We had a very successful sale totaling just under $300,000. There were many highlights with records set and at the same time, many great buys for collectors and dealers, a trend typical of our sales. Certainly the highlight of the sale was the unique Gold Hill silver presentation ingot from the Yellow Jacket Mine, 1892, that sold for $15,812.50, which is a record for us, and probably a record for a Comstock presentation ingot of this period. A short summary of each section follows.
The currency section was of intense interest to dealers, but lacked collector participation. Three bidders were all within one increment for the two Nevada $5 note sheets, which sold for $7,475 each. The signed Manhattan scrip, lot 139, also had intense collector interest, selling for $2,990. We received many kind comments on my story of the notes. The lottery tickets from California received only minor interest, illustrating how true rarities often do not equate to monetary reward.
Ingots were again strong, highlighted by the Gold Hill ingot. The rare Berton checks, lot 169, sold for $287.50, showing strength in both ingot related material as well as rare western checks. The two small gold ingots did well at $5462.50 and $3795 respectively for lots 173 and 174.
The California section was strong in many areas, most noticeably the Inyo and Mono county sections. The Death Valley Railroad stock, lot 220, was a first for us at auction and sold for $632.50. The Beaudry token from Camp Independence sold for $460 (lot 248). The Panamint Newspaper sold for $805 (lot 254). The Keeler and Mojave Stage Line Ledger (lot 260) sold for a whopping $3,105 to intense floor and telephone bidding.
Tokens did well, illustrated by the rare Hite tokens from Mariposa that sold for $1610 (lot 270).
Gold specimens received the greatest interest in pre-sale publicity, and created some of the most interest from the sale audience. While many specimens sold for near high estimate, a number also sold at well below the low estimate, representing a good opportunity for both collectors and dealers. For example, lot 285 from Forest Hill sold for $977.50 and lot 291 from Mariposa sold for $1,495, both between mid range and high estimate. Lot 303, a remarkable specimen from the New York Hill mine at Grass Valley sold for $3680. Lot 1043, a Venezuelan gold specimen sold for $4,312.50, just under the high estimate.
In every auction we have a few runaway lots that are fiercely competed for. Lot 363, the Summit Camp correspondence was one, selling for $546.25 on a $100-200 estimate. Another example was lot 618, a beautiful rare Bodie check, where we had tie bidders at $500. The Antelope Silver MC stock, lot 382, which was noted in several of Sam Clemens' (Mark Twain) letters sold for $1955, continuing the trend for this type of material set in the Bill Miles Collection auction last year. Another runaway was the Western Express Cover Society Journals, which sold for $805 on a $200-$400 estimate.
Goldfield, Nevada items remained strong, led by the remarkable James Byers archive. His photo album sold for $10,350 and sermons for $1,955 (lots 410 and 409). The rare bimetallic Northern (saloon) token, which involved Wyatt Earp, sold for $1,092.50. Another good token, the Mary Mine Columbia Saloon, lot 490, sold for $575.
Comstock material also did well. The rare Sutro autographed Emma stock, lot 521, sold for $1552.50. The 1859 transfer deed sold for $1667.50.
Imprinted revenue stamps had a good showing. We offered several previously unknown examples of revenue on stocks. Lot 603 and 604 each sold for $862.50. The rare Michigan piece sold for $977.50. The top Nevada revenue check, lot 606, sold for $1840.
Autographs in the sale were sorted generally in the geographic origin of the document. The Sutro material did well, as did the rare Stanford/Hopkins document (lot 680.5) at $1092.50 despite its well noted condition. The Flood autograph sold for $1495 (lot 910).
California gold rush material sold well across the board. The 1849 volume of New York Herald with the Bayard Taylor stories of California sold for $3,565; the 1849 Miner's Guide (1236) for $3,450; the 1849 Grant Deed (685) for $632.50; and the Vallejo 1852 warrants (lot 709) for $862.50. The James King of William rare pamphlet (lot 1240) sold for $1955.
The uncut sheet section was popular with collectors, as was the rest of the Nevada section.
We were very happy with the results of the sale and the new environment. We solicit your comments on the auction site at the Atlantis. We are seriously considering moving our auctions there. Thanks from me and all the gang at Fred Holabird Americana.
