CALIFORNIA PART I
Alpine through Mariposa Counties
The California section in this sale represents a wonderful cross section of California history. We are fortunate to receive a very rare collection of California Steamer billheads from the 1850's. There are numerous documents dating from 1849-1859, including material from the San Francisco Mint not in the "Coin" section of this catalog. We also received an outstanding collection of documents and photographs from Inyo, Mono, and San Bernardino counties which we are splitting over the next two sales. We encourage you to hunt for the treasures contained in this archive. There are many!
ALPINE
175. Alpine. Ebbetts Pass. Ebbetts Pass, Alpine Lake Postcards. Lot of 2 different cards: one chromolithograph, one modern color (Mike Roberts, CA). Views of Lake Alpine Lodge and of a boat landing at the water's edge. Major John Ebbetts, captain of the Knickerbocker Exploring Co. and early pioneer, came to California in 1849, crossed the pass in 1851, and died in 1854. The pass was thusly named (Ref: California Place Names, p.103). Est. $10-20
176. Alpine. Markleeville. Markleeville. E. Clampus Vitus Badge. Star shaped polished badge with an E at left point, a C at top point and a V at right point. "Snowshoe Thompson Charter" around center. 1827 is in the middle of the star. There are three hangers. One has Markleeville 72; the second has Old Genoa Bar 74; and the third has O'Neil Station. The town of Markleeville was named so in 1861 after early settler Jacob J. Marklee, whose life was ended after a land quarrel (Ref: California Place Names, p.205). Extremely fine. Est. $50-100
177. Alpine. Monitor. Monitor District Manuscript Correspondence, c.1880. Lot of 2 pcs. 1) Letter from D.W. McBeth to Carson City Savings Bank, dated 1879, on the subject of buying shares of Summit Bodie Stock, 9 1/2 x 7 1/2, 2) Note from Gregory, to Carson City Savings Bank regarding order of 15 shares of California Stock, 4 x 8. Very fine condition with folds and spindle holes. Monitor is located on Monitor Creek, and was a rich mining camp in the 1860's and 1870's with 2,000 inhabitants, and a post office from 1863 to 1888. The district declined in the 1880's, followed by renewed activity in the early 1900's, and again in the 1930's. Total gold production was estimated at $3-$5 million.[Ref: Calif. Gold Camps, p.220] Est. $25-50
178. Alpine. Silver Lake. Silver Lake, California Real Photo Postcards. Lot of 2 different cards showing views of the lake from the west and south sides. One published by Eastman's Studio, both printed on Kodak paper, and both with white borders. Est. $25-50
BUTTE
179. Butte. Oroville. Gold Dredging at Oroville Real Photo Postcard. "Indiana No. 1-2." letter to "Dear Miss H(ail), from "yours forever, S-" Postmarked Oroville, Jan. 28. 1 cent stamp. 3" x 5". Xf. Fittingly, Oro, the Spanish word for gold, was used repeatedly in California place names, including Oro Loma, Oro Chino, and many others. The town Oroville was settled in 1849 on the Feather River, and was briefly called Ophir City, but due to name duplication was once again called Oroville (Ref: California Place Names, p. 245). In 1899 the total production within a radius of eight miles was estimated at 82 million dollars. In 1903, the Register listed eleven active dredging companies. [Calif. Gold Camps, p.256]. Est. $50-150
COLUSA
180. Colusa. Colusa. Steamer Billheads, 1856. Lot of 3 different pcs. All of these steamer billheads are for freight shipped to Sacramento and Colusa. The first is from steamer Gem, printed on light blue paper, 5 x 8. The second is from steamer Confidence, printed on blue paper, 4 x 8. The last is from steamer Sam Soule, printed on light blue paper, 4 x 7. Minor staining. Two of the billheads have California Steam Navigation Co printed at the left edge. The last has design at left edge. All very fine. Est. $300-600
CONTRA COSTA
181. Contra Costa. Suisun. Lewis Pierce Steamer Billheads, 1863-64. Lot of 2 different pcs. Both pieces have a vignette of a schooner at left edge with Lewis Pierce printed above. Datelined at Suisun with freight shipped from the Port of Suisun. Printed on blue paper and 5 x 11. Very fine. Est. $150-300
182. Contra Costa. Suisun. Lewis Pierce Steamer Billheads, 1864-65. Lot of 3 different pcs. All three pieces are for freight shipped from the Port of San Francisco and are datelined at Suisun. Lewis Pierce is printed above the vignette. All three also have a vignette at the left of a schooner. Printed by Towne & Bacon and 5 x 11. All have a fold crease to the right of the vignette. Minor foxing. Very fine. Est. $300-500
EL DORADO
183. El Dorado. Emerald Bay. Emerald Bay, Lake Tahoe Real Photo Postcards. Lot of 3 different cards of Emerald Bay, by Frashers Fotos. Two show different views of the bay and Emerald Isle, and the third is of the Emerald Bay Resort, now in ruins, with an image description in right margin. All unused. Est. $50-75
184. El Dorado. Pilot Knob. Enterprise Gold & Silver Mining Co. Cert. #330. Incorporated 1863. Issued to D. J. Robinson for 300 shares in 1864. Signed by Joseph Friph president and E. C. Hare secretary. Vignette of a spread winged eagle with shield and arrows. Purple border with green safety print. Uncancelled. Printer - H. S. Crocker & Co., Sacramento. 5 x 9. Two 10 cent and one 5 cent adhesive documentary stamp affixed at left edge. "One foot to the share" printed underneath stamps. "Office at S. B. Pelton's House, White Oak Township. El Dorado County, Pilot Knob, Mud Springs and Mound Springs Mining Districts" printed on certificate. The company formed to mine the Enterprise Lode located at Pilot Knob near the Volcano area. None of the people on this certificate were listed in the SF Directories. They all probably lived locally to the area. Extremely fine. Est. $500-700
185. Fresno. Huntington. Huntington Lake Real Photo Postcards. Lot of two different cards, one of the Lakeshore Resort by Robert A. Parker, Mountain Photography, and the other of the lake by Mudge Photo. Both Photographers had studios at Huntington Lake. Named after its president, the Pacific Light & Power Co. named the reservoir in 1912 (Ref: California Place Names, p.157). One used, postmarked Huntington. Est. $50-150
GENERAL
186. General. California Linen Postcards, c.1945. Lot of 114 different pcs. All of the postcards are color greeting cards. Slogans such as "Greetings from California" (10 of these), Greetings from: Bakersfield (1), Big Basin (1), Big Beal Lake (1), Big Trees (1), Pendleton (1), Carmel (3), Catalina (2), Chico (1), Death Valley (2), Fort Ord (2), Fresno (5), Hollywood (9), Laguna (2), Lake Arrowhead (3), Tahoe (2), Los Angeles (5), Lompoc (2), Long Beach (3), Monterey (2), Marysville (1), Oakland (4), Orange (1), Palm Springs (2), Pasadena (4), Redwoods (3), Riverside (4), etc.(38). All very colorful with scenes from the specific places. Very fine. Est. $ $125-250
GLENN
187. Glenn. Butte City. Dodge Land/Company/88/Time Check //blank. Rd, brass, 36mm. Large 7mm hole at top. The token has been bent and has a distinct crease on front and back. Vf. Butte City, located on the Llano Seco grant, was named after the Sutter Buttes. It wasn't until the development of the Butte Ferry in 1875 that Butte City began to expand (Ref: California Place Names, p.46). Est. $25-75
GOLD RUSH ERA There are many other gold rush era items in other sections of this catalog.
188. Gold Rush Era. Eastern. Gold Rush Letter Regarding Rates of Passage to Australia, 1852. The letter is datelined New York, 1852, and was written by Thos. Dennistown. Letters from Americans inquiring about the Australian gold rush are rare. The trip was to be via the Cape of Good Hope ant the southern tip of Africa. Manuscript on blue paper. Very fine. Est. $100-300
189. Gold Rush Era. Publication. Mines & Mining, 1851. Written by D. P. Kidder and published by Lane & Scott, New York for the Sunday School Union of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Printed by Joseph Longking. On the title page is a Scripture quotation from Job. The philosophical struggle between religion and science was diminishing by the early to mid 1800's. Several publications from this time period have a slight religious overtone but with a full acceptance of the earth sciences as we know them today. Throughout the book, the author uses quotations from all parts of the Bible. For example, within a chapter discussing gold occurrences, the author uses a line from the Bible that gold was even referenced within one of the rivers of Eden, the Pison. A fascinating text on geology as viewed in the 1840's. 212 pages. Original hard bound cover. 6 x 4 inches. Spotting within text from humidity. Very fine. Est. $300-500
IMPERIAL
190. Imperial. Imperial. Imperial Home Bakery/L. Deveroy/Prop./Imperial, Cal. //GF/10¢/Loaf of/Twins Bread. Oct, brass, 23mm. Minor oxidation. Rare. Xf. Est. $150-300
INYO
191. Inyo. Beveridge. Keynote Mine & Milling Co. Cert. #57. Incorporated in Arizona in 1904. Issued to Mrs. Susana M. D. Fry for 200 shares in 1905. Signed by president O.S. Williams and secretary Geo. A. Kellogg. Vignette of mine and mill operations on hillside. Green border, and gilt seal. Printer not noted. 8" x 10". The Keynote mine was located 10 miles northeast of Owenyo on the east slope of the Inyo Mountains. There were 7 tunnels with the deepest shaft at 1800 feet. The mine was worked extensively between 1878 to 1886 after which the mine was only worked sporadically. (Mines & Mineral Resources, CA Dept of Mines, 1917, p.77). Extremely fine. Est. $100-200
192. Inyo. Big Pine. Blue Monster Mines Co. Cert. #572. Incorporated in Arizona 1916. Issued to S. G. Cool for 500 shares in 1917. Signed by M Kinney president and J. E. Nelson secretary. Vignette of a torch with company title in gold gilt letters. Ornate blue border and seal. Uncancelled. Printer - Goes. 9 x 12. The company owned 14 claims in the Big Pine district. The deposit was of silver and lead that occurred along a contact between igneous and carbonate rocks. On a different claim, but not specified, was an 18' quartz ledge that was reported to assay at $12 gold and silver per ton. The property was being leased out in 1921. (Mines Handbook, 1921, p.526). Extremely fine. Est. $50-150
193. Inyo. Bishop. Bishop Real Photo Postcard, c. 1907. The image is of a vacant Main Street in Bishop, the only person in the photo a woman on the otherwise empty sidewalk. Whitacre Drug is visible at the right side of the street. White border. Minor ding at upper left edge, but otherwise very fine. Est. $100-300
194. Inyo. Bishop. Forbes Panorama of Bishop, CA, c.1910. An original early 1900's A. A. Forbes panorama photo taken in Inyo County on a ranch with a herd of sheep grazing. Bishop and the White Mountains are visible in the background. The photo was taken west of Bishop with a span that has Boundary Peak (highest peak in Nevada, elevation 14,242 ft.) at the left and Westgard Pass at the right. A. A. Forbes Photo is printed at bottom right but is reversed. Early Forbes photo panoramas are rare. Photo is 15.75 x 4.75 and is mounted on gray matte board 20 x 9. Matte board has water stains and corners are slightly dinged. Minor stains on photo. Very fine. Est. $150-300
195. Inyo. Bishop. Forbes(?) Panorama of Bishop Area, c. 1910. An original panorama of cowboys herding cattle on the Rickey Ranch. The backdrop is the snow capped Sierra Nevada. At the right side of the photo is Bishop and at left is Lone Pine. The view is to the west southwest. Although the photographer is not indicated, the style matches that of A. A. Forbes. Photo is 15.5 x 4.5 and is mounted on gray matte board 16.75 x 7. The right side of the photo has a few chips. Rare. Very fine. Est. $300-600
196. Inyo. Bishop. Harry Holland Dance Token. Good For/ Harry Holland/ One Dance// (same). Al, oval, 31mm. Vf, with some dark spotting. This is one of the nicer ones we've seen. Est. $50-150
197. Inyo. Bishop. Inyo Bottling Works Bottles. Lot of 2 different pcs. The first is an aqua soda bottle with "Inyo Bottling Works/Bishop, Calif." A minor ding below A in Calif otherwise very fine. 7.5 inches tall. The second bottle is a "Bubble Up" green soda with white and red silkscreen. One side is "Property of/ Inyo Bottling Works/Bishop, Calif." Bottle has some scratches. Silkscreen is very fine condition. 8 inches tall. Est. $100-200
198. Inyo. Bishop. Inyo Register, 1916. All 52 issues of the Inyo Register for the year 1916. The issues are professionally bound. The cover is circa 1917-1920. All of the issues are complete and several have a loose inserts for special sections such as Farming & Agriculture. The stories and the advertisements are fun to read. All in extremely fine condition. Binding is worn and corners of the covers are dinged. Overall, very fine condition. Rare. Great research material. Est. $300-600
199. Inyo. Bishop. Tonopah Lumber Co Wagon Convoy from Bishop Real Photo Postcard, c.1907. The image is 1.5 x 5.25 and set against the top edge. The scene is captioned "20 Ton Lumber Tonopah Lumber Co." and shows a 20 horse and mule train pulling wagons full of cut lumber. The front of the card has written in pen "Bishop - 10 -1-07." The reverse is postmarked Bishop, Cal., 1907. 1 3/4" blank margin at bottom. Extremely fine. Est. $150-300
200. Inyo. Bishop. Wilshire Bishop Creek Co. Incorporated in Arizona in 1910. Certificate no. 1630 issued to M. J. Gleason for 100 shares in 1910. Signed by H.R. Kearns, vice president and J.B. Hollingwell, treasurer. Blue border on white paper, uncancelled, 6 x 8. Printer - Snyder & Black, NY. Extremely fine condition, with folds and wrinkles. The company operated a mine owned by Rocky Point Consolidated Mines Co. at the headwaters of Bishop Creek, 16 miles from Bishop. They had a 50-ton mill that was to be increased to a 100 ton capacity. It was idle for several years, but reported production of 6,196 tons in 1915. Troubled by lawsuits from stockholders to gain access to the company's books. "The company frequently appears in print, and the stockholders appear to have a long wait before their officers get down to actual mining and an attempt to pay dividends." [Ref: Mines Handbook, 1920, p. 434] Est. $50-100
201. Inyo. Cerro Gordo. Cerro Gordo Mines Co. Cert. #2192. Incorporated in Arizona 1914. Issued to Thomas E. O'Shea for 100 shares in 1918. Signed by L. D. Gordon vice president and A. L. Dornberger secretary. Vignette of a spread winged eagle. Green border. Uncancelled. Printer - ABN. 8 x 12. The Cerro Gordo mines consisted of 35 claims located 8 miles from Keeler. The Union mine
was one of the company's mine and was located on Cerro Gordo Hill. They had water power on Lone Pine Creek. It formerly belonged to the Four Metals Smelting & Ref Co. The Aries Cons group of 8 patented and 33 unpatented claims was purchased in 1916. The Union was an "antigua" worked by Mexicans in the early days and opened to a depth of 1200'. The principal ores produced silver-lead, mostly carbonates, with some galena and lead sulphide; also zinc carbonate. The zinc ore occurred from the surface to the 900' Belshaw shaft with a winze to the 1150' level and tunnels. The Troeger tunnel was in over 6000' by 1918 and it cut the vein system 1200' below the workings of the Union mine. Underground workings were said to aggregate 20 miles. Production came from the 400' and 700' levels containing the downward extension of the Beuna Vista orebody. Production in 1915 was 8,926 tons of ore producing 126 oz of gold, 112,541 oz silver, 748,952 lbs of lead, 121,510 lbs of copper and 4,544,666 lbs of zinc, all of which were substantially higher than 1914 production. The ore was shipped to the US Smelting Co at Salt Lake. (Mines Handbook, 1918, p.585-86). Very fine. Est. $75-150
202. Inyo. Chloride Cliff. Keane Wonder Mining Co. Incorporated in Arizona. Certificate no. 677 issued to C. E. Livingood for 2500 shares in 1915. Signed by W. H. Miller, vice president and George G. Thomson, secretary. Vignette at top center of the mine and mill. Brown border, underprint and safety print. Uncancelled, 10 x 12. The mine was discovered by Jack Keane in April 1904, when he found rich gold in quartz ore at the surface in the Chloride Cliff district. Keane was a prospector from Ballarat, a mining camp in the Panamint Range. By July, 1904, the mine camp reportedly had 500 men, but they all soon departed for Bullfrog, discovered by Shorty Harris in September. Keane brought in financiers, but the rich deals he cut couldn't hold up and he suffered from the greed of having a good mine. Even promoter L. L. Patrick tried his hand at the mine finding $1 million in ore, but not enough to justify the purchase price of $160,000. Keane would not lower his price. Finally in 1906, John Campbell offered up $250,000 to Keane. They formed the Keane-Wonder MC with Keane as president. The group sold out, and Keane began to fall apart getting involved in two shootings, killing someone and landing in prison. They produced well and a small amount of a high grade ore still remains today. Extremely fine condition with minor folds. Est. $300-500
INYO. DEATH VALLEY.
Very few people entered this "seventy-five mile strip of perdition" named Death Valley before the time of the Gold Rush in 1849. One such party was a large overland group led by William Lewis Manly, from Vermont. After many delays, they finally reached the Great Salt Lake and teamed up with a group headed by Asabel Bennett. It became evident that they would not make the Sierra Nevada before snowfall and to avoid the fate of the Donner party of which they were aware, it was decided to try a more southern route, which landed them in Death Valley. The party totaled thirteen men, three women, and six children who made camp at Furnace Creek. They tried again and again to escape from Furnace Creek up the canyons to the west, but were forced to return to camp each time. They ran out of food and were forced to kill the oxen for food. Finally, in desperation, Manly and Rogers hiked out across Walker Pass in the southern Sierra and after fourteen days made it to Mission San Fernando. They obtained food and provisions, then returned to rescue the awaiting party, amongst high emotions at the Death Valley camp. Twenty-six days had elapsed, but all in the party had survived. In February, 1850, the party resumed the walk to Rancho San Francisco, after spending an entire year on the trail and ending up still 500 miles from the gold mines. Borax, or sodium borate production began in 1885, when the twenty-mule teams hauled the mineral across the desert floor. Borax was not only used for the well-known soap cleansers, but was very important for smelters of the west. By the 1920's California had become the main supplier of borate products. Currently borates are important for glass production, including fiber optics. [Ref: Rolle, California- a History, 1969, p. 220-222, 485]
The following section offers a remarkable opportunity to acquire a great photographic record of parts of Death Valley. While about a dozen of the Frashers are very common, the majority are quite rare, as are those of Willard, a competing photographer. Of particular interest are cards from Ryan, an important borax mining camp in Death Valley.
203. Inyo. Death Valley. 20 Mule Team Canyon Real Photo Postcards. Lot of 6 different cards showing different views of 20 Mule Team Canyon and 20 mule team wagon trains. One with brown sepia tone. Two by Willard, one by Brockwell and three by Frashers. All with white borders. Circa early 1930's. Est. $50-100
204. Inyo. Death Valley. Artist's Drive Real Photo Postcards. Lot of 3 different cards. Real photo postcards showing 3 different views of Artist's Drive, one with early automobile in distant foreground. All by Frashers, all with white borders. Est. $30-60
205. Inyo. Death Valley. Bad Water Monument Real Photo Reproduction Postcards. Lot of 4 postcards showing different views of the Monument, including two identical views featuring a sign in the foreground bearing elevation info, a third without sign. The fourth image is a slightly varied view of the Monument, with a brown sepia tone. All by Frashers, all with white borders. Est. $40-80
206. Inyo. Death Valley. Borax Wagons Real Photo Postcards. Lot of 2 different cards showing views of Borax wagons, originally hauled by teams of 20 mules. One is a close-up view of a wagon, and one is taken from a distance, featuring a wagon in the foreground, with a steam tractor in the background. Both by Frashers, both with white borders. Est. $25-75
207. Inyo. Death Valley. Dantes View Real Photo Postcards. Lot of 6 different cards giving different views of Death Valley from Dante's View, one by Frashers, the remainder by Willard. Circa 1930's, all with white borders. Est. $50-100
208. Inyo. Death Valley. Death Valley and Ryan Real Photo Postcards. Lot of 14 different cards. Eight different views of the Borax mine and the Baby Gage RR, all by Frashers; four different views of Ryan and the Death Valley View Hotel; and two miscellaneous views, one featuring wagon wheels at Stove Pipe Wells, the other of a mule train and train drivers. Eight are by Frashers Fotos, four are by Willard, and the remaining two are unmarked. C.1940's. All have white borders, 3" x 5". Very fine. Est. $150-300
209. Inyo. Death Valley. Death Valley Area Chromolithographs. Lot of 40 cards, mostly different, showing 24 different views of the Death Valley area and Scotty's Castle, most with borders, 3 without, about half postmarked with dates ranging from 1929 to 1948. Est. $120-200
210. Inyo. Death Valley. Death Valley Area Postcards. Lot of 8 different cards: five chromolithographs, one printed etching, and one printed photo postcard by East & West Postcard. Images of Scotty's Castle, Furnace Creek Inn, Stove Pipe Wells hotel, All Souls Memorial Chapel and 20-mule team crossing Death Valley. Four of the chromo's have borders; #'s 1A-H252, 7A115-N, D.V.35, 9A-H2413, 29264N. Est. $40-60
211. Inyo. Death Valley. Death Valley Area Real Photo Postcards. Lot of 5 different cards. Real photo postcards showing different views of the Stove Pipe Wells hotel, Furnace Creek, Death Valley Scotty and Shorty Harris' grave, and 20-mule team wagon trains. Four cards by Frashers, one by Willard, all with white borders. One used, postmarked D.V., 1935. Est. $50-100
212. Inyo. Death Valley. Death Valley Gold Placer Mining Co. Cert. #656. Incorporated in Issued to P. Clark for 100 shares in 1908. Signed by E. G. Gould president and J. Robinson secretary. Vignette of an elaborate flume system with two smaller vignettes of miners inspecting ore. Black border with bronze seal and safety print. Uncancelled. Printer - Goes. 8 x 11. Irregular crease is apparent through center of certificate (not from original folds). This company was probably mining the gravels within the Death Valley region. Very fine. Est. $100-200
213. Inyo. Death Valley. Death Valley Junction Postcards. Lot of 6 different pcs. Three are black and white Frashers real photo postcards, and the other 3 are modern color cards. Frasher B&W Cards: (1) Captioned "20 Mule Team Borax Wagon Wheels, Death Valley Junction, California." with a scene of those wagon wheels. (2) Captioned "Wheels of Old 20 Mule Team Borax Wagons, Death Valley Jct., Calif." with scene of same wheels. (3) Captioned "The Amargosa Hotel At Death Valley Jct., Gateway to Death Valley Nat'l Monument, Calif." with a scene of the Amargosa Hotel. Color Cards: (4) Two identical cards of the Amargosa Hotel. (5) Color photo of the Amargosa Hotel (different view), c.1960. All very fine. Est. $25-50
214. Inyo. Death Valley. Death Valley Landscape Real Photo Postcards. Lot of 7 different cards showing different views of Zabriskie point, Dante's View and Volcanic Drive. 4 by Frashers circa 1930's, 3 by Willard circa 1920's, all with white borders. Est. $50-100
215. Inyo. Death Valley. Death Valley Landscape Real Photo Postcards. Lot of 8 different cards showing different views of Dante's View, Volcanic Drive, Zabriskie Point, and Golden Canyon. 5 by Frashers, circa 1930's and 3 by Willard, circa 1920's; all with white borders. One used, postmarked Venice, CA, 1935. Est. $75-100
216. Inyo. Death Valley. Death Valley Landscape Real Photo Postcards. Lot of 6 different cards showing different views of Volcanic Drive, Dantes View and Golden Canyon, 4 by Frashers, 2 by Willard, circa 1920's-1930's. Est. $50-100
217. Inyo. Death Valley. Death Valley Landscape Real Photo Postcards. Lot of 20 different cards showing different views of Death Valley sites including Ubehebe
Crater, Mosaic, Titus and Corkscrew canyons and others; 10 by Frashers, the remainders by Willard and others, circa 1920's and 1930's, all with white borders. Est. $200-400
218. Inyo. Death Valley. Death Valley Postcards. Lot of 12 different postcards. Various images of and pertaining to Death Valley, including a nursing burro and her young one, entitled "Breakfast in Death Valley..." Swimming pool at Furnace Creek Ranch, Scotty's Castle, James Dayton and Shorty Harris Memorial, and others. Real photo postcards and chromo's. Two postmarked 1939 and 1953. All real photos with white borders. Vf-xf. Est. $100-200
219. Inyo. Death Valley. Death Valley Printed Photo Postcard. Offset print of black and white photo of Death Valley, published by Polin Bros. Goldfield, Nevada. Postmarked in Goldfield, 1919. No border. Est. $25-50
220. Inyo. Death Valley. Death Valley Railroad Co. Cert. #35. Incorporated in California, 1914. Issued to Death Valley Railroad Co for 1250 shares in 1928. Signed by president and A. S. Miller secretary. Vignette of a train exiting a tunnel. Black border with gilt seal and safety print. Cancelled by red pen. Printer - Goes. 8 x 11. Stub glued at left edge. Stub has two 10 dollar and one 5 dollar revenue stamps affixed. The Death Valley RR was built in 1914 to service a new borax mine at Ryan and connect with the Tonopah & Tidewater RR and Beatty and the Bullfrog mining district to the south and Ludlow to the west. The line followed a very curvy route above Furnace Creek wash allowing for a fabulous view of the valley. The line was extended when clay mining began at Ash Meadows just over the Nevada State line. The rail line's demise came about with the depletion of ore at Ryan and the development of open pit ores more centrally located to the southern California market. (Myrick, p.608-622). The company was created through $60,000 in stock and $230,000 in bonds. The railroad was dubbed "the most remarkable railroad in the world" by the Technical World when it began operations in December of 1914. It ran at an average of 15 mph. Minor foxing along edges. Extremely fine. Est. $750-1500
221. Inyo. Death Valley. Death Valley Railroad Co. Cert. #61. Incorporated in California, 1914. Unissued and Unsigned. Vignette of a train exiting a tunnel. Black border with gilt seal and safety print. Printer - Goes. 8 x 11. Stub attached along the perforation. Extremely fine. Est. $150-300
222. Inyo. Death Valley. Death Valley Sand Dunes Real Photo Postcards. Lot of 8 cards showing four different views of the sand dunes at Death Valley, several duplicates. One has "5 Miles From Lone Pine" across top. Two are by Willard, the remainder are Frashers, including 2 early ones. All with White borders. Est. $50-100
223. Inyo. Death Valley. Death Valley Scotty Real Photo Postcards. Lot of 8 different pieces. Modern color and real photo postcards of Death Valley Scotty and Scotty's Castle. All unused, all Xf. 3" x 5". Est. $50-100
224. Inyo. Death Valley. Death Valley Scotty Real Photo Postcards. Lot of 4 different cards showing different views of Death Valley Scotty, one featuring Scotty in the company of "The Johnsons", c. 1930's, all Frashers photos, all with white borders. Est. $50-75
225. Inyo. Death Valley. Death Valley Travel Brochures. Lot of 3 different pieces. The first brightly colored brochure promotes Stove Pipe Wells Hotel, featuring a miner and his mule on front and back in red yellow and black. The second promotes family travel to D.V., calling it a "Winter Vacation-Land...Sunshine...Fun...Scenery," featuring family activity on the cover. The third is a Furnace Creek Promo, featuring the Inn on the cover. 9" x 4". All are Xf, the first particularly mint. Est. $50-150
226. Inyo. Death Valley. Devil's Golf Course Real Photo Postcards. Lot of 11 cards, 7 different scenes. Real photo postcards showing different views of the salt formations at the Devil's Golf Course. Three by Willard, the remainder by Frashers all with white borders. Circa 1920's. Est. $75-150
227. Inyo. Death Valley. Furnace Creek Camp Real Photo Postcards. Lot of 4 cards, 3 are duplicates. Two different views of the entry to Furnace Creek Camp. All Frashers, circa 1940's, all with white borders. Est. $50-100
228. Inyo. Death Valley. Furnace Creek Camp Real Photo Postcards. Lot of 4 different cards showing different views of the arched Furnace Creek Camp entrance. One view is of what appears to be an earlier entrance than the others. The stone pillar design is rougher than that featured in the other, later photos, and the automobiles appear to date from the late '20's/ early '30's, versus those of the 1940's, also featured in the other, later photos. One of the later photos has 7 men and women on horseback exiting through the gate. All are Frashers with white borders. Est. $50-100
229. Inyo. Death Valley. Furnace Creek Inn & Abandoned Cabin Real Photo Postcards. Lot of 2 different cards. One early Frashers photo features an abandoned cabin at Sand Springs, at the north end of Death Valley. The second, an example of Frashers later work, features the Furnace Creek Inn at Death Valley. Both with white borders, both unused. Est. $25-50
230. Inyo. Death Valley. Furnace Creek Ranch Date Garden Real Photo Postcards. Lot of 2 different cards showing different views of date palm garden at the Furnace Creek Inn, both Frashers, one an early one, both with white borders. Est. $20-40
231. Inyo. Death Valley. Furnace Creek Ranch Real Photo Postcards. Lot of 2 different cards, one of the swimming pool (bordered by railroad ties overgrown with weeds), with palms in the background, and the other of palms, tilled soil and some buildings with mountains in background. Both by Willard with white borders. Est. $25-50
232. Inyo. Death Valley. Furnace Creek Real Photo Postcards. Lot of 18 different cards showing different views of the Furnace Creek Inn, its swimming pool and date palm gardens, Borax wagons, one with 20-mule team and "Indian village". Four by Willard, 13 by Frashers, and one unmarked. All with white borders. Est. $170-350
233. Inyo. Death Valley. Furnace Creek Real Photo Postcards. Lot of 6, two duplicated. Shows different views of Furnace Creek Inn, Borax wagons and swimming pool at the Inn. One by Willard, the remainder Frashers, all with white borders. Est. $50-100
234. Inyo. Death Valley. Golden Canyon Real Photo Postcards. Lot of 8 different cards showing different views of Golden Canyon. 2 by Willard, 6 by Frashers. Circa early 1930's, all with white borders. Est. $75-100
235. Inyo. Death Valley. Images of Death Valley. Lot of 2 different postcards. The first is a real photo postcard of the "Ruins of Old Harmony Borax Plant," with white border, unused. The second is a printed photo of travelers in "Dry Canyon, Furnace Valley near Death Valley", with 2" white space to right of image and 1/2" at bottom, also unused. Both 3" x 5". Both Vf. Est. $50-75
236. Inyo. Death Valley. Natural Rock Formation Real Photo Postcards. Lot of 3 different cards showing different views of Natural Bridge, and one of Mushroom Rock. All Frashers, with white borders. Est. $25-50
237. Inyo. Death Valley. Natural Rock Formation Real Photo Postcards. Lot of 5 different cards. Real photo postcards showing different views of Natural Bridge, canyon leading to bridge, and Titus Canyon and Mushroom Rock. All Frashers with white borders, one early photo. Est. $50-75
238. Inyo. Death Valley. Ryan Borax Mine & "Baby Gage Railroad" Real Photo Postcards. Lot of 7 cards, some duplicates. Four different views of the Ryan area, one featuring the Death Valley View Hotel, and 3 different views of the baby gage railroad hauling tourists. All Frashers, all with white borders. Est. $100-200 Please also see Ryan District.
239. Inyo. Death Valley. Ryan Real Photo Postcards. Lot of 2 different cards showing Baby Gage RR on trestle, by Mack, '49, and one of the Death Valley View Hotel, both at Ryan. Photographer/publisher not shown on the second card, both with white borders. Est. $50-100
240. Inyo. Death Valley. Scotty's Castle & Death Valley Scotty Real Photo Postcards. Lot of 44 different cards. Real photo postcards showing different views of the interior and exterior of Scotty's Castle and several of D. V. Scotty, all with white borders, all Frashers photos, c. 1930's, one postmarked 1941. Scotty's Castle, 17 miles north of Furnace Creek Ranch was built in 1922-1931 for about $1.5 million by Walter "Death Valley" Scott, a publicity-loving extrovert. Scotty was born in Kentucky and traveled west to Wells, Nevada where his first job was as wrangler in the early 1880's. In 1885 he served as a swamper on twenty-mule teams hauling borax from the Harmony borax works. From 1890 to 1902 he worked in the East and in Europe as a trick rider in Buffalo Bill's Wild West show. Afterwards, he returned to live in Death Valley and began creating the legend of Scotty as a prospector and owner of a rich gold mine. He raised money from investors and built the castle with the backing of A.M. Johnson. [Paher, 1973, Death Valley Ghost Towns] Est. $400-800
241. Inyo. Death Valley. Scotty's Castle Exterior Real Photo Postcards. Lot of 5 different cards showing different views of the exterior of Scotty's Castle; all with white borders, all Frashers photos, c. 1930's. Four real photo postcards, and one real photo repro of Frashers original, produced by Desert Souvenir Supply Co., NV. Est. $50-75
242. Inyo. Death Valley. Scotty's Castle Interior Real Postcards. Lot of 19 different cards. 17 real photo postcards showing different views of the interior of Scotty's Castle; all with white borders, all Frashers photos, c. 1930's. Est. $170-350
243. Inyo. Death Valley. South Pacific Mining Co. Cert. #5099. Incorporated in New York 1881. Issued to J. A. Baker for 100 shares in 1882. Signed by G. Height president and J. A. Baker secretary. Vignette of two part underground scene of miners loading two mule drawn ore cars and miner operating a jack leg. Black border. Uncancelled. Printer - Homer Lee Bank Note Co, NY. 7 x 11. J. A. Baker is the namesake of Baker, California. Located in the old Salt Springs area in Death Valley. In 1881, J. M. Seymour and C. A. Luckhardt gave this worthless property an exotic stage name, added to the board some respected individuals not previously associated with mining scams, and promoted the property until it became the speculative favorite of Broadway. The price went from $1 par to over $14. They made millions at the expense of unsuspecting market players and investors. (Lingenfelter, 1986, Death Valley & the Amargosa, p.158-159). Extremely fine. Est. $100-300
244. Inyo. Death Valley. Stove Pipe Wells Real Photo Postcards. Lot of 12 different cards showing different views of the interior and exterior of the hotel at Stove Pipe Wells. 8 by Frashers, two are similar in style to Frashers, but are not marked, and the last two in the lot are unlike Frashers and two are not similar to Frashers and have typed captions. All with white borders. Est. $100-200
245. Inyo. Death Valley. Wildrose Station, Trona Real Photo Reproduction Postcard. View of Wildrose Station on the Panamint entrance to Death Valley. Photographer and publisher not noted. White border with title block on right side. Est. $25-50
246. Inyo. Death Valley. Zabriskie Point Real Photo Postcards. Lot of 9 different cards showing different views of Zabriskie Point. One by Willard, the remainder by Frashers, including an early one (circa 1920's), all with white borders. Est. $100-200
247. Inyo. Furnace Creek. Furnace Creek Stock Collection. Lot of 3 different certificates. 1) Furnace Creek Copper Co. Incorporated in Washington in 1906. Issued to Miller & Co. for 100 shares in 1908. Uncancelled and signed by v. president W.C. Meyer and secretary J.J. Stewart. Vignette of a female warrior figure holding American flag. Black border with green underprint and seal. Company held copper mine first developed in 1906, with 500 ft. shaft and 3,000 ft of workings. Property consisted of 21 claims 2 miles west of Greenwater in Death Valley. Copper mineralization occurs as the oxide minerals in andesite are intruded by porphyry. Three 50-ton shipments were sent to the Salt Lake smelter that returned 16.5 to 17.3%, with small gold and silver values. In 1907, the mine was reported to employ 100 men. [Ref: CH 1908, p.702, Dunbar 1907, p.72] 2) Furnace Valley Copper Co. Cert. #3980. Incorporated in Washington in 1906. Issued to J.L. McCromack for 100 shares in 1908. Uncancelled and signed by president W.C. Meyer and asst. secretary Abe S. August. Vignette of miners working underground. Brown border, printed by ABC. Properties consisted of 8 claims, 2 miles west and south of the Furnace Creek Copper Co.. Property contains 2 fissure veins with copper carbonates assaying 4 to 15% copper [Ref: CH, 1908, p. 703]. 3) Furnace Creek South Extension Copper Co. Cert. #1655. Incorporated in Arizona in 1906. Issued to A. Franchetti for 100 shares in 1906. Uncancelled and signed by president Sullivan and asst. secretary R.B. Cradlebaugh. Blue border and underprint, no vignette. Printed by Utah Litho Co. Company had headquarters in Goldfield, Nevada and the mine office in Greenwater, in Death Valley. Mine reported selected samples of ore assaying 5 to 30% copper. "Promotion by Shanghai Larry Sullivan, was marked by peculiar methods, though such methods are by no means peculiar to Sullivan. Is not regarded favorably. Idle and apparently moribund" [Ref: CH, 1908, p. 702]. Fine-Xf, the last with taper repair residue and darkness to tears at folds. 8" x 12". Est. $100-300
248. Inyo. (Independence.) V. Beaudry/ 1st/ Reg./ U.S. Cavalry// One/ 100/ Koehler/ Dollar. Rd, br, 21mm, vf, heavily toned. Beaudry ran a store right outside the front gate of Camp Independence from about 1868 to about 1880. In 1871 he had one of three general merchandise stores at the camp (fort). The first store there that we could find record of was that of H. Ayers & Co. from 1866-7, who was operating the only store at the time next to the only hotel run by J. Earl. By 1871 Earl wasn't listed with a hotel, but with another mercantile store. There is also a great story behind Beaudry, too long for this catalog. His brother Prudence was mayor of Los Angeles. This token comes in numerous denominations, the rarest of which are the small denominations. The $1 is the most "common", but all are considered quite rare. Nearly all of these that are known were found in a leather poke in a rusty tin can in the desert near Camp Independence in the 1960's. This is the oldest California military related token we know of. [Langley's Pacific Coast Directory 1867-8, 1871-2] Est. $300-$600
249. Inyo. Inyo Towns. Carson and Colorado R.R. Co., Freight bill receipts, Lot of 14 pieces dated 1888-1889. Includes 10 pieces for Independence, CA, 2 pieces Lone Pine, CA Each with blue print on yellow and brown paper, 4 x 7. Two pieces are large, 9 x 7 1/2 freight receipts, blue print on white paper. All in Very fine condition with folds, some staple holes. Shipments of various items ranging from oats, corn to hay. Est. $150-300
250. Inyo. Lee. Hayseed Mining Co Check & Billhead, 1907. Lot of 2 different pcs. This lot contains a check and billhead. The check was written to cover an expense incurred at Ryan & Sunduland. The expense was an assay that costs $3. The check has Hayseed Mining Co printed in orange at the middle. The check is datelined Rhyolite, Nevada. The Lee mining district was located on the east side of the Funeral Mountains near Death Valley and about 30 miles from Bullfrog. The Lees brothers discovered the discovery by staking the Hayseed and State Line claims in 1904. In, May, they optioned the Hayseed to Famous Goldfield speculator W. F. Patrick for $75,000 with 10% down. Patrick suddenly died two months later and the boys found they got to keep both the Hayseed claim and the $7500 down payment. This certainly beat selling the mine, so they eagerly optioned it again, and again and again. The problem was that the Lees brothers didn't bother to wait until each lease had expired before letting it again. Litigation over the Hayseed was finally settled in February, 1907 and the Hayseed Mining Co was formed by Rhyolite investors. Assays reportedly up to $123,000 pert ton fueled excitement about the property again. (Lingenfelter, 1986, p.278-79). Both very fine. Est. $150-250
251. Inyo. Lone Pine. Mount Whitney area Photos. Lot of 21 photos of 14 different scenes B&W 3" x 5" photos of the area around Mount Whitney, views from its summit, Bullfrog Lake, Junction Peak, Kearsarge Pass and other sites. C.1940's. Est. $50-150
252. Inyo. Mining. Inyo County Mines and Minerals Register, 1902. The State Mining Bureau "Register of Mines And Minerals" for Inyo County - 14 pages. Lists each mine, nearest town to the mine, exact location (Section, Township, Range, Map No.), Mine specifics (Patent Status, elevation, no. of veins, strike, dip), character of ore, & ownership information. Towns/Mines include Darwin, Panamint, Coso, Ballarat, Reward, Keeler, Lone Pine, Independence, Kearsarge, Beverage, Swansea, and others. A great piece and in very nice original condition. Extremely fine. Est. $100-200
253. Inyo. Owens Valley. Manuscript Letter about Owens Valley Indians, 1903. This letter was written to Mr. Chalfant in 1903. The letter is written by Harrison Diaz of Chiloces, Oklahoma, answering Mr. Chalfant's request for information about the Indians that inhabited the Owens Valley and towns as far north as Hawthorne. The Indians described in this letter are probably related to the Paiute Tribe. The letter describes what Mr. Diaz knows about the old ways of Indian life such as hunting. Chalfant was the major publisher in Inyo County. 4 pages. Extremely fine. Est. $150-300
254. Inyo. Panamint. Panamint News, 1875. "Panamint News", Tuesday. May 18, 1875 Issue. Published in Panamint by T.S. Harris. This is a very scarce newspaper. The only other issues that exist are in the UCLA Library. Classic newspaper from a rip-roaring silver mining camp of the 1870's high up in the Panamint Mountains. Condition is fair with numerous folds, tears, and a section at middle right hand margin where paper is missing. Paper is still somewhat supple (not brittle) and print is good and readable. Needs more info Est. $400-600
255. Inyo. Ryan. Ryan Mining Scenes Real Photo Postcards. Lot of 4 different postcards of Death Valley National Monument, Borax Mines, and tours of the mine on the Baby Gauge Railway. All have white borders. One postmarked 1952. All 3"x 5", all Xf. Est. $75-150
256. Inyo. Shoshone. Shoshone Postcard Collection. Lot of 14 different pcs. There are 4 black and white real photo postcards and 10 modern color printed photo postcards. B&W: (1) Captioned "43 The Desert Near Shoshone, Cal." and shows a Nevade desert valley. White bordered. (2) Captioned "Shoshone, California, Frashers Foto-Pomona." Scene of a four unit dormitory with a backdrop of mountains. (3) Captioned "Shoshone, California - A Modern Desert Oasis." Scene of Brown's Super Market with three cars out front. White bordered. (4) Captioned "A Modern Desert Oasis - Serving Prospectors, Miners and Tourists for over 40 Years, Shoshone, Calif." with scene of Charles Brown gas station and a café. The gas station was incorporated in Brown's Super Market as seen on the other cards. To the left of the caption is an image of a mule with Lisle-Fairbanks (photographer). White bordered. Color: (5) There are 4 identical color cards of Brown's Super Market. (6) There are 3 identical color cards of Brown's Super Market, but different from the other color cards. (7) A more modern color photocard of Brown's Super Market with the gas station as a Standard Station, 1950-60's. (8) A color photocard of desert flora captioned "Greetings from Shoshone, California." All very fine. Est. $50-100
257. Inyo. Skidoo. Skidoo Postmarked Documents, 1914-15. Lot of 2 different pcs. The first piece is a dual postmarked USPS registered mail receipt. At the upper right is a postmark from Ballarat, Cal, 1915. At the lower left is a postmark from Skidoo, Cal, 1915. The second piece is a USPS postal stub postmarked Skidoo, Cal, 1914. This second piece measures 2 x 3. Some foxing along edges of both pieces. Very fine. Est. $50-100
258. Inyo. Ubehebe. Ubehebe Copper Mines & Smelter Co. Cert. #57. Incorporated in Nevada, 1907. Issued to Mary E. Off for 1200 shares in 1907. Signed by John Salsberry president and J. Griffith secretary. Vignette of a mill next to a stream in a valley with two smaller vignettes of miners underground. Green border and seal. Uncancelled. Printer - Goes. 8 x 11. The company owned 50 claims in the Ubehebe district which was located about 50 miles west of Bonnie Claire. The ore was reported to be in 8-50 foot veins that showed gold and silver with assays showing up to 20% copper. The financial panic in 1907 slowed all progress at the mine. In 1910, the officers were hoping to increase development work. (Copper Handbook, 1910, p.1713). Included with this lot is a short printed biography of Salsberry. It would appear Salsberry was a grand promoter who even laid out a townsite which he named for a wealthy East Coast investor, Latimer. Extremely fine. Est. $50-100
259. Inyo. Wild Rose. Wild Rose Mining Co. Cert. #534. Incorporated in South Dakota. Issued to R. S. Giles for 1000 shares in 1908. Signed by J. M. Pike vice president and W. W. Curtis secretary. Vignette at top center of a mining camp on a treeless slope with two smaller vignettes of miners working underground. Black border with gilt seal and safety print. Uncancelled. Printer - Goes. 6 x 10. "Mines Located in Wild Rose Mining District, Inyo County, California" printed below vignette. The company's mine office was in Hoveck and the property was in the Panamint Mountains. It was developed by two shallow shafts that showed good assay values in copper, gold and silver. (Mines Handbook, 1910, p.1821). The company was dead by 1912. Extremely fine. Est. $100-200
KERN
260. Kern. Mojave. Keeler & Mojave Stage Line Ledger, 1892-1895. This is the ledger for the Keeler & Mojave Stage Line Co that carried passengers between the two towns with stops along the way. The first date in the ledger is from December, 1892 and continues until December of 1895. The ledger includes passenger names, luggage or articles if any, start location, destination and the fare amount. 13 x 8. Original hard cover. Three tears to the outer binding that does not affect the page attachments. Dings to some of the cover corner which have leather. Ledger is very readable. The stage line ran along a proposed railroad route that never got built, and was the subject of nearly constant proposals and would-be public financed companies. Very fine and very rare. Est. $400-800
261. Kern. Randsburg. Monarch/ Saloon/ Randsburg, Cal.// GF/ 1/ Drink. Rd, br, 21mm. Xf, toned at lettering. Est. $50-150
262. Kern. Randsburg. Randsburg Photopostcard Collection. Lot of 7 different pcs. (1) White border with caption "Yellow Aster Mine At Randsburg, California Frashers". Scene is of a standing on a dump overlooking the mill. (2) White border with caption "Randsburg, California D16". Scene shows downtown Randsburg with 1940's style cars. (3) White border with caption "Randsburg and Yellow Aster Mill and Dump in Distance. Randsburg, Cal." Overview of Randsburg and mine. Postmarked but not legible, stamp missing, datelined 1922. (4) No border with caption "Randsburg, Yellow Aster Mine in the Distance." Overview of the mine. Postmarked Los Angeles, 1917. (5) White border with caption "Yellow Aster Gold Mine, Randsburg, Calif. D4" Scene of a few buildings with 1940's style cars. (6) White border with caption "Randsburg St." Scene is of downtown Randsburg with the Almond Hotel sign visible. Several 1920's style cars in shot. (7) Color chromolith with caption "Randsburg, Cal. The Largest gold mining town on the great Mojave Desert." Postmarked, but illegible. All very fine. Est. $100-300
263. Kern. Randsburg. Randsburg/Johannesburg Photo Postcards. Lot of 2 pcs. The first card is a real photo postcard, captioned "Randsburg, Photo by Dorman Bros, Bakersfield, Calif." The scene on the card shows the townsite of Randsburg. White border along bottom edge. The card is postmarked but not legible for location or date. The second card is a printed photo postcard card with a white border, captioned "St. Charles Hotel, King Solomon Mine in Distance, Johannesburg, California, D7." The card is postmarked Johannesburg, 1958. Both very fine. Est. $100-200
KINGS
264. Kings. Kings Canyon. Kings Canyon Region Photos. Lot of 25 photos of 12 different scenes. B&W, 3" x 5" photos of scenery in the Kings Canyon region. C.1940. Est. $50-150
LOS ANGELES
265. Los Angeles. Los Angeles. B. P. O. E National Convention Badge, 1929. The top of the badge is in the shape of a Mission with B. P. O. E., 5th Annual Convention, 99. This piece is attached to a lower piece by a burgundy ribbon. The lower hanging item shows L. A. downtown with Los Angeles a top set on blue inlay, dated 1929 at bottom on blue. Pinback is broken off and missing. Vf. Est. $25-50
266. Los Angeles. Los Angeles. Los Angeles Cons Electric Railway Co. Incorporated in Los Angeles, CA in 1890. First Mortgage Gold Bond, Certificate no. 2288. Signed by president, name illegible. Brown border with vignettes of steam engine upper left, scene of trolley car with 5-story buildings upper right. Vignette of generating plant lower center. Printer - H.S. Crocker Co., San Francisco. 18 1/2 x 11. Two pages of $30 coupons (30 per page) bound to certificate. 7 coupons removed. Large, impressive piece. This company was reorganized in 1895 as the Los Angeles Railway Co. See story of Los Angeles Ry below. Extremely fine condition. Ex rare. Est. $400-600
267. Los Angeles. Los Angeles. Pacific Electric Railway Co Passes, 1913 & 1914. Pacific Electric Railway Passes 1913 & 1914. Lot of 2 different passes. Two rail passes issued to W. W. Nelson, Sup't Transportation for the Northern Electric Railway. The first pass was issued in 1913 and was printed on yellow card stock. Pass #3510 and signed by Gerald Fitzgerald. The second pass was issued in 1914, #4230, and is printed on a beige card stock and is also signed by Gerald Fitzgerald. Both extremely fine. Est. $250-500
268. Los. Angeles. Los Angeles. L. A. B. P. & L. Badges, c.1940. Lot of 2 similar pcs. These badges are brass, round and 38mm across. Along the top are the letters L. a. B. P. And L. which may stand for the Los Angeles Bureau of Power & Land. At the bottom of the badge is Gen. Const. Div. Each badge has a number at the middle. One is 173 and the other is 491. Vf. Est. $25-50
269. Los Angeles. Santa Monica. Ocean Park Souvenir Aluminum Token, 1933. 1933. SOUVENIR FROM CALIFORNIA'S PLAYGROUND/(pic of a woman in a bathing suit, reclining on the beach, with an Ocean Park scene in the background)/ OCEAN PARK/L.A.R.S. CO. 2//SOUVENIR BREAKWATER 1933/(pic of breakwater)/SANTA MONICA, CALIF. Est. $50-100
MARIPOSA
270. Mariposa. Hite. Hite GMC. Two different Hite Gold Mining Co. trade tokens, c1899. Hite Gold/ Mining Co./L. M. Moise S.F.//GF/ 25c/IT. Br, octagonal, 27mm, recessed border with beads, secondary border inside with raised continuous connecting beads. About unc. Same obverse but no maker/GF/ 5c/ IT Only/ L. M. Moise S.F. Br, 25mm, round. Recessed toothed border. About unc. The Hite Gold Mining Company was incorporated in California in 1899 to work the famous Hite mine at Hite's Cove, California on the south fork of the Merced river. Only one road accessed this tremendously remote region around 1900, which was from Mariposa. The surrounding canyon walls are 2000 feet high. This was once one of the richest mines of central California, producing over $2.5 million by about 1895. It was considered mined out during the latter 1890's, but with the invention of the diamond drill, new exploration was begun and further discoveries made. Activity may have only been for about one year or less, based on the lack of production data or published articles in trade magazines and journals. The company probably had a company store at the mine camp because of the remote locale. These tokens were probably issued about 1899-1900, but are so rare that their use probably stopped with the closure of the store, which may have only operated for a few months. Regardless, the company's operation was completely dead within two years. [Storms, W. in California Mines and Minerals published by the California Miners' Association, 1899, pp367-9 incl. Footnote; 1900, 1901 Mineral Statistics edited by Rothwell; 1904 MiSci Press] In 1906, the Hite family incorporated another company, the Hite Gold Mines Co. to work gold properties near Wickenberg, Arizona. These two companies must not be confused with each other. The 25 cent token is unlisted in Kappan's revised list California Tokens Supplement, 1997, p158, and the 5 cent variety shows only two reported examples. These are two of the rarest mining related tokens in the west. Est. $1000-1500
271. Mariposa. Mariposa. Agua Fria Gold Mining Co. Scrip. Scrip for 5 shares, #71064-71068, in the Agua Fria GMC. Signed by Robert Price and G. M. Clifford as directors and Beattie secretary. No vignette. Black print on linen paper. Design at left edge. Printer not noted. Uncancelled. 6 x 9. This was one of the Fremont grant (Mariposa Estate) companies. They leases the claim that was leased from Fremont to his bankers Palmer, Cook & Co. Fremont probably floated numerous issues on the Agua Fria Creek drainage, which contained significant placer gold. This creek ran down the gut of his Mariposa Estate. Numerous mining camps developed on its shores including Bear Valley, Mount Ophir, Princeton, upper and lower Agua Fria, Guadeloupe and others. Browne (1868) mentions this company as having property on the Mariposa Estate. This company was scandalous according to Fremont & Hoffman. Refused a lease from Fremont at every turn, they finally got one land third or fourth hand. The mines produced about $100,00 per month in 1863 when the company was sold. There are numerous detailed reports of the early years of the Estate, particularly by J. Ross Browne, 1868, Mineral Resources West of the Rocky Mountains pages 21-30. Minor foxing along edges. Cut irregular. Extremely fine. Est. $200-300
272. Mariposa. Mariposa. Mariposa Land & Mining Co. Cert. #A1020. Incorporated in Issued to Fred P. Brumagin for 20 shares in 1882. Signed by J. H. Brumagin vice president and Robert Cranford secretary. Vignette of a variation of the California State Seal. Orange border. Uncancelled. Printer - National Bank Note. 8 x 12. Datelined New York. This is just one of the companies that formed to operate parts of John C. Fremont's Mariposa Estate. The Josephine, Pine Tree, Princeton and numerous other mines comprised the estate. The Mariposa Land & Mining Co was organized in 1871. In order to relieve massive debts, the company reorganized in the 1880's under the name Mariposa Mining & Commercial Co. Very fine. Est. $300-500
273. Mariposa. Mariposa. Philadelphia & California Mining Co. Cert. #2242. Issued to T. W. Neill for 400 shares in 1859. Signed by Pearson Serville president and Bettle Paul secretary. Vignette of miners working an outcrop with a log cabin, a bear and a horseman in background. Small vignette at bottom center of a dog guarding a key laying next to a safe. Ornate black border and print. Uncancelled. Printer - E. Grattan, Printer, Third & Walnut Sts. 7.5 x 9.5. Signed on reverse by T. W. Neill and witnessed by C. E. Buck. None of the people on this certificate are listed in Bancroft or DAB. They are all probably men of Philadelphia where this issued was sold by J. C. Fremont's attorneys. It is Fremont's first public company based in America that had procured a lease on part of the Mariposa Estate. Minor foxing at edges. Extremely fine. Est. $400-700
274. Mariposa. Mariposa. Quartz Reduction Co, Ltd. Incorporated in London, England. Issued to Francis Lewis Bodenham Esq of Hereford for 5 shares, #12334-12338, in 1856. Signed by Jas. Mitchell and F. Cline directors and Wm. J. Viau secretary. No vignette. Fancy masthead and partial design at left. Black print. Uncancelled. Printer not noted. 8 x 9. This company was formed to acquire the property of the Agua Fria MC. Right edge is irregular. Extremely fine. Est. $300-$600
275. Mariposa. Yosemite. Yosemite Short Line Railway Co. Incorporated in $100 Bond. Issued 1905, cert #3018. Signed by F. J. Salinsky president and John Hancock secretary. Vignette of a steam train with Y. S. L on coal car. Vignette at bottom of a variation of the California State Seal. Green border and underprint. Uncancelled. No coupons attached. One half of the text is in English and the other is in French. The reverse of the bond shows that the Y. S. L. is guaranteed by the Sierra Railway Co of California and signed by T. S. Bullock president and S. D. Freshman secretary. The Yosemite Short Line Ry is not listed within Poor's Manual 1906 nor 1917. The Sierra Ry Co of Ca is listed and in 1906, the officers that signed the bond match those listed in Poor's Manual (1906, p.654). It is not clear the outcome of this railway, but the Yosemite Valley RR became the dominant company serving that part of Mariposa. Extremely fine. Please see Tuolumne County for more YSL pieces in this sale. Est. $200-300
