RENO, Nev. – A four-day Americana auction bursting with more than 3,l00 lots in an array of collecting categories – to include petroliana, aviation, World War II, art, railroadiana, Native Americana, stock certificates, mining, minerals and gold – will be held Oct. 4-7 by Holabird Western Americana Collections. Bid absentee or live online through LiveAuctioneers.
“We’re calling this our fall season second chance auction, because for anyone who missed any of our great 2019 sales, now is their second chance to fill the holes in their collections,” said Fred Holabird of Holabird Western Americana Collections. “Also, we’ve once again devoted a special section to dealers, with specials and great bargains lotted specifically with resellers in mind.”
Day 1, Friday, Oct. 4, will contain 772 lots of textiles, Native Americana, art, music, maps, foreign collectibles, sports, military and aviation, railroadiana, postal history and Wells Fargo. Offered for the first time will be the aviation collection of Robert Wayne Danforth, a dedicated collector of aviation art, books, model airplanes, photos and more.
A sample lot from Day 1 is an artist proof print depicting famed Army aviator ace Jimmy Doolittle leaving the deck of the aircraft carrier USS Hornet to lead a command of 16 B-25 bombers to the Japanese mainland. The artwork (above), by William S. Phillips, is signed by Gen. Doolittle himself and is nicely housed in a 35-by-33-inch frame. It has an estimate of $2,500-$3,500.
Day 2, Saturday, Oct. 5, will comprise 736 lots of marbles, bottles, saloon items, cigar and tobacco, cowboy collectibles, firearms and weaponry, tokens, numismatics (to include coins, currency, dies, medals, so-called dollars and general items), toys, World’s Fair and Expos, political memorabilia, and general and foreign Americana (Australia, Canada and Panama).
Two large capacity Trommner scales will be offered on Day 2, each with an estimate of $10,000-$15,000 and both formerly of the Philadelphia Mint, with capacities of at least 500 pounds. One is from the 1920s or ’30s, while the other is vintage 1947. Either one would make a statement of its owner’s business success and would display nicely in a foyer or large office.
Also up for bid on Day 2 will be a Nevada Short Line/A.A. Dodd bottle, unique to Nevada as it was made of crockery with white glaze, around 1914 (the rail line was short-lived, only running from 1913-1918). Also, it’s larger than the only other known specimen. It should go for $2,000-$5,000.
A rare, two-volume set of Gold Rush-era books titled Personal Adventures in Upper and Lower California in 1848-49 (London, 1851), is expected to reach $1,000-$2,000. It’s subtitled, “With the Author’s Experience at the Mines; Illustrated by Twenty-Three Drawings, taken on the spot.” An 1892-CC Morgan silver dollar with natural toning has an estimate of $800-$1,600.
A large white enamel sign from the Automobile Club of Southern California, circa 1910-1920, 2 feet by 3 feet and showing the mileage from an older country road (no longer in use) to Lida, Big Pine, Goldfield and Tonopah (Nev.), in very good shape for its age, should bring $2,000-$4,000.
Stock certificate offerings on Day 2 will include a possibly unique certificate for the Stockton & Calaveras Gravel Road Co. (Calif.), issued for two shares to Maj. Gen. Patrick Edward Connor on May 12, 1867, with officer signatures (est. $800-$1,000); and another for Pacific Pearl Co. (Panama), a venture that harvested pearls and pearl shells in the Pacific Ocean (est. $3,000-$6,000). The chief engineer, Julius H. Kroehl, actually invented a submarine for the company.
Day 3, Sunday, Oct. 6th, will feature 801 lots of gold, jewelry, minerals, mining (foreign, general and geographically sorted), fossils, collectible spoons and gold rush memorabilia. What could be the auction’s top lot will be offered on Day 3: a Squaw Creek (Haines, Alaska) gold nugget in the shape of a skull (est. $90,000-$105,000).
A colorful lot of cut, polished turquoise from the American West, 100 pieces or more and totaling 170 grams, should realize $3,000-$6,000. Pieces range in size from 2-25mm and have mostly blue hues. Also, a diamond, emerald and gold women’s ring featuring one round 0.35 carat brilliant cut diamond and eight princess-cut natural emeralds, is expected to hit $2,000-$5,000.
W. Rose’s 1878 revised chart of the Comstock & Sutro (Nevada) tunnel areas, showing buildings, locations and the names of the mines, made in 1878, 30½ inches by 39½ inches and in a nice gilt frame, should garner $2,000-$4,000. A circa 1857 stock certificate for the Magnum Bonum Quartz Mining Co. (California), issued to secretary Daniel H. Barney for one share and signed by Barney, carries an estimate of $1,000-$2,000. The company operated in Butte County.
Day 4, Monday, Oct. 7, will have 818 lots of calendars, cameras, fire items, directories, transportation and dealer specials in all categories. A featured lot is the Frontier Gasoline (“Rarin’ to Go”) single-sided porcelain service station sign, 6 feet in diameter, from the 1920s and in excellent condition (est. $7,500-$15,000).
Start times each day are 8 a.m. Pacific time.
Color catalogs are available by calling 1-844-492-2766, or 775-851-1859. For more information call either of those phone numbers or email fredholabird@gmail.com.
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