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CALIFORNIA PART 5: Pioneer Banking & Coins, Octagonals & Coins, San Joaquin County through Yuba County, California Unknowns

PIONEER BANKING AND COINS

597. San Francisco. San Francisco. Original uncut full printed sheet of paper money with six notes consisting of two each $10, $20, and $50, all datelined San Francisco, 18xx (1849-50). Vignettes of George Washington and Ben Franklin at right and left respectively. This sheet has quite a history. It appears to be a printer's proof sheet, and has no names of assay offices, banks or merchants printed in the appropriate places. There are no watermarks, and no notation of printer, thus a very strong indication that this is an early San Francisco printer. It was inspected by Numismatic expert Walter Breen for Douglas McDonald in the 1980's, and is from that collection of western scrip, most of which was sold by Lynn Knight several years ago. Breen (then) and I(now) feel the paper is consistent with 1849-50 pieces and is absolutely original. The unknown question that we cannot answer is "who was this sheet made for?" Speculation might be that in the view of the extreme shortage of coin in San Francisco at the beginning of the gold rush, one of the printers proposed paper scrip to one or more of the assay houses and/or banks. It would have represented a much cheaper investment than the gold Pioneer coinage they were making, but a potential bookkeeping and security nightmare. Since gold was the preferred, in fact demanded, medium of trade, the notes would have been turned down in favor of Pioneer gold coinage. There was much discussion in San Francisco newspapers of the period about paper currency, and none of it was favorable. The miners wanted to be paid in their specie, gold. In fact, it took more than a decade for some of the businesses to get used to checks, let alone paper currency. Currency was accepted only at great discounts (usually 50%) for at least another thirty years. This piece is believed to be unique. It has a torn piece from the left margin that penetrates tiny parts of two notes. The upper right and left corners are adhered to a backing paper board, probably done in the 1970's. The piece has been on display at several coin shows over the past 25 years. It is a classic example of a true rarity and a form of money that was not acceptable during the California gold rush. Currency didn't work. Est. $3000-5000

598. Sacramento. D.O. Mills & Co. Second Exchange Check. G. W. Gibson in the second exchange for $122.57. Value received. Signed by D.O. Mills & Co. in 1861. Vignette of a ship in port with boats and city in background to right of masthead; frontal view ship with small boats at foot in lower left. Printer - Bald, Coysland & Co, NY. Small piece missing at left. Very fine. 4 x 8.5. Est. $75-150

599. Sacramento. First of Exchange Check. David Ross first exchange issued to D. O. Mills & Co for $1000. Value received. Signed by David Ross in 1861. Vignette of ship at sea in masthead, and an ornate design at left side. Mills' signature on reverse. 4.5 x 9. Printer - Marvin & Hitchcock, Pioneer Book Store, SF. Writing across check noting payment. The only info we could find on D. Ross was that he was among the first group of California Volunteers called out to fight the Confederate Army. (Bancroft) Very fine. Est. $100-200

600. Sacramento. Wells Fargo First of Exchange Check. A.B. McNiel, cashier in the first exchange for $81.50. Value received. Signed by Wells Fargo in 1857. "First" in caps in underprint, and blue first of exchange, California adhesive revenue. 4.5 x 8.5. Very fine. Est. $75-50

601. San Francisco. Drexel, Sathers & Church Bankers Duplicate Bill. William Shreve for $970. Signed by Drexel, Sathers & Church in 1855. Profile relief of allegorical figure at left. Printer - Danforth, Bald & Co., NY. This company got its start from Sather & Church, two New York money brokers who cam to California in 1850. Francis Drexel joined the firm in 1851. (He was the patriarch of the Drexel fortune). They were among the first to do branch banking in California (SF & Sac.). (Cross) Some creases. 3.5 x 8.5. Very fine. Est. $100-200
For a Placerville Exchange, please see same in El Dorado County.
602. San Francisco. First Exchange Check. Hickox and Spear in the first exchange for $179.20. Value received. Signed by Gray Jones & Co. in 1872. Vignette of a female allegorical figure at left, below which is U.S. Revenue stamp. Writing across left side noting payment, and "20" to right. Printer - Edward Denny & Co, SF. Hickox & Spear got their start together in 1863, a year after Spear started as a bullion and money broker. They went broke in the late 1870's. (Cross) Very fine. 4 x 9. Est. $100-200

603. San Francisco. Banking House of Burgoyne & Co. Second of Exchange Check. Ms. Lyle Cholwell in the second exchange for $86.98. Value received. Signed by Burgoyne & Co. in 1852. Fancy design surrounding company name at left. 4 x 8.5. Printer - Rawdon, Wright, Hatch & Edson, NY. Crease down center, with small tear at top. They began business in June 1849. Burgoyne bought out his partner in 1854 in both San Francisco and New York. The California office went broke with the crash of Feb. 23, 1855. On that day virtually thousands of depositors went to their banks in a panic to collect their deposits in gold. The banks were unable to pay all the depositors and most went broke. (Cross) Very fine. Est. $100-200

604. San Francisco. Page, Bacon & Co. Original of Exchange. Gideon W. Chadborne in the original exchange for $1978. Value received. Signed by Page, Baron & Co. in 1855. Very nice check with a vignette of two ships at rough sea in masthead; busy street scene in front of Page, Bacon office bldg at left. Writing across check in red ink noting payment. Printer - Toppan, Carpenter, Casilear & Co, NY. They started as an express office in San Francisco in 1849. They were a branch of a St. Louis firm. They closed with the financial crash of Feb. 23, 1855. See lot above for story on crash. (Cross) Very fine. 4.5 x 9. Est. $100-200

605. San Francisco. Parrot & Co. Duplicate of Exchange Check. Richard Ibutson for $1300. Value received. Signed by Parrot & Co in 1860. Company name in masthead. "Duplicate" in caps at left side. 4 x 9. Printer - Britton & Rey. Parrot & Co was founded by John Parrot, a 49'er. He opened a bank with his own capital and was one of the strongest bankers of the period. They merged with the London & San Francisco Bank in 1871. (Cross) Very fine. Est. $100-200

CALIFORNIA OCTAGONALS AND COINS

California $50 Octagonal Gold Facsimile Coins or Medals

California octagonal gold pieces were struck in California for use during the California gold rush. The original coins were termed "ingots" by the United States mint because of their large weight (more than 2 troy ounces) and value, $50, which was more than any other United States gold coin. The US Assay Office at San Francisco issued the first such pieces, which appear to have been popular, and certainly are so today. The numerous varieties of the original $50 octagonal coins are well described in Don Kagin's Private Gold Coins and Patterns of the United States, 1981. The US Government began to pull the $50 octagonal pieces, sometimes known as slugs, from circulation after the completion of the San Francisco Mint in 1854.
Early facsimiles of these wonderful coins were made as early as 1899. While there still may yet be undiscovered pieces that predate this, 1899 marks the date of the first known $50 octagonal facsimile. In October, 1899, the Odd Fellows of California celebrated their fiftieth anniversary. The fraternal group had grown from a single lodge in 1849 in California to 352 lodges in 1899. They were also celebrating the $6.2 million they had spent in relief and charity for sick, dead, widows, and orphans. The I.O.O.F. issued a souvenir badge
"exact…in size, shape, and color of the old fifty dollar gold "slug" used in California in 1849; of untarnishable metal, appropriately and beautifully inscribed with emblems of the Order, and will be a beautiful and attractive Souvenir of this, the Golden Jubilee of Odd Fellowship in this State. The price of the badge will be 50 cents each. Persons desirous of obtaining these badges will be supplied on application to U. S. G. Clifford, Secretary of the Executive Committee." [from the original pamphlet, 1899]
Illustration of the early badge.

Among the earliest facsimiles known were those made by C. G. Brinker of San Francisco in 1913. These coincide directly with the publication of Edgar Adams' hardbound treatise on Private Gold Coinage of California, 1949-1855, also published in 1913 [it was originally published in a magazine two years earlier]. Brinker made some rather attractive "souvenirs." Brinker was a capitalist who lived at 245 Powell, according to the Crocker-Langley 1912 and 1914 San Francisco Directory. Curiously, at least one directory listed him as a carpenter, but this was probably a spelling or transcription error. Possibly in response to the rekindled interest in $50 octagonal coins created by Adams, he began having these souvenir coins made. While one or more of the coins bears his name, the pieces were probably struck at one of the three steel stamping facilities in San Francisco, the Moise-Klinkner Co., Patrick & Co. (both on Market Street), or Irvine & Jachens. Two of these are familiar to token and medal collectors, while Irvine-Jachens may be less familiar, though they are familiar to medal collectors. The Company has been in business for over 100 years and is alive today.
The publication of Adams' treatise probably spurred collector interest, and Brinker seized the moment. Next on his heels was the 1915 Pan-Pacific Exposition in San Francisco, which used the theme Days of '49. Irvine & Jachens made a number of varieties of the octagonal $50 gold pieces specifically for the Pan-Pacific Expo, and because of this familiarity with the designs, we would postulate that the Brinker pieces were probably also made by Irvine-Jachens. John Jachens and John C. Irvine were partners in their firm. Irvine was also 2nd vice president of the Pacific Aero Club. Jachens lived in San Francisco and probably ran the business, while Irvine lived in Berkeley. [Note: The name Irvine has been listed in numismatic publications as Irving, but is spelled Irvine in all of my San Francisco directories-fh]
Most of the early examples were struck on brass or bronze planchets and gold plated, which is known as gilt. The term gilt comes from gild, gilding, or gilded of German derivation. "It is the art of coating surfaces with a thin film of gold," according to Ure's Dictionary of Arts, Manufactures, and Mines, 1853. The first patent for the process was issued in 1836. The original gilt process is well described in Ure.
Over the succeeding years a number of different California $50 gold octagonal souvenir pieces have been struck. Most are very rare, with less than 30-50 known. There is no detailed reference work for these medals or coins, rather there is a proposed listing of known pieces by an advanced collector that has not yet been published.

606. Octagonal Slug. California. Fiftieth Anniversary Piece, Thompson Restaurants. Octagonal, octagonal beaded border / (star) EXACT SIZE AND WEIGHT OF (star) / FIFTY DOLLAR GOLD PIECE ISSUED 1851 / (circular thin line border) / FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY / OF THE / 1856 (pic of eagle with shield) 1906 / THOMPSON RESTAURANTS // border with indentations / THESE COINS / ISSUED IN 1851 / IN CALIFORNIA / WERE REDEEMED / BY THE GOVERNMENT, / NOW VERY RARE / VALUED AT / $300,000 EACH. 40 x 40 mm. Au-Unc. Brass. Small knick on one of the octagonal corners. Est. $100-300

607. Octagonal Slug. California. Imitation of Famous California Fifty Dollar Gold Slug. Octagonal, fob top, outside edge with (star) IMITATION OF FAMOUS CALIFORNIA FIFTY DOLLAR GOLD SLUG USED BY THE PIONEERS (star) 1850 / (circular beaded border) / UNITED STATES OF AMERICA / FIFTY DOLLS. / OOO THOUS in scroll at top / (pic eagle with US shield and arrows) // (beaded border) / SOUVENIR / (symbol) / REMINISCENCES / OF CALIFORNIA / (dot star dot) / THE DAYS OF OLD / THE DAYS OF GOLD / THE DAYS OF FORTY NINE / (dash) / DESIGN PAT APPLD FOR / (dash star dash) / C.G. BRINKER S.F. 40 x 40 mm. Brass, Au. Est. $75-125

608. Octagonal Slug. California. San Francisco, California Commemorative Piece. Octagonal, 40 x 40 mm, (beaded border) / SAN FRANCISCO CALIFORNIA / 880 THOUS., in scroll / (pic of eagle with U.S. shield) / FIFTY // (complex design on back) / 50 at center. XF. Gilt. Est. $75-125

609. Octagonal Slug. California. Brinker Slug. The Days of Gold The Days of Old The Days of Fortynine/ Souvenir/ PPIE/Design Patent Applied For/ Panama Pacific/ International/Exposition/San Francisco/1915 / C.G. Brinker, S.F.//Immitation of Famous California Fifty Dollar Gold Slug Used By The Pionerers/1850/United States of America/000 Thou./(pic Eagle)/ 50 Dolls. Edges plain. Gilt on brass (?). 1.56" diameter. Almost uncirculated. Est. $100-300

610. Octagonal Slug. California. Imitation of Famous California Fifty Dollar Gold Slug. Octagonal, outside edge with (star) IMITATION OF FAMOUS CALIFORNIA FIFTY DOLLAR GOLD SLUG, USED BY THE PIONEERS (star) 1850 / (circular beaded border) / UNITED STATES OF AMERICA / FIFTY DOLLS. / OOO THOUS., in scroll at top / (pic eagle with US shield and arrows // (beaded border) / embossed picture of a miner panning for gold in the mountains with a shovel at his side. 40 x 40 mm. Date: unknown, pre-WW II. Unc. Gilt. Est. $75-125
611. Octagonal Slug. California. Imitation of Famous California Fifty Dollar Gold Slug. Octagonal, outside edge with (star) IMITATION OF FAMOUS CALIFORNIA FIFTY DOLLAR GOLD SLUG USED BY THE PIONEERS (star) 1850 / (circular beaded border) / UNITED STATES OF AMERICA / FIFTY DOLLS. / 000 THOU. in scroll at top / (pic eagle with US shield and arrows // THE DAYS OF OLD THE DAYS OF GOLD THE DAYS OF FORTY NINE / CALIFORNIA around outside / (beaded border) / (picture of miner standing in the river, panning for gold. 40 x 40 mm. AU. Gilt.. Est. $75-125

612. Octagonal Slug. California. Imitation of Famous California Fifty Dollar Gold Slug. Octagonal, outside edge with (star) IMITATION OF FAMOUS CALIFORNIA FIFTY DOLLAR GOLD SLUG USED BY THE PIONEERS (star) 1850 / (circular beaded border) / UNITED STATES OF AMERICA / FIFTY DOLLS / 000 THOU. in scroll at top / (pic eagle with US shield and arrows // THE DAYS OF OLD THE DAYS OF GOLD THE DAYS OF FORTY NINE / CALIFORNIA around outside / (beaded border) / (picture of miner panning for gold in the mountains (this one does not have a shovel like one of the others mentioned in this group). 40 x 40 mm. XF. Gilt. Est. $75-125

613. Octagonal Slug. California. Imitation of Famous California Fifty Dollar Gold Slug. Octagonal, outside edge with (star) IMITATION OF FAMOUS CALIFORNIA FIFTY DOLLAR GOLD SLUG, USED BY THE PIONEERS (star) 1850 / (circular beaded border) / UNITED STATES OF AMERICA / FIFTY DOLLS (dot) / 000 THOU in scroll at top / (pic eagle with US shield and arrows // (wave border) / scalloped design / 50. At top of piece is a small circular piece for a small chain to go through. 40 x 40 mm. Gilt. Unc. Est. $50-100

614. Octagonal Slug. California. Imitation of Famous California Fifty Dollar Gold Slug. Octagonal, outside edge with (star) FACSIMILE OF FAMOUS CALIFORNIA FIFTY DOLLAR GOLD SLUG USED BY THE PIONEERS (star) 1850 / (circular beaded border) / UNITED STATES OF AMERICA / FIFTY / IN GOD WE TRUST in scroll at top / (pic eagle with US shield and arrows // (dot) SOUVENIR PIONEER DAYS OF CALIFORNIA (dot) THE DAYS OF '40 / (plain border) / embossed picture California state seal with EUREKA at top. 40 x 40 mm. Gilt, AU-Unc. Est. $50-100

615. Octagonal Slug. California. Imitation of Famous California Fifty Dollar Gold Slug. Octagonal, outside edge with (star) MEMENTO OF FAMOUS CALIFORNIA FIFTY DOLLAR GOLD SLUG, USED BY THE PIONEERS (star) 1850 / (circular beaded border) / UNITED STATES OF AMERICA / FIFTY DOLLS (dot) / WE TRUST in scroll at top / (pic eagle with US shield and arrows // obverse is the same. 40 x 40 mm. Light gilt with silvery finish. Unc. Est. $50-100

616. Octagonal Slug. California. Imitation of Famous California Fifty Dollar Gold Slug. Octagonal, outside edge with (star) FACSIMILE OF FAMOUS CALIFORNIA FIFTY DOLLAR GOLD SLUG USED BY THE PIONEERS (star) 1850 / (circular beaded border) / UNITED STATES OF AMERICA / FIFTY / IN GOD WE TRUST in scroll at top / (pic eagle with US shield and arrows // (dot) SOUVENIR PIONEER DAYS OF CALIFORNIA (dot) THE DAYS OF '49 / (plain border) / embossed picture California state seal with EUREKA at top. 40 x 40 mm. Brass. AU-Unc. Est. $50-100

617. Octagonal Slug. California. Imitation of Famous California Fifty Dollar Gold Slug. Octagonal, outside edge with (star) IMITATION OF FAMOUS CALIFORNIA FIFTY DOLLAR GOLD SLUG USED BY THE PIONEERS (star) 1850 / (circular beaded border) / UNITED STATES OF AMERICA / FIFTY DOLLS. / OOO THOU. in scroll at top / (pic eagle with US shield and arrows). 40 x 40 mm. Uniface, Unc. Gilt. Est. $50-100
618. Octagonal Slug. California. Imitation of Famous California Fifty Dollar Gold Slug. Octagonal, outside edge with (star) IMITATION OF FAMOUS CALIFORNIA FIFTY DOLLAR GOLD SLUG USED BY THE PIONEERS (star) 1850 / (circular beaded border) / UNITED STATES OF AMERICA / FIFTY DOLLS. / OOO THOUS in scroll at top / (pic eagle with US shield and arrows) // wave border / scalloped design / 50 at center. 40 x 40 mm. Unc. Gilt. Est. $50-100

619. Octagonal Slug. Montana. Montana Territory Commemorative Piece. Octagonal, beaded border / (three stars) MONTANA TERRITORY (three stars) FIFTY / O.H.F. in scroll / (pic of eagle with U.S. shield // (star) MONTANA TERRITORIAL CENTENNIAL (star) 1864-1964. VF. 40 x 40 mm. Unc. Gilt. Est. $15-30

620. Octagonal Slug. California. Mariposa. Octagonal $50 slug replica. Mariposa Court House Centennial Slug Facsimile, 1954. Octagonal, (star) MARIPOSA COURT HOUSE CENTENNIAL (star) 1854-1954 / line border / picture of the court house // (star) MARIPOSA GAZETTE CENTENNIAL (star) S854-1954 / line border / picture of press 40 x 40 mm. Gilt on brass, unc. Est. $25-75

621. Octagonal Slug. California. Centennial Celebration Piece for Discovery of Gold in California. Ocatagonal, thin, line border / (dot) CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION DISCOVERY OF GOLD IN CALIFORNIA (dot) 1846-1946 / center picture of miner panning for gold // picture of a version of the California state seal. Unc. Gilt. 40 x 40 mm. Est. $25-50

622. Octagonal Slug. Movie Prop. Immitation Octagonal Gold Piece --Weak strike, lettering and embossed picture no longer clear. Plain border / UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (America barely visible) / (picture of eagle - not very clearly visible) // obverse is blank. Gold painted lead cast used on Hollywood movie set. 40 x 40 mm. Est. $25-50

End San Francisco and Pioneer Coin and Currency section.

SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY

San Joaquin. Stockton. Stockton Terminal and Eastern Railroad Co. Please see California Railroad section at the end of CA geographical section.

SAN MATEO COUNTY

623. San Mateo. Rockaway Beach. Ferro-type or "Tin Type." Photograph of 18 men seated, kneeling and standing on sand with cloth backdrop. Penciled on back is message: "Taken on excursion of Olive Leaf Coterie, Sept. 1st, 1881 to Rockaway Beach." Webster's defines a coterie as "an association of villagers in a landholding. . . . a circle of familiar friends; a meeting, for social or literary intercourse." Presumably these gentlemen got together for social outings and possibly more intellectual pursuits. Very fine. No photographer noted. Vf. Est. $50-100

SANTA BARBARA COUNTY

624. Santa Barbara. Elwood Cooper/ Pure Olive Oil/ Santa Barbara, Cal. in applied blob seal. Aqua fifth. Tooled top. Ding to underside of seal at lower right, but not visible from front. Rare. Est. $25-50.

SANTA CLARA COUNTY

625. Santa Clara. San Jose. Lick Observatory Souvenir Spoon. Sterling silver spoon, "Lick Observatory, San Jose, Cal" and picture of the site embossed in bowl. Top of handle is in the shape of a miner with pick and shovel, and a pan in which there are artificial gold nuggets. The bowl is in the shape of a shovel. 4". Est. $50-100

626. Santa Clara. San Jose National Bank. Incorporated in California. Issued to Beatrice L. Frymire in 1929. Corporate signatures illegible. Cancelled by rubber stamp through signatures. Olive green border. 7-3/4 x 11-1/2. Printer - Schwabacher-Frey, S.F. One of thousands of banks across the country that provided service to local inhabitants. Folds and wrinkles, yellowing at edges, good. San Jose was too early to be included in Cross's Financing an Empire, 1927. Est. $25-50

627. Santa Clara. San Jose. 1899 California Statehood Badge. Bear atop gilt suspension hangar with SOUVENIR / to rings to medal / eagle atop scroll with 50TH ANNIVERSARY / wreath border around body of medal / CALIFORNIA STATEHOOD / (pic of first capitol building) / FIRST CAPITOL / BUILDING / 1849 - SAN JOSE - 1899 / DEC. 20 // SCHWAAB S & S CO. / (symbol) / MILWAUKEE. 38 x 63 mm. Unc. Est. $50-150

New Almaden Mine area.
We have a wonderful selection of rare material from this unique mining camp in Santa Clara County. The mine was founded well before the California gold discovery, and remained active for nearly 150 years. It was the major source of mercury to gold miners in California and then to the Comstock mills.

628. Santa Clara. New Almaden. New Almaden Mine. Technical paper. Abstract with figures of a paper prepared by R. Burton Rose, Exploration Geologist on Mercury Trace Sampling at the mine. Paper was for presentation at the 1962 Metal Mining and Industrial Minerals Convention and Exposition in S. F. One page abstract with 13 pages of data and one geologic map (uncolored) of the general geology of the New Almaden district. Native mercury readily vaporizes and can be detected using sample collectors placed on the ground surface. New exploration targets can be generated by mapping the distribution of mercury vapor anomalies detected with these sampling arrays. Minor yellowing at edges of pages, very fine. Est. $25-50

629. Santa Clara. New Almaden. New Almaden Quicksilver Mines Corporation. Incorporated in Virginia. Issued to Bertron Grisoom & Co. for 100 shares in 1916. Signed by President Geo. H. Sexton and Secretary-Treasurer Chas. A. Frank. Cancelled by rubber stamp and hole punches through President's signature. Blue border and underprint. 7-3/4 x 10-3/4. Printer - ABN. New Almaden is the earliest mine made by white men in California. It was begun by the Spanish and named after the famous Almaden deposit in Spain. It produced mercury for western mines for nearly a century. The mercury was used in mills for a separation process to agglomerate fine particles of gold into more manageable masses called amalgam. This company was a subsidiary of the Quicksilver Investment Co. The parent company had a 25 year lease on the Almaden quicksilver mine which had produced more than $60 million by 1920. The property is located near San Jose and is the oldest quicksilver mine in the US having produced over a million flasks (76 lbs) by 1917 (ref. Weed, 1920). Minor smudges from cancellation stamps, minor yellowing at edges, very fine. Est. $25-50

630. Santa Clara. New Almaden. Quicksilver Mining Co. Lot of 2. Chartered by the state of New York in 1866. Issued to Martin & Floyd for 100 shares capital stock in 1916. Certificate number 12044. Second, issued to Martin & Floyd for 100 shares preferred capital stock in 1916. Certificate number 8506. Datelined New York. Signed by President Joseph Kaufman. Uncancelled. Vignette of refinery workers pouring mercury into flasks. In left border mercury filled barometer, in right border, mercury filled thermometer. Brown border and underprint, other is green bordered with green underprint. 7 x 12. Printer - National Bank Note Co., N.Y. The company owned 6800 acres in 1920 including the New Almaden quicksilver mines, the oldest producer of quicksilver in the US. Total production to the end of 1917 was over a million 76 lb flasks of mercury, but by 1919, production was 20% of normal and the directors were seeking voluntary dissolution of the company. (Weed, 1920, Mines Handbook, pp 477-478). Some wrinkles, extremely fine. Est. $100-300.
631. Santa Clara. New Almaden. Quicksilver Mining Co. Incorporated in New York in 1867. Issued to Carlisle, Mellick & Co. for 50 shares in 1911. Several signatures in corporate officers locations. Uncancelled. Vignette of refinery workers pouring mercury into flasks. Blue border and underprint. 7 x 12. Printer - National Bank Note, NY. The company owned 6800 acres in 1920 including the New Almaden quicksilver mines, the oldest producer of quicksilver in the US. Total production to the end of 1917 was over a million 76 lb flasks of mercury, but by 1919, production was 20% of normal and the directors were seeking voluntary dissolution of the company. (Weed, 1920, Mines Handbook, pp 477-478). Extremely fine. Est. $ 100-300

632. Santa Clara. New Almaden. Quicksilver Mining Co. Receipt for stock purchase. Incorporated in New York in 1867. Issued to Van Deventer & Patton for 100 shares in 1879. Issued by W. B. Taylor & Co., signed by J. Millian, atty. Gold print on white paper. 5 x 10-3/4. The company owned 6800 acres in 1920 including the New Almaden quicksilver mines, the oldest producer of quicksilver in the US. Total production to the end of 1917 was over a million 76 lb flasks of mercury, but by 1919, production was 20% of normal and the directors were seeking voluntary dissolution of the company. (Weed, 1920, Mines Handbook, pp 477-478) Top edge irregularly trimmed, very good. Est. $50-75

633. Santa Clara. New Almaden. Quicksilver Investment Co., Inc. Incorporated in Virginia in 1915. Issued to Adolph Maier for 2 shares in 1915. Signed by Willis H. Stafford of Charles A. Frank & Co. Uncancelled. Green border and underprint. 9-1/2 x 13. Printer - ABN The company had a 25 year lease on the New Almaden Quicksilver Mine of the Quicksilver Mining Co. through its subsidiary the New Almaden Co. Inc. Operated at a loss for a number of years and by 1925 holdings reverted to the New Almaden Co. (Various issues of the Mines Handbook, 1916-1925) Minor tears at fold edges, very fine. Est. $25-50

634. Santa Clara. New Almaden. Gold Rush Document. San Antonio Mine. 1859 copy of an entry recorded on April 27, 1848 in the Santa Clara County, California Recorder's office in Book 2 on page 128. The document is sworn testimony that Robert Walknishaw and Antonio Sunol were present at a mine owned by Alex Forbes & Co. on the 26 of April, 1848. They said that the mine was a hole "ten veras in depth and 1 1/2 veras in width or diameter." A "versa" was a Spanish unit of measure equal to 31 to 34 inches. Walkinshaw said he was a miner and familiar with Mexican Mining Law, and that the work seen presently was enough to allow Forbes possession of the mine. The document is signed by Charles White, First Alcade of Pueblo de San Jose de Ide. A third sworn statement was made by Ysidro Cyvrian who said the hole was 11 1/2 veras deep, or about 32 feet deep. Walkinshaw was a native of Scotland who came to California in 1847 from Mexico, where he was probably engaged in mining. He was brought to California by Forbes specifically to run the New Almaden quicksilver mine. However, James Forbes, no relation to Alexander Forbes, had been placed in charge in 1846 and claimed Walkinshaw was "ruining" the mine. In 1849 by devious means, Forbes ousted Walkinshaw from control. Furious, Walkinshaw initiated that was intense and costly, using two of the top California lawyers of the day. Walkinshaw prevailed initially, but Forbes had the decision overturned in a convoluted sequence that involved Mexican vs American mining laws. Though James eventually won the suit, it was he who nearly ruined the mine, and his Alexander Forbes fired him. Walkinshaw was reinstated at the mine in 1850 and he and Alex Forbes, among others became owners of the New Almaden mine, the most important mercury mine in America. Walkinshaw returned to Scotland in 1858 and died a year later. The San Antonio mine was located about two miles northwest of New Almaden and was considered part of the New Almaden company's holdings (Ref. K. Johnson, 1963, The New Almaden Quicksilver Mine.) Est. $400-800

635. Santa Clara. Almaden Store Trade Tokens, Lot of 4. Two 25¢ trade tokens, rd, b/b, ALMADEN / 25¢ / STORE // DELIVER TO BEARER / 25¢ / GOODS TO AMT. OF. 24 mm. Two 5¢ trade tokens, rd, b/b, ALMADEN / 5¢ / STORE // DELIVER TO BEARER / 5¢ / GOODS TO AMT. OF. 21 mm. Est. $30-60.

636. Santa Clara. New Almaden Mineral Water Bottle. W & W on reverse. Aqua blob soda bottle. Stained with white alkali. Found while fishing at Guadalupe Creek, c1964, near New Almaden. Mineral water was produced at New Almaden since 1854. They moved to San Jose in 1857 and took on a partner Winslow. The dates of use of the bottle are uncertain, and would take more research, but appears to be 1857 to 1870. New Almaden was a major mercury mine in California since the early 1840's. It represented the only organized mining in California prior to the gold rush. This bottle, and several others which are a bit more spectacular, came from the springs before about 1880. The springs dried up in the 1880's. [ref: Markota, FH] Est. $ 50-150
637. Santa Clara. New Almaden. Paper Scrip for Hill Store, New Almaden, 1872. Unissued certificate. Red print. Datelined Hill Store, New Almaden, 1872 / The Bearer is Good for / ____Dollars worth of Goods. No signature. Very slight yellowing to left edge. 6 1/2 x 2 1/2. Xf. Est. $50-100

638. Santa Clara. New Almaden. Scrip from Hill Store, New Almaden, 1872. Unused. Extremely fine. Same as above. Est. $50-100

639. Santa Clara. San Jose. The Farmers' Union of San Jose. Lot of 2. Incorporated in California in 1874. Two certificates issued to Thos. E. Snell for 50 shares in 1875 and Hiram Pomeroy for 10 shares in 1875. Both signed by President Wm. E. Rootz and Secretary E. A. Braly. "Cancelled" written across vignette and lines through signatures on both certificates. Two vignettes; top center of livestock, plow, fruit tree and steam train in background; at left margin of woman picking grapes. Black border on vanilla paper. 5-1/2 x 9-1/2. Printer - Bacon & Co., S. F. The Farmer's unions were formed to protect farmers against exorbitant shipping rates by merchants and freight carriers that amounted to extortion. These attempts at extortive high handling rates caused California farmers to form granges, or unions, to protect themselves. The granges promoted the establishment of farmers banks, cooperatives, and warehouses, and even a few railroads. In this manner, they probably became able to provide a guaranteed reasonable price for their produce in the market in the Bay Area. Both fine. [ref; Bancroft, v7] Est. $100-200

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY

640. Santa Cruz. Scrip. $1 Trade Warrant. Issued to C. Armstrong in 1933. Certificate number 1059. Signed by Santa Cruz Chamber of Commerce President, Fred McPheraow Jr., and countersigned by Mabel Wheeler. Cancelled. 7 x 8. No printer noted. "This warrant is issued to accomplish a very worthy purpose and to furnish additional employment to persons in need." "The public is earnestly requested to accept this warrant in 'change' so as to aid unemployment relief." Issued during the Great Depression, this plea encouraged people to aid those less fortunate by accepting the warrant in trade. Worn, dirty, yellowed at edges, good. Est. $50-100.

SHASTA COUNTY

641. Shasta. Castle Crag Souvenir Spoon. Sterling spoon, "Tavern of Castle Crag, California" and picture of the old hotel in the bowl. 6". "Pat. July 1908" on reverse. VF. Castle Crag was a popular tourist area and was made into a park in 1934. It got its name from the prominent granite formation. Est. $50-150

642. Shasta. Delta Consolidated Gold Mines Co. Incorporated in South Dakota in 1903. Issued to Robt. F Robison for 200 shares in 1906. Signed by President M.E. Dittmar and Secretary Sherman T. White. Uncancelled. Vignette upper left corner of two miners working under ground, second vignette bottom center in gold of rocky gorge in mountains. Gold border, underprint and seal. 8-1/4 x 11. Printer - Goes; Carlisle & Co. The company had 11 patented claims on 115 acres on Dog Creek, 6 miles west of Delta, California. The ore was in quartz veins in andesite and carried gold, silver and a little copper said to assay $22.40 per ton. Developed by 3500 ft of workings. Idled in 1915, no reactivation through 1931 (Various issued of the Mines Handbook). Est. $25-50

643. Shasta. Eureka Tellurium Gold Mining Co. Incorporated in California in 1889. Issued to H. F. Michner, trustees for 10 shares in 1890. Certificate number 523. Datelined Redding, Cal. Signed by President J. Atwood and Secretary Geo. O. James. Cancelled. Black border on yellow paper with gold seal. 4-1/4 x 9. Printer - Crocker & Co., S.F. The mine was located near Middle Creek, 2-1/2 miles west of Redding. The tellurium component to the ore made beneficiation difficult although the company claimed it obtained an 87% recovery of the assay value. 5 men operated the mill. Tellurium ores were first studied about 1890-1895. This is the earliest Tellurium stock we have seen in either California or Colorado. (13th Report of the State Mineralogist, CSMB, p. 356-57). Extremely fine. Est. $100-300

644. Shasta. Gold Rush Check. Sacramento City Bank, Shasta, 1853. Shasta was a northern center for gold mining activities in Trinity, Klamath, and Shasta counties. At one time a move was made to take the western railroad through here because the locals felt they had the strongest commerce in the state. Extra fine. Est. $75-150
645. Shasta. Gold Rush Check. Sacramento City Bank, Shasta City, 1853. Extra fine. See above for story. Est. $50-100

646. Shasta(?). Gold Ship Mining Co. Incorporated in Arizona in 1908. Issued to Anton J. Steiner for 50 shares in 1911. Signed by President W. J. Graham and Secretary E. R. Bailey. Uncancelled. Vignette of floating gold dredge. Orange border and seal. 8-1/4 x 11. Printer - Goes. We could find no reference to this company among our resources. Dredge might indicate Shasta County. Yellowing along edges, very fine. Est. $25-50

647. Shasta. French Gulch. Greenhorn Mining Company. About 30 letters and court documents relating to a suit between the Greenhorn and the Acme Mining Co. The Greenhorn was a massive sulfide, copper-gold deposit along the Trinity Highway and in production in the 1940's. The company was incorporated in 1929 to take over the Greenhorn mine. Discovered in 1901, the mine was worked from 1910 to 1916. The ore was chalcopyrite in replacement deposits 20 to 60 ft long in a shear zone of altered rhyolite. Assays averaged 3% copper and $4 in gold and silver per ton. The company shipped 29 cars of high grade ore in 1930 said to grade 5 to 34% copper, $1 gold and 8 oz silver. They reported 500,000 tons of 2-1/2% copper blocked out. The company was under good management. (Mines Handbook, 1931, p. 578). The Mines Register, 1949 reported the company was inactive, possibly owing to this lawsuit. It would probably have made an open pit mine today based on the data developed by Cities Service Co. in the 1950's-60's, except for environmental concerns. [fh] Est. $ 50-100

648. Shasta. Heroult. Noble Electric Steel Co., incorporated in California 1907, issued 1911 for 20 shares to S. Bacigalupi and signed by W. Noble as president and C. Morgan as secretary. "Location of works Heroult on the Pitt, Shasta Co, California". Printed by Britton & Rey. Green border. Vignette of the works at Shasta. Fancy masthead. Uncancelled. 6 x 10" XF. Est. $25-75

649. Shasta. Kimberly. First National Copper Co. Incorporated in Nevada in 1908. Two certificates, one issued to Earl A. Lanstam for 50 shares in 1929, the other to Griffith M. Wane for 15 shares in 1910. Signed by President A. R. Buchanan and Secretary Wm. A. Kerr. Uncancelled. Vignette of bald eagle. Purple border and underprint on 50 share cert., orange on 15 share cert. 7-1/4 x 11. Printer - ABN. Organized to refinance the defunct Balaklala Copper Co., the holding company for Balaklala Consolidated Copper Co. The company had 72 claims covering 3040 ft over the mineralized zone consisting of chalcopyrite and a little chalcocite and covellite. The ore was estimated to average 2.65% copper, 0.9 oz silver and .03 oz gold per ton. In 1931, the company had about 3 million tons of reserves and about 100,000 tons ready for stoping (Mines Handbook, 1931). Folds and creases, some browning along folds, very fine. Est. $50-75

650. Shasta. Old Diggings. Mammoth Quartz MC., incorporated in California 1863, issued 1864 to B. C. Furman, datelined Shasta, Cal. 388 shares. Signed by James Keen as president and George Forbes as secretary. 4 x 9", vignette of train at top center, printed by Crocker & Co, SF. Uncancelled. The Shasta area was an important gold camp in the 1850's, primarily for placer gold from the Klamath and Trinity ranges. Lode mining began early, but no significant lodes were found until after 1872. Browne and Raymond, in their massive 1868 and 1870 works did not report on Shasta, perhaps because of the low output, but also because of the relative remoteness of the area and lack of news play. Its peak in production appears to have been the mid to late 1850's until a few major mines were found later in the 1870's.The total amount of gold mines from the county in 1870 was less than $100,000, according to Raymond. We were unable to find information on the Mammoth from this 1860's period. Rare. Est. $400-800

651. Shasta. Redding. Dakin Property. Reports, drill logs and correspondence relating to this property. The group consists of about 35 pieces which are mostly drill logs of this placer gold property. Most dated 1917. Bound in flexible hard binding. Est. $50-150
652. Shasta. Trinity. Trinity Copper Corporation. Incorporated in Virginia in 1920. Two certificates, issued to Griffith & McWain for 10 shares in 1921 and Robert W. Greatorex for 100 shares in 1923. Signed by vice President Arthur P. French and Asst Secretary John N. Reynolds. Uncancelled. No vignette, company logo (?) of three 3's over masthead. Blue border and underprint on the 10 share certificate, orange on the other. 7 x 10-3/4. Printer - ABN. A reorganization of the Trinity Copper Co. that had a tangled history from its inception in 1900. The property consisted of 1200 acres located at Kimberly, developed by over 15,000 ft of workings with (in 1925) 400,000 tons of ore insight. Mines Handbook, 1920, p. 487-89; Mines Handbook, 1925, p. 630-31). No mention is made of the company in the 1931 volume of Mines Handbook, dead or otherwise. Blue, extremely fine; orange minor ink smudges bottom edge, brown spots at edges and along folds, fine. Est. $50-75

SIERRA COUNTY

653. Sierra. Excelsior Drift Gold Mining Co. Incorporated in California in 1887. Unissued, unsigned, and uncancelled. Datelined Sacramento. Vignette of large mill building with 7 smokestacks and a steam train. Black border on white paper. 4 x 9. Printer - Crocker & Co., Sac. The Excelsior mine, located 1 1/2 miles S.E. of St. Louis was developed by a 1400 ft tunnel but (in 1893) would have to be extended another 1500 ft to reach the Howland Flat and Port Wine channels. An upraise cut into an overflow of gravel 200 ft wide that yielded both coarse and fine gold worth $19.50 per ounce. Ore was processed in a line of sluice boxes 60 ft long by 14 inches wide. Quicksilver was used in the last three boxes and they were cleaned up after each washing. Extremely fine. Est. $15-30

654. Sierra. Feather River Consolidated Mining Co. Incorporated in South Dakota. Issued to R. F. Robison for 100 shares in 1904. Signed by Vice President F.A. Meidinger and Secretary J. D. Meidinger. Uncancelled. Three vignettes; top center of hills with small mining operations in lower part, town at top; top left and right, scenes of miners working underground. Gold border, underprint and seal. 8-1/2 x 11. Printer Goes & S. D. Childs & Co, Chicago. We could find no reference to this company among our resources. The Feather River cuts through the Sierra Nevada north of Grass Valley. Its numerous tributaries are full of gold, and the Feather itself was an important source of gold for more than 150 years. It also bisects other counties, such as Butte and Yuba. This company may have operated on sites such as Rich Bar. Folds, minor yellowing along bottom edge, very fine. Est. $25-50

655. Sierra(?) Gold Gravel Hydraulic Co. #840. Incorporated in New York in 1880. Issued to H.L. Hayford, Trustee for 20 shares in 1882. Uncancelled. Signed by Jno. H. Mortimer as president and M.E. Babcock as secretary. Vignette of two allegorical figures flanking a shield topped by a bald eagle. We found no information on a company with a name like "Gold Gravel Hydraulic". It is probably a northern California hydraulic mine. There were still more than 50 hydraulic mines in Sierra Co., in 1917. (Boyle, 1917). Black print. Very fine. 7 x 11.5. Est. $150-200.

656. Sierra. Loftus Blue Lead Mines Co. Certificate number 63. Incorporated in California in 1914. Issued to Frederick G. Cartwright for 1 share in 1925. Cancelled. Signed by Loftus as president and Frank J. Thorne as secretary. Vignette of spread-winged bald eagle perched atop cliff, ready for flight. Orange border with black print. Cancellation noted in blue writing and check marks. 8 x 12. The 1931 Mines Handbook said this company was the holding company of Mines Operating Corp., Ltd. with working placer mines in Sierra County. Blue Lead is a term referring to the famous blue lead gravel deposit at the bottom of the Tertiary section of gravel described by Waldimar Lindgren in his paper on the Tertiary Gravels of California. The blue lead got its name because of the blue gray clay cementing the gravels. This blue gray clay contained significant gold and was generally very rich. Containing several ounces per yard when in the center of the paelochannel. The larger, more developed channels in the blue lead yielded several thousand ounces in just a few hundred feet of length. A good example of this is the gravel mines at La Porte. Wm. Loftus was probably a relative of J. P. Loftus, a prominent, high profile Goldfield, Nevada newspaper pioneer at the turn of the century. Very fine. Est. $25-50

657. Sierra. Loftus Blue Lead Mines Co. Incorporated in California in 1914. Issued to William Loftus for 5000 shares in 1918. Signed by President Wm. Loftus and Secretary A. J. Flores. "Cancelled" written across face. Vignette of bald eagle on rocky crag. Orange border and underprint. 8 x 11-1/2. Yellowing at edges, checking along bottom edge, very good. See above lot for story. Est. $25-50
658. Sierra. Mountain Ledge Gold Mining Co., Ltd. Registered in London in 1889. Issued to Theodore Weld Sterling for 1250 shares in 1890. Signed by corporate officers. Black print on thin white paper. 9-1/2 x 9-1/2. Printer - Blondell Taylor & Co., London. The Mountain Ledge mine was located in 1868, seven miles northeast of Sierra City. The vein was developed by several tunnels and a shaft. The ore was transported to the mill via a tramway 6200 feet in length. The 40 stamp mill was powered by a 5 ft. Pelton wheel. (10th Annual Report of the State Mineralogist, 1890. p. 647-8). Numerous creases, 1/2 inch grease spot top center, fine. Est. $100-200

659. Sierra. Alleghany. Alleghany Mining Co. Incorporated in California in 1903. Issued to R. S. Giles for 1000 shares in 1908. Signed by President J. M. Haskins and Secretary C. C. Tripp. Uncancelled. Three vignettes: top center of sluices in river valley with two miners attending; top left of 3 miners inspecting large sample; top right miner panning by stream. Black border, gold underprint and seal. 8-1/2 x 11. Printer - Goes. The area around Alleghany tapped the ancient placer gravels that were first exploited by the Alleghany tunnel about 1855. The company owned and operated the Steamboat Mine, located about a mile southeast of the town of Alleghany. The property consisted of two claims, the Snowden and St. Elmo, totaling 40 acres on a lava covered ridge on the east side of Kanaka Creek. "A vein 4' in width is developed by a 40' tunnel, which gives 40' of backs. At 450' in, the vein lies 4' below where rich gold was found in gravels." (Ref. Calif. State Mining Bureau, Mines and Mineral Resources of Sierra Co, Dec. 1918, p. 59). Small ink blot upper left corner, otherwise very fine. Est. $25-50

660. Sierra. Alleghany. Sierra Consolidated Mining Co. Incorporated in California in 1928. Issued to Frank Butera for 1300 shares in 1929. Signed by President Edgar S. Hurley and Secretary George W. Hickman. Cancelled with purple rubber stamps. Three vignettes; top center of mountain scene with road, power line, mine buildings and tramway; two on either side of miners working underground. Green border and seal. 8-1/2 x 11-1/2. Printer - Knight Couniham Co. Property included the Wonder mine 2 miles SW of the town or Alleghany. Adjoined the Original Sixteen-to-One property. Ore is free milling gold in 4 to 6 ft wide shoots averaging $3 per ton. Developed by 2 tunnels totaling 1000+ feet. (Mines Handbook, 1931, p. 663). Folds, one crease on right edge, very fine. Est. $25-50

661. Sierra. Allegheny. Sixteen to One Extension GM, Inc., incorporated in Delaware 1933, issued 1934 for 500 shares to Ulyses Mercur, signed by R. Smith Bassett as vp and T.D. LaJard as secretary. Uncancelled. Green border and background. No printer shown. 8 x 11" A company formed to take advantage of its apparent neighbor, the Original Sixteen to One mine in Allegheny, a major producing gold mine. Est. $25-50

662. Sierra. Downieville. Eclipse Gold Mining Co. Incorporated in California in 1877. Issued to E. Shelly for 1600 shares in 1877. Signed by President J. M. Brown and Secretary (illegible). "Cancelled" written across face. Black border. 5-3/4 x 9-3/4. Printer not noted. We could find no reference to this company in our resources. The Downieville district reportedly produced over $15 million in gold before 1879. The Gold Bluff mine produced intermittently from 1851 into the 1950's. Brown stain lower left corner. Est. $100-300

663. Sierra. Downieville. Gold Hub MC. Incorporated in California 1924. Issued to Susan S. Carman for 500 shares, cert #37, in 1934. Signed by Walter Schwitzer president and W. U. Smith secretary. Vignette at top center of mill along stream in valley with two smaller vignettes at either side of miners underground. Black border with gilt seal and gold background design. Datelined Oakland, CA. Uncancelled. 4 X 7. Printer - Goes. 11 assessment stamps affixed on back. Prevalent rust colored staining along folds, edges and over certificate. Owned 258 acres in Sierra County. Developed by 100' shaft with drift crossing 18'' ore zone. Listed as dead by 1946. (Mines Handbook, 1931, p.571) Poor to fine. Est. $25-50.

664. Sierra. Forest. Kate Hardy Mining Co. Incorporated in California in 1918. Issued to J. M Roberts for 500 shares in 1921. Signed by President Ben L. Ballard and Asst. Secretary Frank A. Sullivan. Uncancelled. Three vignettes; top center of mountain scene with road, power line, mine buildings and tramway; two on either side of miners working underground. Green border and seal. 9 x 11-1/2 Printer - Mysell Rollins. The Kate Hardy mine operated intermittently between 1860 and at least 1925 and is credited with production of over $250,000 in gold. The main vein was quartz, 10 to 30 ft wide and carried free gold and auriferous arsenopyrite in serpentine. Tears at folds edges, Fine. Est. $25-50
665. Sierra. Goodyears Bar. Alpha GM Corp., incorporated in California 1923, issued 1924 to A. Spiers for 50 shares, signed by W.A. Derrer as president and R. A. Derrer as secretary. Gold seal, printed by Goes, three mining vignettes at top. Tear along top border, no harm. 8 x 10" Uncancelled. The Company had 12 claims at Goodyear's Bar. They explored gold in quartz, had a ten stamp mill, but never recorded official production, and were termed a prospect by the 1931 Mines Handbook. Est. $25-50

666. Sierra. Pike. Maps, drawing correspondence and operating statements from the Sierra-Alaska Mining Company dating between 1914-1916. The company was incorporated in 1912 in California. Their property consisted of 8 claims 1/2 mile north of Pike. The mine was located in 1863 and bought by the Sierra-Alaska Mining Company in 1904. The vein consists of calcite and quartz lenses up to 16 ft across. Development included a 900 ft shaft, a 1300 ft tunnel and about 8000 ft of underground workings. The mine produced about $1 million from 100,000 tons of ore to 1918, but was idle at the time of the 1931 Mines Handbook report. (Mines Handbook, 1931, p. 619). Est. $50-100

667. Sierra. Poker Flat. Poker Flat Gold Gravel Mining Co. Incorporated in California in 1914. Issued to G. S. MacKenzie for 500 shares in 1914. Certificate number 154. Datelined San Francisco. Signed by President E. J. Hall and Secretary Geo. Sears. Brown border and underprint. 6 x 10. Printer - Schwabacher-Frey, S.F. We could find no reference to this company among our resources. Poker flat was located in a narrow canyon of Canyon Creek north of Downieville. Mining began here in the 1850's mainly with horizontal tunneling and later with drift and hydraulic mining. The town was described in 1853 as a "miserable hole". It burned down several times, and in 1856, there were only 12 families living there. ( Gudde, 1975, California Gold Camps, p. 272.). Folds, extremely fine. Est. $25-50

668. Sierra. Shasta. Shasta May Blossom Copper Co. Cons. Incorporated in Arizona in 1903. Issued to May B. Lindley for 5000 shares in 1916. Certificate number 2341. Signed by President Frank J. Golden and Secretary A. Camminetti. Uncancelled. Three vignettes: top center of Mt. Shasta; top left workers loading boxcar; upper right miner pushing ore car into mine portal. Green border on white paper. 8 x 11. Printer - Union Litho. Co., S.F.-Oakland. The property comprised 22 claims developed by 7 tunnels totaling 2000 ft. The lower, main working tunnel cut the ore body in a crystalline vein at a granite/schist contact. Gossanous outcrops up to 30 ft wide higher on the hill led to the discovery. Probably the owner of this certificate; M. Lindley of Fruitvale, Cal. was reported as president of the company in 1908. (Aubury, 1908, The Copper Resources of California, Calif. State Mining Bureau, Bull. 50, pp. 100-102) Extremely fine. Est. $25-75.

669. Sierra. Sierra Valley. Bonta Ranch in Sierra Valley. Lot of 2. (1) Picture taken of four people on horseback and three people standing. Taken in between the stables and the home. Small pond with docked boat in foreground. Probably taken at some point during the summer. Photo is a bit washed out, especially where the stables meet the sky. Three dents at upper edge of matting. (2) Man seated upon a horse waving with three women to his right and two horses, with trees and a house (ranch) in mid-ground. Matted, stain on matting in upper right. Tear in matting at lower left. Very fine. 9 x 11. Est. $100-200

670. Sierra. Taylorsville. Scrip of C. E. Young General Merchandisers. Lot of 2 pcs. Taylorsville, Indian Valley Bank, Greenville, unissued $5 and $10 scrip. Extra fine. Est. $50-100.

SISKIYOU COUNTY

671. Siskiyou. Sterling Mining Co. Incorporated in California in 1911. Issued to A. J. Hempsly for 20,000 shares in 1914. Signed by President M. Matson and Secretary Paula McCarthy. Uncancelled. Vignette top left of bald eagle on crag overlooking ocean. Black border, gold underprint and seal. 5-1/2 x 9-3/4. Printer - Goes. The Sterling mine became the Golden Eagle Mine. It is referenced on pp35-37 in CDM Vol. 27, 1931, but we could not locate a copy. The 20,000 shares would indicate a major purchase, or funding in the mine project. Extremely fine. Est. $25-50
SOLANO COUNTY

672. Solano. Suisun & Fairfield Water Co. Incorporated in California in 1866. Issued to Stockman Bros. for 100 shares in 1867. Certificate number 96. Datelined Suisun City. Signed by President Samuel Breck and Secretary Geo. W. Gillespie. Cancelled. Vignette of ditch with farm buildings in background. Black border on white paper with pink eagle underprint. Red 25 cent power of attorney revenue stamp at left. 5 x 9. Suisun is in an area of agricultural land in central California. The name was derived from a local Indian tribe and was applied to the area before 1800. In 1859 Robert H. Waterman, "a famous captain of famous clipper ships", lived in a house west of Suisun that was modeled after the prow of a ship. He donated land for a new city which he named after his hometown of Fairfield, Connecticut. This water company may have been established to provide water for agricultural irrigation or for domestic use in the new town of Fairfield. Yellowing at edges, extremely fine. Est. $150-300.

673. Solano. Suisun City. Suisun City Hotel Co., incorporated in California 1889, issued 1894 to Nels Anderson for 3 shares, not signed and voided in red ink. Stub attached. 4 x 9". No vignette. Payott Upham & Co. printers, SF. XF. Named after a local Indian tribe and later land grant. [ref: Gudde] Est. $25-50

SONOMA COUNTY

674. Sonoma. Petaluma. Henry Hammell Co., incorporated in California 1910, issued 1930 to Edna Fredricks for 27 shares and a fraction, signed by Henry Hammell as president and Fred Hammell as secretary. Cancelled 1937 written in red ink across face. 6 x 11", no vignette, scrolled masthead. Moise-K Co, SF printer. (his is one of the few Moise Klinkner certificates we have seen. They usually were making rubber stamps, coins and tokens.) Unfortunately we have no modern references on Sonoma County to know about Mr. Hammell. Est. $20-40

675. Sonoma. Santa Rosa. Sonoma Pacific Coal Co. incorporated in California 1881, issued 1882 to A. C. Hammond for 250 shares, signed by C. Frost as vice president and A. Hammond as secretary. Blue print and background. No vignette. 5 x 9", no printer shown. Uncancelled. Anselm Hammond was a professional mining secretary in SF. The other principals were not listed in the 1881 SF directory. Goodyear in his 1879 Coal Mines of the Western Coast discussed the discovery of the Sonoma coal field in about 1877, but at the time it had not been explored. The majority of coal on the west coast had come from the Mt. Diablo mines in the Bay area. California coal certificates are very rare. Est. $150-300

TRINITY COUNTY

676. Trinity. Lewiston. Toll Road Receipts (3 pieces). Lewiston Road, 6, Horse F. Team, Musser Hill Toll House; W, & S. W. Road 1, Horse Buggy; W. & S. W. Road 1, Horse Buggy, Junction Toll House. Extra fine. Est. $100-300

677. Trinity. Douglas City. Redding Creek Placers, Ltd. Incorporated in Nevada in 1929. Issued to W. A. Flickinger for 500 shares in 1933. Signed by President E. H. Hermann and Secretary E. J. Watson. Uncancelled. Vignette of bald eagle perched on shield & clutching arrows. Green border and seal on white paper. 6 x 11. Printer - Knight-Counihan Co. Redding Creek was named after California Pioneer Pierson B. Reading, pronounced "Redding" in the east (Pennsylvania), and hence the Californianized phonetic spelling. Gold was discovered here in July 1848, one of the earliest discoveries of the northern gold area. Reading used Indian labor, and got into trouble with locals who objected. He left in 1854. The properties nearby were in production on and off through the 1940's. Listed in the 1949 volume of the Mines Register as Inactive.[ref: Gudde] Folds, extremely fine. Est. $25-50

678. Trinity. Grave Creek. Hydraulic Mine Photograph. Scene of hydraulic mine in operation. Four miners with the wife and two children of one. Inscription on back say "Mine of J. B Lawler on Graves Creek" "Charley Neal, Anna Neal, Liddie and Marie, Charley, Alfred, Tommie." This is probably a family operation an is an excellent example of the type of operation that was common in the placer districts in the latter part of the 19th century. 4-3/4 x 7-3/4, mounted on 7 x 9 matte board. Very fine. Est. $75-150
679. Trinity. Trinity Center. Trinity Gold Mining and Reduction Co. Incorporated in Arizona in 1909. Issued to Mrs. Verne E. Bonneau for 1000 shares in 1910. Signed by President Henry W. Miller and Secretary James H. Lee. Uncancelled. Three vignettes; Top center, wooded mountain scene with road passing several buildings with smoke issuing from chimneys; top left, underground scene of two miners drilling face; top right, underground scene of four miners in glory hole loading two mule drawn ore cars. Orange border and underprint. 8-3/4/ x 12. Printer - Broun-Green Co., NY. Property consisted of nearly 500 acres including the Headlight mine. By 1916 the oxidized ore in this mine had been mined out, but a new ore body, discovered in 1912 was said to have a resource of 100,000 tons of ore grading up to 2% copper and about $4.50 in gold and silver per ton. Requests for information from Weed for the 1916 volume of the Mine Handbook were ignored. Later volumes indicated the mine had been idle for a number of years. (Ref. Weed, 1916 and 1925 Mines Handbooks). Folds & creases, minor tear at bottom edge, smudges and yellowing around edges, good. Est. $50-100

TULARE COUNTY

680. Tulare. Plano Packing House Co. Incorporated in California in 1910. Issued to Louis H. Villemin in 1910 for 25 shares. Signed by President Peter Ting and Secretary W. LeRoss. "Cancelled" written across face. Green border and underprint. 5-1/2 x 10. Printer - A Carlisle & Co., S.F. Before the advent of reliable refrigerated railcars, service industries such as this meat packing house provided perishable goods to local customers. Plano is a town in Tulare Co. Gudde, Calif. Place Names, p. 251. Minor creases and wrinkles, overall yellowing, fine. Est. $25-50

681. Tulare. Dinuba. General Grant Park Telephone Co., incorporated in California in 1923, issued 1923 to Benham's Ice Cream Co of California, for 2 shares, signed by J. H. McBacken as president and Bert Hughes as secretary. Uncancelled. 8 x 10", gold seal, Goes format with telephone line next to waterfall vignette. Very rough right edge with small pieces missing. Brittle. Tape repairs to reverse beginning to show through. Early California Telephone Company. Est. $25-50

682. Tulare. Eureka. Settlers' Ditch Scrip. $9.75. Eureka District, Tulare County, 1875. No information on this district. Fine. Est. $25-50

683. Tulare. Mineral King. Empire Gold & Silver Mining Co. Incorporated in 1878. Issued to L. M. Beal for 10 shares in 1879. Certificate number 67. Datelined San Francisco. Signed by President Geo. C. Perkins and Secretary (illegible). Uncancelled. Black border. 4 x 9. Printer - Le Count Bro's, S. F. The mine was located near the town of Mineral King. The ore, based on material on the dumps in 1887 was chiefly zinc blend with some galena and arsenopyrite. It reportedly was rich in silver. "The mine was first opened about 1875. About 1879 a ten stamp mill, adapted to the working of free gold ores (!), was built here, with a costly wire tramway one and a quarter miles long, to convey this complex ore from the mine to that mill, two thousand feet below! The writer well remembers the man who did this, when as a member of the Legislature at Sacramento he did everything in his power to prevent the State from appropriating any money for geological or mining investigations, believing all such work to be worthless folly. Yet, only a few years afterwards, he foolishly and ignorantly invested the bulk of his own fortune in such an experiment as this, and lost it, of course! The tramway and the mill have since been carried away by heavy snow-slides, and the mine has been idle for years" (W. A. Goodyear, in Irelan, 1888, 8th annual Report of the State Mineralogist, California Mining Bureau, pp. 645-46.). Very fine. Est. $200-400

684. Tulare. White Water. Bald Mountain Gold Mines, Inc. Incorporated in Nevada. Unissued. No vignette, green border and underprint. 7 x 11. Printer - California Litho & Printing Co. Owned the Bald Mountain mine in white Water district, Tulare County. There are two tunnels , 2 shafts and nearly 1 mile of underground workings chasing 4-6 ft. in granite. A ten stamp mill was built that produced gold. (Calif. State Min. Rpt, p295; Bowie, 1885, Practical Treatise on Hydraulic Mining, p. 84). Extremely fine. Est. $25-50
TUOLUMNE COUNTY

685. Tuolumne. Homestake Gold Mining Co. of Tuolumne. Incorporated in California in 1898. Issued to William Burchett for 500 shares in 1898. Certificate number 241. Datelined San Francisco. Signed by President L. W. McGlauflin and Secretary William Burchett. Uncancelled. Vignette in blue ink of shovel in ore car at portal of a mine. Black border on white paper. One 5 cent and two 10 cent documentary stamps. 6 x 10. Printer - A. Carlisle & Co., S.F. Part of the Rising Sun group of claims. Probably a lode gold mine. No other information available (CDMG, 1934, Bull. 108, p. 176). Extremely fine. Est. $50-75.

686. Tuolumne. Ne Plus Ultra G&S MC, incorporated in California 1864, issued 1864 to D. D. Field for 20 shares, signed by G. M. Burnham as president and E. Field as secretary. Agnew and Dellenbach printers. 4 x 8 inches. Uncancelled. The Company name is written on a fancy wide, curving ribbon as a masthead and vignette. Adhesive stamp at left is mostly torn off. "One foot to one share." Datelined San Francisco, "location: Tuolumne County, Cal." The Ne Plus Ultra, which translates "not that good" mine isn't listed in any of the usual references on Tuolumne County mines. Tuolumne County was explored by miners from Mariposa in the 1848-9 period. It became one of the first areas to have organized mining laws to protect miners rights to locate and mine claims, and likewise got them booted if they didn't perform work or stopped mining. It was also the site of an influx of Chinese miners, who diligently followed in the white man's steps, sometimes getting more gold. "Rich placers financed prospecting" according to Julihn and Horton in Mines of the Southern Mother Lode Region, US Bureau of Mines Bulletin 4424, 1940. Through that time more than $200 million was taken out on gold. This certificate has some important names. Gilman Burnham was a lumber dealer in San Francisco in 1849, who continued at his trade for at least 16 years there. Daniel Field came to California in 1847 with the New York Volunteers and stayed, though not in San Francisco - perhaps Tuolumne. His brother, Edward X., was a clothing dealer in San Francisco. [ref: Bancroft, SF Dir 1862, 1865] Est. $500-700

687. Tuolumne. Providence Tuolumne Gold Mines. Incorporated in California in 1939. Issued to Russell, Bringola & Norma for 1000 shares in 1949. Signed by President A. Vannin. Cancelled by hole punches and "Void" written across face. Five vignettes; top center of mining operations including headframe, railroad, mill buildings and waste dumps; four in border in upper corners and middle sides of individual miners at work. Black border with gold underprint and seal. 8 x 11. Printer - Goes. Not listed by the state mineralogist as a gold producer in 1940 & 41, nor in the Mines Register, Logan or others. Extremely fine. Est. $25-50

688. Tuolumne. Ribbon Rock GMC, incorporated in California 1897, issued 1898 for 1000 shares to George Lewis, signed by Green Majors as president and B. Brown as secretary. Uncancelled. 5 x 9.5", two holes punched in left border. No vignette. Dark blue print. The mine is 2 miles south of Placerville. The mine received its name because of the "ribboned quartz' with native gold. By 1900 the shaft was 200 feet deep and had 10 workers. Production amount unknown. [ref: Storms, The Mother Lode Region of California, 1900; Calif. State Min. Bu. B. 18] Est. 25-75

689. Tuolumne. Transierra Gold Mining Co. Lot of 2. Incorporated in 1932 in California. Issued to Emma J. Stringer for 1000 shares in 1953. Signed by President R. C. Walley (Obscured by hole punch), and Secretary C. J. Raab. Cancelled by hole punches through corporate signatures and rubber stamp across top. Orange border and underprint. 8-1/2/ x 10-1/2. Printer - Goes. The company had offices in S. F. Operated the North Star and the Laura mines and a 30 ton ball mill at Tuolumne. The property consisted of 3 claims, 2 of which were patented and an option on 80 acres adjoining the North Star mine. In 1948 the company suspended mining operations and acquired 8600 acres of prospective oil land in Wyoming. These two companies were both incorporated the same day, so we assume they are affiliated (ref. Mines Register, 1949, p. 347) Nine hole punches, slight yellowing around edges, very good. Est. $25-50

690. Tuolumne. Transierra Exploration Corporation. Incorporated in 1932 in California. Issued to Bishop & Co. for 1000 shares in 1960. Signed by President and Secretary (signatures obscured by cancellation holes) Vignette of bald eagle on rocky crag. Green border. 6-1/2 x 10. Printer O'Harn Co. Extremely fine. Est. $15-25
691. Tuolumne. Big Oak Flat. Esperance Gold Silver and Copper Mining Co. Inc. in CA, 1863. Unissued. Vignette of ornate shield with anchor emblem & "HOPE" on banner above. Small vignette of dog's head at bottom center. Black border with green underprint. 5-1/2 x 10. Printer - Geo B. Hitchcock & Co. No reference to this company could be found among our resources. The Longfellow mine is the only mine reported operating in the Big Oak Flat district in the State Mineralogist's report of 1888. The ore in this mine, which may have been characteristic of the district, was "pockety", that is running in isolated masses in the quartz. The mine was developed by a 135 ft shaft with drifts 150 and 125 ft in an easterly and a westerly direction. The property had been located in 1854 and from that time to the time the report was written, had had "several successive owners, all of whom are said to have retired well recompensed". (Report of the State Min, CalState Mineral Bureau, 1888, pp. 672-3.) Minor checking and yellowing at top and right edge, XF. Est. $25-75

692. Tuolumne. Columbia. Columbia Gulch Fluming Co. #3. Chartered in 1854. Issued to C.P. Davis for 1 share in 1857. Signed by president N.R. Raymond and secretary E.N. Chaplin. The Columbia Gulch Fluming Co. and the Tuolumne Co. Water Company were competitors, but later were part of the Tuolumne Co. Water Company, which supplied most of the water to the county by 1867. The company owned two ditches and several reservoirs, which played a role in the mining economics of the region. The high cost of water created a lot of strife among the miners, resulting in assassination, threats and vandalism. Columbia is one of the richest of the mother lode mining region areas, and is today a State Park. (Brown and Raymond, various editions). Very thin parchment. Slight wear to corners. Very fine. 5.75 x 5.25. Est. $300-600

693. Tuolumne. Columbia. Tuolumne County Water Co. & Tuolumne Co. Five pieces. Three checks from the water company to various individuals. Two dated 1857, one 1860. Two have vignettes of a group of miners working underground with two men above ground operating windlass; the third of an allegorical Indian woman shading her eyes, looking in the distance. The three are black print on vanilla paper3-1/4 x 8. Printers - 1857, Hosford & Co., NY; 1860, Whitten, Towne & Co., S.F.; A receipt from the same company dated 1852 for $4.20. Black print on blue paper. No vignette. 3 x 6. Printer - Whitten, Towne & Co., S.F.; A Tuolumne County road poll tax receipt for $3.00 dated 1875. Black print on vanilla paper. 3-1/2 x 6. No printer noted. All fine. Est. $75-200

694. Tuolumne. Jacksonville. Clio Gold Mining Co. Inc. in NY, 1880. Unissued proof specimen. Black border on white paper. 4-1/2 x 8-3/4. Printer not noted. The mine was located 1/2 mile south of Jacksonville and comprised 3 claims of 1500 ft each in length. There were several open cuts and tunnels on the vein. Apparently the mine never got off the ground until after 1890. It was never mentioned by Burchard in the early 1880's. The mine had a 10 stamp mill when reported by the State Mineralogist in 1896. (Calif. State Mining Bureau, Report of the State Mineralogist, 13th report, p. 475-476.) Minor discoloration at corners where previously glued, very fine. As a printer's proof, this may be the only cert in existence. Est. $50-150

695. Tuolumne. Jacksonville. Clio Vindicator Mines, Inc. Inc. in DE, 1917, issued 1926 to E. Nelson for 3410 shares, signed by J. P. Broman, pres and T. Geddes, sec. Photo litho of the "Clio Millsite, 1924" and mine. Green border, 8 x 12" Uncancelled. VF. Located near the Tuolumne River. Gold discovered here in 1849. The mine was reportedly opened in 1862, operating with a ten stamp mill for 5 years. It closed, and only operated occasionally until 1926, the time of this underwriting. Much work was done to open the mine and expose ore, which was low grade, 0.25 ounces of gold per ton. This was usually too low of a grade to mine, but they tried anyway. Results unknown. [ref: Gudde; Julihn & Horton, USBM Bull 424, 1940.] Est. $35-75

696. Tuolumne. Jacksonville. Sale of lot in Jacksonville to a San Francisco man, 1863. The property was along Woods Creek and included the water rights and ditch rights. It was notarized in San Francisco and had a relatively rare adhesive revenue stamp attached, a $5 manifest stamp. Est. $50-150

697. Tuolumne. Mother Lode. Providence Tuolumne GM, Inc. Inc. in CA, 1939. Issued to Genevieve A. Dias for 1000 shares, cert #938, in 1949. Cancelled. Signed by pres A. Vernice and asst. sec M. Frotyohn. View of mine and mill in vignette, with two men working on hillside, and a man walking towards mine down tracks. Smaller vignettes of men working in mines in top corners and at left and right borders. Cancellation holes over signatures, and pencil slash through certificate. Company owned and planned on reopening gold mine near Tuolumne within the Mother Lode district. (Mines Hndbk, 1946) Very fine. 8.5 x 11. Est. $25-50.
698. Tuolumne. Shawmut. Eagle Gold Mining Co. Receipt, issued in Philadelphia in 1850 for payment of $19.50 from Jas. G. Clark for assessment due on thirty-nine shares in the company standing in the name Jas. G Clark. "Jan - July assessment" written to the left of the Treasurer's signature. Black border along left edge. 3 x 7. Printer - John C. Clark. Not listed in Whitney. This mine became associated with the Shawmut mine, a neighbor, late in the nineteenth century. The Eagle and Shawmut were both early quartz locations from 1849-50. It is on Blue Gulch, 2 miles NW of Jacksonville. In 1894 it was reopened with the Shawmut and re-timbered. They employed eleven men, but production is unknown. [Crawford, 1896]. Wrinkling and very minor tears along all but right edge, stain upper left corner. Est. $50-100

699. Tuolumne. Shawmut. Shawmut Gold Mining Co. Organized in Massachusetts. Issued to Alexander Hodges (of Providence) for 20 shares in 1865. Certificate number 102. Datelined Boston. Signed by President S. Andrews and Treasurer Chas. H. Goodrich. Uncancelled. Black border and print on white paper. 6 x 9-1/2. Printer - Alfred Mudgfe & Sons, Boston. Not listed in Whitney. The Shawmut was an early quartz location from 1849-50 located on Woods Creek, 2-1/2 miles NW of Jacksonville. At the time this certificate was issued, a ten stamp mill processed about 20 tons of gold ore per day. The mine became inactive around 1867 when economic troubles hit the mining industry on the west coast, but restarted production in the 1970's with the help of new capital. Late in the nineteenth century the Shawmut became associated with the Eagle mine, a neighbor. In 1894 its owners were drifting south along the vein from a 1,125 ft crosscut had been driven from Woods Creek. The mine went on to produce $7,380,000 in gold by the time it closed in 1947. S. Andrews, president of the company when this certificate was issued, was a prominent San Francisco merchant in the 1850's. [Crawford, 1896, p.491]. Est. $300-600

700. Tuolumne. Sonora. Confidence Gold Mines Corporation. Incorporated in Virginia in 1917. Issued to Louid Kann for 1500 shares in 1919. Corporate signatures illegible. Uncancelled. Vignette of two miners working underground. Green border and underprint on white paper. 8 x 12. Printer - W. N. Perrin & Co., NY. The company had the Confidence group of claims, located about 12 miles from Sonora. These claims, idled for 10 years prior, had previously produced $5 million in gold. The mine was accessed by an 1100 ft., 33 degree inclined shaft and good ore was opened at the 800 ft level. In 1917 and 1918 the company installed a new hoist and air compressor and small cyanide plant. (Mines Handbook, 1920. p. 433). In 1922, the company forfeited its corporate rights and apparently abandoned the venture. In 1931 it was presumed dead by Rand & Sturgis (Mines Handbook, p 532). Extremely fine. Est. $25-50

701. Tuolumne. Sonora. 1896, 2 page letter on Tuolumne Mining Bureau, C.C. Wilbur & Co. letterhead. Addressed to Dr. John Ross at Deadwood City. Signed by Frank Drake, the secretary of the bureau. Letter discusses a financial dispute. 10 x 8. Very fine. Est. $25-50.

YUBA COUNTY

702. Yuba. Yuba Goldfields, Inc. Lot of 3. Incorporated in California in 1968. Issued to N.C.C. & Co. for 20 shares in 1975. Corporate signatures printed on certificate. Cancelled by hole punch. Vignette of bald eagle on rocky crag. One has orange border. 8 x 12. Printer - ABN. (2) Yuba Consolidated Gold Fields. Incorporated in Maine in 1905. Issued to Harry C. Mc Intyre for 100 shares in 1953. Corporate signatures printed on certificate. Cancelled by hole punch through signatures. Green border and underprint. 8 x 12. Printer - ABN. Yuba took over the Hammon Consolidated Goldfields. Hammon was bought out by US Smelting and Refining Co. who changed the name to Yuba. They were very successful, and one of the largest gold dredging firms in the world. The company mined an annual average of about 20 million cubic yards from 1915-25, profiting nearly $2 million per year. Both certificates extremely fine. Est. $25-50

703. Yuba. Marysville. Pictorial Wanted Poster, 1916. "Wanted for Felony -- Non Support of Wifee" Floyd Born, 20-22 years old, was wanted for arrest by Chas. McCoy, Sheriff of Yuba Co. Has printed picture of Born at top center. 8.5 x 11", folds, near mint. Est. $50-75
704. Yuba. Marysville. Yuba Manufacturing Co. Correspondence and reports of the company relating to "Dredge Number 53". Dated 1921-22. The company built gold dredges that were used in Alaska, California, Nevada and other placer gold localities throughout the world. Fine.50-75

Yuba. Marysville. Yuba Manufacturing Co. Please See the San Francisco for several lots of reports and stocks from the Yuba Manufacturing Co.

705. No Lot.

706. Yuba. Smartsville. The Mammoth Channel Gold Mining Co. Incorporated in Nevada in 1907. Issued to R. G. Stapleton in 1910 for 500 shares. Signed by President J.R. Foster and Secretary E. R. Argersinger. Uncancelled. Vignette of 6 miners working underground. Black border with gold underprint and seal. 8-1/4 x 10-1/2. Printer - Utah Litho Co. No data could be located in various issues of the Mines Handbook on this company. Name suggests they were placer operators. The Mammoth Channel was at Smartsville, a well-known placer mining district. [ref: CDMG Bull 135, 1946] Extremely fine. Est. $25-50

California, Unknown. We were unable to find information on the following companies, which we suspect are California mines or other companies. We did not check the Secretary of State records.
.
707. Unknown. American Consolidated Tin Mines Corporation. Incorporated in Delaware in 1930. Issued to Eugene J. Gissy for 25 shares in 1936. Signed by President W. O. Hefferman and Secretary C. H. Banning. Uncancelled. Blue border and underprint. 8 x 11-1/2. Printer - E.A. Wright Bank Note, Phila. Listed as inactive in the 1949 Mines Register. This company is listed as dead by 1946 (Mines Handbk). The US is not known for tin deposits (cassiterite) in sufficient quantities to warrant mining, so they may have had overseas workings. Stain at top right margin, folds, very good. Est. $25-50

708. Unknown. American Mining and Exploration Co. Incorporated in California in 1896. Issued to Harriet Dougherty for 100 shares in 1897. Certificate number 43. Datelined San Francisco. Signed by President R. Kolman and Secretary C. A. Webster. Uncancelled. Vignette of bald eagle on shield, clutching arrows. Green border and brown seal. 8 x 10. Printer - not noted. We could find no reference to this company among our resources. The only company by this name listed was incorporated in 1917 and had their properties in Nevada. (Mines Handbook, 1926). Yellowed, minor blemishes, very fine. Est. $50-100

709. Unknown. Beeson-List Mining and Investment Co. Incorporated in California in 1910. Issued to W. F Haurohau for 1000 shares in 1010. Signed by President G. F. Gray and Secretary K. H. List. Uncancelled. Vignette at top center of mine site with headframe, mill waste dumps and other facilities; two vignettes lower corners of miners working underground. Green border and underprint. 9 x 12 Printer - Goes. The company is not listed in the Mines Handbook or various CDMG publications. Minor tears at edges along folds, slight yellowing at edges, very fine. Est. $25-50

710. Unknown. Calwa Co. Incorporated in California in 1926. Issued to Crocker First Federal Trust Co. for six shares in 1927. Signed by President Henry Rosenfeld and Secretary S. ??? Uncancelled. Black border. 7 x 11-1/2. Printer- Schwabacher-Frey, S.F. Not listed in Mines Handbook or Register. Probably operated between northern Calif. and Washington. Minor wrinkling and yellowing at edges, very fine. Est. $25-50

711. Unknown. Crest Gold Mining and Milling Co. Incorporated in Maine. Issued to E. S. Carpenter for 1000 shares in 1910. Signed by Vice President Jacob Ehrlich and unreadable Treasurer. Uncancelled. Vignette of mill buildings in rugged canyon and steam train with ore cars. Green border on white paper with green underprint. 8-3/4 x 12-1/4. Printer - Security BNC, Phila. We could find no reference to this company among our resources. Minor tears along right edge. Very fine. Est. $25-50
712. Unknown. Dry Ice Corporation of California. Incorporated in California in 1931. Unissued. Vignette of California state seal. Unusually attractive green and brown border, black print on vanilla paper. 8-3/4 x 11-1/2. Printer - Knight Counihan Co. We have no information on this company. Extremely fine. Est. $10-15

713. Unknown. Gold Dust Corporation. Incorporated in New Jersey. Specimen certificate, approved by the company, signed by Secretary P. Zimmerman. Vignette of allegorical woman with two children seated by fountain watching dove. Green border and underprint. 7-1/2 x 11-1/2. Printer - ABN. We could find no reference to this company among our resources. Among the voting trustees listed at the bottom of the certificate is John Foster Dulles who later became Secretary of State under the Eisenhower Administration and for whom Dulles International airport in Washington D.C. is named. Extremely fine. Est. $25-50

714. Unknown. Grand Pacific Gold Mining Co., incorporated in California 1901, issued 1904 to George Venable for 4000 preferred shares, signed by C. Meanwell as vice president Leon Osteyee as secretary. Brown border, bald eagle, 8 x 13"printed by Crocker & Co., SF. Datelined San Francisco. Uncancelled. We could not find this mine in the Mother Lode area. The vp's name is suspicious, but it is real. Charles Meanwell was a shipbuilder in SF in 1895. George Venable was a teamster in SF. We got stumped on this one. No info on location. Est. $25-50

715. Unknown. Grenoble MC. Incorporated in California 1887. Issued to E. R. Grant Trustee for 100 shares, cert #215, in 1887. Signed by A. H. Koefoed vice president and E. R. Grave asst secretary. Black border and print on yellow paper. Uncancelled. 4 X 8. Printer - Railway & Bankers Eng & Lith, NY. This company was run by people from New York. There is only one Grenoble in the US and that is in the east. Holdings and properties unknown (and don't think we haven't tried on this one!). Very fine. Est. $25-50

716. Unknown. Grenoble MC. Incorporated in California in 1887. Issued to E. R Grant Trustee in 1887 for 100 shares. Signed by Vice-President T. H. Koeford and Secretary E. R. Grant. Uncancelled. Black border on yellow paper. 6 x 10. Printer - Railway & Bankers Eng. & Lith. Co., N. Y. The location of this company's property is unknown. It is not mentioned in any of the California State Mineralogist reports. Extremely fine. Est. $25-50

717. Unknown. Haslemere Mining & Milling Co. Incorporated in Arizona in 1903. Issued to Charles W Tibbals for 1000 shares. Signed by President Henry C. Siegwaller and Treasurer, Chas. H. Lauder. Uncancelled. Vignette upper left of seated woman holding wreath with bald eagle and US flag in background. Green border, underprint and seal on white paper. 8-1/4/ x 11. We could find no reference to this company among our resources. Folds, minor stains and yellowing around edges. Very fine. Est. $25-50

718. Unknown. Intervalley Mining Company. Incorporated in California in 1912. Certificate # 3 issued to W.K. Jeusline for 1 share in 1912. Signed by President B. E. Burger and Secretary W. K. Jeusline. Uncancelled. Vignette at top center of nine miners working underground; 2 vignettes in side borders of pick toting miners. Gold border, underprint and seal. 8-1/2 x 11. Printer - Goes. The Company is not listed in the Mines Handbooks for 1916 & 1918. Not in various CDMG Reports. We suspect that this company is in Southern California. Minor yellowing around edges, very fine. Est. $25-50

719. Unknown. Jack Boy Mining Co. Incorporated in California in 1904. Issued to W .W. Thomas for 2500 shares in 1904. Signed by President J. Ewing and Secretary W. H. Miller. Uncancelled. Three vignettes; top center of placer miners operating sluices; upper left of 3 miners inspecting sample; upper right of placer miner panning streamside. Black border with gold underprint and seal. 8-1/4 x 11. Printer - Goes. We are unable to locate any information on this company. Extremely fine. Est. $25-50
720. Unknown. Macomber Rotary Engine Co. incorporated in California 1909, issued 1912 to O. F. Rinaldi for 2400 shares, signed by Wm. B. Curtis, VP. Goes format with lady sitting on engine and fly wheel, factory background. Gold seal, 8 x 10", small soiled spot at top right. Uncancelled. Could be an early airplane or automobile engine. Needs research. Est. $25-50

721. Unknown. Miller's California Pie Corporation. Ltd. Incorporated in California in 1930. Two unissued certificates. Vignette of bald eagle clutching US flag holding E Pluribus Unum banner in its beak. Green border and underprint. 8-3/4 x 11-1/4. Printer - Mysell Rollins Co. We have no information on this company. Some yellowing around edges, on chip along top edge, extremely fine. Est. $25-50

722. Unknown. Norman M&M Co. incorporated in California 1894, issued 1909 to Alice Talbot for 50 shares, signed by A. W. Jackson as president and F. Kummerlander as secretary. No vignette. No printer. 5 x 9.5". Uncancelled. We were unable to find any information on this company. Est. $50-100

723. Unknown. Sykes Placer Mining Co. Incorporated in New York. Issued to Chas. Milliken for 100 shares in 1880. Certificate 1234. Datelined New York. Signed by President G. D. Munson(?) and Secretary D. Hall. Uncancelled. Black border and green underprint including vignette of bald eagle in center of certificate. 6-1/4 x 10-1/2. Printer - Corlies, Macy & Co., NY. No information found within our library concerning this company. Extremely fine. Est. $50-100

724. Unknown. Union Mining and Power Co. Incorporated in California in 1910. Issued to W. G. Sharwood for 250 shares in 1912. Signed by President Thomas Tiebert and Secretary H. A. Roth. Uncancelled. Vignette of flying bald eagle clutching arrows and olive branch amid lightning bolts. Black border with gold underprint and seal. 8-1/4 x11. Printer - Goes. Mining and power was a common combination around the turn of the century. Mining may have been a secondary business; no mention of this company is noted in the Mines Handbooks of the day. Folds, extremely fine. Est. $25-50

725. Unknown. United Mining & Power Co. Incorporated in California in 1907. Two certificates issued to Jas. B. Carleton for 1000 shares in 1907. Signed by President Allen L. Sears and Secretary Chas. Linn. Cancelled by rubber stamp. Vignette top center of mountain scene, upper left and right of miners working underground. Gold border, underprint and seal. 8-1/4 x 10-3/4. Printer - Goes. It isn't clear what this company started out as. The word "Mining" has been lined out and the word "Water" is rubber stamped above it. The embossed corporate seal is " and Power Co." Either they changed the name shortly after incorporating or there was a typo on the certificate. In either case, we could find nothing in our references relating to them. Slight yellowing at top edge, extremely fine. Est. $25-50

726. Unknown. Wagon Rut Gold Mines, Inc. Incorporated in Delaware in 1922. Issued to George G. Dunn for 10,000 shares in 1926. Signed by M. Burr. Chambers, President and Chas. A Gibson, Secretary. Uncancelled. Vignette top center of underground mining scene. Brown border on white paper. 8-3/4 x 11-1/2. Not listed in Mines Handbook, 1925, 1931. What a great name. Folds, very fine. Est. $25-50

727. Unknown. Wallace Gold Mining Co. Incorporated in 1902. Issued to Nat. H. Wheeler for 10,000 shares in 1913. Signed by W. Wallace President and A. Naughten, Secretary. Vignette of clouds behind masthead. Black print on white paper, no border. Embossed corporate seal. 8-1/4 x 11. Not listed in Weed, 1925. Printer - Broun-Green Co., NY. Very fine. Est. $25-50

728. Unknown. Wayside Mining Co. First Mortgage Gold Bond for $250. Incorporated in the District of Columbia in 1903. Signed by President John J. Stahesker and Sec. H. S. Mcleartry. Green border on white paper with green underprint. Gold corporate seal. 9 x 15-1/2. No information found within our library concerning this company. Folds, minor stains around edges, very fine. Est. $25-50