LIVE AUCTION #23

MINERALS-NATIVE AMERICAN

Arizona. La Paz. Red Cloud Mine. Some of the finest mineral specimens ever found in the United States have been produced from the Red Cloud mine, a small silver-lead deposit located in the arid and desolate southwest corner of Arizona. The spectacular bright orange-red wulfenites from this mine are world famous and most collectors would agree that Red Cloud wulfenite crystals represent the finest examples of the species ever found.

The vein deposit exploited by the Red Cloud mine was originally discovered in the early 1880’s, and was worked extensively from the period 1881 through 1889. Silver and lead were the chief elements produced, and production totaled about $250,000 in metals prices of the period. Minor promotional mining schemes after 1889 were tried over the following 114 years to continue production, however, no new significant ore bodies were ever found. Although wulfenite specimens originating from the Red Cloud were known from the first period of mining, 1880 to 1889, it was not until the historic discovery by the “legendary” Ed Over in 1938 that the notoriety of the locality leaped to fame. Working alone underground with only the most basic tools and daily necessities, this man produced some of the most beautiful mineral specimens ever seen. Over the next six decades, mineral collectors visited the remote, harsh locality in search of wulfenite specimens. Then, in January of 1996, an actual open-pit mining operation was undertaken solely for wulfenite specimens. An important crystal-lined fracture was soon encountered. Specimens from this pocket were quickly consumed by the mineral market, but the operation was shortly thereafter discontinued. In 2000 the open pit was enlarged and the search continued additional wulfenite specimens.

During the period of 2000 - 2003, several magnificent crystal-lined fractures and pockets were again encountered. In 2003, the pit design limit of 105 feet was reached and due to economic and physical limits the operation was permanently shut down. With this closing, the mine has been reclaimed and is currently up for sale. The specimens being offered here at auction were recovered during 2002.

451. Arizona. La Paz. Red Cloud Mine. Wulfenite. 10 cm x 8.5 cm x 4 cm. BL #1. A superb matrix specimen featuring numerous, lustrous, translucent, dark reddish-orange wulfenite crystals reaching 1.2 cm. A sparkly coating of calcite microcrystals covers much of the matrix rock. Est. $600-1200

452. Arizona. La Paz. Red Cloud Mine. Wulfenite. 5 cm x 3.5 cm x 2.8 cm. BL #2. A lustrous, bright reddish orange wulfenite crystal measuring 1.6 cm across is perched attractively at the top of a matrix rock covered with microcrystals of vanadinite and wulfenite. Est. $400-750

453. Australia. New South Wales. Cobar. Alura Mine. Australian Silver Crystal. 90mm x 2mm x 3mm. Very long, spinel-law native, having small cubic, flattened octahedral, and dendritic silver crystals growing along the length of the long crystal. Very nice. 1.6 grams, Est. $100-200

454. California. Amador. Jackson. Mother Lode Gold. Classic white Mother Lode quartz with a nice leaf, 30mm x 30mm. Overall size 50mm x 60mm x 40mm. 4.28 ozt. Est. $800-1600

455. California. El Dorado. El Dorado County Gold. 29mm x 16mm x 5mm. The California Gold Rush was precipitated by news of the discovery of gold in 1848 by James Marshall at Coloma, on the south fork of the American River, El Dorado County. Thousands of prospectors descended upon El Dorado County and in the 1850’s it was one of the most populous areas of the state. Placer deposits started the gold rush, but, lode discoveries in quartz veins, contact metamorphic deposits, and replacement deposits within the Mother Lode, East Belt and West Belt prolonged gold exploration in the County. Gold production data for the period of 1848 to 1880 is unavailable, but, from 1880 to 1960 over 1.25 million ounces of gold were produced. This piece consists of a bright cluster of platy gold crystals, which exhibit an unusual pseudohexagonal habit and have beautiful triangle-shaped growth features on their surfaces. Super. Ex-F.J. Barlow Collection. 1.6 grams. Est. $900-1600

456. California. Placer. Michigan Bluff. De Maria Mine Gold. 25mm x 11mm x 1.5mm. A sharp, bright dendritic floater crystal group composed of platy pseudohexagonal and octahedral crystals. Largest of the individual platy crystals is 6mm across. 2.8 grams. Provenance: F. J. Barlow Collection.

Placer County is chiefly known for its placer gold deposits. Gold was discovered in 1848 in Auburn Ravine. In the 1850’s placer deposits in the American River and its tributaries were worked. Lode mining is centered primarily in the Ophir District, where 255,000 ounces of gold was produced from first discovery in 1867 to 1960. Total gold production for the county from 1880 to 1960 was in excess of 2 million ounces. During the decades of the 1980’s and 1990’s collectors of gold specimens have been treated to spectacular, new crystallized gold from the De Maria Mine in the Michigan Bluff District, Placer County. Hundreds of feet of drifts have been driven in an attempt to intersect clay-filled quartz pockets which contain the crystallized gold. Many of the gold specimens have been collected and carefully trimmed so that they retain some of the milky quartz matrix rock. Other gold crystal specimens are discovered suspended within the pocket clay, having no point of attachment to the matrix rock. These floater crystal groups often exhibit some of the finest crystal development. Crystal habits and forms from the De Maria mine include: dendritic, leaf, plate, octahedral and a variety of other euhedral crystal forms. The crystals typically have great luster and color. Est. $450-900

California. San Benito. Benitoite Gem Mine. The Benitoite Gem Mine is famous for its rare and unique gemstone; Benitoite. When California prospectors discovered it in 1907, no one knew what this gemmy blue mineral was. Researchers soon learned that they were working on a new mineral species. The new mineral was named Benitoite, after the county in which it was discovered. When word got out of the new discovery, several people, including Dr. George Kunz from Tiffany’s of New York, rushed to the site to secure an exclusive marketing agreement with the miners. The mine owner, Mr. R.W. Dallas, built a mine camp and immediately expanded mining operations. The mine produced Benitoite from an open cut in the hillside, as well as a short underground tunnel pushed into an outcrop of Benitoite-bearing material called blue schist. For about 5 years, the blue schist layer yielded up hundreds and thousands of excellent gemstones. In 1912, the market for Benitoite slackened and, coming upon difficult financial times, Mr. Dallas closed the mine. The mine was re-opened briefly in 1933, and additional material was discovered. Through the succeeding years, the mine’s dumps became famous within mineral club circles as a place to collect. Occasionally, a nice sample could be found. In 1967, new owners secured the property for a commercial gemstone mining operation. From 1987 to 1999, the property was dramatically expanded, tested and mined. During this period the size of the deposit was more accurately determined and new gem resources exposed. Much excellent gemstone and specimen material was produced. In 1985, Benitoite became California’s State Gemstone. The flurry of activity during the 80’s and 90’s attracted the attention of larger mining concerns. Several large mining companies drilled, sampled and studied the property for its gemstone potential. The first detailed geologic picture of the mine was formulated through this work. Hundreds of feet of diamond drilling and dozens of test pits proved the existence of economical gemstone reserves. In 2000, the property was purchased by a Colorado-based mineral and gemstone mining company. The specimens being offered in this auction were recovered and prepared since 2000.

457. California. San Benito. Benitoite Gem Mine.

Benitoite & Neptunite. 9.5 cm x 9 cm x 3 cm. BL #3. A fine matrix plate covered with natrolite (white) upon which has grown 5 benitoite crystals (blue) to 1.2 cm across and numerous neptunite crystals (reddish black) to 1.5 cm in length.

Est. $500-900

458. California. San Benito. Benitoite Gem Mine.

Benitoite & Neptunite. 5.3 cm x 3.9 cm x 2.2 cm . BL #4. A very choice, small matrix plate covered by natrolite and benitoite crystals reaching 1 cm. The benitoite crystals are nicely oriented on the matrix rock, allowing the interesting “triply terminated” crystal habit (ditrigonal-dipyramidal class) to be viewed. A very fine collector quality specimen.

Est. $275-500

459. California. San Diego. Mesa Grande. Elbaite (Tourmaline). 5.8 cm x 1.6 cm x 1.5 cm. BL #16. A vibrant light pink, translucent, striated, single Elbaite crystal having a very thin, light green color zone near the pinacoid termination. Nice. The Himalaya Mine was discovered in 1898. Since that time, the mine has produced a

considerable amount of gem and specimen quality elbaite (tourmaline). The mine has been the largest producer of gem-quality and specimen-grade tourmaline in North America. Est. $250-500

460. China. Guangxi Province. Pyromorphite. 6.5 cm x 6 cm x 3.5 cm. Located Guilin. Candy-apple green in color, lustrous pryomorphite crystal sprays. , growing on a rare and contrasting matrix of white quartz crystals. Will display well. Est. $150-200

461. Colorado. Boulder. Eldora. Enterprise Mine Gold Specimen with Ben Kimber’s Original Paper Label. The Enterprise was considered one of the best mines at Eldora, a mining camp discovered in 1860, but not worked extensively until the later 1870’s. It may have been found at the time of the location of the Happy Valley claims, of which Ben Kimber took a part in 1891. The specimen weighs about 2-3 ounces, and is loaded with native gold visible with the hand lens but much less is visible megascopically. It is in mineralized quartz with yellow sulfide stained altered volcanic rock. Please see Colorado, Gilpin, Blackhawk for the story on Ben Kimber and the Gunnell mine. Est. $100-200

462. Colorado. Chaffee. Calumet Mine. Epidote. 7.5 cm x 6 cm x 3.8 cm. BL #13. An attractive cluster of highly lustrous, dark green epidote crystals to 1.2 cm. Nice specimen from a closed locality located near Salida in the Turret district. Est. $120-250

Colorado. Eagle. Gilman. The Gilman District was discovered in 1879 by prospectors from Leadville, Colorado. In the early years, gold was one of the main economic metals of the district. From 1890 to 1990 the district produced 400,000 ounces of gold. In 1912, New Jersey Zinc Company began to acquire mines and mining claims in the northern portion of the Gilman District in order to develop the area for zinc mining. The Eagle Mine resulted from this consolidation, it was the largest zinc mine in the district, operated from the mid-1910’s until its final closure in 1984.

463. Colorado. Eagle. Gilman. Dolomite. 7 cm x 5 cm x 3 cm. BL #20. An attractive cluster of slightly step-faced, white, rhombohedral crystals of dolomite to 2 cm across. Minor association with pyrite microcrystals. The Eagle Mine yielded excellent dolomite crystal groups, that are arguably the best for the species from the United States. Est. $60-120

464. Colorado. Eagle. Gilman. Pyrite. 3.6 cm x 3.5 cm x 2.1 cm. BL #18. A lustrous, heavily striated, cubic pyrite crystal to 2.2 cm across on a matrix of smaller pyrite cubes. A classic from the Eagle mine.

Est. $40-80

465. Colorado. Eagle. Gilman. Quartz. 7 cm x 2.5 cm x 2 cm. BL #23. A very interesting quartz crystal aggregate. The doubly terminated milky quartz crystals are in slightly divergent parallel growth, “pinched” in the middle to resemble a “wheat sheaf”. Est. $50-100

466. Colorado. Eagle. Gilman. Rhodochrosite. 5.5 cm x 5.5 cm x 2.7 cm. BL #19. A thin plate of massive sphalerite-galena which has been nearly completely covered by light pink, rounded, slightly curving, rhodochrosite crys-

tals to 3 cm. Pretty example of one of the most highly prized collector’s species from the Eagle Mine. Est. $100-200

467. Colorado. Eagle. Gilman. Ankerite, Pyrite & Sphalerite. 5.5 cm x 4 cm x 3 cm. BL #22. An attractive, miniature-sized specimen featuring tan-colored ankerite crystals to 1.5 cm across associated with numerous 1mm to 2mm sized pyrite and sphalerite crystals. Est. $50-100

468. Colorado. Eagle. Gilman. Barite. 6 cm x 4.5 cm x 0.9 cm. BL #21. A flat plate of lustrous, gemmy, drusy, golden barite crystals to 6mm. The Eagle mine is famous among collectors for its golden-honey-colored barite.

Est. $60-120

469. Colorado. Lake. Leadville. Collection of Items: Pyrite Specimen, Sample Vials of Molybdenite Concentrate, Pyrite Concentrate (50% S), Tin Concentrate, Tungsten Concentrate. BL #24. From the world class Climax Mine. (Pyrite Cube) 3.7 cm x 3.5 cm x 2.6 cm. A cubic pyrite crystal with mirror-like luster and selective solution etching. Classic for the locality. Plus - 4 each, 6 cm high, labeled, glass sample vials containing concentrates from the Climax Mine: Molybdenite Concentrate (MoS2), Tungsten Concentrate (70% WO3), Tin Concentrate (20% Sn), Pyrite Concentrate (50 % S). Interesting artifacts from this closed mine. Est. $150-300

470. Colorado. Mesa. Book Cliffs. Barite. 6 cm x 5 cm x 5 cm. BL #26. A highly lustrous, water-clear, complexly terminated, single barite crystal on a section of the dark-gray fine grained rock typical of the concretions in this area. Super quality barite! Est. $300-600

471. Colorado. Mesa. Book Cliffs. Barite. 6 cm x 6 cm x 3.5 cm. BL #25. An attractive cluster of locally lustrous, transparent, colorless, prismatic barite crystals to 3.5 cm. These crystals occur in openings within concretions found at the Book Cliffs. A Colorado Classic!

Est. $150-300

Colorado. Mineral. Creede. For a brief few years, Creede was one of the most notorious of the Colorado mining settlements. Initially built in the narrow confines of East Willow Creek Canyon, the town eventually spilled out of the gulch into the broad plain west of town. Creede was actually comprised of three camps which eventually connected with each other. The original site in East Willow Creek Canyon expanded north up the canyon and formed a new town called North Creede. Continued development went south, out of the gulch. This settlement was referred to as Jimtown. Eventually the entire encampment stretched for over six miles.

Supposedly a miner named Nicholas Creede was prospecting in what was to become North Creede in 1890 when he hit a rich find and exclaimed “Holy Moses! I’ve struck it rich!” He was right, and the Holy Moses Mine became one of the most profitable holdings in the region. The stampede to the region really got underway after David Moffat bought the Holy Moses.

“Early settlement was impeded by the lack of rail transportation. The earliest supply lines were by wagon from Del Norte over Wolf Creek Pass. The Denver and Rio Grande had reached Wagon Wheel Gap, ten miles below Creede, in 1883. Financial problems due to over expansion halted virtually all construction on the railroad for a number of years. While the railroad recovered in the late 1880’s when David Moffat was it’s President, the Creede branch was not completed during his tenure. Moffat was anxious for cheap rail transport to serve his mine holdings in the area. Moffat finally financed the construction of the track from Wagon Wheel Gap to Creede using his own funds. The line was completed in 1891 and Moffat turned operation of the extension over to the

railroad. Moffat recouped his investment by receiving credits as a shipper. When he had recovered his costs, Moffat deeded the line to the railroad.

Once the railroad reached town, the crush of newcomers was more than the town could handle. Creede was truly a boom town. The Rio Grande had sleepers on sidings which could be rented by the night. The traffic into Creede placed tremendous demands on the railroad’s equipment. Cars were spotted at every available siding from Creede all the way back to Del Norte. This situation continued until the price of silver plummeted in 1893.” (www.narrowgauge.org).

472. Colorado. Mineral. Creede. Sphalerite & Chalcopyrite. 9.5 cm x 9 cm x 3 cm. BL #38. A plate of lustrous, equant, dark brown sphalerite crystals to 1 cm, associated with numerous, well-formed chalcopyrite crystals to 1 cm.

Est. $200-400

473. Colorado. Mineral. Creede. Sphalerite, Chalcopyrite & Galena. 6 cm x 4.5 cm x 2.5 cm. BL #37. From the Commodore Mine. A small plate featuring drusy, highly lustrous, locally transparent, equant deep honey yellow-brown sphalerite crystals to 1.0 cm, galena cubes to 7 mm and several chalcopyrite disphenoids. An old time classic from Colorado. Est. $250-500

Colorado. Park. Alma. The Sweet Home Mine has produced many of the world’s best rhodochrosite specimens. It’s bright red color and gem-like translucency/transparency place this mineral among the most desirable of all mineral species. The mine is located about 90 miles southwest of Denver, Colorado, near the small mountain town of Alma. The mine was originally developed for silver in the 1870’s. Periodically, throughout the mine’s lifetime, nice rhodochrosite specimens were found along with the silver ore. Throughout its 130-year history, the mine opened and closed many times. The last time the mine was worked for silver ore was in the 1960’s. Coincident with this period, mineral collecting was gaining popularity and in 1967, a spectacular rhodochrosite specimen was discovered. Following this famous discovery, collectors would forever know the mine as a producer of world-class rhodochrosite specimens. In 1991, the mine was leased and reopened as a specimen mine. The mine’s 5000 feet of old underground workings had exposed many rhodochrosite targets. These targets were mined for rhodochrosite using classic underground hardrock mining techniques combined with modern exploration and extraction techniques. Every square meter of the mine was examined and mapped for rhodochrosite potential. During the past 12 years of continuous mining, hundreds of incredible rhodochrosite specimens have been discovered.

474. Colorado. Park. Alma. Rhodochrosite, Quartz & Pyrite. 8.5 cm x 9.5 cm x 3.4 cm. BL #30. From the Sweet Home Mine, 01-04 Pocket. A superb display specimen. A matrix rock covered with white, needle-like quartz crystals and small, well formed pyrite crystals forms the background for seven pinkish-red, locally lustrous, rhombohedral rhodochrosite crystals to 2.2 cm. Est. $1500-3000

475. Colorado. Park. Alma. Rhodochrosite, Quartz & Tetrahedrite. 9 cm x 5.2 cm x 2.2 cm. BL #31. From the Sweet Home Mine, Pincushion Pocket. A choice collector specimen. A thin plate of matrix rock, predominately covered with short, needle-like quartz crystals and tetrahedrite crystals upon which has grown numerous, locally lustrous, locally transparent, cherry-red, rhombohedral crystals of rhodochrosite.

Est. $750-1500

476. Colorado. Park. Alma. Rhodochrosite. 5.5 cm x 3.5 cm x 3.3 cm. BL #29. From the Sweet Home

Mine, Clay Pocket. A cluster of sharp, reddish-pink, locally lustrous, locally transparent, rhodochrosite crystals to 2 cm. Specimens from this locality are highly prized by collectors.

Est. $350-750

Colorado. Park. Pikes Peak Pluton. The Pike’s Peak pluton area covers 1,100 square miles in the shadow of Pikes Peak, near Colorado Springs, Colorado. The radiometric age of the Pike’s Peak granite when it intruded into the Idaho Springs formation is over 1 Billion years ago. The pluton area, especially west and north of Colorado Springs is famous (worldwide) for beautiful blue-green crystals of microcline feldspar called “Amazonite”. Crystallized minerals of interest to the collector from the Pike’s Peak Pluton include: Smoky Quartz, Microcline, Albite, Fluorite, Topaz, Goethite, Cassiterite, Muscovite, Biotite, and numerous other less common mineral species.

477. Colorado. Park. Pikes Peak Pluton. Amazonite & Smoky Quartz. 6 cm x 4 cm x 3.5 cm. BL #10. A cluster of medium blue-green amazonite crystals, a variety of microline, to 1 cm across. Several small smoky quartz crystals are seen as associates. Nice. Est. $150-300

478. Colorado. Park. Pikes Peak Pluton. Amazonite. 8 cm x 6 cm x 8 cm. BL #8. An attractive pair of well formed, very light blue-green amazonite crystals, a variety of microcline. Individuals measure 4.5 cm in length.

Est. $400-800

479. Colorado. Park. Pikes Peak Pluton. Fluorite. 4.5 cm x 3 cm x 4.5 cm. BL #12. A group of sharp, interpenetrating, purple fluorite cubes with minor adhering microcline. Nice example of the species from the Pikes Peak area. Est. $120-250

480. Colorado. Park. Pikes Peak Pluton. Microcline & Smoky Quartz. 11.5 cm x 7.5 cm x 5 cm. BL #9. A plate of small, well-formed, moderately etched, light tan-colored microcline crystals to 1 cm from amongst which have grown 6 moderately lustrous, locally transparent smoky quartz crystals to 5 cm. A very aesthetic mineral specimen. Est. $400-800

481. Colorado. Park. Pikes Peak Pluton. Smoky Quartz. 42 cm x 7 cm x 7.5 cm. BL #7. An enormous, wonderfully well crystallized, single, dark brown, smoky quartz crystal found in August of 1989. Provenance: Ex-George W. Fisher Collection.

Est. $800-1500

482. Colorado. Park. Pikes Peak Pluton. Smoky Quartz. 9.5 cm x 4 cm x 3 cm. BL #11. A very sharp, lustrous, dark brown, single smoky quartz crystal. Typical crystal form for the area. Est. $75-150

Colorado. San Juan. Silverton. A gold-silver-lead-copper-zinc mine. Started in the late 1880’s and closed 1930. Reopened 1937 and closed 1938. Worked 1959 thru 1985 (1960’s - worked the Washington vein). Worked 1985 until recently by Sunnyside Gold Corp., subsidiary of Echo Bay Mines, Ltd. Workings include the Terry shaft and the famous American Tunnel, often attributed to being its own mine. Produced over $150,000,000 in all metals mined. Past owners include: R.J. McNutt; M.M. Engleman, Eureka, CO & L.C. Thompson, Canon City, CO; L.C. Thompson & Frank Thompson; Judge John H. Terry (1900-1910); 2 sons & daughter of Judge Terry (1910-1917); United States Smelting & Refining Co. (1917- ); Standard Uranium (which formed Standard Metals Corp.)(lessee)(1959-1985). (source: mindat.org.).

483. Colorado. San Juan. Silverton. Rhodochrosite & Quartz. 6 cm x 4.5 cm x 5 cm. BL #28. A sugary textured, vuggy, white quartz matrix upon which has grown small rosettes of discoidal, medium pink, rhodochrosite crystals. Attractive specimen. Est. $150-300

484. Colorado. San Juan. Silverton. Rhodochrosite & Quartz. 7.5 cm x 4 cm x 3.8 cm. BL #27. A matrix of white, drusy quartz is locally covered by small rosettes of discoidal, medium pink, rhodochrosite crystals. A desirable and classic specimen from this historic locality. Est. $200-400

485. Colorado. San Miguel. Ouray. Quartz. 19 cm x 5.5 cm x 8.5 cm. BL #34. Idarado Mine, a lead-copper-zinc mine located about 10 km South of Ouray. Features the “Treasury Tunnel.” Ore is Tertiary telluride conglomerate (Argentine vein). Ultimate closure was 1978 (source mindat.org). A plate of quartzite matrix upon which have grown hundreds of lustrous, locally transparent, colorless to milky-white, prismatic quartz crystals to 4 cm. Very attractive display specimen from this closed locality. Est. $250-500

Colorado. Weld. Stoneham. The Stoneham barite occurrence is located far out upon the Great Plains of eastern Colorado, about 150 km (95 miles) northeast of Denver. All rocks present in the vicinity of the barite occurrence are very flat-lying, interbedded sedimentary formations. Barite mineralization is confined to the Chadron Formation, a massive, fine-grained tuffaceous siltstone which is easily recognized by its very pale tan to tan-white color in surface outcrop. The barite crystals themselves occur only within the Chadron, in open spaces developed along gently dipping reverse faults of minor displacement. The narrow barite-bearing fault seams can be quite long (tens of meters) and the open spaces occasionally contain attractive, undamaged, free-standing blue barite crystals and clusters of crystals.

486. Colorado. Weld. Stoneham. Barite. 6 cm x 3 cm x 1.2 cm. BL #6. A flattened cluster of satiny luster, gray-blue, prismatic barite crystals in parallel growth. Nice specimen in good condition. Est. $75-150

487. Colorado. Weld. Stoneham. Barite. 9 cm x 2.5 cm x 1.2 cm. BL #5. A flattened cluster of satiny luster, grey-blue, prismatic barite crystals in parallel growth. Nice specimen in good condition. Est. $75-150

488. Montana. Summit. Butte. Pyrite & Quartz. 7 cm x 4.5 cm x 4 cm. BL #15. Sharp, octahedral pyrite crystals to 1.3 cm on a matrix of small, milky to clear, prismatic quartz crystals. Pretty specimen. Located in the southwestern quadrant of Montana, the Butte Mining District was one of the greatest copper-mining districts in the world. Mining began in the Butte District in 1864. In its early years, Butte was a minor gold producer, in the 1870-80’s Butte became an important producer of silver, and in 1882 copper mining began in the district. 489 mines eventually operated in the Butte District. During World War II, Butte’s underground mines produced over 110,000 metric tons of copper per year. Later several large open pit copper mines were developed in the district. In the 1970’s annual copper production exceeded 150,000 mt. Mining ceased in the district in June 2000. Est. $150-300

Nevada. Elko. Meikle Mine. Huge vugs containing some of the finest barite crystals in the world were discovered in the mid-1990’s at the Meikle Mine, an underground, high-grade gold mine in northeastern Nevada. The mine is situated on the famous Carlin Trend gold belt. Crystal lined “vugs” at this locality can be truly amazing in size and beauty. One such natural, unsupported opening has maximum dimensions of 160 ft horizontally x 90 feet in width x 160 ft in height.

489. Nevada. Elko. Meikle Mine. Barite & Calcite. 5.5 cm x 3.5 cm x 3.0 cm. BL #33. A sharp, lustrous, translucent, golden-yellow, single barite crystal associated with a small group of tan-colored calcite crystals. Fine collector specimen! Est. $250-500

490. Nevada. Elko. Meikle Mine. Barite. 7 cm x 7.5 cm x 2.5 cm. BL #32. A super quality collector specimen. A cluster of highly lustrous, locally transparent, flattened, rhombic, yellow barite crystals. Some of the crystals having gray color-zoning or phantoming due to inclusions of finely-divided clay.

Est. $400-800

Nevada. Humboldt. Twin Creeks. In early 1999 an extraordinary occurrence of beautifully crystallized orpiment was discovered during ongoing mining operations at Newmont Mining Corporation’s Twin Creeks gold mine in Winnemucca, Nevada. The orpiment was exceptionally well-crystallized and ranged in color from reddish-orange to orange to honey-yellow to orange-brown. The vivid colors, high luster, and pristine condition of the specimens recovered place them among the best of species on a worldwide basis.

491. Nevada. Humboldt. Twin Creeks. Orpiment. 6 cm x 4.5 cm x 2.5 cm. BL #36. A cluster of lustrous, translucent, lightly striated, butterscotch-colored, stubby-monoclinic orpiment crystals to 1.0 cm. Choice specimen!

Est. $250-500

492. Nevada. Humboldt. Twin Creeks. Orpiment. 7 cm x 5 cm x 3.5 cm. BL #35. A superb collector’s specimen. A cluster of lustrous, translucent, lightly striated, yellow-orange, monoclinic orpiment crystals to 1.5 cm. Est. $300-600

493. Nevada. Nye. Round Mountain. Round Mountain Gold. 40 mm x 30mm x 18mm. Nice leafs with pseudo-octahedrons at places. Some quartz crystals. 1.04 ozt. 32.9g. Est. $650-1200

494. Nevada. Nye. Round Mountain. Round Mountain Gold. 40mm x 42mm x 35mm. Nice leafs with pseudo-octahedrons. Adularia matrix. 2.22ozt, 69.2g.

Est. $900-1800

495. Nevada. Nye. Round Mountain. Round Mountain Gold. 45mm x 20mm. Four different leaf gold specimens. Three of the leafs are elongate, ranging from 45-50mm long x 20mm. One is more square, about 25mm x 25mm. Minor adularia or tuffaceous matrix. 0.68 ozt, 21.3g.

Est. $400-700

496. Nevada. Nye. Round Mountain. Round Mountain Gold. 87mm x 47mm. A complete high grade pocket with euhedral quartz and some attached tuffaceous matrix. Fabulous Round Mountain example. 1.84 ozt, 57.8g. Est. $850-1500

497. Nevada. Nye. Round Mountain. Round Mountain Gold. Less than 25mm long. Three different pcs. Attractive small leaf specimens with pseudo-octahedrons. Some tuffaceous(?) matrix. 0.19 ozt, 6.2g.

Est. $130-250

498. Nevada. Nye. Round Mountain. Round Mountain Gold. Two nice leaf gold. About 30mm x 40mm. 0.16 oz.

Est. $200-400

499. New Mexico. Socorro. Blanchard Mine. Fluorite & Barite. 9 cm x 5 cm x 7.5 cm. BL #14. Blanchard mine located near Bingham in the Hansonburg district. A cluster of dark blue, cubic, fluorite crystals to 2 cm which are locally cut-through by colorless to off-white bladed barite crystals. Attractive and interesting specimen from the Blanchard Mine. Est. $250-500

500. Russia. Siberia. Altay Mountains. Atlay Region Gold. 24mm x 9mm x 10mm. Mining of the placer deposits in the Altay region began in 1830. The Egor’evsky placer mine was the first mine to begin recovery of gold from the very rich Kundustryul placer located between the Tom’ and Yenisei rivers. Gold nuggets heavier than 2 kilograms were found at the Egorevsky placer mine. More than 450 placers were discovered in the Altay area by 1832! This stream-worn gold nugget exhibits skeletal octahedral gold crystals to 6 mm across. 9.9 grams, Ex-F.J. Barlow Collection. Est. $500-900

501. Russia. Siberia. Siberian Gold Nugget. 15mm x 9mm x 7mm. A stream-rounded cluster of small gold crystals. Ex-F.J. Barlow Collection. 3.8 grams. Est. $75-150

502. Russia. Siberia. Siberian Gold Nugget. 24mm x 22mm x 10mm. A very sculptural, streamworn gold nugget. Several small, stream-rounded quartz pebbles are encased by the native gold. Pretty. Ex-F.J. Barlow Collection. 22.3 grams.

Est. $425-750

503. Russia. Yekaterinburg Oblast (Central Ural Mountains). Yekaterinburg. Yekaterinburg Gold Quartz. 73mm x 60mm x 25mm. A superb lode gold specimen, featuring several clusters of sketetal gold crystals on quartzite matrix. Base of specimen is sawed. 170.5 grams. Ex-F.J. Barlow Collection.

The Berezovsk deposit has medium-sulfur ores which formed at moderate depths. In deposits having medium-sulfur ores, the sulfide content can reach 40%, with associates including: pyrite, arsenopyrite, sulfides of copper, zinc, lead, and minerals containing silver, antimony, bismuth and tellurium. Gold associates with practically all of the ore and gangue minerals present in the system; forming impregnations, intergrowths, veinlets, and segregation along mineral grain contacts. Gold generally forms in the last stage of ore deposition. (Ref: Gold:Nuggets of Russia by Lyudmila S. Sher, Ocean Pictures Ltd., Moscow, 1999) Est. $700-1400

504. Utah. San Juan. La Sal. Azurite. 3.2 cm x 2.5 cm x 3.0 cm. BL #17. A bright, azure-blue, rounded crystal aggregate composed of small hemispherical clusters of Azurite crystals. Very pretty specimen. From the Blue Grotto prospect.

Est. $120-250

505. Mining. Advertisement. Buff & Buff Instrument Shop Ad Poster, c.1900-1910. A fabulous color advertising poster, 16 x 24”, of a theodolite mounted on the upper portion of a tripod. An extremely detailed image of this precision instrument used by surveyors (I used a theodolite as part of my geology field camp in 1995 - vp). Buff & Buff Co formed in 1898 after the Buff & Berger Co relationship was dissolved. The company built a factory in Jamaica Plain of Boston and continued to build quality surveying equipment until 1982. We are not sure of the rarity of this piece, but we truly appreciate the item. Minor scuff marks on poster, no tears. Fine. Est. $100-200

506. Mining. Art. Harper’s Weekly Sketch: From Mine to Mill, c.1870-80. Page 732-733 from Harper’s Weekly. Captioned “From Mine to Mill - Drawn from a sketch by Henry R. Poore.” 15 x 22”. Framed under Plexiglas with black matte and frame. The scene shows a tall wagon full of ore being pulled by four horses. As the delivery rushes down a narrow dirt road, a local hunter with his dog, stay clear to allow for the wagon to pass. The dirt road winds through a tree covered canyon. Slight water stain at lower right corner and even more minor at upper right. The sketch is signed by I Parnish Nikoh (?). A great piece. Est. $150-300

507. Mining. Book. Dana’s Manual of Geology, 1880, 3rd Edition. 911 pp plus illustrations. Iveson, Blakeman & Taylor, New York. McClellan Wininger book plate. Stain to rear board and corners of some pages. Front cover minor stain. Brown boards. Early text of geology by one of the masters of Geology at the time teaching at Yale.

Est. $100-200

508. Mining. Certificate. Aetna Explosives Co. Bond #0000. Specimen. Unissued, unsigned. Vignette of two men flanking company logo. Green border and underprint. Cancelled by hole punches in signature lines. Printer - ABN. Stub attached. 9 x 13”. Very fine. Est. $200-400

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509. Mining. Certificate. Atlas Powder Co. Bond #00000. Specimen. $1000 Bond. Incorporated in Delaware. Unissued, unsigned. Specimen in red along signature lines. Vignette of Atlas with world on his back. Dark green border and underprint. Cancelled by hole punches. Printer - ABN. 10 x 15”. Would have been issued 1921. Original 30 coupons attached. Minor foxing along edges. Very fine. Est. $200-400

510. Mining. Certificate. Bertha & Edith Gold Mining Co. Cert #2579. Incorporated in New York. Issued to A. E. Potts for 100 shares in 1878. Signed by Jno E. Newford vice president and J. W. Smith secretary. Attractive vignette of several miners working a placer with sluice boxes. Black border. Uncancelled. Printer - Maverick & Wissinger, NY. 7 x 10”. Datelined New York. Pin holes near left edge. We have not yet nailed down where this company had its operations. There are several Bertha mines in the west as found in Burchard, 1884. There is only on Edith mine listed as being in Lake County, Colorado, but not a Bertha mine. There is a chance this is an eastern mine, but those references are not readily available. Very fine. Est. $100-200

511. Mining. Certificate. British North American Trading & Exploration Co. Cert. #A1740. Incorporated in West Virginia, 1897. Issued to Charles Frederick Ironmonger in 1898 for 1000 shares. Signed by B. M. Whitock, president, and C.H. Vines, asst. secretary. Vignette of miners working at an outcropping with mule standing next to a miner. Brown border and print. Uncancelled. No printer noted. 8 x 12. Datelined New York. VF.

We could find no reference to this company. It may have been the successor to the North American Exploration Co., Ltd. which was incorporated in 1895 and had holdings in Colorado and Arizona. It failed shortly thereafter. [Ref: British Investments and the American Mining Frontier, 1860-1901, Clark C. Spence, pgs. 48, 137-138. Not in Dunbar, Colorado State Mining Directory, 1898] Est. $75-150

512. Mining. Certificate. Deep River Copper Co. Cert #552. Incorporated in Maryland. Issued to R. A Fisher for 100 shares in 1864. Signed by G. W. Mowkay president and W. S. Hough secretary. Vignette of Maryland State Seal. Vignette along left edge of a cross sectional view of a mine shaft. Purple border and print. Uncancelled. Printer - A. Hoen & Co, Baltimore. 8 x 10.5”. Datelined City of Baltimore. Deep River is one of the main branches of the Cape Fear river in north Carolina, a geographic

term not used today. Found in the Brooks & Co. Gazetteer, 1832.. The stock is very similar to the Davidson certificate, also from North Carolina. However, we cannot firmly place this mine in either North Carolina or Maryland. In the latter state and the state of the incorporation of this company, there were copper prospects worked at Liberty and New London in Frederick County. The lengthy descriptions found in Whitney’s Metallic Wealth of the United States, 1854, do not mention the Deep River name in either state. Very fine. Est. $300-600

513. Mining. Certificate. Gold Syndicate Ltd. Cert. #61. Incorporated in England. Issued to E. T. Rose in 1890 for 5 shares. Signed by Walter Martinson and Dawes Irvine as directors, and D. W. Barrett, secretary. No vignette but pretty scroll work on left edge. White paper, black print. Uncancelled. No printer noted. 8 x 9 1/2.” Not listed within our references. Folds, VF. Est. $100-200

514. No Lot.

515. Mining. Lamp. National Carbide Fuel Canisters. Lot of 2 pcs. Two full metal canisters of fuel for carbide lamps-half inch . Mfg. by National Carbide Company, A Division of Air Reduction Co., New York. Canisters are burgundy colored on bottom half, crème on top, with opposite colors of print. 6 1/4 tall x 10 1/2” round. Est. $50-100

516. Mining. Map. Square Set Blue Line Print, 1904. by R. Wisnom possibly for use at Goldfield, Nevada. Scale 5/8” = 1’. Choice early blue line plan for the construction of square sets and an ore chute with specific measurements for the entire gallery (gallery = square set timbers filling a stope with an ore chute in the middle). 18 x 26”. Very fine. Est. $100-200

517. Mining. Ribbons. UMW of A Local Union #2601 Ribbon. United Mine Workers of America, Conifer, Penn’a. Red, white and blue ribbon with silver gilt lettering. Reverse is black also with silver lettering. Hanger is rectangular with celluloid with image of hands shaking. Hanger has two separate hanging items. One is celluloid with Member printed. Below is the emblem for the U M W o f A, dated 1898, 8 hours. Overall size, 2.25 x 8”. Metal tassels. The red, white and blue side of the ribbon shows more wear than the near mint reverse. Fine to very fine. Miner’s union ribbons are very rare.

Est. $150-300

518. Mining. Ribbons. UMW of A Local Union #687 Ribbon. United Mine Workers of America, Freeburg, Ills. The ribbon is double sided, probably for different events. One side has a royal blue color with gold gilt lettering. The reverse has a black color with silver gilt lettering. The ribbon is reversible. Hanger is of polished metal with design work. At middle of hanger are two hands shaking. Metal tassels. At middle of each side of ribbon at middle are crossed pick and shovel. Overall size 2 x 7.5”. The blue side of the ribbon is in fair condition, the black side is near mint. Est. $150-300

519. Mining. Ribbons. UMW of A Local Union #859 Ribbon. United Mine Workers of America, Belleville, Ill. Overall size 2.5 x 8”. Metal tassels. Blue with silver lettering, reverse is black with silver lettering. Blue color side has celluloid at middle of badge with two shovels at top, two hands shaking at middle and two picks at bottom. Appears to be missing hanger. Blue side is worn with some pieces of the fabric missing. The reverse black side is extremely fine. Est. $100-200

520. Mining. Signs. Belleterre Quebec Mines Ltd Bell Signal Sign, c.1950. White porcelain coating heavy gauge steel, black lettering, 14 x 29”. Holed at corners for posting. The sign is in both English and French. This sign shows bell signals for levels to a depth of 1550. This would suggest that this sign dates to around 1950. The company was formed in 1927 with the deepest shaft at 275 feet, (Mines Register, 1937). By 1963, the mine had been deepened to over 2500 feet (Mines Register, 1963). The mine was located at Mud Lake, Guillet Township, Quebec. In 1963, the mine was processing 350 tons a day of gold ore, no other values or information offered. Some rust at edges. Fine to very fine. Est. $300-500

521. Mining. Signs. California Mine Bell Signals Metal Sign, c.1930-50. White painted sheet metal with blue lettering. 11 x 36”. Sign has: California Mine Bell / Signals / Basic Bell Signals.” A short list of what the bell signals were with several unfilled in spaces in the middle of the sign for any additional signals chosen for a particular mine. At the bottom is the Mine Safety Rules from Order 1758. Currently nailed to a wood plank backing. Several scratches and dings. Rare. Est. $350-550

522. Mining. Signs. Danger Explosives Metal Sign, c.1940. Red background with white lettering. Danger / Explosives / No Smoking / Within 25 Ft. Holed at corners for posting. 14 x 20”. Sign is in exceptional condition. Only minor wear and rust at some edges. Very fine. Est. $150-300

523. Mining. Signs. Danger Explosives Metal Sign, c.1970-90. Danger in white letters within red oval within black rectangle. Explosives in black letters with white background. 14 x 20”. Some scratches on face of sign. Holed at corners for posting. Fine.

Est. $50-100

524. Mining. Signs. Hoisting Signals Enamel Coated Metal Sign, c.1940. White enamel metal sign, 19 x 44”. Black lettering. At left are listed the Stations and at right are the Bell Signals. 27 seven different bell signals were posted for this mine. Based on the levels shown, the mine was rather deep, about 1900 feet. Quite a number of sequences to learn for the miner. But like learning any safety protocol at mines, know or die. Some rust at edges. Several dings that have similar appears to long range bullets that did not penetrate. Holed at each corner for posting. Fine. Est. $300-600

525. Mining. Signs. Signal Bell Metal Sign, c.1930-40. White background with black lettering, 12 x 15”. Holed at corners for posting. This sign shows that the mine went to the 1100 foot lever.. Some rust and wear to edges and within the sign. Fine.

Est. $150-300

MINNESOTA

526. Minnesota. Hennepin. Minneapolis. Carpenters’ Union, Lodge No. 7 Ribbon. Hanger is ivory colored celluloid with gold colored rim, copper on reverse. Has picture of two men’s hands in a handshake. Three ribbons. Top is red/white/blue stripe (1 3/4” long) with circular celluloid pendant attached at bottom. Ivory with brass rim. “Carpenters’ Union // (picture of shield, within which is a compass with motto “Labor // Omnia // Vincit”). Under first ribbon is a plain white ribbon, fringed at bottom (3 1/2” long), and below that is red/white/blue striped main ribbon with: “Local Union // No. 7 // U. B. of C. & J. of A. // Minneapolis, // Minn.” in gilt. 1 1/2” gold metal fringe at bottom. Ribbon reverses to the black funeral version. Overall length 9.” Est. $50-100

527. Minnesota. Hennepin. Minneapolis. I. O. O. F. Grant Lodge No. 113 Ribbon. Hanger is ivory colored celluloid with gold colored rim, copper on reverse. Has “F L T” at top, each letter within link of a three-link chain. Beneath is a picture of a human eye, flanked by I.O. / (picture) / O.F. Attached to pin are two ribbons, bottom one is red with gilt letters: “Grant // Lodge No. 113 // I.O.O. F. // Minneapolis, Minn. Gold metal fringe at bottom. Top ribbon is white ( 2 1/2” long) with two crossed American flags glued on and a circular ivory celluloid pendant attached at the bottom: “Independent Order of Odd Fellows // F L T within 3-link chain // (picture of an eye). The entire piece reverse to a black ribbon “In Memoriam.” 8 1/2” long overall. Est. $50-100

MINT RELATED

America’s Earliest Mint Related Document

528. Mint. U. S. Mint Related Document from the American Colonies to the King of England, June, 1688. Includes the first proposal for the construction of a Mint on American soil. Series of three documents from the Edmund Andros Estate regarding a Proposal to His Majesty offered by the petitioners and their associates unto the committee appointed by His Majesty. These four documents trace one of the first, if not the first, proposal to the King for mineral rights in the American Colonies. The four documents are dated June to August, 1688. Edmund Andros was Governor of New York 1674-1681 and Governor of the American Colonies 1686-1689.

Much has been written of Andros, whose tyrannical approach to government led to an uprising by the Colonists resulting in his arrest in April, 1689 in Boston and sent to England for trial. After acquittal, he returned to the States, became Governor of Virginia, founded William and Mary College, and later became Governor of New Jersey. Andros’ papers survived, handed down through the family and sold by Krause Books of New York through a magnificent catalog in 1978. These three documents were among them. These rare documents offer a previously unknown glimpse into the complex Colonial legal world involving an issue foreign to most students of American history - mining rights. They are perhaps the oldest extant American documents discussing mineral rights, mining and the minting of coin in America today. Indeed, in a cursory search of American records, we could find no comparative documents, only those in England.

The documents are: a) the formal proposal of Andros, 8 legal pp. prepared by Humphrey Okeaver and Levet b) 2pp response from Henry Guy dated June 28, 1688, still attached to the first document c) Legal opinion by T. Porvis, Attorney General, dated Aug 4, 1688 d) Undated legal opinion of unknown lawyer regarding the proposal as it relates to mining rights in Virginia. The four documents have pencil numerals in the upper right corners, 30, 32, 33 all placed by Krause when the original ledger was split. Presumably 31 was the second document not split away from

the first, no. 30.

The original proposal contains remarkable substantive data for the formation of communities surrounding a mine as well as the infrastructure of a mining community such as water rights, who can and can’t work there, conflicts of title, and so forth. Examples of these attributes are as follows:

“That his majesty shall be pleased to grant to the said company all mines of gold and silver with the royalties thereof, and also all the mines of copper, lead and tinn, which do now, or ant time thereafter shall in any wise belong to his majesty and his successors in any mannors, colonies, lands, tennaments, and hereditaments, within the territories and Dominions of New England or in any of his or their Plantations of America which is or shall at any time hereafter be annexed to or made part of his or their territories of New England, or the government threreof, not being already granted away to society, town, or to private or particular persons. And also such mines of gold, silver, copper, lead and tinn with the territories aforesaid as shall at any time hereafter become his majesty’s by forfeiture, nonuse, abuse,, or any other means, with liberty power, and authority to dig and search for, open and work for any mines of gold, silver, copper, lead and tinn in the places aforesaid.”

There was a clear absence of money in the original proposal, a probable fatal flaw. Throughout humanity. mankind has had a “what’s in it for me?” attitude, and this was not lost on the three opinions following the original proposal. To this extent, the proposal of rent in consideration of the mineral rights seemed foolish to at least one of the commentors. They proposed six pence rent for every hundred acres. While this seems preposterously low, it must be considered in the element of the times. There was no population there at all, and any movement by the Colonies inland for mining purposes rendered an ability of the Colonists to rent more land than just that near the sea coasts where small communities were developing. In the minds of the petitioners, this represented found money. The issue of royalty, a longstanding policy not only of England, but of Spain and the rest of Europe at the time, was proposed at “four pound percent” (This may be a fourth – more research is needed on the terminology). Spain had a standard royalty of a quinto, or one-fifth (20%) of the bullion produced. However, the royalties and rents were to go to the King, and had no mention of the Governors of the Colonial Territories receiving a royalty or compensation, thus nothing was in it for them, a potential fatal flaw. Indeed, this last attribute probably caused these documents to sit without approval, waiting for political stability and perhaps the chance to view other proposals as the new political climate sifted itself out. Certainly some of the comments by the three documents following the original proposal tried to straighten out the issues of geographic control.

The document shows a clear, concise development of important title issues. In example,

“…if Majesty grants the land to other persons in conflict, that the miners shall have the right to enter upon and work said mines, always allowing the proprietors of said land so much in consideration of the damage he may thereby sustain as shall be adjudged reasonable by twelve men to be chosen out of the neighborhood, six by the company and six by the proprietors.”

Establish A Mint For Coin

The need for milling, smelting, and refining facilities was made apparent in the petitioners proposal to build a mint, thereby guaranteeing immediate marketability of metals produced:“to help the company defray costs, his Majesty would be gratiously pleased to erect a mint in new England for the coyning of small mony for change of…blankets or fine copper also of mony of gold and silver when by their means and industry it shall be provided out of any such mine or mines…” [note- the spelling here is as it appears on the original document. Note the early spelling of these important words]

Summary. Written record of the development of mining rights in America is scant. T. A. Rickard wrote perhaps the quintessential work on the subject, A History of American Mining, published by the American Institute of Mining Engineers in 1932 as part of a massive world history of mining that included Man and Metals, A History of Mining In Relation to the Development of Civilization published the same year by Whittlesey House in New York and London. Rickard noted copper mining in the colonies dating to 1632 in Massachusetts. Further, other historians have written of gold found in Virginia by early Colonists as evidenced from their diaries. Most of these records mention gold, but in my opinion, their ability to recognize gold is in question. Certainly if gold had been found, Colonists would have moved quickly to extract it since it represented a form of money or possible wealth, the one thing universally sought by the Colonists, since it would allow trading with any political entity. Since this did not happen, I doubt gold was truly recognized. Iron, on the other hand, was definitely recognized and mined in the early 1600’s, particularly at Jamestown, Virginia. While we know of these early iron works, we do not know of specific exploration efforts to find other metals, nor of the development of the customs of mining practice and succeeding laws until well after 1700. In this respect, these documents offer a previously unseen window into the earliest development of American mining rights philosophies and concerns, and are remarkably similar to those we possess today. Est. $15,000-30,000

MONTANA

529. Montana. Cascade. Geologic Atlas of the United States, Fort Benton Folio, Montana, 1899. Published by the USGS. Cascade County, #55. 7 pgs. Text, 4 maps. Paper binding, covers are chipped around edges. Est. $75-100 (no illustration)

530. Montana. Granite. Granite. Views of Granite, Philipsburg & Vicinity. Published by Chas. Weitfle, Granite, Mont. Red boards, detached along spine. Circa 1880. 5 x 6”. The booklet was published by a photographer, but the images are not photos. Rather they are had drawn images, probably of original photos. All scenes are from Granite or nearby locations. The images are attached in two different sheets (they may have been attached at one time). The first set folds out revealing 5 different pages of images with the first attached on the inside of the front cover. The second set has 7 pages. Images are only on one side of the sheets. Examples of images: Overview of Granite. Views of the Bi-Metallic Mines. Logging views. Views of individual buildings located in Granite and Philipsburg. Granite Mountain mine hit the pay streak in 1880 setting off a boom to the region. The district went on to produce over $30 million. At its peak, the Granite Mountain mine was paying $100,000 in dividends per month. Total production was $22 million. The next biggest mine, the Bi-Metallic, produced around $12 million. Images are in fine condition, but the book is detached along spine. Extremely rare. Est. $150-300

531. Montana. Hershfield. Virginia City. Memorandum of Gold Bullion, Receipt of Shipment to the U.S. Assay Office at New York, 1875. “Mont Bars” noted on deposit for amount of $4582.23. Sent and signed by Donnell Lawson and received by J. M. Floyd, chief clerk. No. 2230A. On reverse are the initials G.H.H. & Bro.

The Mont before bars indicates to us that the gold was from Montana, mostly likely Virginia City for that time period. Small holes at left edge. 5 x 11.” Very Rare. VF. Est. $150-300

532. Montana. Hershfield. Virginia City. Virginia City, Montano (sic) Return Registered Letter Receipt, 1873. At lower left is the cancellation stamp from the post office at Virginia City. This would be a normal postal piece except that within the cancellation stamp, Montana is spelled incorrectly as “Montano”. 4.75 x 4.75”. Very fine. Est. $30-60

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533. Montana. Lewis & Clark. Helena. Copper Bell Mining Co. Cert #412. Incorporated in Montana. Issued to T. H. Rleiuschmidt for 5000 shares in 1890. Signed by Samuel Wood president and H. Towne secretary. Vignette of four miners underground. Brown border and safety print with copper seal. Uncancelled. Printer - (not legible). 6 x 9”. Datelined Helena, Montana. This company was probably operating in Montana. No listed within our references. Extremely fine. Est. $100-200

534. Montana. Lewis & Clark. Marysville. L. E. Julian General Merchandise 1914 Calendar. Complete calendar for 1914 with monthly pages stapled on front that would be torn off as used. Above date pages is a photograph of Marysville, Montana showing the main street, buildings, flag pole, and several men and a horse cart in the dirt street. Overall measures 12 x 12. White background, red lined border and Sundays in red print. Other print is black. A few small tears at edges but in good condition. The story of the Drumlummon Mine is the story of the town. In 1876, a Thomas Cruse discovered the vein and named it after his native town in Ireland. He named the town after the first woman to arrive in Marysville, a Mary Ralston. During the 1880s and 90s, Marysville was Montana’s leading gold producer and had a population of 3,000 people. Total production from Drumlummon is estimated to have been $50,000,000. The town had something very unique for a mining camp-a baseball field with bleachers that still stands albeit its age and weathered appearance. (verbatim: www.ghosttowns.com/states/mt/marysville.html). Est. $75-100

535. Montana. Silver Bow. Butte. Anaconda Copper Mining Co. Cert #0000. Specimen. Incorporated in Montana. Unissued, unsigned. Vignette of the Anaconda Mining Operation. Orange border and underprint. Specimen in red along signature lines. Cancelled by hole punches. Printer - ABN. 8 x 11.5”. Unique stock certificate that has 40 bond style coupons attached. Datelined 190x. Small tears at top edge, does not detract. Fine to very fine. Est. $150-300

536. Montana. Silver Bow. Butte. Butte & Vicinity Claim Map, 1905. Compiled and published by Harper & McDonald. Printed by Forman Bassett Hatch Co, Cleveland. 29 x 38”. Every claim is colored. At lower left is a “List of claims too small to name on map.” The town of Butte is at the center of the map.

Map glued to backing with green matte board surrounding, no frame. Some wear to fold crease intersections. Black pen outline around a series of claims at right middle, perhaps made by a prospective investor or miner. Fine.

Est. $250-500

537. Montana. Silver Bow. Butte. Geologic Atlas of the United States, Butte Special Folio, Montana. Published in 1897 by the Department of Interior, U.S.G.S., Folio #38. Covers topography, water supplies, economic geology of the Butte mining district. 3 topo maps, 10 pgs. Text. Black print on heavy white paper, black binding. Cover is torn along two edges, with pieces missing. Maps in excellent condition, text pages are good. 18 1/2 x 22.” Fine. Est. $50-150 (no illustrated)

NATIVE AMERICAN

Arrowheads and Projectiles.

This fine collection of arrowheads, projectiles, scrapers, drills, crescents and other tools made by Native Americans was collected in the western Great Basin and eastern California in the 1950’s and 1960’s. It was well taken care of, placed in a series of custom oak frames, protected by insulated boxes. We were told the collecting range was basically Folsom to Humboldt in diameter. Unfortunately, there is no collecting data preserved, though it is apparent that many of the frames contain material from single sites.

Pieces of this nature are generally well described in Robert Overstreet’s Indian Arrowheads, 7th edition, 2001. Overstreet notes typical points from specific geographic regions across America. The Great Basin section contains descriptions matching many of these pieces that apparently range in date from historic to Paleo points, 200 to 11,000 years old. There are pieces of nearly every pattern and style described in Overstreet, including a few that are not, especially the curved arched blade.

Describing the points and artifacts is difficult. We do not profess to be experts in this field, and strongly suggest that all collectors view the pieces and consult known experts, including Overstreet and the many experts mentioned or advertising in his book. This is a fascinating and classic Great Basin collection, worthy of attention.

We have not assigned values correlative with Overstreet, but have placed much more conservative estimates, preferring to allow collectors to set the market value as based on superior knowledge.

538. Native American. Lot A. Two oak framed collections of points, drills, projectiles and beads. Frame No. 14 is 12 x 15”, containing about 60 pieces. The four large points at the corners are white chert 2.5 to 4.5” long. These appear semi-primitive in contrast to the smaller, finely detailed points. At the center is a clear quartz point, surrounded by translucent chalcedony points and chert points. There are also several holed shells from a necklace (?). Most of these points are all about 1” long. There is also one piece of carved bone with an ornate pattern. Frame No. 4 is 15 x 22”, containing 53 points. At center is a large, 2.5 x 4” red and brown chert projectile(?) The points in the four corners appear archaic, as are many of the elongated points. The general composition of most of the points is chert in brown, gray and dull white shades. Several points are obsidian. The clear quartz point is the highlight of the collection, according to the collector who found these. Est. $1000-2000

539. Native American. Lot B. Two oak framed collections of crude chert drills, points, scrapers. Frame #19 is 12 x 15”, containing 132 points arranged in a concentric pattern. These are composed of translucent to white and red to brown chert. There are a few surfaced weathered black obsidian points. The average size is 1”. Some of these are odd shapes that are consistent, and certainly made with specific purpose for which we unfortunately have no knowledge. Frame #5, 17 x 21”. Contains about 100 points with the same apparent origin as the previous frame. These are also crude points, scrapers, etc. but of a larger size, generally 1.5” long. The obsidian points here are once again strongly surface weathered. There are several very strange shapes, some resembling drills, a crescent or two and a variety of scrapers. Est. $800-1200

540. Native American. Lot C. Frame A. Contains 37 points and scrapers of obsidian and chert in various sizes. Some have stems, others are basal notched and some corner-notched. There are several triangular shape points without notching, or oval in shape without notching. One 6” arched blade (crescent-shape), fluted on sides (serrated) and corner notched. One piece at least is thought to be classified as Cody Complex, obsidian, 5 ¼” long, from the early archaic period, 9500-7000 B.P. We believe is known as Elko-Eared, also obsidian, 1 ¼” length, from the mid-archaic period to the developmental phase, 3500-1200 B.P. There is also a Cottonwood Leaf, 4, ¼”, no stem, triangular shape, dating from the classic to historic period, 700-200 B.P. Also, a Humboldt-Constricted Base, at 4 ½” with an eared concave base. Framed in oak, 17 x 21” under glass. Est. $2000-4000

541. Native American. Lot D. Three oak frames of the largest projectiles etc. in the collection. Frame 23 is 21 x 17”, consisting of 20 large scrapers and tools. These are made of chert, obsidian, and possibly one of quartzite. The large obsidian point is 2.5 x 5” long. The pieces along the edges are about 2.5” each.

Frame 24 is 19 x 23” containing 24 pieces. These are hammer tools, scrapers, sinkers and projectiles. The center piece is 3 x 5.5”. The composition of the pieces ranges from a diorite to chert and quartzite. Frame 6 consists of 31 pieces, all of the same composition, a black cherty shale. Many are surface weathered. These are clearly from the same location. The center piece is 3.5”, and most pieces are 2.5 to 5”. Est. $1000-2000

542. Native American. Lot E. Two Frames, #16, #18. Frame #16 contains approximately 140 pieces, mostly points, of obsidian, chert and other materials, none over 2” long. There are stemmed, notched, triangular, and eared-base examples and several scrapers or worked flakes. Arranged in 5 circular patterns—1 small circle at each corner and large circle in center, with arrowheads surrounding a scraper or other tool in the center. 17 x 21” oak glassed frame. Frame #18 contains a “sunburst” arrangement of approximately 90-100 points of obsidian, chert, chalcedony, and etc. with a copper disc at the center. Largest is 2.5” long. Est. $1000-2000

543. Native American. Lot F. One frame, 17 x 21”, consisting 52 total pieces, 32 elongated pieces and 20 round pieces. These are thought to be related to fishing. The largest elongated piece is 4.5”, and the largest round piece is 3” in diameter. The rock components here are varied, including basalt, granite, tuff, chert, and various metamorphic stones. Choice. Est. $750-1500

544. Native American. Lot G. Three Frames, #2, #10, #17. Frame #2 includes mostly tiny points arranged in concentric circles around a 1 3/4’” white stone arrowhead in the center—the largest piece in the display. Many are obsidian, with many other colorful points. Over 100 pieces in a 17 x 21” oak frame with glass. Frame #10 is arranged in concentric circles with a 3.25” long obsidian point, eared-base, in the center. The center piece is surrounded by ~100 small arrowheads, some very defined and detailed, and others more primitive looking. 17 x 21” oak frame with glass. Frame #17 contains roughly 7 rows of 90-100 various points, 0.5 to 2” in length. Many are obsidian but other materials are included. Framed in 13 x 21.5” oak, with glass. Est. $1000-2000

545. Native American. Lot H. Three Frames, #3, #7, #15. Frame #3, 17 x 21” in oak, is arranged in concentric circles of about 130 points with smallest at the outside and 5 larger ones at the center, each 2-2.5 long, in a circle. Many are very primitive and some look like worked flakes rather than points or blades. The material used is colorful. Frame #7 is centered by a circular (2”) domed “bead” with a design of dots or pin pricks. It is surrounded by 2 to 4 in long pieces, including what look to be scrapers, a small metate-looking stone, a granite tool and a 2.75” bone piece which also has the dotted design on it. 50+ items of various materials. Framed in oak under glass, 19 x 23.” Frame #15 contains obsidian blades or points about 2 ½” long encircling an obsidian arrowhead at center. Over 100 other points fan out around the center pattern. Most surrounding pieces are 1-2” or less in size and mostly black, although there are green and yellow examples. 17 x 21” oak frame with glass. Est. $1000-2000

546. Native American. Lot I. Two frames of bead necklaces. Frame B4 contains what appears to be 14 necklaces. (we could be fooled by very long, overlapped strands) All but two strands contain all white beads which are crude “quartz” like beads, possibly an early crude glass. Two of the strands have red beads in places. All but one of the strands are 34”. The other is 7.5” and contains the most color. The frame itself is 17 x 21”. The second frame, Frame B5, contains 5 very long strands of all white beads of the same composition. This frame is also 21 x 17”. These necklaces were strung from beads collected in the field, and may not be representative of the original length, which is not known, nor was the actual method of application. Est. $800-1200

547. Native American. Lot J. Three frames of multicolored (polychrome) beads, about 35 necklaces. Frame B2, 17 x 21”, contains 13 necklaces. All are about 32” long (16” doubled). There are red, blue, white and turquoise colored beads. The red beads appear to be three different origins, perhaps glass, coral, and ceramic (?) of several different shapes, 1 to 3mm in diameter. The same appears true of the white and off-white beads, ranging from 1-3mm, some made of clear glass, opaque glass and white glass. The blue and turquoise beads are different. The blue are faceted with some elongated and some not, all about 3mm. The turquoise colored beads are small, about 1mm and may be glass. Frame B3 contains10 necklaces of the same size in the same sized frame. The white and red beads are all larger, up to 5mm. There are a few white beads different from any others. Frame B1 is the same size and contains 12 necklaces of

the largest beads, up to 6mm, some as long as 12mm. Here are a variety, including faceted blue, faceted quartz (clear to milky), faceted purple (glass turned purple by the sun?), green glass, cut bone disks, drilled white stone (quartz?) and red glass or ceramic. Est. $2500-5000

548. Native American. American Indian Photo Postcard Book. Compiled by Edward McAndrews with an introduction by Robert G. Lewis. Published by Big Heart Publishing Company, Los Angeles, California, 2002. 132 pgs. Signed by the author. No. 585 of 1000 copies. The Indians included in this post card collection are from many different tribes. Each post card is reproduced and there is a short paragraph about the photographer accompanying the picture. In one case the original postcard from 1909 is included, taken by Charles Gallagher, who later became a Nevada State Senator. The picture is titled “The Belle of Ely.” New condition. Est. $50-100

549. Native American. Calendar with Attached Postcard of Chief White Tail, Ponca Tribe, 1909. Small calendar dating from 1909 has a chromolitho postcard glued to a piece of hand-cut black leather of uneven oval shape with two holes at top threaded with leather thong and ring for hanging. Leather has hand-cut “fringe” at bottom. Postcard #10198-2. The Ponca Tribe lived along the Missouri River in present day Nebraska. Lewis & Clark encountered this tribe on their journey to the Pacific Ocean. The tribe was forced into relocation during the 19th century. Today the tribe controls 159 acres with 1600 listed members. (internet source). Est. $75-150

550. Native American. Gerda Christoffersen Prints. Two prints matted together in white, of Christoffersen’s trademark “doe-eyed” Indian children, a boy and a girl, with feathers in their hair. Print #50-36, produced by Saga, Inc. Lithographs, in Albuquerque, NM. Overall Measures 7 3/4” x 10.” Christoffersen was born in Denmark and educated in Danish and Canadian schools; she was adopted by Sitting Eagle and her title in Sioux is Princess O-Hazee-Tah. VF. Est. $100-200

551. Native American. Monte Monteague Print, “Little Spotted Feather.” Color print of Indian child and large feather stuck in the headband across his forehead, matted in white. Description and photo of artist is on the back. 9 1/4 x 12 3/4.” Matting is creased in two places, with slight tears at lower corners, which do not affect the print itself. Est. $100-200

552. No Lot.

553. Native American. Blanket. Indian Blanket. Wool. Border design is an approximately 10” wide black stripe within which are irregular colored blocks in dark brown, light brown, tan, natural, orange, yellow and red, connected to one another. This outside border rectangle stops short of the blanket ends, leaving a 6” natural band edged at the very ends by two alternating black/natural stripes. In the center of the natural ground is a large irregular “circle” of many color blocks of blue, red, yellow, green, brown and orange, with the entire circle bordered in black. 81” length x 46” wide. Ends are no longer finished but show raw yarn “fringe.” Not Navajo. Probably c. 1930’s. Est. $100-200

554. Native American. Rug. Navajo Indian Rug or Saddle Blanket. Wool. Black, natural, gray and red horizontal alternating stripes in a coarse weave. Stripes are wider on the ends, narrowing toward the center. At center is one thin black stripe bordered by two red stripes and flanked on either side by wider gray stripes. Edges whipstitched in natural wool ending in tassels at each corner. One corner is coming unraveled, about 6” down one end, and tassel is missing. There is also a broken area about 3” in length at the center of one of the long sides. Thought to be 1920’s-1930’s. Est. $200-300

555. Native American. Rug. Navajo Indian Saddle Blanket. Wool. Dark brown border on three sides has running key design in the same natural color of the rug’s base color. The fourth side has a plain dark brown band. Extending from the fourth side into the center is a large light brown block. Within the brown block and also in the natural background can be seen stitching where pieces have been sewn together. Edges have been whip stitched in brown yarn. Meas. 25” x 29.” Circa 1920-30. Est. $200-300

556. Native American. Rug. Navajo Indian Saddle Blanket. Wool. Dark brown border on four sides in running key design on natural ground. In center is a light tan square. Meas. 23.5 x 28.5”. Edges whip stitched in natural wool and repaired in places with gray wool. The weaving was visibly pieced together by hand. The edges on this piece are worn and weaving is worn away in places. There is a 2” tear on one margin. Circa 1920-30. Est. $200-300.

NEBRASKA

557. Nebraska. Douglas. Omaha. Western Exchange Fire & Marine Insurance Co $5 Scrip, 1857. No. 8876. Vignette of men at lower corners. Vignette of the Omaha side-wheeler at middle. Datelined Omaha City, 1857. Unsigned. These were issued as inflation currency during the financial panic in 1855-57. Extremely fine. Est. $50-100