16th-century Chinese meteorite intrigued bidders at Holabird sale
Iron-nickel meteorite found in China in 1958 and believed to have fallen to Earth in 1516, $4,125
RENO, Nev. – A 288-pound iron-nickel meteorite found in China in 1958 and believed to have fallen to Earth in 1516 sold for $4,125 at a four-day Minerals Galore & Western Americana Auction held June 2-5 by Holabird Western Americana Collections, LLC.
Day 1 of the sale, held on June 2, was notable because bargains and dealer lots – which had been offered on the last day of Holabird’s multi-day sales in the past – have proven so popular they officially kicked off this event, with 155 lots offered.
One of the session’s top sellers was a model 1863 Dahlgren Navy bayonet with sheath, complete with scabbard and frog, which changed hands for $1,875. One of 1,800 made, the knife was designed by Admiral John Dahlgren of the USS Plymouth and was originally made by the Ames Mfg. Co. of Chicopee, Massachusetts for the Plymouth / Whitneyville model 1861 musket for the US Navy.
Model 1863 Dahlgren Navy bayonet with sheath, $1,875
Day 2, Friday, June 3, was led by a stamp album containing a wonderful collection of U.S. commemoratives dating from 1900 to 1975. All the stamps were presented in black glassine protectorates and all appeared to be in mint condition. The stamp album lot finished at $3,750.
Large amethyst cavern geode, $1,375
Day 3, Saturday, June 4, yielded the overall top lot of the entire auction, the Chinese iron-nickel meteorite that came out of the Chunlin Zhu collection. Items from that same collection included a show-stopping large amethyst cavern geode with deep purple crystals, which earned $1,375. Also performing well was a Chinese viewing stone – a beautifully intricate tan-colored flowstone from a cavern – that realized $1,875.
Small Pelton wheel with nine cups, $1,250
A small 17in Pelton wheel with nine cups, probably from Nevada City, California and sporting some degree of damage, brought $1,250.
Wells Fargo Company stock certificate issued in 1870 to American Express co-founder Henry Wells, $2,875
Day 4, Sunday, June 5, featured a Wells Fargo Company stock certificate #647 for 100 shares, which was issued in 1870 to Henry Wells, one of the co-founders of American Express in 1850. It rose to $2,875. This stock certificate, one of perhaps five known, is unquestionably one of the most important of all the Wells Fargo and American Express documents, as it represents the takeover of Wells Fargo by California business financier Lloyd Tevis after cutting a back-room deal with Wells and Fargo.
Copy of the 1884 book ‘Recollections of Mining Life’ by Henry DeGroot, $1,000
Also sold on Day 4 was a copy of the 1884 book Recollections of Mining Life by Henry DeGroot, in near mint condition with full-page illustrations. This classic book, which is cited in nearly every Gold Rush bibliography, achieved $1,000.
To consign a single piece or a collection, call Fred Holabird at 775-851-1859 or 844-492-2766; or email fredholabird@gmail.com. To learn more about Holabird Western Americana Collections, visit www.holabirdamericana.com.
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