WASHINGTON

ADAMS

981. Adams. Rock Cut. Mogul Mining Co, 1912. Two letterheads, stock subscription blank and postmarked envelope from the Mogul Mining Co dated 1912. Below the letterhead is “Mines located at Rock Cut, Washington” and the agent was located in Ritzville, WA. Incorporated in Washington. The letters do not offer the type of ore being mined, but does mention that a tunnel was being driven and ore ran at $14 to $70 a ton. This would suggest a gold deposit or a very rich copper rich. The envelope is addressed to a man who lived in Ritzville. The town of Ritzville today is hardly a gas stop located in the southern portion of the Palouse (dry wheat farming region) in eastern Washington. Not listed in the Mines Handbooks. Very fine. Est. $25-75

CHELAN

982. Chelan. Nigger Creek. Shoshone Mercury Co, 1930. Prospectus. Incorporated in Washington. The company formed in 1929 to mine mercury from 560 acres located on Nigger Creek near Blewett Pass Highway. An ore reserve valued at $430,000 which may goes as high as $65 million is reported. The beginning of the prospectus tells of different uses of mercury in medicine, agriculture, navigation and even the attempt to convert mercury to gold by removing an electron. 12 pages, original orange paper, 4 x 8.5”. Extremely fine. Est. $50-100

COLVILLE RESERVATION

983. Colville Reservation. Moses. Multnomah Mining, Milling & Development Co, 1902. Prospectus and market letters. Incorporated in Washington. Promoted from Michigan, but this office moved around the country through time (Copper & Mines Handbooks). The company owned 8 claims on the Colville Indian Reservation in east central Washington, near the town of Nespelem in the Moses district. Ore carried copper and gold values running between $6 and $40 per ton. The 1910 Copper Handbook, lists that the company had expanded its holdings to 600 acres including very favorable placer deposits and was employing 6 men. A dam was built in 1907 on the Nespelem River for power and 5 buildings had been erected. A tunnel had been driven from less than 10 feet in 1902 (prospectus) to over 1000 feet by 1910 with high grade copper and bold ore being encountered (p.1243). The company was idle by 1916. This is one of the few companies that we have seen that ran a somewhat successful business on an Indian Reservation. Typically, non Native American mining companies were forced off the reservation property. Includes several letterhead correspondences dated 1902 mostly sent to stockholders. Prospectus has one photograph on the first page. 16 pages, original gray cover with dark gray print, 4.5 x 9”. Prospectus Xf, Letters Vf. Est. $50-150

FERRY

984. Ferry. Eureka. Number One Consolidated Gold Mining Co, c.1901. Prospectus. Incorporated in Washington. Owned several claims on the Colville Indian Reservation, which was opened to mining by an “Act of Congress”. Quartz veins carried gold valuing around $3 to $40 per ton. A 4 page prospectus with a map of the claims on the inside that runs across both pages and located along the top edge. The last page has sketch of the area. 8.5 x 11”. Minor tears along edges. Fine to very fine. The 1910 Copper Handbook, p.1323, reports the company at Nighthawk, Okanogan County with property carrying a 33’ vein with a 9’ paystreak that had lead and copper. Company was presumably idle. Est. $50-100

985. Ferry. King Camp. Richmond Mining Co, 1902. Lot of 3 different prospectuses. Incorporated in West Virginia, promoted from New York. Company owned property in Ferry County, Washington and in the Windermere district, Kootenay, British Columbia. The property at King’s Camp was located on the Colville Reservation known as the Richmond group with reported values of around $20 gold per ton. One of the prospectus has the original gray cover, 3.5 x 8” with 8 pages. The second has the original green cover, 4 x 7”, 8 pages with a photograph of a valley in the front and a map of the property in the back. The last item is a 4 page report on the Richmond MC, which appear to have been taken from another publication. 5.5 x 8.5”. In 1905, this company was merged into the Richmond Eureka Cons MC which was controlled by the US Smelting. (Copper Handbook, 1906, p.859). All extremely fine. Est. $100-250

986. Ferry. Meteor. Golden Treasure Co, 1900. Prospectus. Owned the I. X. L: and the Dead Shot claims in the Meteor district, Ferry County. There were 3 shafts, one was 120 feet and the other was 230 feet (the third’s depth is not offered in the prospectus). The prospectus is a four page, 8.5 x 11”, promotional piece. The first and last pages have a brief description of the property. The inside 2 pages have sketches of different scenes. The left page has 5 images surrounding a text box at middle. From top left, clockwise, (1) view of a canyon with a steep cliff at left with an interior view of the mountain showing the tunnel intersecting the lode vein; (2) Generalized map of northwest Washington state; (3) View of a miner at the front of an adit; (4) Property map of the company and (5) lumberjack in the woods. The right hand page is a full page sketch of a meteor about to hit the mountains of northwest Washington captioned “Discovery of Dead Shot Mine, Legend of Meteor Camp.” Tears along fold creases. 2 inch piece missing from lower right corner. Fine. Est. $75-150

GENERAL

987. General. Consolidated Gold Companies, 1902. Lot of 2 different prospectuses. Placement of this company in Washington is solely based on the more abundant properties owned in Washington State. The company had properties in 5 states in the western US. Most of these were gold properties and one was a copper play. Included with the prospectus is a detailed description of the gold properties. Most of the company’s property was in Washington State and included 6 claims in the Cascade district, Skagit County, WA; the Bullion group in Swauk district, central Washington; 12 claims, including the Morning Star, Mammoth and Free Gold groups, Mt. Baker district, Whatcom County, WA and 12 claims in the Hawkins Mountains, Cle Elum district, Kittitas, WA. Also owned 20 placer claims along the John Day River, Baker County, OR; 4 lode claims along Onion Creek, Plumas County, CA; 42 placer claims along the Endicott River, west of Lynn Canal, Alaska; 6 claims in the De Lemar district, (Silver City) Owyhee County, Idaho and 5 copper claims in Madison County, Montana. Space does not allow to list the ore values listed in the prospectus and the company was not listed in the Copper Handbooks. The formal prospectus has 16 pages with 6 full page photographs. One shows the hydraulic workings on John Day River. Another shows a birds-eye view of Silver City, Idaho, with several mines and the mill easily seen along the canyon. The third shows a shot of the compressor building of the Blaine Tunnel. The fourth is of a miners next to an adit inspecting ore of the Montana copper property. The fifth photo is a fabulous shot of a water powered arastra which was a primitive way of crushing rock prior to the wide spread use of stamp mills. The last photo is an ore sample that has ample visible gold. Attached on the inside back cover is a map of the western states with red boxes indicating the general location of the various properties owned by the Consolidated Gold Companies. The formal prospectus has 16 pages, original tan cover and is 6 x 9”. Cover has discoloration around a square shape oriented along right edge. The property description prospectus has 8 pages and is 5 x 7.5”. Both Very fine to extremely fine. Est. $100-200

KING

988. King. Red Mountain (Berlin). Co-operative Mining Syndicate, 1898-1902. Lot of 10 different pcs. This lot includes 2 “Report of the Proceedings of the Annual Meeting” for the years of 1901 and 1902. The other 8 items are correspondence on Cooperative Mining Syndicate letterhead that range in dates from 1898 to 1902 and mostly regard the purchase arrangements of stock. The 1901 annual report is 18 pages, measures 6 x 6.5” with original light weight paper. On the second page (counting the cover page as page 1) is a photo of the Mono Cabin. On page is a photo of the Fan Cabin and on the page 16 is a photo the Aces Up Cabin. All these properties were located in the near vicinity of Berlin, King County, WA. There are 2 different topographic profiles, one of the Aces Up and the other of the Mono claims. The company also owned property in Snohomish County. The 1902 annual report is much smaller, 3 x 6” and has 12 pages. There is less information offered, but does include a balance sheet showing the company mired in debt. This balance sheet corresponds with one of the correspondence letters indicating an assessment to levied on stockholders. No photos or maps in the 1902 report. Both annual reports printed by Metropolitan Press, Seattle. The Copper Handbook lists this company as probably dead by 1904. All items in this lot have fold creases and are fine to very fine. Est. $100-250

989. King. Red Mountain (Berlin). Co-operative Mining Syndicate, c.1900. A large format broadside, measuring 15.5 x 11.5”. The first page has columns of text with a map insert, 7 x 6.5”, at lower right of the Index district showing the claims. The middle 2 pages have 11 different photographs of the Index towsite, and the mines of the area, not necessarily those of the company. The last page has 7 photographs at the top with 3 columns of text below. These 4 pages are extracted from a publication entitled “The Wave”. This was probably one of the prolific mining investment magazines that were published around the turn of the century. See lot above for more information. Extremely fine. Est. $75-150

990. King. Red Mountain (Berlin). Durango Boy Mining Co, 1901. Prospectus. The Durango Boy purchased the Durango mine and Golden Chimney claim group in 1900 from the Golden Chimney MC. The property has ore that was reported to run a few dollars to as much as $60 per ton gold. I always find a little disconcerting when there are testimonials of other company’s officers and mine managers, especially from mines that are adjacent the property, touting the excellent ore potential of property that they don’t own or control. At the end are 2 photographs, one showing Mt. Durango and the other showing the ore vein. Also, the last page has 2 different maps, one is a plat map of the claims and the other shows the property with the other local mines, mill, ore shoots and tramways. Not listed in the Copper Handbooks. 30 pages, with original tan cover and reddish brown print, 3 x 6”. Extremely fine. Est. $50-100

991. King. Red Mountain (Berlin). Great Republic Gold Mining Co, 1900. Attractive Prospectus. Owned a plethora of property around Berlin (which the company referred to as the Miller River district) including the town sites of Berlin and Miller River, in addition to other, less substantial, properties on the west side of the Cascades. The name of the company is derived from the Great Republic claim group held in the Mr. Baker district, Whatcom County. Owned the Miller River claim group, Bryan claim and Happy Thought claims in Miller River Canyon in King County. None of the properties were extensively developed, with a reported 400 foot tunnel on the Miller River group and a 500 foot tunnel on the Happy Thought claim. According to the featured testimonial, a concentrator was erected in the first part of 1900 and the company takes credit for the development of Berlin including most of the structures (I.e. school house, sawmill, store, etc). From reading of the prospectus, one gets the feeling that the company couldn’t fail with all its diversity, but was never listed in the Copper or Mines Handbooks. This doesn’t necessarily imply the company failed, but typically does. 24 pages, original tri-fold purple, unique cover, 4 x 6.5”. Extremely fine to near mint condition. Est. $100-200

992. King. Red Mountain (Berlin). Great Republic Gold Mining Co, 1901. These 2 prospectuses offer more information regarding the properties owned with ore values. The first prospectus is 24 pages with original yellow cover. The cover measures 4.5 x 9”, but the text is on pages sized 8 x 9”. 10 photographs mostly showing differing buildings and cabins in the town of Berlin. This prospectus is extremely fine. The second prospectus has nearly the same amount and type of information with only 6 photographs of buildings. 10 pages, original yellow cover, 6 x 9”. There is a small tear at the right edge that affects all pages and rear cover. Cover and pages are dirty, not from water or exposure. Fine. Est. $100-200

993. King. Red Mountain (Berlin). Kimball Creek Mining Co, 1902. Prospectus. Owned 14 claims located about 2 miles from Berlin which we place in the Red Mountain district. The company had a bunk house and 2 blacksmith shops. The Red Mountain district is typically a copper producer, but this company reports gold and silver values with only minor amounts of copper. 4 photographs of adits on the properties and one map of the claims relative to the town of Berlin. In the 1908 Copper Handbook, p.847, the company was dead. 16 pages, original purple cover with silver gilt lettering. Cover is 4 x 9” but pages are 8 x 8.5”. The cover has many spots from moisture and purple color has faded. Half of the back cover is torn and missing. The bottom edge of the cover and pages have several chips almost looking like a small furry critter took some bites. Fine. Est. $50-100

994. King. Red Mountain (Miller River). King Gold & Copper Mining & Milling Co, 1901. Prospectus. Company claimed to own the Old Timer, Big Pine and Snoqualmie claim groups all located in the Miller River district (listed in this catalog as the Red Mountain district as used by later editions of the Copper and Mines Handbooks). Ore values were around 8% copper and about 2 ounces each silver and gold. A 2 page map is located at the middle, showing the company’s claims. The 1904 (and later) Copper Handbook lists this company, but not being in Washington. Rather, it is listed at Victor, San Bernardino, CA with this direct quote (1906, p.498) “Company advertises to give an absolutely guaranteed investment, consequently must be managed either by fools or rascals.” The contact office of 921 185 Dearborn St, Chicago is same as that listed in the prospectus. Too coincidental to not be the same company. 16 pages, original drab green cover with green print, 5 x 7”. Extremely fine to near mint condition. Est. $100-200

995. King. Red Mountain (Salmon). Golconda Mining Co, 1900. Prospectus. The company owned the Klondike and Little Emma mines located on the north slop of Red Mountain, King County. This area has had several different names for the districts including Berlin, Red Mountain and now, in this prospectus, Salmon. Red Mountain is the one the stuck as found in the Copper Handbooks. A testimonial from an engineer’s report on the property claims that ore was of free milling gold with values between $1 and $160. Most of this prospectus contains various testimonials on the property. The second page has a poem written about the Golconda, a fabled region supposed to contain vast riches. The poem may have been written for any number of mines and mining companies with the Golconda name (there is even a town in Nevada named Golconda). The company is not listed in the Copper Handbooks. 16 pages, in original light gray cover with gilt lettering, 4 x 8”. The front cover has a tri-fold. The inside fold has had its top half ripped off. The text is in blue print. Printed by H. W. Moulton. The cover is discolored from exposure. Fine to very fine. Est. $50-100

996. King. Red Mountain (Salmon). Golden Tunnel-Durango Boy Mining Co, 1901. The layout and format of this prospectus is very similar to that of the Durango Boy MC as listed above. The same management probably was in charge when the consolidation of the Golden Tunnel MC and the Durango Boy MC properties under this new company. The merger included the addition of a series of placer claims at the confluence of the Eagle and Salmon Creeks at the base of Red Mountain. In fact, the last 4 pages are identical with 2 photographs, one showing Mr. Durango and the other of an ore vein followed by 2 maps, one of the claims and the other map showing the immediate vicinity. 46 pages, with original orange tri-fold cover with black print, 3 x 6”. The inside flap of front cover has a portion of a letterhead from the company attached, the rest of the letter has been lost. Very fine to extremely fine. Est. $75-150

OKANOGAN

997. Okanogan. Baker Creek. Siwash Gold Mining & Leasing Co, 1902. Prospectus. Incorporated in New Jersey, promoted by Ellsworth Vail, New York. The company had a lease on 5 claims, leased to the company by the Siwash Indian Tribe and the property located on the Colville Reservation. Ore ran from $8 to $32 gold and silver. Company is not listed in the Copper or Mines Handbooks. Original brown cover with black print and red string at binding, 8 pages, 6 x 9”. The prospectus has been folding with crease from top to bottom. Near mint. Est. $75-150

998. Okanogan. Conconully. Mineral Hill Mining Co, 1902. Prospectus and letter. Incorporated in Washington, promoted from Connecticut. The property was located on Mineral Hill just outside of Conconully. Ore was reported to carry about $4 gold, $80 silver, $2 copper and $15 lead per ton. 9 photographs showing different scenes of the property. 20 pages. Original cover measuring 4 x 9” with the inner pages unfolding to 7 x 8.5”. Minor wear and dirt stains along edges. Lot includes a typed letter, dated 1902, sent out to the stockholders. This company was reorganized as the Washington Tunnel & MC, which then became the Washington Consolidated Copper Co, then the Penn-Wash Consolidated Mines Co. The management apparently remained the same, with the Penn Wash Mines Co having the same officers as the Mineral Hill MC. (Copper Handbook, 1910, p.1174 & 1391). Extremely fine. Est. $75-150

999. Okanogan. Galena. Viola Gold & Copper Mining Co, c.1900. Prospectus. Incorporated in Washington, promoted from New York. 7 claims in the Aneas Mountains, Galena district, Okanogan County. Assays ran at $1 to $68 gold, with a trace to 76 ounces silver and “other values in Lead and Copper.” Company listed as idle in 1908 (Copper Handbook, p.1401). Single sheet, bi-folded, making 6 pages with 4 of those with text, 6 x 3.5”. Discoloration from light exposure affects one half of the front cover and all of the back page. Very fine. Est. $50-100

1000. Okanogan. Loomis. Palmer Mountain Gold Mining & Tunnel Co, c.1902. Prospectus. Incorporated in Washington. Owned 57 contiguous claims on the southwest slope of Palmer Mountain extending from the base to the summit. The company reported a tunnel that was 4000 feet and achieved a 1400 foot vertical change. The plan was to extend the tunnel to 8600 feet. Ore values reported between $25 and $60 per ton. Does not offer the type of ore, whether copper or gold. 8 pages, original dark gray cover 4 x 9.5”. Pages fold out to 8 x 9”. In 1903, the company was reorganized as the Palmer Mountain Tunnel & Power Co, which turned out to be a complete scam run by John Boyd, who initially organized the Palmer Mountain Co in 1896. The company reported, as is also found in the prospectus, that the 4000 foot tunnel had crossed 28 different ore bearing veins. Well, it turns out that this was a lie, only one vein was intersected and that was barren of ore. The company did build a hydro electric plant, capable of 3000 hp or 750 kw of power and there was a “wonderful” 100 stamp mill “which is a sin and a shame, as the mine has no ore worth mentioning.” The swindle was uncovered by the stockholders around 1908, forcing John Boyd out. The company reorganized again as the Palmer Mountain Tunnel Co. It was reported that $1.5 million was spent on the property. &#x201The Palmer Mountain is a fine example of how easily foolish investors are induced to squander enormous amounts of money on an absolutely worthless enterprise.” (p.1378-1379). Extremely fine. Est. $100-200

1001. Okanogan. Loomis. Security Gold Mining & Milling Co, c.1904. Lot of 2 different prospectuses and on Bulletin. Incorporated in Washington, promoted from New York. This company was probably related to the Palmer Mountain Mining & Tunnel Co (see lot above). It owned claims the west side of Palmer Mountain adjoinin those of the Palmer Mountain company. The company reported intersecting a vein that assayed over $31,000. These same veins were the same as those that were crosscut in the Palmer Mountain Tunnel which turned out to be a scam (see story above). The general manager of this company was John Boyd who was the president of Palmer Mountain, who was forced out of that company for fraud. Not listed in the Copper or Mines Handbooks. The first prospectus described is the more fancy and creatively laid out (Boyd was probably able to afford a more elaborate prospectus after scamming the investors of Palmer Mountain - vp). A photograph is on the front cover with Palmer Mountain in background. On the inside front cover is a photograph of the adit entrance. 6 pages, original yellow cover, 7.5 x 9”. The second prospectus is a single sheet, tri-folded to 3.5 x 8” printed on green paper. The last item is “Bulletin No. 3” dated 1904. A letter to stockholders, on linen paper, informing that ore was being shipped to the Tacoma Smelter and dividends would begin in March 1904. 3 pages, 8 x 11”. All very fine to extremely fine. Est. $100-250

1002. Okanogan. Loomis. Six Eagles Mining Co, 1902. Prospectus and letter. Property located in the Palmer Mountain district (as reported by H. E. Dunham, the mining expert to examine the property) consisting of 8 claims known as the Six Eagles group situated on Little Chopaca Mountain. Ore contained copper, lead, gold and silver running from $10 to $60 per ton. The company was reorganized as the Little Chopaca MC with the same management as this company (Copper Handbook, 1910, p.1564). Prospectus is a single sheet, folded 4 times to 8.5 x 4”, making 10 pages. Includes a 2 page typed letterhead. Very fine. Est. $75-150

1003. Okanogan. Okanogan. Blue Lake Gold & Copper Mining, Smelting & Power Co, 1903. Prospectus, 4 pages. The company owned property on Goat Mountain in the Okanogan district with the main office at Conconully, WA. No assays are offered except for a few sample that were taken to Spokane worth $70 per ton. The prospectus is mostly made up of excerpts from local newspapers regarding other mines and properties. The Copper Handbook (1906, p.261) states that the company reported assays of 3% to 49% copper and $3-11 gold per ton. It also states “Lied atrociously in its prospectus. Apparently a dead duck.” 4 pages, printed in blue, 8 x 11. Printed by Fowle Printing Co, Milwaukee. Minor discoloration at bottom edge. Very fine. Est. $50-150

1004. Okanogan. Oroville. Oroville Mines, LTD, 1904. Circular. Incorporated in British Columbia, promoted from New York. Owned the Cobbler, Great Wonder, Similkameen, Freezeout and Ufford claims in Okanogan County located about 20 miles south of Camp McKinney. The prospectus is a little vague about the location of the properties, amount of development and value of the ores. 4 pages with an attached page inside. 8.5 x 14”. Discoloration along edges, appears to be from wear. Not listed in the Copper Handbooks. Very fine. Est. $50-100

1005. Okanogan. Wannacut Lake. Night Hawk Mining Co, 1902. Prospectus and circular. Owned several claims in the Wannacut Lake district with copper and gold ore in quartz veins and stringers. The blue cover has a sketching of a hawk with is duplicated on the first page. 7 photographs of the mine and miners. A 2 page map at the center shows the claims and the following page contains a topographic profile and cross section of the workings. 16 pages, 5 x 8”. Extremely fine. The second item is a 8 x 14” advertisement with the same topographic profile and cross sectional view as the prospectus, just much bigger, with the tunnels attributed and described below. Folded at middle. Very fine. The company was still in operation in 1908 employing 15 men and reporting 8% copper and 1 ounce gold per ton. (Copper Handbook, 1910, p.1298). Est. $75-150

PIERCE

1006. Pierce. Carbon River. Montezuma Mining Co, 1900. These 2 prospectuses are companion pieces that were mailed together. The first item is a prospectus entitled “Ground Floor Ideas, Montezuma Mining Co, 1900” that covers justifications for investing in mining companies early on prior to full mine development. Original brown cover, 3.5 x 9”, 4 pages. The second item is a true company prospectus. Property was located in 2 different districts, Carbon River and Tahoma. Real property owned outright was the Dakota, Ellis, Ellis Ext, Emma, Chicago and Nevada. But these properties were not development and were not the main focus of the company’s plan. Rather, the leased Blue Star claim group was being actively tunneled claiming to be in a 4 foot wide pure chalcopyrite assaying at 32% copper. In the prospectus, the Blue Star property was leased from the Blue Star MC, which in the Copper Handbook, was listed as having property in Stevens County with no mention to the Blue Star group. On nearly every page is an illustration or photograph that is in a pink color. 20 pages, original green cover with gold sting at binding, 4 x 8”. Both extremely fine. Est. $100-200

1007. Pierce. Carbon River. Montezuma Mining Co, 1902. Prospectus and letter to stockholders. Incorporated in Washington and promoted from New York. See lot above for detailed information about the company. In this prospectus, the company announces that it is in the process of acquiring property at Cape Nome, Alaska. 20 pages, original red cover, 4 x 8”. Printed by Dearborn Printing Co, Seattle. The second item is the annual report from 1902, 3 x 6”. This company is not listed in the Copper Handbook. Extremely fine. Est. $75-150

1008. Pierce. Fairfax. Washington Cooperative Mining Syndicate, c.1902. Broadside. Owned property 17 miles from Fairfax that shows a 25 foot vein assaying at 5% to 33% copper, 5-8 ounces silver and $2 gold per ton. The company was in the hands of a receiver until the sale of its coal lands to the Western Iron, Coal & Coke Co. Company listed as idle and presumably moribund (dead) in 1908 (Copper Handbook, p.1414). Advertisement for the company is the form of a broadside with a sketch of the workings and buildings at the middle with limited information surrounding. 9 x 12.5”. This company is not related to the Cooperative Mines Syndicate listed above. Extremely fine. Est. $50-100

1009. Pierce. Steilacoom. Washington Smelter Co, c.1900. Prospectus. Incorporated in Washington, promoted from New York. This is a concise 3 page prospectus, 8.5 x 11”. The company wanted to build a smelter for matter copper at Steilacoom, just outside Tacoma, to process copper. Also wanted to build smaller, 50-100 ton smelters, in each of the following mining districts in Pierce County: Carbon River, Summit, Glacier Basin, Mowich, Mashel and Mineral Creek. An advertisement cut out from a publication is attached at the upper left corner. Company not listed in the Copper Handbook suggesting that it never got off the ground. Discolored from contact with acid paper. Very fine. Est. $50-150

1010. Pierce. Summit. Medina Gold Mining Co, 1905. Lot of 2 different prospectuses and a market letter. Incorporated in Washington. The company owned property in Washington, California and Ontario. The Washington property was located on the west side of Crystal Mountain (now one of the West Coast’s best ski resorts) in the Summit district. According the 1905 prospectus, the tunnel had driven nearly 600 feet, assaying at $30-$40 gold, silver and copper per ton. The California property was at Oro Fino, Siskiyou County. This property was under lease at a $1 royalty per ton ore retaining any profit on ore that ran $7. Ore that was more than $7, was to be split evenly to the leasers (doesn’t sound like a great contract to me - vp). Finally, the property in Ontario was located in Hastings County was known as the El Dorado mine. Initially, this mine was developed for the rich hematite found at the surface. Below the iron zone, was copper mineralization being considered the only viable copper play in western Canada. There are 2 prospectuses in this lot. One is from 1901, 6 x 8.5” and has a newspaper advertisement attached on the last page,

total of 12 pages. The second prospectus is from 1905, measures 8.5 x 11” with 4 pages. This prospectus has been through a little more rough handling with the front and rear pages detached, chips and small tears along edges and dirt stains along fold creases. The Copper Handbook, 1908, p.928, shows that the Medina Gold MC was succeeded by the Medina Copper MC in 1907 being operated by the same management and Syracuse, New York promoter. Medina Copper MC was only operating the El Dorado copper property in Ontario, Canada. Under the listing for this company (same page in Copper Handbook), is “practically as successor of the Medina gold Mining Co, which went out of business suddenly, after paying several dividends, presumably, unearned. Apparently has disposed somehow of its lands at El Dorado, to the Ontario Copper Co, which is practically under the same management. Is not regarded favorably.” In the Copper Handbook, 1910, p.1346, lists the Ontario Copper Co as “Dead. Was a bad egg.” Est. $100-200

SNOHOMISH

1011. Snohomish. Darrington. Sauk River Mining Co, c.1901. Lot of 4 different pcs. Prospectus, circulars and others. Incorporated in Washington, promoted from Seattle. Owned 9 claims, known as the Blue Bird and Mohawk, on Gold Mountain near the town of Darrington on the Sauk River. The Blue bird was reported to have an ore vein 98 feet wide with three pay veins assaying from $6-180 per ton. The Mohawk had a 3 foot vein assaying from $10 to $260 gold. Original green cover with blue print, 11 pages. Map attached on inside back cover that folds out to 12 x 20” showing the claims and workings of the property. The company was dead by 1908 (Copper Handbook, p.1222). Xf. Est. $75-150

1012. Snohomish. Index (Silver Creek). Bonanza Mining & Smelting Co, c.1900. Lot of 2 different prospectuses. Property consists of 12 claims that had 1200 feet in the Louise Tunnel, 185 feet on the White Rose lode, 350 feet on the Monarch lode and 200 feet on the Edison. There are 2 pages that have photographs of the adit entrance with miners and below are tables of the ore assay values. These were reported at 7-26% copper, or $2-$47, silver at $1-$320 and $1-$240 gold per ton. The page after the photo and assay chart has a property map of the claims owned. The Copper Handbook lists this company in operation until 1910, but no production noted. A single sheet that is tri folded to from 8 individual pages. 4 x 8, printed in black on crème paper. The second prospectus is 3 pages, in legal format layout, containing similar information as the professional prospectus but in a blue carbon copy type. Miner foxing along left edge. Very fine. Est. $75-150

1013. Snohomish. Index. Bunker Hill Mining & Smelting Co, 1903. Prospectus entitled “Lettters, Engineer’s Reports, Maps and Plans.” The company was originally incorporated as the Bunker Hill-Sullivan MC in 1900. After the acquisition of the Copper Belle group of claims, located about 3.5 miles from Index, the company was reorganized as the Bunker Hill Mining & Smelting Co in 1902. The former president of the Copper Belle MC became the president of the Bunker Hill M&SmC. The prospectus is titled “Letters, Engineer’s Reports, Maps and Plans…” And sure enough there are several reproduced reports based on examinations of various mining engineers. There are also 4 full page maps of the property that include a general map of the western part of Washington showing the location of the property in relation to Tacoma, Seattle and Everett. There is a cross sectional topographic profile of the property, a plan map of the workings and a plat map of the claims. The prospectus does not offer any production numbers but does offer assay values throughout. The average of ore was around 3% copper, $5 gold and $2-$5 silver. According to the Copper Handbook, 1908, p.423, the company had erected a mill in 1907 that was capable of handling 100 tons per day and a 75 ton smelter that went on line in 1908. Bunker Hill M&SmC was idle by 1910. 24 pages, original blue cover with dark blue print, 9 x 11.5”. The cover is of light weight paper that has chips and small tears along the top and right edge. The front cover has discoloration from exposure except at left edge where a rectangular outline indicates something was once attached. Very fine. Est. $50-150

1014. Snohomish. Index. Ethel Consolidated Mines, 1902. Organized as a merger between the Ethel Copper MC and the John D. Copper Co in 1902. The properties consisted of the Ethel, John D. and Mother Lode Groups, totaling 42 claims throughout the property. Developed on two levels, the Ethel Mine reached depths of 500 and 680 feet, with over 2,000 feet in drifts, “the whole of which is in ore.” Gives views of the 500 and 700 foot levels, along with images of power sources, camp headquarters, the concentrating mill and internal workings. Inside front and back covers have fold out vellum maps of mine and properties. &#x201Company began the payment of 1% dividends in 1903, and mine was shut down shortly thereafter.” (Copper Handbook, 1908, p.673). 14 photographs of the camp and mine buildings. Cover has nice purple design on tan paper. Printed by the Dick Press. 8” x 10”. Approximately 25 pages. Vf, minor tearing and foxing to cover. Est. $100-300

1015. Snohomish. Index. Ethel Consolidated Mines, 1902-1904. Lot of 7 different pcs. The prospectus put out in 1902 by the newly formed Ethel Consolidated Mines as a consolidation of the Ethel Copper MC and the John D. Copper MC (which see both companyies’ prospectuses in this district.) is an attractive item. The original cover with purple string binding, has a pink design with purple lettering that catches the eye. Attached to the front and rear covers are blue print style maps. The map at the front is a plat map of the claims. There are 2 maps at the back, both 9 x 26” when unfolded, that showing the workings of the property. The prospectus is printed on glossy paper with 13 full page photographs. (1) General view of the Index area. (2) The town of Index. (4 & 5) Underground shots at the 500 and 700 foot level showing heavily timbered tunnels. (7) A two page photograph of the Headquarters Camp where operations were based. The last 2 pages of text form an assay results table. Copper ran at 2-10%, 0-16 ounces silver and 0-0.1 ounces gold per ton. 30 pages, 8 x 10”. R. H. Stretch was the mine manager of the Ethel Consolidated until about the middle of 1903. Stretch earned his fame from the Nevada Comstock mines going on to be the first State Mineralogist of Nevada. A prominent figure to list in any prospectus. The company was unable to meet its first promised dividend payment at about the time that R. H. Stretch is no longer referred to. This comes from 5 different, and sequentially dated, letters to stockholders. These circulars steadily become more disappointing to the investor. The mill had to be shut down in late 1903 due to encountering ore that mostly chalcopyrite, instead of the bornite and glance that the earlier Ethel Copper MC encountered near the surface. Also, there appeared to be no resolution in the works resulting in an indefinite deferment of any dividend payments. The Copper Handbook, 1908, p.673, claims that all the property was under option to the McAllister-Rowland Copper MC. Neither company survived past 1910. All fine to very fine. Est. $200-400

1016. Snohomish. Index. Ethel Copper Mining Co, 1900. Lot of 5 different pcs. The Ethel mine was located about 5 miles from Index and, as typically found in prospectuses, was touted as the next great copper mine of the west. The mine was purchased in 1899 from the discoverers, Sam Fourtner and L. C. Engle, for $40,000. The Ethel Copper MC immediately put 27 men to work resulting in a 600 foot drift of which 270 feet were in ore assaying at $15 to $140 per ton copper. This information was gleaned from the first prospectus which is 12 pages, original green cover with gilt lettering and 3 x 6”. A second prospectus offers similar information with more verbiage and detail as compared to the first just described. In the section about the metalliferous deposits it states that the ore in the region occurs with gold, silver, copper and lead and in most cases, “in rebellious combinations.” (I wonder if the minerals were in their teenage years - vp). This prospectus is in a legal format layout with the last 4 pages, of 6 total, having copies of assay reports. Original green cover, 8 x 13”. A third item included is a “Letter to the Stockholders, Nov. 1901.” This letter informs investors that a 50 ton concentrator will be completed by December and the construction of several out buildings had been completed. A 4th item is a letter to stockholders announcing the initial run of the newly constructed concentrator on April 21, 1902. This letter goes on to solicit existing stockholders to help buyout the remaining 25,000 shares in the treasury to help finalize construction debt. In September, 1902, a letter was mailed to the stockholders of both the Ethel Copper MC and the John D. Copper MC (company with property immediately adjoining the Ethel) informing them that the two companies were to be merged with a stock exchange in the new company incorporated as Ethel Consolidated Mines (please see the lot above). The correspondence letters are 8.5 x 11” and have minor tears along fold creases. All are fine to very fine. Est. $100-200

1017. Snohomish. Index. Index Mining Co, 1900. Prospectus. The president of this company, Lot Wilbur, grubstaked the McRee brothers, who discovered the 16 to 1, Crown Jewel, Pride of Index, Mystery and Copper Queen claims. The brothers were killed soon after the staking and one of the wives of the brothers and Wilbur, who was entitled to 25% interest in the property, were the incorporators of the company. Ore was of copper, around 30%, silver and gold. The trail to the property had a suspension bridge across the Skynomish River, which was built by the company. The company is listed in the Copper Handbook, 1908, p.809, as owning property known as the Miller group, with a 300 and an 800 foot tunnel but was considered idle (this wording was one step below out of business when used by the Copper and Mines Handbook). The company admits in the prospectus that until a spur is built at the base of the horse trail, shipping ore is not possible or economic. Attached on the inside of the back cover is a folded map, 5.5 x 16”, of the property claims relative to the town of Index. 3 photographs of the mine buildings, 26 pages, original green cover, 5.5 x 4”. Minor dirt along edges. Very fine. Est. $75-150

1018. Snohomish. Index. John D. Copper Mining Co, c.1900-1902. This lot contains 7 different promotional flyers and cut out advertisements pertaining to the John D. Copper MC. The company owned property that adjoined the Ethel Copper MC. Both companies merged to form the Ethel Consolidated Mines in 1902 (which see above for a more in depth story). Sizes vary. All very fine. Est. $75-150

1019. Snohomish. Index. Kittanning Copper Mining Co, 1900-1901. Lot of 2 different prospectuses. Owned the Marshall group which included the L. M., Lone Star and Tip Top claims all located in the Index district. The first item is a prospectus from 1900, at which time no development work had been done, except minor surface digging to establish ore veins. As reported in the Annual Report, 1902 (the 2nd item in this lot), a 350 foot tunnel had been pushed on the Lone Star claim with ore values returning at about 5% copper with minor silver and gold. The company was named after the town of the same name in Pennsylvania, where most of the directors were located. The Copper Handbook, 1905, p. 499., lists that the company is probably dead. The prospectus was printed by Mensing-Muchmore Press, Seattle, has 4 fold creases that unfolds to form 10 individual, attached, pages, 3.5 x 5.5”. The Annual Report is on yellow paper, has 3 fold creases unfolding to 8 pages, 3.5 x 6”. Both extremely fine. Est. $75-150

1020. Snohomish. Index. Lakeside Gold Copper Mining Co, 1901. Prospectus. Owned 8 claims in the Index district including: Lakeside group, assaying at $21-$72 copper; Sioux group, surface float assayed $8; King & Knickerbocker group with fantastic assays of $45-$134 copper, silver and gold; and finally Douglas claim assaying at $8 gold only. The prospectus is a bi-folded sheet that unfolds to 6 individual sheets, 3.5 x 6.5”. On one page is a map of the Index district showing the claims of the company in sold black. Stock purchases were to be directed to Sweetser-Bennet, Wholesale Jewelers, in Boston. Attached to the back page is a letter head from Sweetser Bennett informing the American Mines Journal of 3 corrections to the listing that was to be published. A copy proof of the listing is also attached behind the letterhead. Extremely fine. Est. $100-200

1021. Snohomish. Index (Silver Creek). New York-Seattle Copper Mining Co, 1901. Lot of 2 different prospectuses. Incorporated in Washington. Promoted from New Jersey. Owned 6 claims located along Silver Creek showing ore of arsenopyrite, chalcopyrite, bornite and malachite. The prospectus claims that copper ran as high as 60%, but provides copies of assay reports that show 3-7% copper and only traces of gold and silver. The first item is a prospectus with 18 pages, original gray cover with black print and measures 3.5 x 5.5”. Printed by C. F. Williams, Albany, NY. Attached on inside of rear cover is a fold out map that shows the towns of Mineral City and Index as well as the company’s property relative to Everett smelter, 5.5 x 8”. Extremely fine. The second item is a 4 page circular offering a concise report of the company. The inside 2 pages has a cross sectional view of the ore veins with the tunnel shown. On the last page is a photograph of the ore dump and tunnel entrance. 7.5 x 10”. Wear to fold creases. According to the 1908, Copper Handbook, p.1039-1040, a 100 ton concentrator was built that was processing 60 tons a day for a short time. Company was idle after this report. Very fine. Est. $75-150

1022. Snohomish. Index. Sunset Copper Mining Co, c.1902-1904. Lot of 6 different pcs, including 3 propectuses, broadside and market letters. Incorporated in Washington. The company organized in 1897 to develop the Sunset group of claims located in the Index district. Ore assays were reported at 12% copper and 8 ounces silver with an average of 9% copper on 300 tons of ore sent to the Puget Sound Reduction Works. It would appear that like some many other bad eggs, this company became involved with a dishonest promoter. The 1904 Copper Handbook that it would be prudent to thoroughly investigate the management involved with Sunset as W. H. Baldwin was promoting the company. &#x201Ct least three things are required to make a successful mine, these being, ore, money and management, and as the present promoter of the Sunset, W. H. Baldwin, has been implicated in a scandalous mining failure, careful investigation has been made for this publication…” The Copper Handbook found that the officers involved were honest and reputable and any financial problems that had or would arise would be due to mismanagement, not intent to deceive (p.660-662). In 1904, McManus, the original promoter of the company, came back and helped in paying the entire debt of the company. Also, in 1904, a letter was sent to stockholders announcing that new members were elected to the board who were also new heavy investors from Pennsylvania. There are 2 prospectus that have identical text pages with different color covers, one peach and the other blue. Each is 14 pages, 6 x 9”, printed by Harjes & Wright, NY. A different style prospectus is titles “Views of the Sunset Copper Mining Co…” There are 12 pages and 12 half page photographs of different views of the property. Original green cover with black print, 6 x 8.5”. The 4th item is an advertisement prospectus 9.5 x 12”, 8 pages with 12 photographs. The last page has portrait shots of the directors including W. H. Baldwin. (Baldwin was known to use aggressive advertisement techniques, and this would fit the style. The flyer is folded and there is a tear at right edge, about 1 inch, that affects all sheets. The 5th item is a 2 sided, 8.5 x 13.5 sheet, that was probably a mailer. The last item is a 2 page letter to stockholders informing of the newly elected board members, 1904. Items range from Fine to Extremely fine. Est. $150-300

1023. Snohomish. Silverton. Lost Garnet Gold & Copper Mining & Milling Co, 1900. Wonderful Broadside. Company owned the Welcome Home, Little Giant, B & W, Big Strike, Lucky Jack, Golden Heart, Blue Bell, Copper Glance and Hustler claims at the line between the Silverton and Stillaguamish districts. Ore was reported to carry chalcopyrite, iron pyrites, arsenical iron and bornite with varying gold and silver values. There are a few samples listed that were assayed showing around $12 gold. On the reverse side is an attractive landscape sketch of the area around the mine property. A map insert shows the regional area. The full sheet is 9 x 15” and is folded twice. Tears along fold creases. Fine. Est. $75-150

1024. Snohomish. Stillagaumish. Granite Falls Gold Mining Co, c.1898-1900. Prospectus. The company owned the Captain Smith and American Girl claims in the Stillagaumish district near Granite Falls, Snohomish County. The prospectus claims that the Tillicum MC had done work previously on this same property reporting ore values at $6 to $71 a ton. According to the company, no work had yet begun and was also looking to purchase other properties. A lackluster sales pitch and the company probably never really got off the ground. Not listed in the Copper Handbooks. The last page has a map of the region showing the location of Everett (where the major smelter was located) relative to Granite Falls, where the property was located. 4 pages, original red cover with black print, 4.5 x 6”. Very minor wear to left edge. Extremely fine. Est. $75-150

STEVENS

1025. Stevens. Bossburg. Old Hickory Gold Mining Co, 1904. Letter to the Stockholders. The company owned several properties on the Colville Reservation and along the Columbia River. These were essentially dropped to focus further development on the Victor and New York claims near Bossburg. The ore was said to be of gold, silver and copper, but no assays or values offered. 4 pages, only 2 pages typed. A letter to the stockholders of the company, 1904. Not listed in the Copper Handbook. Promoted from New York. Est. $50-100

1026. Stevens. Chewelah (New Era). Alice Gold Mining Co, c.1897-1900. The prospectus claims to own the Stella Mine in the New Era district, without offering the county or state. Headquarters were in Spokane. Interesting that the company has Gold in the title and the review of the property discusses the nature of the copper ore. The company is listed in the Copper Handbook, 1906, p.173, stating property as being 11 claims in the Chewelah district of Stevens County showing good values of gold and copper. Supposedly there were two 200 feet shafts and 2 short tunnels. Considered idle. The company was incorporated in 1896. 8 pages, 3.5 x 6”. Extremely fine. Est. $50-150

1027. Stevens. Chewelah. Revenue Mining Co, c.1902. Lot of 2 different prospectuses. Incorporated in Arizona, promoted from Minneapolis. The company had very diverse property holdings in 4 different states. In Monterey, California, the company had 320 acres of oil lands; at Joplin, Missouri, 400 acres of lead-zinc property; in Polk County, Arkansas, owned slate quarries; 640 acres of oils in Grand County, Utah and a natural gas franchise that services the town of Benton, Missouri. The 2 different prospectuses refer to all these properties, but play up the gold and copper properties located in the Chewelah district. Of the 2 ore values offered, one claims that there was 3200 ounces of silver and 8% copper. Probably a little exaggerated, seeing how the company was dead by 1906. (Copper Handbook, p.855). One of the prospectuses has 2 photographs on the front cover sheet, 12 pages, two different maps of the properties in Washington and 4 x 6.5”. The second prospectus is a single sheet, 9 x 22”, that is folds down to 3 x 9”, creating 12 individaul pages. 5 photographs and 2 maps. Both have minor wear. Very fine. Est. $100-200

1028. Stevens. Chewelah. United States Gold & Copper Co, c.1901. Prospectus. Incorporated in Washington, promoted by G. A. Pounder of Seattle. Owned 380 acres in the Sultan Basin about 8 miles from the head of the Sultan River and only 20 miles from the Everett Smelter. There were a few hundred feet of tunnels and open cuts exposing copper carbonates. The company allowed a glaring mistake to go through, probably on purpose, that a 5 cent dividend on 1000 shares would bring $600 per year. The company was listed as dead (Copper Handbook, 1908, p.1362). 16 pages, original pink cover with black print, 5.5 x 3.5”. 2 page claim map at middle. Discoloration along left edge. Extremely fine. Est. $75-150

1029. Stevens. Metaline. Lead Trust Mine Co, 1902. Prospectus. Incorporated in Washington. The mine property was located at the extreme northeastern part of Washington State, just below the Canadian border, near Northport and Metalline, WA. Ore was of mostly lead with some gold and silver, assaying at around $25 per ton. The prospectus is printed on one sheet of paper, 12.5 x 13.5”, that is folded in half, then folded three times, giving 8 pages of text, 2 pages of figures. When the prospectus is completely unfolded, one side of the sheet is all diagrams. One of the smaller diagrams shows a regional map of the northeastern WA and Canada. The next small figure is a portrait of Theodore Roosevelt (where Teddy comes into play with this company or any other aspect is beyond me -vp). The photos show (upper left, clockwise) the Monte Cristo mine, which was owned by John D. Rockefeller; 3 miners working a surface outcrop; a miner and a mule at a surface exposure and the Le Roi mine in Rossland, British Columbia. Not listed in the Copper Handbooks. Minor staining. Very to extremely fine. Est. $75-150

1030. Stevens. Newport. Conquest Consolidated Mining Co, c.1903. Lot of 2 different prospectuses. A consolidation of the American Eagle Gold Mining Co, Independence Copper Mines and Conquest Copper & Gold Mining Co resulting in 12 claims located about 5 miles from Newport in the Newport district. The Conquest mine was the most viable property with ore carrying copper (3-40%), lead (0-43%), silver (0-21 ounces) and gold (trace-8 ounces) as found in a data table on page 3 of one of the prospectuses. Following this assay chart are 4 photographs of the property and surrounding area. This prospectus is in a legal format layout with text on boths sides of 8 x 13” paper. The 9th page of 10 total pages, has a topographic profile showing the workings as well as a plan view of the workings. Original cover that has a map of the Spokane region including the more famous mines of in the Wallace, Idaho, vicinity and location of smelters relative to the property owned. The second prospectus has a more condensed version of the first with the same general information without photographs or the assay chart being only 4 pages and 8 x 11”. In the middle of the second prospectus is the same map for the Spokane area as just described, but smaller. This company’s prospectuses offer character vouchers from upstanding businesses and corporations, an uncommon practice for prospectuses. Also, below the assay chart of the 1st prospectus is the line “All samples saved for one year. Pulps can be had from these samples for checking assays at any time.” A bold and confident statement if these pulps truly represent the samples quoted from the mine. The company is listed as operational through the 1912 Copper Handbook, but the company did experience financial difficulty sometime between 1906 and 1908. Very fine with minor tears along edges of the 1st prospectus. Est. $75-150

1031. Stevens. Newport. Novi Mining & Development Co, 1901. Prospectus. Incorporated in Arizona, promoted from Chicago. Owned the Calispell claim group located about 17 miles north of Newport in the Newport district, on the east side of the Pend Oreille River. The company had extended a pre-existing tunnel to 215 feet at the bottom of a 158 foot shaft. Ore ran between 3 & 33% copper with varying amounts of silver. On the last page is a map that shows the company’s property in relation to other companies and distances to Newport and other rail stops. As reported in the prospectus, the ore cost $14 to get one ton to the smelter. This would require an ore reserve of very rich assays. 10 pages, original gray cover with dark blue print. Cover is tri-folded, 3 x 5” that unfolds to 6 x 6”. Printed by Mar-Har Printing Co, Chicago. Not listed in the Copper Handbooks. Minor dirt stains on front cover. Very fine. Est. $75-150

UNKNOWN

1032. Unknown. Wauconda Gold Mining Co, c.1900. A 4 page letter to the stockholders announcing that the capital stock was going to be increased from 1.5 million to 3 million shares. This step was taken after an agreement was reached between the Wauconda and the Rossman Reduction Works to build a mill at the mine location in exchange for shares in the Wauconda. The company had a 215 foot tunnel that had to be completed to 500 feet in order to have a sufficient amount of ore to feed a mill. Neither of these companies are listed in the Copper Handbook. 4 x 7.5”. Discoloration along left edge. Very fine. Est. $50-100

WHATCOM

1033. Whatcom. Mount Baker. Terra Alta Mining Co, c.1900-04. Prospectus. Incorporated in Washington. Owned 6 claims on Bear Mountain in the Mount Baker district. There were 2 tunnels, one more than 100 feet. Assays ran from $5 to $306. The prospectus claims “We have taken the initiatory steps in this enterprise and now offer to investors as nearly a ‘dead sure thing’ as can be expected in the mining world…” Sounds to good to be true. Company not listed in the Copper Handbook. Original tan cover with red print, 4 x 7”, 8 pages. Printed by Parker, The Printer, Whatcom. Near mint condition. Est. $100-200

1034. Whatcom. Slate Creek. Chancellor Gold Mining Co, 1901. Prospectus. The primary mine was the Chancellor which was located in the heart of the Slate Creek district adjoining the Mammoth mine. The country rock was mostly of slate and granite with the gold concentrated within the slate and was running at $20 to $1700 gold per ton. The front cover has a topographic profile of the mountains with the property claims shown relative to the major geographic features and other major mines. A small photograph is found on page 4 and a cross section of the topography and existing tunnels of the Chancellor mine. This cross section has very optimistic projections of ore in sight with 185 tons valued at $15 worth $2 million. Page 8 has a half page photo of the dump. Not listed in the Copper Handbooks. 12 pages, original blue cover, 6 x 9.5”. Extremely fine. Est. $75-150

WYOMING

ALBANY

1035. Albany. Jelm Mountain. American Gold & Copper Mining Co, 1902. This is solicitation letter from the American Gold & Copper Mining Co. dated May 17, 1902. Property included 14 claims near Jelm. The company was dead by 1906 (Copper Handbook, 1906). 8.5 x 11” with 2 small holes near bottom of letter. Fine. Est. $50-100

1036. Albany. Jelm Mountain. Wyoming Queen Mining Co, 1903. Market letters and advertisements. The 3 items in this are promotional ads for the Wyoming Queen MC which owned the Rising Sun group including the Colorado, New York, Boston and Rising Sun mines. The Copper Handbook, 1908, p.1443, claims that there were 4 shafts, two at 70 feet and two at 100 feet. Ore carried copper, silver and gold but not assays or production offered. &#x201Out of funds and idle several years.” The first item in this lot is an advertisement that has been cut out of a publication that was probably a Wyoming promotional, 6 x 9”. The second item is an promotional article taken from an unknown publication. The article is itself taken from the Western Trade Journal touting the potential wealth to made by investing in the Wyoming Queen . There is a photo of the shaft with a cabin behind. The last piece is a cut out of a stock quote listing of Wyoming mining companies. The Wyoming Queen is one of the companies listed. All very fine. Est. $50-150

CARBON

1037. Carbon. Battle Lake. Haggarty=Jordan Copper Mining Co, 1901. Prospectus. The Haggarty-Jordan Copper MC claimed to own the Victor group containing the Nellie B, Victor, Granite and Fair View. The vice president is Edward Haggarty, who credited with the discovery of the Ferris-Haggarty mine, one of the best producers in the Battle Lake district. Copper was reported to run as high as 44% per ton, but no assays are offered in the prospectus. There are several spelling mistakes especially of geologic terms. The second item is a 2 page typed letter from the Haggarty-Jordan Co datelined Watertown, NY, 1901. The letter is in response to a potential investor asking for a prospectus. The Copper Handbook, 1906, p.551, entry for this company is that the veins assayed at 35% copper, $5 gold and a trace of silver per ton which was untrue. &#x201Company suffered a mysterious ‘burglary’ by which all its books and papers were stolen. Moribund and should be decently interred.” The prospectus is 14 pages, 4 x 9” with original dark gray cover and red print. Extremely fine. Est. $75-150

1038. Carbon. Battle Lake. Hercules Mining Co, 1902. Prospectus. The Hercules mine was located in the Battle Lake district, located on the west side of the Sierra Madre Mountains (Continental Divide). Mineralization was concentrated about a 300 foot diorite dyke that ran through the Sierra Madre Mtns. A shaft had been sunk 260 feet that had a 90 foot drift at about the 160’ level. In this drift, ore was reported to assay from 5-49% copper. The company was touting the close proximity of the newly constructed Boston Wyoming Smelter at Encampment and the hope to tie into a new aerial tram just completed from the Ferris-Haggarty mine to the smelter. At the center of the prospectus is a 2 page photo showing a makeshift building with an impressive cord wood stack at left. The next page following the photo is a copy of an assay sheet from the American Smelting and Refining Co, 1900, that shows copper assays at 22%, 26% and 49.4%. The company was idle in 1903 and considered dead by 1910 (Copper Handbooks, 1906, 1910). 3.5 x 6", original green cover with Hercules on front cover in blue. Extremely fine. Est. $75-150

1039. Carbon. Battle Lake. Northwestern Copper Mining Co, 1901. Prospectus. The company’s property was situated in the middle of the district surrounded by companies that have been previously described - including their demise - including the Haggarty-Jordan, Battle Lake Tunnel Site Co, etc. Five claims named the Hidden Treasure, Accident, Copper Star, Minnie E and the primary mine the Eclipse. There was a 100 foot shaft that opened up ore assaying 3-40% copper and $2-20 gold per ton (Copper Handbook, 1906, p.766). The company was considered promising, but was idle by 1908. On page 2 is a photo of the town of Grand Encampment with the smelter in the foreground. On page 8 is a claim map showing the properties in the Battle Lake district. The majority of this prospectus talks about why to invest in copper and the track records of other famous copper mines, but spends little time on its on property. 16 pages, original vivid green cover with a landscape sketching titled “Sunrise of Prosperity on the Eclipse.” Printed by Rees Printing, Omaha. 6 x 9”. Fold crease to right of center that runs from top to bottom. Extremely fine. Est. $100-200

1040. Carbon. Battle Lake. Verde Copper Mining & Milling Co, 1901. Prospectus. The Verde mine showed a mineralized vein 300 feet and 50 feet wide. Here, the company sunk a 40 foot shaft that carried ore assaying as high as 21% copper and $2 to $50 gold per ton. The bottom of the shallow shaft gave an average value of 15% copper. 14 pages, original green cover with dark green print, 3 x 6”. This company is not listed in the Copper Handbook suggesting that it never really got off the ground. Extremely fine. Est. $75-150

1041. Carbon. Battle Lake. Wyona Iron & Copper Co, c.1901. Propsectus. The company had over 16,000 acres, mostly located in Carbon County. Copper claims in the Battle Lake district included the My Queen, Uarda, Bastille, Argonaut and the Kicker. There were a series of shafts on each claim, no deeper than 45 feet and no assays offered. In addition to copper, the company was also interested in oil, coal and iron properties in Carbon County, as discussed in the prospectus. The company is listed in the Copper Handbook, 1904, p.734 but is not listed after that year implying that the company was dead. Promoted by the Bona Fide Securities Co. Printed by Borsodi Advertising, New York. 4 pages, 8.5 x 11”. Wear to fold creases. There is a tear at the left edge between the 2 fold creases. The top edge is worn. Dark streak along bottom edge. Very fine. Est. $50-100

1042. Carbon. Battle. Beulah Copper Co, 1901. Prospectus. Property included 12 claims, or about 90 acres, near Battle, Wyoming. This area is called the Encampment and the Battle Creek district, which seem to be interchangeable. Henry Carmichael, a Boston assayer, is cited for an assay he ran on March 4, 1901. The results are 32.5% copper, 3.1 ounces silver and 6.3 ounces gold per ton worth $242.61 9remember just one assay). There is a page that lists some of the major copper mines in the country for comparison of copper assay values. The company was absorbed by the United Exploration Co of Boston prior to 1904 (Copper Handbook, p.217). The United Exploration Co was dead by 1908. 4 pages, original gray construction paper cover, no title on front, 4.5 x 7”. Extremely fine. Est. $75-150

1043. Carbon. Battle. Blackfoot Mining & Milling Co, 1901. The prospectus states that the property, made up of 5 claims or 85 acres, was located at the head of Cow Creek on the east side of the Continental Divide. The geology was listed as a very complex uplift made up of igneous and metamorphic rocks including a garnet schist that is claimed to be the same rocks as found in the Seven Devils area of Idaho (Seven Devils are the high peaks on the west side of the Riggins Valley). The existence of this garnet schist is indicative of copper occurrence (why? I don’t know - vp). Reported assays are5.81% copper, $1 silver and $5.40 gold per ton. A major part of the sales pitch includes several pages of why to invest in mining companies and the profits that can be reaped. Page 17 & 18 have listings of other mining companies stock prices for comparison purposes. The last page has a map of the Grand Encampment mining district with the Blackfoot mine location marked in red. The company is listed as dead by 1908 (Copper Handbook, p.359). 19 pages, original black cover with copper colored lettering, 4 x 9”. Wear to binding. Very fine. Est. $75-150

1044. Carbon. Grand Encampment. Blanche Copper Mining Co, c.1901. This prospectus is in the format of a broadside. One side is a map of the company’s claims, 5 claims adjoining the New Rambler mine near Encampment. The reverse side has “The Mining Age” at top and is from March. Isaac Van Horn, from Boston, was the stock promoter. There were veins that were reported to be auriferous oxide, carbonate and sulphuric ores. No assays or production numbers listed in the Copper Handbooks. The Copper Handbook (1910, p.433) reports that the company is in bad financial shape being idle for some years and bankruptcy eminent. Printed on brown paper with black print, 10 x 14”. Has been folded. Very fine. Est. $50-150

1045. Carbon. Grand Encampment. Carbon County Gold Mining & Milling Co, Gold Coin Mining & Milling Co, 1901. A prospectus for two different mining companies: Carbon County GM&MC, Gold Coin M&MC, both run by the same officers. Both of the companies had properties and mines located on Cooper Mountain, Carbon County. The information given in the prospectus jumps around quite a bit with references to the famous Cripple Creek mines, the fortunes made by such men as W. A. Clark and W. S. Stratton. There are stories about a poor woman’s luck in purchasing $100 of stock in the United Verde, a man who passed on an opportunity to purchase stock in Gold Coin mine of Colorado (not the Gold Coin mine of Wyoming for this company) and a Chicago minister’s opinion on mining. There are 2 pages entitled “A Word About the Mines” which tells a brief history and location of the discovery of the claims for each company. One the 1st page is a portrait of W. R. West, president of Gold Coin M&MC, 2nd page has a portrait of B. F. Bracken, president of Carbon County GM&MC and the 3rd page has a portrait of Dr. L. R. Swigart, secretary of both companies. 4 photographs, one is two pages wide. The end of the prospectus has 2 pages of assay reports for both mining companies. The values are for gold and silver and are all over the place. Printed by the Mining Age, Laramie, WY. Copper Handbook (1910, p.558) entry for the Carbon County GM&MC suggests that the company was only operating in 1904, even both companies claim to have incorporated in 1896. 28 pages, original green cover with dark green and red print, 4.5 x 8”. Extremely fine. Est. $100-200

1046. Carbon. Grand Encampment. El Rey Gold & Copper Mining Co, c.1902. This prospectus laid out in a legal document format. The second page, at the top half, is a map of the area around the claims that were located on Purgatory Creek. Common in prospectuses, a history of the discovery of the claims is offered that typically has no relation or bearing on the company but makes a great story and sales pitch as is the case with prospectus. The first page has a photo of where Jim Baker (of the original discoverers discussed) found gold on Encampment River. The El Rey Gold & Copper MC were succeeded by Consolidated Gold, Copper & Coal Co in 1904 (Copper Handbook, 1906, p.473). Pages are 8.5 x 11”, cover is blue and 8.5 x 14”. Staining along edges of the cover. Very fine. Est. $50-100

1047. Carbon. Grand Encampment. Great Lakes Mining & Smelting Co, c.1901. Prospectus. The property was located 5 miles south of Encampment between the south forks of the East River. The Eureka claim had a 40 foot shaft with ore ranging from 10-58% copper. There were several other shallow shafts that showed assays in the 5-30% copper range. There are several paragraphs describing the surrounding area including Battle Lake that was “full of brook trout”. The prospectus claims that 10 carloads of ore are being shipped and each carload brings $1000. Too bad those facts refer to the Rudefeha mine operated by the Ferris-Haggerty Co and not the Great Lakes Co. On the back cover is a property map of the claims. The Great Lakes Mining & Smelting Co was inactive and presumed dead by 1906 Curiously, there was also a company by the name Great Lakes Mining & Milling Co that had operations in the same area which was also listed as dead(Copper Handbook, p.534). 8 pages, printed on blue paper. The second item is a 4 page promotional item, also printed on blue paper, touting the rich ore just discovered at the Great Lakes Co. This rich ore didn’t save the company. Both pieces are 4 x 9.5”. Both are faded along edges from exposure. Very fine. Est. $50-150

1048. Carbon. Grand Encampment. Island City Copper Mining Co, 1900. Prospectus. Owned 5 claims known as the Michigan Girl, Detroit, Lansing, Albion and Bellevue comprising over 100 acres in the Battle Lake district. The property laid about 1 mile north and 1 mile east of the Ferris-Haggerty mine and was believed to have the continuation of the same main ore body. A trivial amount of development work had only led to a 15 foot hole with assays reported at 7% copper and the prospectus claims that selected float pieces run at 20%. The company attempts to compare itself to the very successful Michigan copper companies and to companies in the Battle Lake and Grand Encampment districts, which as we have seen, were all dead and gone by 1906. In fact, that was the same fate for this company, “idle and apparently moribund.” (Copper Handbook, 1906, p.588). 7 pages, original lime green cover with dark blue print, 3.5 x 6”. Extremely fine. Est. $75-150

1049. Carbon. Grand Encampment. Kearns Consolidated Copper Mines Co, 1901. Prospectus. The Kearns mine was situated on 216 acres of claims in between the Ferris-Haggerty and the Rambler that showed 4 veins, the largest of which was 40 feet. The estimated length of this thick vein was over 1 mile, the company claiming it to be the largest ore body in Wyoming. The Copper Handbook (1904, p.452) states the ore assayed at 2-10% copper, $1-8 gold per ton. There were a series of small tunnels, but nothing extensive. The company also owned the town site of Downington, Wyoming, named after the vice president and treasurer. Absorbed by the Keystone Mining & Development Co by The 2nd page of the prospectus has a full page map of the claims. There are 5 photographs of the operations. 16 pages, original tan cover with red and black print. Fold crease at right of center the runs from top to bottom. Very fine. Est. $100-200

1050. Carbon. Grand Encampment. Kearns Consolidated Copper Mines Co, 1901. A different style prospectus than the one described above. The style is a similar that of the prospectus of the Blackfoot Co and others described above. On the last page is a map of the Grand Encampment district and shows the relative location of the Kearns property. 18 pages, original gray cover with green print, 4 x 9”. Extremely fine. Est. $75-150

1051. Carbon. Grand Encampment. Penn-Wyoming Copper Co, 1907. This prospectus contains information about the company, its subsidiaries and the property infrastructure. The first unfolding shows a photograph of the smelter at Encampment. At the middle is a photograph of a section of the ore tram with the smelter in the background. 8 pages, black print with red accents, 4 x 9”. See the story in the lots above. Minor were to left edge and minor rust on staples. Very fine. Est. $100-200

1052. Carbon. Grand Encampment. Penn-Wyoming Copper Co, 1907. The prospectus has a photograph of the company smelter on the first page. The 3 pages that follow have text that is well written and matter of fact concerning the physical attributes of the company. Penn-Wyoming was the parent of many subsidiaries controlling all or most of the stock. These subsidiaries were: Encampment Tramway Co, Encampment Pipe Line Ditch Co, Encampment Water Works Co, Encampment Land & Town Lot Co, Saratoga & Encampment Railroad Co, Ferris-Haggerty Copper Mine, Carbondale Coal Co, Emerson Electric Light Co, Doane Rambler Copper Mine and North American Mercantile Co. The company purchased the Ferris-Haggerty mine, which was the major producer in the district, actually having copper production around 2 million pounds, 3500 ounces silver and 225 ounces gold per ton (Copper Handbook, 1908, p.1115). In addition to the producing mines, there was a complex infrastructure with a power plant at the Ferris-Haggerty tunnel entrance that supplied light to the mine and buildings. A 16 mile long tramway carried the ore from the mines over the Continental Divide to the smelter at Encampment. At that time is was the longest in the world comprised of 270 towers and 972 buckets. The highest span above ground was 900 feet and the highest elevation achieved was 10,690 feet. In 1908 Copper Handbook, it is pointed out the management was using questionable, if not immoral, financial practices. In 1906 and 1907, Penn Wyoming paid a 6% dividend at the same time as selling and promoting stock, “a policy that is wrong, no matter by whom followed, or how strongly endorsed.” (p.1114). The company was mired in debt in 1908. The story doesn’t end here. The 1910 Copper Handbook as a scathing review of the company’s financial practices, specifically attacking Mr. Cobb, the president of Penn-Wyoming. In the 2 years of researching mining companies in the Copper & Mining Handbooks, I have never come across such an extensively discussed scam. Stevens, the editor of the Copper Handbook, 1910, takes a full 7 pages to outline the financial smoke screen put into place by the officers of Penn Wyoming. I could take 2 pages easily to just summarize the intricate web of deceit that took place from about 1906-1911. Instead, I have decided to photo copy the complete 1910 write up as found in the Copper Handbook and include it with this and the following lots. The prospectus in this lot is 9 x 11. Very fine. Est. $100-200

1053. Carbon. Grand Encampment. Penn-Wyoming Copper Co, 1907. This is one of the most fantastic prospectuses in the sale. Not your ordinary sales pitch text with a few photos, rather a full page, photographic tour of the mines on 9.5 x 12” glossy paper. The first and second pages offer company contact information. Following are 30 pages full page photographs of every aspect of the mine. Every photo was taken by J. E. Stimson of Cheyenne, Wyoming. Photo 1: Shows copper bars stacked and ready for shipment. Photo 2: Smelter and Concentrator at Encampment. Photo 5: Tailings field and outflow flume dumping tailings. Photo 7: Tramway terminal at the smelter showing the automation of the process. Photo 11: Shot of molten copper being poured into moulds; there are 8 moulds, half are filled. Photo 13: View of the tramway power plant. Photo 14: A fabulous 2 page photo showing the air power mine locomotive with the miners posing as well as 4 women. Photos 23 & 24: Great underground views showing men who are well dressed. The last page is not a photo, but a sketching of the town of Encampment. Attached to the inside of the back cover is a 2 sided color map. On one side is a map showing the different districts in different colors: Encampment is green, Elk Mountain is blue, Medicine Bow is pink and Pearl (in Colorado) is orange. This map shows the access roads and major towns nearby, such as Rawlins. Within each of the districts are circled numbers which are identified below with the name of the mining company or mine name. The other side of the page is a landscape format plat map showing all the claims and claim names with the properties of the Penn-Wyoming in red. The map has a blue background with white lines and lettering. The towns of Dillon and Rambler Battle shown. Both maps are on 9 x 15.5” sized sheet. Original green cover with gilt lettering, 34 pages, 9.5 x 12”. Extremely fine. Est. $400-800

1054. Carbon. Rambler. Battle Lake Tunnel Site Mining Co, c.1901. There are 3 different promotional prospectuses that are creative as compared to the more common styles. The first discusses the Doane mine and is 4 pages, 3 x 6”. The second prospectus is more interesting in design. The front cover has a photo of the Doane Mine with the caption “Showing Dump worth over $100,000. No Good to us without machinery.” Every page of the total 8 is led off with “Besides the Doane Mine, You Get An Interest In…” Page 2 describes “Our Rawlins Property, 380 acres.” There is a map of the property and short description. Page 3 “...Our Tunnel Site Property…160 acres…” This page also has a map. Page 4 “…the townsite of Rambler, Wyoming, we own this town.’ The page has a nice photo of an overview of the town. Page 5 “…Tunnel Site Mine.” A photo shows the site with the caption “Here is where is located our commissary…”Pages 6-8 are recaps of the items already listed. The last prospectus discusses information that is really not pertinent to the company. The first page lists that the company owned Doane Mine, Tunnel Site Mine and the Town of Rambler. The last page shows a hunk of ore that is claimed to have 64.83% with an equal sign to a copper bar with the caption “3.75 pounds of ore + 2.5 pounds of copper.” The Battle Lake Tunnel Site Mining Co was bought out by the Penn-Wyoming Copper Co (Copper Handbook, 1906, p.359). All of them are 3 x 6”. All Very fine. Est. $75-150

1055. Carbon. Upper Platte. Calumet Mining & Milling Co, 1901. Prospectus. The company owned the Calumet and Calumet No.2 claims in the Grand Encampment district. There was only a limited amount of development on the property. In fact, only a 16 foot shaft was sunk with an assay from the 10 foot level at 34% copper and from the bottom at an amazing 70% copper. The prospectus goes out of its way to compare its properties to other companies in the district, apparently from lack of positive information on its own. There are several references to other companies in operation in district including power and smelting companies making this item a good piece for the Wyoming enthusiast. Printed by Grand Encampment Herald. 20 pages, original gray cover with blue print, 3.5 x 5.5”. Extremely fine. Est. $75-150

1056. Carbon. Upper Platte. Copper Glance Mining & Milling Co, 1901. This prospectus is nearly identical in the format as that of the Blackfoot Mining & Milling Co (see lot above). In fact, the same officers are involved with both companies. Company owned Garoutte claim group which was near the Kurtz-Chatterton mine (one of the more productive mines in the district). This company and the Blackfoot Co both claim the district in is named the Upper Platte. There was an incline tunnel that extended for 200 feet and dropped about 185 feet (sounds a little steep for removing an ore discovered). Four different assays listed gave values of 2-38% copper with varying amounts of gold. The last page has the same map as found on the last page of the Blackfoot Company’s prospectus, that shows the relative position of the Copper Glance property. The Copper Handbook (1906, p.407) reports that the Copper Glance also owned property in Montrose County, Colorado. But, both the Colorado and Wyoming properties were lost due to lack of assessment work required to hold claims. &#x201The company ended the year (1905) with an indebtedness of $32,000, including $7500 interest, and manifests no disposition to pay its debts, the energies of the management apparently having been exhausted in peddling stock.” 16 pages, original dark brown cover with gilt lettering, 4 x 9”. Very fine. Est. $75-150

1057. Carbon. Upper Platte. Fremont Copper Mining Co, 1901. The prospectus is nearly identical in format to those put out by the Copper Glance and the Blackfoot companies (see lots above). Property was located on the north side of the Continental Divide in the Sierra Madre Mountains known as the Copper Gem claim group which were situated between Purgatory Creek on the north and Drunkard Creek to the south. Assays reported gave values of between $16 and $56 copper and $2 and $4 gold per ton. Like the other prospectuses that this one similar to, there is a map on the last page showing the relative location of the property. The company was dead with property sold to the St. Joe Mining & Milling Co (which see this section) in 1907 (Copper Handbook, 1908, p.698). Printed by Fremont Tribune, Fremont, Nebraska. 18 pages, original brown cover with bronze colored lettering, 4 x 9”. Slight wear to binding edge. Extremely fine. Est. $75-150

1058. Carbon. Upper Platte. Green Mountain Copper Mining Co, 1901. Prospectus. The company owned three claims in the Upper Platte district with astounding assays on three samples of 72%, 62% and 12.7% copper with one sample showing $15 gold and 6 ounces of silver. (Wouldn’t we all like to believe those numbers- vp). At the time of print of the prospectus, there was no development work done except for the necessary assessment work. Prior to 1904, the company sold its property to the Saginaw Valley Copper Co, which itself lost its lands in 1905 (Copper Handbook, 1908, p.1199). 12 pages, original green cover with brown and black print, 3.5 x 5.5”. The rear cover has a small vignette of a very snow covered steep sided mountain with trees and rocks in the foreground. Printed by Grand Encampment Herald. Extremely fine. Est. $75-150

1059. Carbon. Upper Platte. State Line Copper Mining Co, c.1901. Prospectus. The company owned 17 claims, of which all are listed by name in the prospectus, in the Upper Platte district. No assays are offered in the prospectus or in the Copper Handbook, 1904, p.654. The company was reorganized in 1904 to the State Line Mining Co with different officers but kept the same property. The Copper Handbook, 1908, p.1268, reported assays at 21% copper with development of a few pits, the deepest at 60 feet, but most around 19 feet. The reorganized company was dead by 1908. The prospectus of the State Line Copper MC is printed on a single sheet that is folded to 3.5 x 8.5”. When unfolded once, there is a map showing the claims and listing each claim name, 8.5 x 10”. When unfolded the second time, text and the sales pitch is revealed, 8.5 x 17”. Extremely fine. Est. $75-150

1060. Carbon. Upper Platte. William Penn Mining Co, 1903. The prospectus offers no specifics to the location nor assay values. The Copper Handbook (1906, p.1429) reports that the company had 3 claims showing a 4 foot vein “carrying carbonate ores and chalcopyrite, opened by a 75 foot shaft. Idle several years.” The last page of the 4 page prospectus has a signature, but it does not match any of the names listed for the officers. Printed on stiff gold colored paper, 4 x 6”. Stains at upper right corner. 3 fold creases. Very fine. Est. $50-150

FREMONT

1061. Fremont. Atlantic. South Pass Mining & Milling Co, 1900. Prospectus and letter to Vigouroux. Owned the Mary Ellen, Grover Cleveland and Little Giant mines in the Atlantic district. The Atlantic district is considered 4 x 4 miles with the mining camps of Miners’ Delight, Atlantic City and Lewiston. The prospectus utilizes a report done in 1895 by a Dr. Charles Wallace who was hired by Henry Wulff and A. B. Lewis (a mining stock con artist described above). The prospectus is well laid out, informational but loses its credibility once a man such as A. B. Lewis is referenced. The last 2 pages have diagrams, one being a property map and the other a cross sectional view of the workings. There were 4 shafts, the deepest 210 feet with a tunnel that connected them, about 300 feet long. The lot includes a 2 page typed letter that accompanied the prospectus from L. W. Tulleys, Investment Securities, Council Bluffs, datelined June 18, 1900. The letter states that the ore on the properties had an average value of $150 gold per ton with an expected production of $400 per day with ore averaging $20 gold per ton. The company is not listed in the Copper or Mines Handbooks and probably did not succeed. The prospectus has the original brown cover, 11 pages with several blue pencil marks throughout. The letter pages have small folds at the corners with a chip missing from the bottom left. Both very fine. Est. $75-150

LARAMIE

1062. Laramie. Hecla. Hecla Copper & Gold Mining, Milling & Smelting Co, 1903. Fabulous Prospectus. Company owned 14 claims, 5 acres millsite, the townsite of Hecla, smelter, concentrating and leeching plant, assay lab and an office building. The 1910 Copper Handbook, p.932-33, has a scathing report on the management of this company. It seems that in 1904, the Hecla GMM&SmC was reorganized to the Hecla Mining Co. Then in 1909, the Hecla MC was reorganized, with the same management all along, to the Hecla Cons Mines Co, which also involved a merger with Amalgamated Copper Mining & Extracting Co and the Kopper Krown MC. This brief history leads to the following passage, “The management of the Hecla MC and the preceding corporations, which also had Mr. Schwartz as president and general manager, peddled ‘guaranteed’ stock, claiming that 5% interest was guaranteed for 3 years by United States government bonds, but nobody seems to have seen the bonds. The old Kopper Krown MC advertised that it planned building a smelter, and was ready to ship on a moment’s notice, but failed to receive the notice. Prospectus of the present company (Hecla Cons MC) states that it is ‘one of the most substantial, conservative and successful mining organizations in the entire west’, which is a remarkable claim, considering the history made in the past. Because of the bad record of the preceding companies merged into this corporation, and operated formerly under the same management, this company is regarded with much suspicion. Idle, except for annual assessment work, but presumably still has stock for sale.” 16 photographs, some of the officers, others of the property, and others of “prominent stockholders”. 28 pages with original cover. Cover has a photographs of the Denver office of the Hecla. The stock was being promoted by a Mrs. Edith Velaro, presumably to attract the female investor. Very fine. Est. $100-300

1063. Laramie. Hecla. Hecla Copper & Gold Mining, Milling & Smelting Co, 1902. This item is a 1 page typed letter to the stockholders in the company reporting on the meeting held Nov 2, 1902. The letter is a synopsis of the affairs of the company and ends with the line “At the last meeting of the Directors of the Hecla Copper & Gold MM&S Co, it was decided to declare a dividend on or about January 1, 1903.” Based on the Copper Handbook, this statement couldn’t be further from the truth. The company did own several claims known as the Copper Crown and Hecla groups as well as owning the townsite of Hecla, Wyoming. But the company was reorganized as the Hecla Consolidated Mines Co in 1904. The same management was in control of the new company with different officers’ names.

After the reorganization, the company installed the Ohly process for saving the rare metals. &#x201It is strange, how new mining companies, with no cash to spare, will experiment with new and untried reduction processes, to their own detriment or destruction. The management was well spoken of, in the last annual edition of the Copper Handbook (1905), but since that time the company has begun peddling ‘guaranteed’ stock (meaning government backed), for which reason the commendatory words regarding the management are hereby withdrawn. Any mining company that sells ‘guaranteed’ stock is guilty of what perilously approaches a fraud upon its shareholders, and its stock should be let severely alone.” (Copper Handbook, 1906, p.558). The company’s character was not rectified in the Copper Handbooks through at least 1916. 8.5 x 12”, foxing along top edge. Minor wear along fold creases. Very fine. Est. $50-100

1064. Laramie. Silver Crown. Great Standard Copper Mining Co, 1903. Lot of 2 different promotional flyers. The company had 17 claims in the Silver Crown district. One of the 2 items in this lot has a map of the claims, but only shows 15 claims. Next to the map are 2 photos, one of 4 miners standing on the dump and the second a shot of the dump. The reverse side of this is a sales pitch for investors to buy stock at 5 cents before the price goes up to 10 cents in just a few weeks. 8.5 x 12”, with tears along the fold creases. The second item is a postcard sized mailer soliciting potential investors to purchase stock of the Great Standard Copper MC before the price jumps to 10 cents a share on August 18, 1903. The reverse side has a paragraph touting the newly discovered platinum deposits found near Laramie (but not necessarily found by the Great Standard). The company was listed as dead due to lack of funds (by 1906 (Copper Handbook, 1906, p.535). Both fine to very fine. Est. $50-100

SOUTH AMERICA

1065. Bolivia. Larecaja. Tipuani. Bolivia Gold Mining Co of Colorado, c.1901. Incorporated in Colorado, promoted from Denver. A placer mining operation located on the Tipuani River that was claimed to run $5 to $25 gold per yard. The dredge on site had a 300 yard daily capacity. There is a the standard expert examination and report and many testimonials. The last page has 2 maps, one shing the location of the company’s property and a general view of Peru and Bolivia. The prospectus is a newspaper layout that when unfolded measures 10 x 17” and 3.5 x 8.5” when folded. Discoloration mark at lower left edge when folded. Very fine. Est. $50-100

1066. British Guiana. Mazaruni. D’Andrade Diamond Mines, Ltd, c.1903. Incorporated in Arizona, promoted by Ellsworth Vail, New York. Claimed to own property in the newly discovered diamond fields of British controlled Guiana. The company was hoping to be shipping 10,000 diamonds per year. The lot contains several solicitation letters from Ellsworth Vail, the stock promoter and 3 slightly different prospectuses. These have minimal fanfare and don’t have much to say, hence the prolific one page mailers. Total of 12 pages, not all in one prospectus, and all 8.5 x 11”. Very fine. Est. $50-100

1067. Columbia. Antioquia. Rio Porce. La Clara Placer & Mines Co, 1903. The cover is titled “The Goldfields of the Incas” and has 3 images of Incan artifacts. A placer operation located only the Porce River located 40 miles form Medellin. Over the previous 8 months, the prospectus claims that $20,000 was retrieved. The name of the company comes from one of the claims, the La Clara, and the other La Casuca. 8 photographs and one map. Attached on the inside back cover is a 12 x 17” detailed map of the claims.18 pages, 7 x 9”. The covers are stiff. Binding is beginning to detach and inner pages are also affected. Fine to very fine. Est. $50-150

1068. Eucador. Esmeraldos. Playa De Oro Mining Co, 1903. Incorporated in Kentucky, 1891. This circular starts out announcing that the company’s property has been sold in foreclosure, dated Jan 6, 1903. Following this, are a series of letters to stockholders from a major stockholder who, over a period of 6 years, fought with the management for information and explanations of expenditures. In 1896, the company had plenty of cash on hand, which as gone and property sold by 1903. A description here would do no justice to what is actually in the letters. Discoloration affects the first page. 7 pages, 8.5 x 11”. Very fine. Est. $50-150

1069. Peru. Acari. Cerro de Pasco. Cerro de Pasco Tunnel & Mining Co, c.1902, Incorporated in Maine. Prospectus and stock subscription blank, 3 x 5 ½, 20 pages. Printer: Evening Post Job Print, N.Y. Cover is light gray cardstock with red lettering. Prospectus forecasts future annual net income of $15 million from the project which consisted of a proposed 4,050-meter long (2.5 miles) drainage tunnel to extract ores from an estimated 50 million ton deposit. The Cerro de Pasco is a porphyry-copper type deposit, consisting of polymetallic replacement of carbonate rocks by zinc-lead, copper, silver and some gold. The deposit size (production plus resources) is 35 million tons of ore [Ref: Mutschler, 1999]. VF condition. Est. $75-150