1419
W.S. Hobart Checks from Sapphire Mill, Virginia City, 1867-1874 [193633]
Currency:USD
Category:Collectibles / Mining
Start Price:75.00 USD
Estimated At:150.00 - 250.00 USD
CURRENT BID
0.00USD+ applicable fees & taxes.
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Live Online Auction Starts In
2025 Mar 01 @ 08:00 (UTC-8 : PST/AKDT)
FINAL AUCTION RECORD The Auctioneer’s podium notes serve as the final, legally binding record of the auction results, superseding any electronic bidding records. See Terms and Conditions
Group of 4 different checks, dating from 1867 to 1874, on the account of Walter S. Hobart for the Sapphire Mill. All in good condition. Checks included in the lot are as follows: 1) 1867 Bank of California check. Lists Nevada, Sapphire and Atlas Mills, though "Nevada" and "Atlas" are crossed out. Issued to and signed by WS Hobart. Orange 2 cent NV adhesive revenue stamp. 2) 1874 Bank of California. RN-D. Issued to Robert Young. Young is listed as a horse clipper in the 1873 V&T Directory. Signed for Hobart by Raymond. 3) 1870 Bank of California, RN-B plus US IR adhesive revenue stamp. Issued to Thomas Cain. Cain is listed as a miner for the Gould & Curry Mine in the V&T 1873 Directory. Signed by for WS Hobart by Raymond. 4) 1871 Bank of California, RN-B17b. Issued to C. Derby. Signed for Hobart by Raymond.
The Sapphire Mill, originally known as J.B. Gagnon & Co.'s Mill, was a 16-stamp built in the early 1860s by J.B. Gagnon and Company. It was located in Gold Canyon, about 1/4 mile below Gold Hill, and was capable of running 20 tons per day. By the 1870s it was down to 15 stamps, but was running more efficiently, now able to process as many as 40 tons per day. The material it processed originated largely from the Crown Point mine (Ansari, 1989). The mill was one of a few owned by W.S. Hobart, who was heavily involved with numerous logging operations at Tahoe that provided wood to Comstock mining operations, including the Sierra Nevada Wood & Lumber Co. and the Virginia & Gold Hill Water Co., as well as numerous mining projects.
Hobart was initially a "carman in the Chollar [mine]" working at $4 a day. He grew rich after securing a contract to mine ore in the Chollar, and purchased a mill. Hobart's various ventures in lumber and mining were successful: he dedicated his wealth to buying real estate in New York and San Francisco, and died in 1892 as a Comstock millionaire. (S.F. Daily Examiner, 1892.)
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Date: 1867-74
Country(if not USA):
State: Nevada
City: Virginia City
Provenance:
Auction Location:
3555 Airway Drive Suite 308, Reno, Nevada, 89511, United States
Previewing Details:
Preview
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Nevada State Sales Tax
Taxes:
| Tax | Rate | Desc. |
| NSST |
8.375% |
Nevada Sales Tax |
| CSST |
8% |
California Sales Tax |
Buyer's Premiums:
| From (Incl.) | To (Excl.) | Premium |
| 0.00 |
Infinite |
25% |
Additional Fees:
Shipping Details:
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Live Auction conducted by Holabird Western Americana Collections, LLC (HWAC)
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From: to: Increment:
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19. All stock certificates, checks, warrants, and other financial documents sold herein are sold as antiquities, and have no financial, securities, or public trading value whatsoever.
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