Press Release

Reno, NV -- An exceptionally rare 1862 Nevada Territory receipt issued to Samuel Clemens (better known as author Mark Twain) for his work as a legislative reporter sold for $23,125, and a pair of 1871 documents appointing the melter and refiner to the Carson City, Nevada Mint, one of them signed by President Ulysses S. Grant, rang up $15,625 in a huge, four-day Desert Riches Auction held January 31st thru February 3rd by Holabird Western Americana Collections, LLC.

The event was packed with more than 2,100 lots in numerous collecting categories to include mining, gold, numismatics, scripophily, Native Americana, railroadiana, philatelic and general Americana. The first three days were live sessions, hosted in Holabird’s Reno gallery. The fourth day was a timed-only session, hosted exclusively on iCollector.com and LiveAuctioneers.com.

“We chose the name ‘Desert Riches’ to honor the gold specimens, stock certificates, mining artifacts and railroad pieces in this sale from the California desert mining camps in Inyo County and Death Valley, as well as from Arizona and Nevada,” said Fred Holabird, the president and owner of Holabird Western Americana Collections, LLC. “Overall it was a tremendous success.”

The Samuel Clemens receipt from the Territory of Nevada House of Representatives in Carson City, dated Dec. 20, 1862, reads in part, “To the Territorial Auditor, We hereby certify that Saml. L. Clemens is entitled to the sum of Two Hundred and Forty Dollars for forty days services as Reporter etc. for the House. [signed] John H. Mills, Speaker.” Clemens signed the reverse side.

Also sold was a Pony Express Virginia City (Nev.) cover sent the same month Clemens arrived in town to work for the Territorial Enterprise, in September 1862. Wells, Fargo & Co.'s Virginia Pony Express began operations on Aug. 8, 1862, using the 10-cent fee for a half-ounce letter. The rate increased to 25 cents in Jan. 1863, making this an 1862 specimen. It gaveled for $2,875.

The pair of 1871 documents appointing the melter and refiner to the Carson City, Nevada Mint surfaced from a prominent Nevada banking family. The document pair reflected the original appointment as Melter and Refiner of Moses D. Wheeler prior to June 3, 1871. The second document formally appointed Robert P. Andrews to the position on December 12, 1871.

Following are additional highlights from the auction. All prices quoted include the buyer’s premium. Online bidding was via iCollector.com, Invaluable.com and LiveAuctionbeers.com.

Day 1, on January 31st, had 434 lots of stock certificates and bonds (mining, oil, transportation – such as air, auto, railroad and steamer/marine – and miscellaneous, such as banking, Express and foreign); and philatelic (including postal covers, revenue and US and foreign stamps).

A Day 1 highlight was lot 1035, a rare and important Bullion Gold & Silver Mining Company stock certificate (Mazourka Canyon, Inyo County, Calif.), issued for 50 shares on Aug. 12, 1861 to Geo. V. Hight in San Francisco and signed by the company president, secretary and treasurer. The fantastic certificate traces the very beginning of mining in Inyo Country. It sold for $1,250.

Day 2 showcased 503 lots of transportation, to include railroad (passes, lanterns, locks and ephemera); bottles and brewing; general Americana (geographic sort US, foreign, books and maps, and miscellaneous, to include gaming, sports and toys); and military, political and weaponry/militaria.

To learn more about Holabird Western Americana Collections, LLC and their calendar of upcoming events, please visit www.holabirdamericana.com.

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