Holabird to host ‘Pike’s Peak or Bust!’ auction, Jan. 19-22

Original circa-1897 Ringling Brothers broadside advertising “Three Famous Aerial Ladies,” estimated at $500-$1,500
Original circa-1897 Ringling Brothers broadside advertising “Three Famous Aerial Ladies,” estimated at $500-$1,500

Original circa-1897 Ringling Brothers broadside, estimated at $500-$1,500

RENO, Nev. – Holabird Western Americana Collections, LLC’s first live auction event of the year will be a four-day affair – Thursday, January 19 through Sunday, January 22 – featuring collectibles in more than a dozen categories. Absentee and Internet live bidding will be available through LiveAuctioneers.

Continue reading

SS Central America shipwreck treasures total $1M at Holabird

Miner’s work pants with a five-button fly, recovered from the S.S. Central America, $114,000. Image courtesy of Holabird Western Americana Collections
Miner’s work pants with a five-button fly, recovered from the S.S. Central America, $114,000. Image courtesy of Holabird Western Americana Collections
Miner’s work pants with a five-button fly, recovered from the S.S. Central America, $114,000. Image courtesy of Holabird Western Americana Collections

RENO, Nev. – An auction of 270 never-before-offered historic California Gold Rush sunken treasure artifacts, conducted on December 3 by Holabird Western Americana Collections, totaled nearly $1 million. The recovered jewelry, mid-1800s clothing, glassware and other items were retrieved from the legendary vessel dubbed the Ship of Gold, the S.S. Central America, which sank during a voyage to New York in 1857. More than 7,500 registered bidders across the United States and in six other countries participated.

Continue reading

Gold Rush-era bounty from SS Central America sails to Holabird, Dec. 3

Miner’s work pants with a button fly, recovered from the S.S. Central America, possibly made by or for Levi Strauss, estimated at $50,000-$100,000. Image courtesy of Holabird Western Americana Collections
Miner’s work pants with a button fly, recovered from the S.S. Central America, possibly made by or for Levi Strauss, estimated at $50,000-$100,000. Image courtesy of Holabird Western Americana Collections

RENO, Nev. – On Saturday, December 3, Holabird Western Americana Collections will offer a time capsule of Gold Rush life in the form of items recovered from the 1857 sinking of the legendary vessel dubbed the “Ship of Gold,” the S.S. Central America. Absentee and Internet live bidding will be available through LiveAuctioneers.

Continue reading

Holabird thrilled bidders with four days’ worth of prizes

Circa-1900 red mesa chief pattern rug, $4,000
Circa-1900 red mesa chief pattern rug, $4,000
Circa-1900 red mesa chief pattern rug, $4,000

IN PROGRESS 

RENO, Nev. – An Ansel Adams-signed Yosemite photo from around 1959 sold for $38,750 at a four-day Western Frontiers auction held October 13-16 by Holabird Western Americana Collections, LLC. The 2,100-lot sale featured Native and general Americana, mining material, numismatics, art, bottles, stocks and more.

Continue reading

Holabird shows bidders the meaning of ‘spoiled for choice,’ Oct. 13-16

Circa-1900 red Mesa Chief pattern rug, estimated at $5,000-$7,000
Circa-1900 red Mesa Chief pattern rug, estimated at $5,000-$7,000

RENO, Nev. – Collections and categories will be plentiful and on full display at Holabird Western Americana Collections’ massive four-day Western Frontiers auction being held October 13-16. The 2,100-lot sale will feature Native and general Americana, mining, Express, numismatics, art, bottles, stocks and more. All four days will commence bidding at 8 am Pacific time. Absentee and Internet live bidding will be available through LiveAuctioneers.

Continue reading

37-star American Flag topped Rush to the Rockies sale at Holabird

American flag with 37 stars, made sometime in 1867 upon the admission of Nebraska as a state, $10,625
American flag with 37 stars, made sometime in 1867 upon the admission of Nebraska as a state, $10,625

RENO, Nev. – An American flag with 37 stars and in very good condition, made sometime in 1867 upon the admission of Nebraska as a state, sold for $10,625 at a huge four-day Rush to the Rockies auction held August 25-28 by Holabird Western Americana Collections, LLC.

Continue reading

Thomas Moran lithograph heads four days of delights at Holabird, Aug. 25-28

Thomas Moran chromolithograph of the Grand Canyon, signed and dated 1912, est. $4,000-$6,000
Thomas Moran chromolithograph of the Grand Canyon, signed and dated 1912, est. $4,000-$6,000

RENO, Nev. – A four-day Rush to the Rockies auction, packed with more than 2,000 lots, will be held from Thursday, August 25 through Sunday, August 28 by Holabird Western Americana Collections, LLC. Sessions on all four days will begin at 8 am Pacific time. Absentee and Internet live bidding will be available through LiveAuctioneers.

Continue reading

Holabird Wild West auction scores with Washington 12-cent stamp, lawman’s Colt

Early U.S. 12-cent postage stamp with a portrait bust of George Washington, $19,520Early U.S. 12-cent postage stamp with a portrait bust of George Washington, $19,520
Early U.S. 12-cent postage stamp with a portrait bust of George Washington, $19,520
Early encased U.S. 12-cent postage stamp with a portrait bust of George Washington, $19,520

RENO, Nev. – An early U.S. 12-cent postage stamp with a portrait bust of George Washington sold for $19,520 and a 1860 U.S. Army Colt revolver with a Richards conversion that once belonged to legendary lawman and gunfighter Elfego Baca (1865-1945) hit the mark for $13,750 at Holabird Western Americana Collections’ Wild West Auction held July 21-24. Absentee and Internet live bidding was provided by LiveAuctioneers.

Continue reading

Holabird presents treasures of the West, wild and otherwise, July 21-24

 

Circa-1870s carte de visite photograph of Buffalo Bill Cody, est. $20,000-$50,000
Circa-1870s carte de visite photograph of Buffalo Bill Cody, est. $20,000-$50,000

RENO, Nev. – Holabird Western Americana Collections, LLC’s four-day Wild West Auction slated for July 21-24 will be headlined by two massive and important collections: one from Gary Bracken, who collected in a staggering 60-plus categories, to be spread out across multiple sales; the other from James and Barbara Sherman, whose huge collections were housed in a museum. Absentee and Internet live bidding will be available through LiveAuctioneers.

Continue reading

Holabird to auction objects from SS Central America shipwreck this fall

This brass name tag and set of keys for SS Central America Purser Edward W. Hull may have unlocked a room where Gold Rush treasure cargo was secured on the ship. Photo credit: Holabird Western Americana Collections

 

This brass name tag and set of keys for SS Central America Purser Edward W. Hull may have unlocked a room where Gold Rush treasure cargo was secured on the ship. Photo credit: Holabird Western Americana Collections
This brass name tag and set of keys for SS Central America Purser Edward W. Hull may have unlocked a room where Gold Rush treasure cargo was secured on the ship. Photo credit: Holabird Western Americana Collections

RENO, Nev. – After a century and a half on the ocean floor, nearly a thousand historic California Gold Rush-era sunken treasure items from the 1857 sinking of the fabled Ship of Gold, the S.S. Central America, have been brought together again, cataloged and conserved for upcoming public displays. Many of them will be shown for the first time at collectors’ shows across the country, then offered in public auctions planned for October and November by Holabird Western Americana Collections, LLC.

Continue reading