AUCTION  / 

Wild West Relics Auction April 2024

Auction CurrencyUSD Auction Location3555 Airway Drive Suite 308, Reno, Nevada, 89511, United States In Person PreviewPreview

Auction Details

April, 2024 HWAC Auction -Another Potential Million Dollar Sale of Rare Americana!
-Fred Holabird

Welcome everybody to our next live auction. Th sale closely follows a timed auction two weeks ago that saw a lot of action, with some good rarities as well as some great buys!
As we plow through the start of 2024, we find ourselves moving the rare collectibles into our live sales, while moving the rare lesser expensive items to the timed sales, which are getting more and more popular by the month.

April is no exception, as 2300 lots are up for grabs, again featuring many one of a kind discoveries and great rarities. When I write these introductions to the sales, it gets harder and harder to know where to start and how to structure the essay because of the sheer huge variety of collectible genres present in our sales. We easily offer at least 60 different categories!!

So this time, lets start with some of my favorite “discoveries,” which is impossible for me to place in my relative order of “wow!” effect. Top ten? Impossible! How about the top 20? ??

1. The Robert Matheson, Arizona Territory letter archive, c1883-1886, that discusses an Apache mine camp massacre, the “Bisbee massacre” and subsequent hangings. In more than 100 pp of letters, we get from the writer a very clear picture of the difficulties of life on the Arizona/Sonora mining frontier. See the Mining section.
2. Dr. Timothy Wilcox Arizona Territory (especially Ft. Huachuca) photograph archive, c 1860-1894. (see photography, antiquarian). Wilcox was an Army physician assigned to many of the western forts, particularly Ft. Huachuca and Ft. Niobrara. The photo archive has in excess of 350 original photos in one album alone, nearly all taken by Wilcox. He also traveled to Alaska and forts on the east coast before being assigned to Cuba for the Spanish-American War.
3. Goldwater Store Posse, Yuma/Tucson Photograph. Robert Paul was sent to Yuma to arrest one of the Goldwater Bros. for fraud. A large posse was sent, and the original mounted photo is a stunner. c1880.
4. Robert Paul ALS regarding a stagecoach robbery and murder. The sheriff made famous from the days of the Earps.
5. Famous Western artist Frederick Remington original c1903 prints. A remarkable discovery of original prints sold out of Remington’s own gallery with his gallery card still attached.
6. Barry & Patten embossed San Francisco whiskey bottle. This is the very first western whiskey merchant to place his product in an embossed bottle. They are exceptionally rare. This is a “crown jewel” for any western whiskey collector.
7. Frank Abadie, Eureka, Nevada knife edge coffin flask with full original label. Unquestionably one of the very top Nevada whiskey bottles of all time, and unique.
8. Maps. The map section is so darned good (spread between a map, antiquarian and mining sections) that I can’t pick just one. So I’ll pick the early “California as an Island” map. I know – some of you think California is an island anyway! This map has insets with it that make map reading from the 1700s exciting.. But the sections also contain rare Gold Rush period maps from two major collections.
9. Fort Weisport, c1756 map in which Ben Franklin was involved.
10. Boston Baseball Team stock certificates, 19teens. Stocks issued to and signed by the founders of the Boston baseball club (176376, etc)
11. Austin, Nevada Sack of Flour, Sanitary Commission autographed and signed petition of donations, original document for this very famous western mining charity event that made history. This document was thought lost to history. (169387)
12. Circa 1660 Ecumenical Farce, “Il Capitole del Frati” was banned by the Church before it was completed. This is a full edition, and may be the only full or complete piece known. Handwritten by the author.
13. Mining stock signed by famous California author Bret Harte. (136540). Author of “Luck of Roaring Camp” and other tales, Harte was a near contemporary of Sam Clemens in the California gold camps.
14. Fraser River Gold Rush glass negative collection (179017). A large collection of photographs, probably unpublished, of one or more trips from Vancouver north by steamer to the mining camps of the Fraser River region. The high quality images show the store sign fronts that allows for the identification.
15. Inventor of the Electric Car, Fritchie, 1903, archive. An incredible discovery of his personal papers and photographs. Exceptionally appropriate as the world finally moves toward electric cars, albeit 120 years later.
16. Hayden Survey, 9 Volumes. This remarkable multi-year expedition along parts of the American/Canadian border is well recorded and very rare. (178878)
17. Truckee Basin Directory, 1883. A great Tahoe rarity.
18. Giant Green Fluorite, (149346). One of the many outstanding mineral specimens in the sale, and a very colorful one!
19. Spectacular very dark blue turquoise squash blossom necklace (Navajo). This is the very deep blue color that was so popular in the 1980s and doesn’t seem to have been found in turquoise mines since then.
20. Virgina & Truckee Railroad Lantern. A near-mint example is among about 50 different railroad lamps (and more railroad china!). Be sure and watch for our next two sales (including timed), as we will be selling two of the best railroad pass collections ever offered at auction- the “Ron Lerch” and “Western Railroad” collections.

That’s quite a list! But its all here, with tons more great items, spread over four days – this time on a pair of successive weekend days so you don’t have to be troubled by auctions while at work.

We are always on the lookout for major collections! Please call us. 775 851-1859 or our toll free number 844 492-2766

DAY 1 - Sat, Apr 6 Lots 1000-1563
Art (1001-1098)
Jewelry (1099-1130)
Native Americana (1131-1271)
Maps (1272-1337) also see mining on day 5
World's Fair/Expositions (1338-1344)
Books (1345-1451)
Autographs (1452-1454)
Photographs (1456-1558)
Wilcox, Photo archive, c1860-1910
Tools (1559-1563)

DAY 2 - Sun, Apr 7 Lots 2000-2580
3d Collectibles (2000-2013)
Clocks (2014-2020)
Musical (2021-2022)
Furnishings (2023-2025)
Clothing (2026-2027)
Collectibles & Flatware (2028-2045)
Advertising (2046-2067)
General Store (2068-2084)
Bottles (2085-2166)
Saloon (2167-2181)
Gaming (2183-2190)
Tobacianna (2191-2199)
Cowboy (2200-2219)
Entertainment (2220-2263)
Circus, Toys. sports (2264-2295)
Transportation/Railroad (2296-2396)
Political (2397-2422)
Military (2423-2460)
Firearms & Weaponry (2461-2527)
General Ephemera (2528-2580)

DAY 3 - Sat, Apr 13 Lots 3000-3517
Stocks & Bonds (3001-3517)
Banking (3001-3024)
Mining (3025-3296)
Industry & Oil (3297-3366)
Railroad & Transportation (3367-3427)
Other (3428-3517)

DAY 4 - Sun, Apr 14 Lots 4000-4666
Minerals (4001-4032)
Mining (4033-4226)
Artifacts (4033-4041)
Ephemera (4042-4220)
Scales (4221-4225)
Numismatics (4226-4409)
Tokens (4410-4431)
Philatelic (4432-4566)
Stamps (4432-4458)
Covers (4458-4474)
WF/Express (4475-4519)
Postcards (4520-4566)
This auction will be split into 2 weekends. Please don't ask for your invoice until all sessions are completed. Thanks in advance for your understanding.

Shipping is billed separately. Pay your auction invoice early as purchases are packed in the order payments are received. Pick-up must be scheduled 24 hours in advance when you receive your shipping preference email after the auction. Invoices will go out immediately after all sessions the auction end.

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Minox Model B Spy Camera [140284]1551 - Minox Model B Spy Camera [140284]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Wetzlar, Manufactured in Germany circa 1958. Light tan pigskin case, with measuring chain. The model B was the first subminiature camera with a built-
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 100.00 - 400.00
Sold to d*******f for (50.00 + 12.50BP) = 62.50
 
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Minox Model C Spy Camera [140288]1552 - Minox Model C Spy Camera [140288]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Manufactured in Germany circa 1970. Aluminum finish. Black eveready case with measuring chain. Calibrated in feet. (Serial number 2342161) The Minox C
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 100.00 - 400.00
Sold to w**********e for (40.00 + 10.00BP) = 50.00
 
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Minox Model C Spy Camera [174197]1553 - Minox Model C Spy Camera [174197]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Made in Germany, Minox model C in brown leather case with measuring chain.
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 100.00 - 400.00
Sold to 8********l.. for (40.00 + 10.00BP) = 50.00
 
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Minox Model EC Spy Camera [174180]1554 - Minox Model EC Spy Camera [174180]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
In original case with instruction manual. Includes 60 cm safety chain, flash cube adapter, and film cassette. A subminiature photo camera introduced
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 100.00 - 400.00
Sold to d*********s for (45.00 + 11.25BP) = 56.25
 
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Minox Spy Camera Holder [174193]1555 - Minox Spy Camera Holder [174193]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Made in Germany, in original box. A clamp attachment for holding your Minox spy camera.
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 75.00 - 200.00
Sold to 8********l.. for (25.00 + 6.25BP) = 31.25
 
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Minox Viewer-Cutter and Film for Your Spy Camera [174190]1556 - Minox Viewer-Cutter and Film for Your Spy Camera [174190]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Made in Germany, in original box. Minox Viewer-cutter. The transparency viewer and slide cutter was first shown at Photokina in 1954. It cuts a singl
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 75.00 - 200.00
Sold to 8********l.. for (40.00 + 10.00BP) = 50.00
 
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Nikoh Minimax-lite Spy Camera [140329]1557 - Nikoh Minimax-lite Spy Camera [140329]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Nikoh Manufacturing Company of Japan introduced a butane gas lighter combined with a subminiature camera, using Minox cassettes. It was fitted with a
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 100.00 - 400.00
Sold to 8********l.. for (50.00 + 12.50BP) = 62.50
 
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Vintage Movie Equipment from Kodak, Paillard-Bolex, BaU.S. ch & Lomb [170416]1558 - Vintage Movie Equipment from Kodak, Paillard-Bolex, BaU.S. ch & Lomb [170416]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
There is Kodak series 111 camera with case , a Kodak 16mm enlarger, a Bausch & Lomb microscope illuminator model 42-68-58, and a Paillard-Bolex ...
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 200.00 - 300.00
Sold to d*******f for (100.00 + 25.00BP) = 125.00
 
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Printing Press Setup with Parts (2) [177837]1559 - Printing Press Setup with Parts (2) [177837]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Two small table top cast iron printing presses and a professional paper cutting guillotine. In the 1950s-60s, these types of presses were used in tour
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 500.00 - 2,000.00
Sold to d********s.. for (250.00 + 62.50BP) = 312.50
 
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Telegraph Keys (3) [179019]1560 - Telegraph Keys (3) [179019]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Speed Key, standard key and key sounder, all in one lot. Included is a standard key on a 4"x 6" wood base, a 5"x 7" key & so...
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 400.00 - 600.00
Sold to d*********s for (120.00 + 30.00BP) = 150.00
 
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Nautical Telescopes (2) c1900s [152593]1561 - Nautical Telescopes (2) c1900s [152593]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
There are two nautical telescopes in this lot. The smaller one is made in France at 7in. tall three draw with a slide type eye-piece cover, late 1800
Bidding Has Concluded
Start Price : 500.00 | Estimate : 1,000.00 - 2,000.00
 
 
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Exquisite Troemner Scale [125096]1562 - Exquisite Troemner Scale [125096]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Beautiful Troemner Desktop Scale, encased in a dark wood and beveled glass framed box with no cracks or damage other than normal wear for an item this
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 600.00 - 900.00
Sold to h********z for (325.00 + 81.25BP) = 406.25
 
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Wooden Duck Decoy Half Dozen [172835]1563 - Wooden Duck Decoy Half Dozen [172835]
Holabird Western Americana Collections
6 hand carved wooden duck decoys. Old weathered goldeneye drake, from northern Vermont, c. 1940's, 7x14", severed neck. Goldeneye Drake, st...
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 450.00 - 600.00
Sold to t*******l for (225.00 + 56.25BP) = 281.25
 
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