Holabird-Kagin Internet Auction

 

A wonderful old photo album covered in green floral velvet. On the front in the center is a color portrait of an Indian man, framed in an ornate gilded oval. There is a gilt metal clasp holding the album closed. Inside are perhaps 25 decorated cardboard “pages” with cutouts for photographs, one on each side of the page. The decorations consist of gilt floral sketches, and the edges of each page are also gilt. All the photographs have been removed. The overall measurement is 8.5 x 11.”  

 

Signed: "Annie Oakley, I aim to please," and signed by her husband "with best wishes, Frank E. Butler."

Also signed by "Buck" Taylor King of the Cowboys. Colorized American flag in the background. 5 x 7 1/2."

To the Secretary of the Treasury. 1) For Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 1891. Hardcover, indexed, 291 pages. Washington: Government Printing Office, 1891. 2) For Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 1895. Hardcover, indexed, 467 pages. Washington: Government Printing Office, 1895. 3) For Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 1896. Hardcover, indexed, 591 pages. Washington: Government Printing Office, 1896. 4) For Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 1898. Hardcover, indexed, 558 pages. Washington: Government Printing Office, 1898. These reports, as per Revised Statutes of the United States, cover the operations of the mints and assay offices of the United States for the fiscal years ending June 30 of the years noted.

"The Monarch" billiard table, circa 1890-1910.  This beautiful high quality quarter sawn oak Monarch Billiard table was professionally converted into a pool table. The original cutout railing pieces have been retained and are present.  The original Brunswick, Balke, Collender monarch brass plate on the end railing is intact.  The original table was purchased in 1970 from an important Montana mining family.  Also included is an original pool cue holder wall hanging, circa 1890-1910. 60" x 34," oak construction, green felt backed with green felt in pool cue holder bases.  Overall condition is generally fine. The table is dated June 22, 1909, made during an important western mining boom period.  It's unusual to find a Monarch table and cue holder in this condition as most received heavy use in saloons of the period. Shipping arrangements to be made by buyer.

Colorized flag with the signatures of six Cowboy Band members of the Wild West Camp. Members include Wm Sweeney, W.H. Cox, Chas. F. Sturm, Geo. W. Turner, E. Y. Snyder, and A. L. Jalbert. 5 x 7 1/2."

A four page handwritten letter from John D. Burgess, a mining engineer of Tucson, Arizona dated Campo Bonito August 25th 1910.

Blue stationary with Buffalo Bill's vignette. Content mentions Buffalo Bill and his mining interests.  Burgess was Buffalo Bill Cody's mining partner. He was part "con man," extracting many thousands of dollars from Cody, resulting in mining claims that were almost all without production.  He had one eye, a very well kept upturned mustache, lived in the best house, had a fancy buggy in which he visited clients, and was very familiar with Buffalo Bill. His mines are documented as "Campo Bonin."

Hand colored draped American flags with American Eagle holding "E Pluribus Unum" banner in talons in background. Signed by Senator Hewley of Connecticut. Also signed by Lewis S. J. Reilly.

Fabulous pen and ink sketch of Buffalo Bill on his horse, running down a charging bison. Signed: "True to friend and foe, W.F. Cody, Buffalo Bill, May 7th 1887." 5 x 7 1/2."  

 

Introduction in separate word file "Autograph Collection"

Samuel Franklin Cody , fabulous copper token commemorating San Francisco Grand Match between horse and bicycle. 12mm, round. Obverse: portrait of W. F. Cody legend "W.F. Cody has arrived." Reverse: legend "Grand Match Cody." Buffalo Bill on horse challenging bike rider. Extremely fine condition.

 

Stylized, hand colored American Flag in background. Signed "Chas. M. Miller, Bronco Charley California," "Yours Truly Sergt. G.H. Bates who carred the American Flag thro' England" and "Ollie V. Berkley. New York City Dec. 2nd, 1887." 5 x 7 1/2."

Small copper tone ingot measures approx 1" x 1/2" Obverse reads: C T A U, reverse reads Brass City June 18, 1904. Small loop at the top for a chain.

"Letter to My Dear Wife from Your Own Will" talking about Russia's "despotism over Poland."  He took a trip to Richmond, Virginia and is relating all he saw to his wife.  He comments on slavery and the creation of "colonization societies" in hopes "that the negroes would be induced to remove to their natural home, in Africa."  Alas, "the negroes would not migrate."  They did not take any advice.  He actually talks very passionately about honorable Southerners who fought for what they thought was right. An interesting view of African Americans and Southerners in the aftermath of the Civil War; "Letter from Henry B. Tyler Jr. to Judge Hughes" concerning his monetary claim against the Marines; "Letter from Henry B. Tyler to Messrs Hughes, Denver and Peck" regarding the same claim.  Tyler was a 1st Lieutenant in the Marines on the U.S.S. Sloop Saratoga serving on the "West Coast of Africa" when it captured a boat full of slaves ("963 Africans aboard").  This letter to the law firm describes his adventures and his request for "Prize and Head money" in connection with the slaves.  An interesting insight into Naval and post Civil War slavery history.  All letters are well preserved.

This 4 page letter contains many letters in one.  The first is to "Genl  from Thos. Villard" asks for a loan of $50.  Villard also asks for a pass out of Washington D. C. and is declined it at every step. The rest of the notations in the letter discuss the pass.  Good condition, has ink stain in the middle that is on pages 1 and 4.   

Fantastic first-hand history! Very legible, easy-to-read and in XF condition.  An 8-page handwritten letter from J.W. Denver to his wife in Wilmington, OH describing the invention of the Gatling gun, named after Dr. Gatling, whom Denver met.  The gun was manufactured at the Colt armory in Hartford, CT. There is a 2-page description of the gun and 3 pages on Colt.  Cover included.

 

 

This letter, dated October 24th 1866, is written to Jas. W. Denver when he served as Governor of Kansas Territory, and is signed by Hugh S. Walsh, Secretary and acting governor of the Territory. In it he decries that, “If there is any case which ought to command redress I think this is one…” He then goes on to describe the murder of the child, and, “...before the mothers eyes…the child slain was cut around the waist and drawn over its head.”  Walsh (1810-1877) was born and educated in New York, and arrived in Kansas in 1857. He was the private secretary for two governors—Stanton and Denver—and then in the spring of 1858 was appointed Secretary of the Territory. He retired from the secretary’s job in 1860 and took up farming with his son DeWitt until his death in 1877  [Ref: www.legendsofkansas.com/people-w.html].

 

Lot of 3 groups of Denver correspondence, plus 4 covers and an article. Group 1) Invitation and associated correspondence inviting Denver to attend the Eleventh Reunion of the Army of the Cumberland and the unveiling of the (Gen.) Thomas Statue, in Washington D.C. on November 19th and 20th, 1879. Two reply cards are enclosed, plus a personal note from A.M. Kenaday and another letter on the letterhead of the Society of th
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This is a multi-page letter to T.A. Hendricks (Vice President of the U.S.) from L.W. Johnson (U.S. Senator, also a Confederate Senator during the war) recommending J. W. Denver to a Cabinet post under presidential candidate Samuel J.Tilden (1814-1886), a Democrat who won the popular vote in the election of 1876 but who ultimately lost to Hayes because of a dispute in the Electoral College. [Ref: Election of 1876 — Infoplease.com http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0101175.html#ixzz0xBEWAfCS]. The resolution of this dispute in the Electoral College and Hayes winning the Presidency became known as the Compromise of 1877. The The letter reviews Denver’s record, including slavery issues and more. Most interesting. Cover included.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

'Letter from Your Own Will to My Dear Wife" describing the last days of Andrew Johnson's Presidency and the incoming of Ulysses S. Grant's administration. "Will" tells his wife he thinks  people will be disappointed with Grant's inaugural address - which has already been published in the newspapers.  "Hardly up to the standards of a state paper," says Will.  It "is not what I expected of him, it is by no manner of means equal in style, form or elegance of expression to the philippic [sic] Johnson."  Will continues, "if [Grant] will only act better than Johnson we can forget that he wrote worse."  An entertaining letter for those who delight in and collect Presidential history! 4 pgs. Very readable, some tears on the bottom of the last page.

Another letter from J.W. Denver to his wife in Wilmington, 6 pgs. In it he discusses the newly emancipated Negroes and that “they are thirsting for knowledge.” There is a lengthy (3-4 pgs.) treatise regarding the development of the peoples of the African continent. Denver also mentions to his wife that he wishes he had news—that “Washington is the very personification of dullness.”

 

HB-32, EP-34, S-15, R-A503sm

Small Ayers, XF, well centered stamp under slightly crazed mica.

HB-163, EP-120, S-116, R-KE10

"Applications for AAdvertingon this currency. To be addressed to Kirkpatrick & Gault, No. 1 Park Place, N.Y. (Pat. Aug. 12, 1862)

Cleaned XF, couple of marks on stamp, oil residue on mica.

HB-3, EP-2, Scott-2, Reed-AC01SA

Bright XF case, bright stamp under scattered crazed mica.

HB-28, EP-4a, S-13, R-A501md

Medium Ayers, about new with deep blue and well centered stamp. One tiny craze line.

HB-38, EP-98B

Large Ayers. Extremely Fine, mottled olive case, sharp stamp and virtually clear mica. Very Scarce.

HB-100, EP-13, S-70, R-DP01

XF, bright stamp with small extra metal under a clear mica but for one craze line.

HB-131, EP-79, S-96a, R-JG05

XF case with one spot.  Vivid well centered stamp with only 2 small mica marks.

HB-218, ER-92, S-162, R-SH05

About XF, somewhat used stamp under slightly crazed mica.

HB-17, EP-3, S-8, R-AP01

Choice XF with 50% silvering.  Well centered stamp, some mica separation.

Small ingot measures approx 5/8" x 1" Reverse reads; 24 Carat Gold Plated/Miniature Gold Brick/Black Hills Specialty Co./Lead, South Dakota.

Lot of approximately 10 pieces.

1) 0.15 toz of leaf gold from Round Mountain, Nevada.

2) 2.42 toz  (5 pieces) from the Sixteen to One Mine in California. Gold in quartz.

3) 0.76 toz combined weight.  Unknown location. 3 pieces. Crystalline with leaf gold.

4) 1.64 toz. 20% by weight gold. Unknown location. Gold in quartz.

 

 

Attractive display of placer gold nuggets & dust titled "The World's First Money." Five specimens with a total weight of 2.42 toz. Four attractive nuggets and a vial of gold dust.

Lot of 2 colorful, collectible cigar labels. One is of the Gold Hunter and reads: The independent gold hunter on his way to Klondike. "I neither borrow nor lend." Litho . Geo. Schlegel . Measures 1.5" x 4.75". Second is of a miner holding a giant nugget and reads: Welcome Nugget (across the top) T. C. Williams Co. Manufacturers Virginia, U.S.A. (bottom right) and: As the welcome nugget weighing 2217 ounces exceeds in purity and value any lump of gold ever found so this brand surpasses in quality any tobacco made (at right in very faint print)  Miner is saying, "Jack, Look at this." No lithographer shown. Measures 10 5/8" x 10 5/8".  Both are vibrantly colored, very artistic and in excellent condition.

Specimen weight is 12.53 toz and is about 80% by weight gold. Measures: 2.75" x 2.25" x 1.5." This massive crystalline gold specimen displays nice interwoven leaf and crystalline structure. Professionally prepared from a cobble mined in the 1950s by Collectors Edge Minerals in Golden, Colorado.

This photo is #203 in Webster & Albee’s “Sporting Views” series. It shows an Indian standing and another seated outside of a traditional-looking tipi. In front of the tipi is a buckboard wagon. This looks to be a hunting camp, as there are numerous animal skins around the tipi and some hanging to dry. Webster & Albee of Rochester, N.Y. are the publishers. They were one of the major companies of pirated copies of views, many of them from photographer T.W. Ingersoll, of which this may be one. Although they sometimes produced photos from original negatives, the quality of both originals and pirated copies was often low. The pink matting on this stereoview is typical of their publishing house. The verso is printed with: F.X. Graber, Dealer in TGYS, Fancy Goods, etc., Pipes, Tobaccos & Cigars. No. 19 Market St., Stratford. Medium to poor resolution and focus. 3.5 x 7.”

 

 

Two men stand on either side of a well built housing mounted with a winch. The winch has heavy grade chain attached that lowers into a shaft. The winch was probably installed to pull the heavy buckets of ore up from a stoop some distance below. Fine. 2.5 x 3.5” .Image affixed

to metal plate.

 

Lot of 2 ingots. 1) Obverse:  St. Louis   Chicago / Federated Metals Corporation / FM (monogram) / Genuine / San Francisco  New York  Newark  Pittsburgh / XXXX Nickel (written on each end). Measures: 8.5" long x 1 5/8" wide x .75" thick.  Weight: 2 lbs. 10.4oz.  2) Obverse: SAECO  Measures: 2 7/8" x 1" x 3/4." Weight: 15.7 oz.

Pair of two nickel ingots. 1) Obverse: Great Western Smelting & Refining Co / GW (monogram)  / Seattle  San Francisco  Los Angeles  / XXXX Nickel (written on each obverse end). Measures: 8.75" x 1.75" x  7/8." Weight:   3 lbs. 15.6 oz. 2) Obverse: Federated Metals Division of Asarco / American Smelting And / Refining Company /  XXXX Nickel / Babbitt. Measures 8.75" x 1.75" x 7/8." Weight: 4 lbs.

Over 200 pages containing sample railroad tickets. Most of the tickets are from various branch lines of the North Pennsylvania RR. There are some Delaware and Bound Brook line tickets, a few from the Lehigh Valley RR, and a page or two of tickets for the Centennial Exposition. Measures 11 x 16" in canvas cloth covered volume. Fragile condition but a fine sampling of railroadiana.

A collection of 11 card mounted photographs.  Revenue stamps were used between September 1, 1864 and August 1, 1866.  The photographers were John F. Nice, N.H. Tuck, C.D. Fredricks & Company and T.J. Trapp.

Original framed document signed by President Theordore Roosevelt and Attorney General Milton D. Purdy in 1906, appointing Elsie H. Newlon as Notary Public for the District of Columbia. Measures approximately 14 X 18".  Red embossed seal.  Document has some minor stains but is in otherwise good condition.

Blue 10.5" tall, hand painted silver "Rye" label debossed in sterling. Silver mouth covering. An exceptional back bar, the silver and blue make a gorgeous combination. Mint condition. This beauty graded an Attic Mint 10. It was most likely left in a house or bar for many years. Provenance: American Bottle Auctions Bryan Grapentine Collection lot 711.

 

 

The Salvation Army (SA) Band poses in front of their War Chariot.  Photograph measures 9 1/4”x7 1/4”, beige single matte 12”x10”, high to medium contrast—fading on the periphery  and very minor yellowing, and the focus is sharp.  There is a tear on the middle right of the matte and corners are worn.  There is also a very minor water stain on the upper left of photo and matte.  No photographer identified.  The SA began in 1865 when William Booth decided to find a way to communicate and assist the needs of the poor and homeless.  The SA rhetoric capitalized on military lingo in an effort to express the rigors in the fight against poverty.  This is a great photograph depicting the message received around the world: The Salvation Army had an ethical, and often moral, war to wage.   

 

Three small American temperance medals:

1. Obv.: "How sweet from the Green Mossy Brim to receive it As poised on the curb It inclined to my lips"/Rev.: "Pledged to use no intoxicating Drink as a Beverage. Temperance leads to Health, Wealth, Happiness and Long Life." 25mm, brass, reeded edge, holed, XF.

2. Obv.: "Washington United States of America," / Rev.: "To the cause of Temperance Ten Dollars to King Alcohol not one cent." 25mm, brass, reeded edge, AU.

3. Obv. : "State of New York No repeal July 4, 1855,"/ Rev.: " To commemorate the Passage of the Prohibitory Liquor Law." 28mm, brass, plain edge, holed, XF.

Three temperance tokens:

1. Obv.: "How sweet from the Green Mossy Brim to receive it As poised on the curb It inclined to my lips"/Rev.: "Pledged to use no intoxicating Drink as a Beverage. Temperance leads to Health, Wealth, Happiness and Long Life." 25mm, brass, reeded edge, holed, XF.

2. Obv.: "Washington United States of America," / Rev.: "To the cause of Temperance Ten Dollars to King Alcohol not one cent." 25mm, brass, reeded edge, AU.

3. Obv. : "State of New York No repeal July 4, 1855,"/ Rev.: " To commemorate the Passage of the Prohibitory Liquor Law." 28mm, brass, plain edge, holed, XF.

 

Six foreign temperance medals:

1. Early English token "be not deceived Evil Communications Corrupt Good Manners"/rev.: " Let Love Be without dissimulations, abhor that which is evil, cleave to that which is good."  30mm, copper xf-au plain edge

2.  English 1840 Temperance Halfpenny: obv.: "children trained in Habits of Temperance will never become Drunkards"/rev.: "Be wise as serpents and harmless as doves."  30mm, copper, xf (edge tics) plain edge

3. Obv.: 1836 New British and Foreign Temperance Society "United We Conquer"/ rev.: "We do agree that we do not agree that we will not use intoxicating liquors as a devbeverager traffic in them. That we will not provide them as an article of entertainment or for Person's in our employment & that in all suitable ways, we will discountenance their use the water shall be sure Isaiah 33 v16.  Aluminum ,45mm, xf, plain edge, holed

4. Ireland, Cork. Total Abstinence Society Pledge: I promise with the Devine Assistance to Abstain from all intoxicating Liquors and to Prevent as much as Possible by Advice & Example.  Intemperance in Others. The Very Rev'd T. Mathew President. 44mm Brass, xf, plain edge, holed

5. Obv.: In Hoc Signo Vinces/ rev.: Cork total AbstiAbstinenceety. The Very Rev'd T. Mathew President Founded April 10, 1888 Pledge I promise to Abstain from all intoxicating Drinks Except used Medicinally and by order of a Medical Man and to discountenance the cause & practice of Intemperance. 42mm, aluminum, AU, plainplain edgeed.

6. Quebec Canada. Obv.: Marie Jesus Joseph Soyez Fidele Jusqu'a La Mort/ Rev.: also in French. 42mm, aluminum, AU (PrroflProflikeces), holed

Part of the Congressional Record, franking free, envelope from Director of Mint Horatio Burchard to John D. Fenton Erie, Illinois, dated April 25, 1876.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lot of covers, card sets and cards.  13 post cards sets, most with no dates.  4 scarce Jet Age First Flights covers, 1967.  107 covers, 1876-2001.  11 with contents.  Many diff. states.  Many diff. PM.  Many with advertisers.  117 cards, 1892-1982.  RPCs, white border RPCs, Chromolitho cards, linen cards and Chrome cards.  1 sheet of cover corners, 1912-1917.  Most are from Oregon and Washington. Autograph of Howell Cobb, of Civil War fame.

From the Art Kagin historical postal collection. The only known gold identification band engraved EZ19104. Awarded to the world champion racing carrier pigeon of World War I. Provenance: The King Farouk Palace Collection.

Lot of 3 WW II posters, all measuring 28 x 40." The first two are listed as an "Official Navy Poster, Industrial Incentive Division, 8-80M," while all three were produced by the "US Government Printing Office," Washington, D.C. 1) Every Mothers Son is COUNTING ON YOU! See the job through to VICTORY!, dated 1944. Artwork below the headline shows a young sailor manning a machine gun aboard a landing craft in the foreground, while in the background several additional landing craft are moving amid incoming fire and a plane billowing smoke as it falls into the sea. Photographs underneath the artwork show officers manning a bridge, a signalman at work, a pilot, an airborne gunner, and a group of sailors gathered below deck. 2) Victory Still Comes High, It's a Tough Road to Tokyo!, dated 1945. A caption in the lower right by Gen. Alexander A. Vandegrift, Commandant, US Marine Corps, reads "Each thing lost must be replaced - the landing craft that didn't make it - the supplies that couldn't be landed." Artwork in the upper left shows one man on either side helping an injured soldier make his way to safety. Four photographs below the artwork show the cost of a beach landing: two show what's left of the hulls of several destroyed landing craft; one shows just a portion of the men and materiel required (ships, landing craft, jeeps, etc.) to mount an invasion; while one shows a single soldier with equipment visible, lying prone in the sand, having paid the highest price of all. 3) Keep the Home Front Pledge, Pay No More Than Ceiling Prices, Pay Your Points in Full, dated 1944. The center circle of the poster shows a woman wearing a red and white dress and a white apron against a blue background, with her right hand raised, taking her pledge to aid in the war effort. On the right side is printed "Produce and Conserve, Share and Play Square, FOOD Fights for freedom. Tears of 1 to 3" are visible along several foldlines.

This lot of 2 posters includes:  1) Till We Meet Again, BUY WAR BONDS, a lithograph by Joseph Hirsch. Measures 14 x 22," produced by U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C., dated 1942. Born in 1910, Hirsch's art career got a boost through his work for the Works Progress Administration (WPA). During WW II, he and other members of the Associated American Artists worked for Abbot Laboratories producing artwork which helped illustrate the war effort. His first work, "Till We Meet Again," was the most widely produced war bonds poster. He later helped to document Naval aviation training and the efforts of Naval medicine in the South Pacific. He also covered the Italian front and North Africa operations for the Army, who retain his works in the U.S. Army Collection. Following the war his career included selling his work through New York galleries, working on commission for corporations, and producing special items such as playbills. He also taught at the Chicago Art Institute, the National Academy of Design, and the Art Students League in New York City. During his career he won virtually every major award available to American artists (Ref: history.navy.mil/ac/artist).  2) WANTED - FIGHTING DOLLARS, Make Every Pay - Day Bond - Day. United States DEFENSE Bonds-Stamps, a lithograph by H.H. Wilkinsons. Measures 10 x 14," produced by U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C., dated 1942. Featuring a "blue collar" worker holding a $25 dollar U.S. Bond, the poster also includes a picture of a "revolutionary war minuteman" statue (artist unknown), (Ref: google, revolutionary war statues).

 

 

.22 Toz leaf gold. Provenance: Barlow Collection.

 The Cariboo Gold Rush was nearly contemporaneous to the famous Fraser River Gold Rush of 1857. Discovered about 1861, numerous mining camps grew out of this desolate territory south and east of Alaska. Placer gold production waned, but was revived numerous times, probably following the great American gold rushes.  The numerous mining vignettes and beautiful gold nuggets make this certificate one of the most prized of all mining certificates. Most of these certs that we have seen have appreciable iron stains, and this is a clean, fine example.  

 

 

Lot of 2 gold specimens. 1) 0.32 Toz crystallized gold specimen. Measures .75" x .5"x .25." A very fine, moderately stream-worn, aesthetically pleasing specimen - A complex dendritic cluster of small octahedral gold crystals.  2) 0.52 toz nugget that measures 1" x.75" x .5." A very bright, 3-dimensional placer gold nugget, having cavernous depressions that formerly held small quartz pebbles. Provenance: Barlow Collection.