Buffalo Bill Cody CDV leads parade of delights at Holabird, March 30-April 2
Circa-1870s carte de visite of Buffalo Bill Cody, estimated at $20,000-$50,000
RENO, Nev. – Holabird Western Americana Collections will hold a four-day Big Bonanza Auction online from Thursday, March 30, through Sunday, April 2, with more than 2,000 lots in categories that include mining, philatelic, numismatic, railroad and Native Americana. Absentee and Internet live bidding will be available through LiveAuctioneers.
The ephemera group features pieces dating back to the very beginning of the Comstock mining rush. These include the following:
1859 mining deed for the Ophir claim, signed by Judge Walsh and mentioning the original discoverers, estimated at $5,000-$10,000
An 1859 mining deed for the Ophir claim, signed by Judge Walsh and mentioning the original discoverers, estimated at $5,000-$10,000. Holabird is calling it the Comstock Founding Fathers mining deed, and it is worthy of an advanced private collection or institutional collection.
1860 illustrated Wash-Oh! Lettersheet with cartoon, estimated at $3,000-$6,000
An 1860 illustrated Wash-Oh! lettersheet with a spectacular cartoon highlighting the dangers of mining stock speculation, estimated at $3,000-$6,000.
1859 letter mentioning early Ore Comstock assays, estimated at $1,000-$2,000
An 1859 letter mentioning some of the first Ore Comstock assays. It has an estimate of $1,000-$2,000.
Chollar-Potosi RN Comstock check with a violet stamp, estimated at $1,500-$2,500
The collection also features hundreds of Comstock checks with great rarities, revenue types and key autographs. Included in this group is the Chollar-Potosi RN check with a violet stamp, the rarest of all the Nevada revenue checks, which has an estimate of $1,500-$2,500.
In addition to the Comstock collection, the auction will be supplemented by material from the Gary Bracken collection; the Jim and Barbara Sherman Private Western Mining Museum collection; the Joe Elcano Nevada collection; and the Chunlin Zhu mineral collection.
Beaded gun belt from the 101 Ranch, estimated at $20,000-$50,000
The lifetime collection of Oklahoma lawyer Gary Bracken features a large philatelic component, including U.S. and foreign covers and lettersheets; rare stamps and express covers; and items from the famous 101 Ranch, including a beaded gun belt, estimated at $20,000-$50,000; Colorado bottles, stocks and ephemera, including a great Baby Doe Tabor archive with an estimate of $5,000-$10,000; and Native American pottery.
Baby Doe Tabor archive, estimated at $5,000-$10,000
Also from the Gary Bracken collection comes a circa-1870s carte de visite of Buffalo Bill Cody in his younger years. It was made by the Theatrical Photography Co. and is estimated at $20,000-$50,000.
A new round of treasures from the Jim and Barbara Sherman Private Western Mining Museum includes artifacts from Western forts in Arizona, New Mexico, Montana and Wyoming; 19th-century ammunition; antique firearms, including a Confederate revolver and Winchester rifles; and Civil War memorabilia.
Central Pacific railroad pass signed by Collis P. Huntington, estimated at $4,000-$10,000
Railroad and steamer passes, especially those featuring wonderful vignettes, are always a huge hit with collectors. A key piece in the March 30-April 2 sale is a Central Pacific pass signed by Collis P. Huntington, one of the so-called “Big Four.” Its estimate is $4,000-$10,000.
To consign a single piece or a collection to Holabird Western Americana Collections, call Fred Holabird at 775-851-1859 or 844-492-2766; or email fredholabird@gmail.com. To learn more about Holabird Western Americana Collections, please visit www.holabirdamericana.com.
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