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Holabird Western Americana mines

Holabird Western Americana mines 4,000-lot auction July 11-15

Tom Hoepf
Tom Hoepf
Holabird Western Americana mines
Possibly unique stock certificate for the Picacho Silver Mining Co. of Arizona, dated March 12, 1866, for 120 shares, issued to Wm. W. Shepard, with signatures. Estimate: $2,000-$3,000. Holabird Western Americana Collections image

RENO, Nev. – Everything good about summer collectibles – mining artifacts, all elements of Western history, manuscript archives, antique bottles and marbles, rare stocks and bonds, gold, numismatics and much more – will be packed into Holabird Western Americana Collections’ five-day, 4,000-lot Americana Auction, planned for Thursday thru Monday, July 11-15. Bid absentee or live online through LiveAuctioneers.

“With 4,000 lots in a wide array of categories, bidders will have plenty of material to look over,” said Fred Holabird of Holabird Western Americana Collections.

The manuscript archives include that of a Mormon family and their trials and tribulations over several decades, from Nauvoo, Illinois, to Salt Lake and back to the East Coast (below); an archive from Nevada engineer John Heizer; a scrapbook from promoter Tex Rickard; early Arizona military letters; a pair of 1860s maps showing the exact locations of original abodes in Los Angeles; and more.

Holabird Western Americana mines
Archive of material pertaining to Sally Gear, an original member of the Mormon Church, with Emigrant Trail and Gold Rush correspondence, plus more, 1829-1880s. Estimate: $3,000-$7,000). Holabird Western Americana Collections image

Mining collectibles, to be spread out over Days 3 and 4, will feature more than a dozen ore cars. And an ornately engraved presentation silver chalice from Grass Valley – a must-have for any mining or California collector. Antique and vintage bottles will include many examples from California and Nevada, as well as a rare ceramic series of cat house decanters split up by region.

A marble collection will be offered along with the bottles on Day 2. The Western Art section, on Day 1, is huge, with art in every category. Old stocks and bonds will feature a Chinese bond collection; Arizona material (including 1850s Sopori and 1860s Gold MC, Picacho); and from California the Bear River piece that preceded the Tuolumne stock, with a nice mining vignette.

Numismatics, on Day 2, will have a little of everything related to coins and currency, with lots of scrip, tokens, medals and two fabulous gold fakes (one was unknown, the other well published). There’s also a great strong box to put it all in. The gold will feature high-grade ore specimens from two major collections (Heizer, mostly Nevada-Calif.; and Pollock, mostly Alaska and Utah).

Holabird Western Americana mines
Leaf native gold specimen with pin back, 8.4 grams, engraved on back, ‘Dorothy Gillis Queen 2 Ann’l Mining / CE Lee.’ C.E. Lee was a placer miner in Plumas County, California. Estimate: $1,000-$2,000. Holabird Western Americana Collections image

Day 1, Thursday, July 11, (lots 1000-1776) will contain Part I of General Americana, plus apparel, jewelry, art, furnishings and décor, Native Americana, general foreign collectibles, sports, entertainment industry collectibles, music-related lots, political and military collectibles.

Holabird Western Americana mines
Mobiloil Gargoyle porcelain double-sided lollipop sign, a genuine early 1900s piece in all original condition, 54in. high. Estimate: $1,700-$2,700. Holabird Western Americana Collections image

The General Americana on Day 1 can be broken down into the following categories: advertising, badges, belt buckles, breweriana and tobacciana, circus collectibles, fire-related, Gold Rush, license plates, locks and keys, microscopes, scales, tools, toys, dolls and miscellaneous items.

Holabird Western Americana mines
Stock certificate for the Sopori Land and Mining Co. dated May 1, 1858, for 25 shares, issued to Samuel Pratt, with signatures of trustees and company treasurer. Estimate: $2,100-$3,500. Holabird Western Americana Collections image

Day 2, Friday, July 12, (lots 2000-2670) will comprise Part II of General Americana (sorted by geography). Categories will include bottles, brothel, cowboy, gaming, saloon, tokens, weaponry, numismatics and marbles.

Day 3, Saturday, July 13, (lots 3000-3855) will be dedicated to minerals and Part I of mining collectibles (California-Nevada). Mining Part II (New Jersey to the end) will be offered on Day 4, Sunday, July 14, (lots 4000-4808), along with transportation, railroadiana, postal history and Wells Fargo & Express.

Finally, Day 5, Monday, July 15, (lots 5000-6487) will be loaded with bargains and dealer specials, in categories that will include art, bottles, Civil War, general Americana, mining, Native Americana, numismatics, railroadiana and transportation.

“With thousands of lots in a vast array of categories, we highly recommend browsing the entire catalog for hidden gems in each section,” Holabird said.

For details or to order the printed color catalogs contact Holabird Western Americana Collections at 844-492-2766 or 775-851-1859 or fredholabird@gmail.com.

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