, 1877, Bacon Mill printed form with purple Pacific Mill & Mining Co. stamp. RN-G. Issued to Jas. Kennedy, signed ...

Rare Nevada Bank of San Francisco check with "Pacific Wood L & F Co." written in purple ink in the upper left corner. RN-F1 imprinted ...

Dateline Virginia, Nev., June 3rd, 1874. Issued to WC Madden for $85. Signed by Comstock mining millionaire (and US Senator) James G. Fair. Rare &qu...

Lot of 4 different. The Sapphire Mill was built in the early 1860s and was located 1/4 mile below Gold Hill. It was originally known as JB Gagnon &a...

Lot of 16. This group includes nearly every Savage check variety out there, including revenue types and superintendent signatures. The Savage Mine was

Lot of 3. All are Nevada Bank of San Francisco checks. The Sierra Nevada, Mexican, and Union mines were located on the north end of the Comstock. The

Lot of 3. The Sierra Nevada Wood & Lumber Co. was formed in 1878 by WS Hobart and SH Marlette on the east shore of Lake Tahoe. This company was ...

Lot of 5. The Summit Mill was located at the north end of Virginia City. In 1866, it was reported as having 20 stamps, 11 Wheeler pans, and a crushing

Lot of 7 incl. 3 John Mackay autographs and 4 James G. Fair autographs. All have either RN of adhesive revenue stamps. Mackay and Fair were the two mo

One of the great Comstock check rarities. Only ~5 examples currently known. This check is issued to William Sharon for $50,000 in April 1875 (over $1.

Exceptionally rare. No. 178, issued to Wells Fargo & Co. for $10 in 1876. Signed by "Bonanza King" mining millionaire John Mackay as s...

Rare. Virginia & Truckee Railroad Company check No. 1082, issued to treasurer Mark Hopkins for $34,666 dollars in 1876. Signed by HM Yerington a...

Lot of 2. 1) Rare. Virginia & Truckee Railroad Company check No. 559, issued to treasurer Mark Hopkins for $22,614 dollars in 1876. Signed by HM...

Lot of 4. The Woodworth Mill, built in 1864, was located on the Carson River approx. one mile above Dayton. It was a 24-stamp mill with 12 pans and a

Lot of 4 different. Henry M. Yerington was involved in mining, land, and lumber interests in Nevada, but is best known for his work with the Virginia

Lot of 3 different. 1) Markleeville Flume Company. Exceptionally rare. Bank of California, purple print, true brown RN-D. Issued in 1874 to John Weise

Lot of 9 pieces. Lumber for the Comstock mostly came from the Lake Tahoe area. Water for Virginia City was originally sourced locally but eventually s

Lot of 14, most different. Includes: Gould & Curry Silver Mining Co. (two checks issued in 1866, signed by Louis Janin Jr. as supt, NV and US IR...

Lot of 3 different. These are great examples of how mines combined their efforts in the 1870s-90s to sink shafts and explore the deepest levels of the

Lot of 4. 1) Mariposa Mill Company. Very rare RN-B16a imprinted revenue. Issued in 1870 to NN Humphrey. Signed by "Bonanza King" mining mi...

Lot of 12. Includes: Ophir Mining Co. (rare James G. Fair, 1878, and WH Patton, 1879); Potosi Mining Company (1889); and Savage Mining Co. (numerous s

Lot of 2 different. Both issued by Fair as supt. Both rare. 1) Savage Mine, "Assay Office" handwritten. Issued in 1871 to DW Balch for $25...

Lot of 11. All have different supt. signatures! All have RNs or adhesive revenue stamps. This is a handpicked group of checks that represent all the g

Lot of 5 different. Nevada became a territory in March 1861 and became a state on Oct. 31st, 1864. 1) Very early Sept. 1861 blue Wells Fargo & C...

Lot of 3 different. 1) Very early 1861 blue form (Excelsior Print, SF). Issued to John Smith by RN Graves. At this time, Graves was supt. of the Empir

Lot of 7 different. Even though these are unissued, there are still some rarities here. 1) Brunswick Mill. Sheet of two unissued 1870s checks, RN-G, b

Lot of 2. 1) Very early 1861 Wells Fargo & Co., Virginia City check issued to CR Ahern for $40. We believe this to be Con Ahern, who later was t...

Lot of 14. 1) Best is a Union Mill & Mining Company, Bank of California check issued to and signed by William Sharon for $50,000 (over $1 millio...

Lot of 7 different. 1) Union Mill & Mining Company. One of the great Comstock check rarities. Only 5 examples currently known. This check is iss...

Lot of 10 different. Fantastic group! 1) Best is a Union Mill & Mining Company, Bank of California check issued to and signed by William Sharon ...

Lot of 2 incredibly early Comstock checks. 1) Wells Fargo & Co. check. Dateline Va City, March 11th, 1861. Pay to C.S. $20. Signed by Charles St...

Fantastic & historic! This document dates to the very beginning of the Comstock Lode silver rush. It mentions one of the most important mining c...

Exceptionally rare. This exact piece was sold by FH in 2008. There are no known used examples. Baird 328. Drawn and Engraved by TC Boyd, No. 149 Clay

Spectacular. This letter was sent from San Francisco, Nov. 21st, 1859, right at the beginning of the Comstock silver rush. It is addressed to Judge Ja

Extremely rare Comstock autograph. Virginia & Truckee Railroad receipt, Carson, March 14th, 1872. Issued to E. Penrod for 9 7/8 cords of nut pin...

Never seen by FH. This is the only copy we've ever offered. "A Revolution in Mining. Paul's Electric Dry Amalgamating Barrel Process. A...

"Map of the Washoe District Showing Mining Claims." Taken out of Becker, Comstock Mining & Miners Plate III. Claims mapped by Hoffman ...

Predates Becker. From Expeditions of 1876 & 1877 Under the Command of Captain Geo. M. Wheeler, Corps of Engineers US Army. Detailed map of claim...

Undated map on vellum that shows claims patented by the California MC, Con. Virginia, Ophir, JB Overton, Union Consolidated, Mexican, and Central Silv

Indenture dated August 10th, 1863 between NO Arrington (and his wife) and the Best & Belcher Mining Company. Selling land on Howard and Taylor S...

Lot of 2. Both are from Sam. Wasserman for interest in the Birdsall Claim. 1) Indenture dated June 10th, 1862 between Sam. Wasserman of Virginia City

Dated Oct. 2nd, 1860. James H. Dowd of Carson County in the Territory of Utah (Nevada Territory wouldn't be formed till March 1861) sells to Jam...