Auctions | July 17, 2012

Western Americana at Holabird-Kagin's August Auction

This August 17th and 18th, Holabird-Kagin Americana will hold the 2012 Hot August Auction, another world-class sale of Western Americana numismatics and collectibles at the Atlantis Casino Resort. The sale is expected to gross approximately $2.3 million in sales of museum quality artifacts mostly from Nevada and the Great American West. This important sale contains a wide array of fabulous and unique artifacts, including the only known Earp family portrait, featuring Nicholas Porter Earp and all six of his sons during Morgan’s wedding in 1875. This is perhaps the most important photograph available for public sale since the Billy The Kid photo went up for auction in 2011.

Nevada Items Include: The original Palace Club Charles Russell suite paintings by Trevors, rare Comstock Silver Ingots, Western Brothel Collectibles and the Dr. Jim Jacobitz collection, featuring early Nevada brewing signs, early Tahoe and Virginia City broadsides, rare Nevada railroad and mining hardgoods, photographs, Nevada & Bodie bottles, gold specimens, and much more!

The numismatic section of the event will feature an impressive, 470.5 troy ounce Knights Templar Silver Ingot from Colorado. This is the largest American nineteenth century silver ingot extant. This section also includes an uncut sheet of California Gold Rush Argenti Bank notes for $50, $100, $500, and $1000. In 2007, a single unused $1000 note sold at auction for almost $22,000. Collectors also won’t want to miss the incredible St. John D’el Rey Mining Company gold ingots, each about 18 troy ounces of rich British and Brazilian history. Other lots include: original, uncirculated Morgan Dollar Rolls, an Augustus Humbert Gold Slug, a rare Alaska “dog-eaters” Yukon Pacific Expo Token, and dozens more exciting items!

Many Nineteenth Century western saloon items are throughout the sale, perhaps highlighted by a major discovery of saloon seltzer bottles from Nevada & California. The cobalt blue Nevada seltzers represent one of the most significant discoveries of the new millennium. This collection is supplemented by the Duane Feisel collection of embossed saloon bottles and tokens, a collection put away for 40 years!

Another important collection in the sale is the remarkable Ken and Rosemary Roberts collection, the prize of which are the one-of-a-kind miner’s candlesticks, a unique American invention for underground mine lighting. The highlight of this collection is a miner’s candlestick made for Colorado mining magnate Horace Tabor. We’re also offering the Robert Mayer World’s Fairs and Expositions collection, and a collection of rare Nevada milk bottles from Bob Ferraro, Boulder City’s retired Mayor.

This two day, nearly 1700 lot auction is expected to draw a crowd of both bidders and spectators, who ordinarily only have the opportunity to see such remarkable, historic items in museums and institutions. The event is free and open to the public and the items will be available for viewing on Thursday, August 16th. Locals are encouraged to stop by the event for a glimpse of Nevada history and to witness the excitement of a multi-million dollar auction. The auction will be streamed live on our internet auction site with both national and international participation. For more information, to order a full color auction catalog, or to view the items, read the incredible historical stories and place bids online, call 877-852-8822 or visit www.HolabirdAmericana.com.