Goldberg Coins and Collectibles

Sale 59

Pre-Long Beach Coin and Currency Auction

Territorial Receipts

Lot	Photo	Description	Realized
Lot 1949		(1860-61) Clark, Gruber & Co. (Denver, Colorado) $5 Reverse Die Trial. Lead. 33 mm x 33 mm. Extremely Fine. Estimated Value $2,000-UP. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $4,370
Lot 1950		E. Justh Assay Receipt. The "E. Justh" assay receipts are larger and have a different design than that of Justh & Hunter, with Hunter's name blacked out. E. Justh's name is printed in larger letters and his Montgomery Street address is included. These receipts are significantly larger, measuring 10½ x 5" and were printed on a creme or buff colored paper with black ink by Kuchel & Dresel's Lithography SF. In addition to columns listing weights before and after melting, fineness, fees, and full value, a new column was added bu Justh for "Clippings/deducted from fees/Ozs/Dec/Dolls/Cts." Each receipt from this grouping is in overall very nice condition with normal foxing and folds. No 9624 Memorandum of Gold Bullion deposited by Wells Fargo & Co.- C.T.H. Palmer. Weight before melting: 70.07 oz. After melting: 79.95 oz. Fineness: .917. Full value after expenses: $1,479.01. Estimated Value $2,500 - 3,000. View details and enlarged photo	Unsold
Lot 1951		E. Justh Assay Receipt (For Assay Office and Gold Silver Refinery). At the bottom left of this receipt is written "Cont'd Iridium. Iridium is a platinum-grouped metal which does not occur naturally in California gold deposits. The only place in the world where platinum-grouped metals and gold are are part of the same ore ststem is a large district in South Africa. The iridium in this bullion deposit is a direct result of a placer mining operation in California where certain parts of platinum-bearing ultramafic rocks transect the ore-rich Califormia foothill belt. That is to say, in a few areas of California, placer miners found both placer gold and placer platinum while they were mining. Normally, this would indicate a placer gold product from the Northern California regions of the Trinity and Klamath River basins. Signed "E. Justh by S.M. Van Wyck" at bottom right. No. 1714 Memorandum of Gold Bullion deposited by W.F. & Co. - C.T.H. Palmer. Weight before melting: 106.88. After melting: 106.61. Fineness: .894. Full value of gold: $1940.21. Clippings: DEC .15, $2.77. Net realized after costs: $1960.18. From the John Ford Collection. Condition: Very Fine. Estimated Value $2,000 - 2,500. View details and enlarged photo	Unsold
Lot 1952		Broadside for New York Steamship George Law. A very attractive broadside of the George Law (not to be confused with the George Law which became The S.S. Central America in 1857). This steamship was used for Sunday excursions to New York around the period of 1852-1854 and was Captained by A.E. Shaw. Departing Glen Wood (6 A.M.), Glen Cove (6 A.M.), and White Stone (7 A.M.), they headed to New York City. At 6 P.M. they returned back to their original ports. The ship on this broadside was that of the S.S. Alida, built in New York in 1847, for it was not uncommon to use already made prints of similar steamships in their ads. This unique broadside has three horizontal and one vertical fold, but overall is in excellent condition and is museum quality matted and framed in the style of the period. The broadside measures 131/4"x 18 3/4", and the frame 18 1/2"x24." Estimated Value $8,000 - 10,000. View details and enlarged photo	Unsold
Lot 1953		H. Harris Assay Receipt. Harvey Harris and Desire C. Marchand immigrated from Europe and became partners in the assay office of Harris and Marchand & Co. on October 3, 1885. The (&Co.) portion of the firm was C.L. Farrington of Maine, who had been treasurer of Wells Fargo & Co. in California. In December, 1855, the firm expanded to Marysville, California, opening that office on January 9, 1856. On October 3, 1859, the partnership between Harris and Marchand expired and Harvey Harris continued on his own with offices in San Francisco, Sacramento, and Marysville. No. 22499 Memorandom of Gold Deposited by Decker, Jewett, and Paxton of Marysville. Assay results for amalgam weighing 92.35 oz before melting, and having a fineness of .927. The net value after all fees and costs was $1,691.48. Signed H. Harris for D. Marchand, May 17, 1860. Estimated Value $2,500 - 3,000. View details and enlarged photo	Unsold
Lot 1954		Hentsh & Berton Check. Hentsch & Berton were the successors in 1863 to Henry Hentsch's banking and assay business in San Francisco. Hensch was born in Geneva about 1830 and arrived in California in 1849 after working in Grass Valley and Sonoma. He opened an assay office and bank in San Francisco about 1856, though he may have been active in banking there as early as 1854. Hensch is is perhaps best known to numismatists by the rare Hentsch gold nuggets found at the wreck site of the S.S. Central America which sank in 1857. Ephemera from Hensch is even more rare than the ingots. The most common collectables are Hentsch & Berton checks, though there are probably less than ten known, this being one of them. Hentsch & Berton Bankers Check, San Francisco, California May 12,1869 Check payable to Moreshead Esq., for $47, signed by F. Berton. Printed by Bosky of San Francisco. There is an imprinted revenue stamp at center RNB 17. They are not listed in Castenholz's 'Field Guide to Revenue Stamped Paper, Part 1, Western States.' Condition- Extremely Fine. From the John J. Ford, Jr. Collection. Estimated Value $1,500 - 2,000. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $1,150
Lot 1955		Kellogg & Humbert Assay Receipt. Dated February 2, 1859. No.9349 Memorandum of Gold Bullion deposited by Hardy & Kennedy. Weight before melting 121.00oz, after melting 117.06oz, Fineness .879. Net value after all fees and other costs $2124.42. Condition Very Fine. R5. Estimated Value $300 - 400. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $518
Lot 1956		Kellogg & Humbert Broadside. This unique and historically significant Kellogg & Humbert Assay Office Broadside personifies the theme "The Rush For Gold." The letter measures 8½x10½"and was printed in black ink on medium weight buff colored paper. At the top of the page "Kellogg & Humbert's Assay Office" appears in bold ½" tall letters. The text content of the piece was printed in script of a smaller size. This Gold Rush treasure is guaranteed to excite its readers and new owner. To read it is almost as if one were stepping out of the 21st Century and into the 1859 business world of Kellogg & Humbert. The broadside was an attempt to prevent any adverse impact to their business caused by dubious acts of at least one of their competitors. Apparently a copy of the piece along with a sample of their newly formatted assay receipts was given or mailed to their established and prospective clients informing them of a move to 108 Montgomery Street--"two doors down from our late office." Their Memorandum of Assay, or assay receipts "having been copied almost literally by one of our competitors" now included in a vignette of their new office building at 108 Montgomery Street. The letter also emphasized that there would be no increase in their fees…"Our Tariff of Charges remains the same." Their company's standard fees and extra charges are explained and the letter ends "Very Respectfully/Your Obedt Servts/Kellogg & Humbert." This is a one of a kind example of California Gold Rush business survival, There are obvious issues concerning the condition of this document but we believe its contents are so unusual, so remarkable, that condition itself should not be an issue to the collector of Gold Rush Americana. There are spots and/or stains outside of the text area and some typical foxing. The paper itself has been wrinkled at some point but never apparently folded. This rare broadside is one of two known. The other is held by the Society of California Pioneers. Estimated Value $11,000 - 12,000. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $9,200
Lot 1957		Kellogg & Richter Assay Receipt. Assay receipts for Kellogg & Richter are among the most desirable and rarest of all the gold rush bullion receipts. It is thought that this receipt is a low R8 with two to three pieces known. Kellogg & Richter were in business from 1853 to 1854 with an assay office in San Francisco. They are perhaps best known for their private California gold coinage. One can easily imagine the Kellogg $20 gold pieces of 1854 may have come from gold reported on these assay receipts. John G. Kellogg arrived in San Francisco during the Fall of 1849. Initally Kellogg was employed by the assay firm of Moffit & Co. By December of 1853 Kellogg formed a partnership with G.F. Richter. Richter had previously worked as an assayer for United States Assay Office in San Francisco. Less than two months later their assay firm was stricking privately coined $20 gold pieces. Periods of shortages of circulating coinage occurred frequently in California--especially between the years 1849-1857. Many factors were at least partially responsible for the shortages, including the collective and sudden new wealth of miners, merchants, and gold rush entrepreneurs. Supply and demand was grossly out of sync and the everyday prices for goods ans services in the west quickly became excessive if not obscene. To facilitate commerce, gold in all its forms was expediently used as a medium of exchange. No. 2044 Memoranda of Gold Bullion deposited with Kellogg & Richter by James Wilson. Thin light blue paper with black ink measuring 8x6." Printed by La Count & Strong. Lithographer is Britton & Rey. Weight before melting given in pennyweights as 200 dwt. Loss in Melting 23 dwt. Nett 177 dwt, Fineness .932, Commision $5, Net proceeds $165.50. Usual "pocket" folds with light foxing and spots, however right edge is soiled or scuffed. This piece is unbelievably rare with perhaps as few as two to three known. R8. Estimated Value $4,000 - 5,000. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $2,990
Lot 1958		J.G. Kellogg Assay Receipt. This rare bullion receipt is from the outstanding collection of John J. Ford.To our knowledge, there are only three such examples extant. They are exceptionally important because they undoubtedly involve gold used in the making of Kellogg's private gold coins in 1854 and 1855. It is difficult to ascertain the general differance between Kellogg & Richter (the first few months of 1854) versus the J.G. Kellogg (last months of 1854) printed receipts. From Owen's book, "California Coiners and Assayers," an inferance could be made that Kellogg & Richter partnership lasted until April, 1854. By June, John Hewston had joined Kellogg, who remained a partner through at least August. By February of 1855 Hewston was out, and a gentleman by the name of Ringel was in as Kellogg's new partner---thus these bullion receipts bearing the single surname of Kellogg can only come from a very narrow window in time, and thus by definition, must be extremely rare. No. 3608 Memoranda of Gold Bullion deposited with J.G. Kellogg by Adams & Co. This receipt measures 8 3/8x5" and was printed with black on thin light blue paper by La Count & Strong. Lithographer is Britton & Rey. Other than the differance of the assayers names, this receipt was printed using the exact same layout as the earlier dated Kellogg & Richter receipts listed. Weight above melting 6603 dwt, loss in melting 311 dwt, Nett 6292 dwt, Fineness .922. Net proceeds $5,936.12 less 1% Commission and costs. Typical folds and foxing and there are several small staple holes and a larger hole near the left side. Not signed--- however included is a second and much smaller piece of paper referencing assay #3608 to G.M. Davidson, Marysville. R8. From the John J. Ford, Jr. Collection. Estimated Value $13,000 - 14,000. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $11,500
Lot 1959		Moffat & Company Assay Receipt. John L. Moffat was a silversmith in New York of long running, carrying down a family tradition. When news of the Georgia gold rush leaked out slowly, Easterners and Americans in general did not quite know what to think. After nearly a decade of reading little bits and pieces of information in newspapers, John Moffat took the plunge and went to Georgia to look for gold on his own. Auraria and the new town of Dahlonega, complete with the new Dahlonega Branch Mint were the central cities in the middle of the gold region. Other discoveries in Habersham and White Counties were contemporaneous to Dahlonega and Auraria, and much activity centered around those areas as well. But Dahlomega, with its new US Branch Mint, continued to get all the attention in the press. Moffat went to Georgia in the late 1830's, on the heels of the bank failures of 1837-1838. It was possibly a perfect time to explore the mining region, because risk capital was non-existant due to the depression This left an opening for a good businessman, and Moffat fit the bill. He may have journeyed to Daahlonega and Auraria to look over the mines, but he found suitable property for purchase or lease in White County, only a few hours coach ride northeast of Dahlonega. Here he bought or leased property and mined gold, and began to raise his family. One or more of his children were born there during his gold escapades. Moffat's gold from his mine(s) must certainly have been sold to the Dahlonega Mint in the early 1840's, though records of specific depositors from that period are scarce to non-existent. Before the end of the 1840's, Moffat was back in New York, but when news of the great California Gold Rush swept the nation, Moffat was off to California to seek his fortune. With significant experience as a gold miner, Moffat found that the financial side of the gold business suited him better than mining itself. Moffat quickly became one of the champions of money in California. Recognizing the need for gold coinage there, he set about making his own $5 and $10 gold pieces, and added small ingots in varying values to the mix of circulating private gold currency. His gold pieces dating from 1849 are among the most popular and well known of all the California pioneer coiners, and the ingots stand alone as the great numismatic pieces of that form. Speculation could easily arise regarding Moffat's 1849 gold pieces. Was all of the gold from California mines, or was some carried with him from Georgia? Most likely Moffat sold his gold in Georgia before returning to New York, but coin was in short supply in Georgia, so the possibility that he brought Georgia gold to California is a real one. All ephemera from Moffat is Extremely Rare…only one letter from him has been located, and only four bullion receipts, one in the Henry Clifford Sale, and the others in private hands. There was not a single piece in tyhe prestigious John J. Ford Jr. Collection. These are arguably among the most desirable of all gold rush bullion receipts because of the importance of the Moffat gold coins minted at the beginning of the California Gold Rush. Moffatt & Co., San Francisco, California, March 19, 1851. No. 168 Memorandum of Gold Bullion deposited by Teschmacher & Co. This receipt measures 7 3/4 x 5" and is printed on light blue paper with black ink. There is no printers hallmark or information provided. Gold Dust Weight before melting 2247 dwt, Loss in melting 172dwt, Nett 2125dwt, Fineness .871, Commission 2 3/4 %, Net Proceeds $1859.91. Almost no foxing, but there is one fold on the receipt and one small ink spot above bottom border. This receipt is dated very easily during the Gold Rush and is very rare with less than a handful known. R8{2 to 3 known; however only one availabe to the public). Estimated Value $11,000 - 12,000. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $10,350
Lot 1960		Wass, Molitor & Co, Assay Receipt. Imigrating from Hungary, Count Samuel C. Wass and Agoston (Augustus) P. Molitor had studied mining in Germany at the School of Mines and both had experience as miners in their native Hungary. Wass arrived in California in 1850 and immediately went to the gold producing regions and completed a detailed report that was published in The Alta California in January, 1851.Molior arrived that year. Wass & Molitor set up an assay office in San Francisco in Oct, 1851, and acquired high volume client Adams & Co., the largest express company in the west and rival to Wells Fargo. Initially assaying and stamping gold ingots, they established a reputation for quick and honest service that was equalled only by Moffitt & Co. They payed depositors in 48 hours as opposed to 8 days by the U.S. Assay Office. Wass, Molitor proceeded to produce $5 and $10 denominations in 1852 to counter the cumbersome U.S. Assay Office's $50 slug. The coins they produced were considered to be as good as any of the era because of their weight accuracy and fineness. In 1855 they did produce $20 and $50 coins. Another interesting item of note is that this memorandum or receipt, like many of its early contemporaries, was for "Gold Dust." In today's world most of us would probably associate gold dust with an image in our minds eye of very fine pinhead sized particles of gold… almost too small or too insignificant for comment. However, the words "gold dust" had a much different meaning to the miners, assayers, and ordinary citizens of Gold Rush California during the 1850's. An 1861 reference stated the definition plainly: "Gold Dust. Placer gold is usally called gold dust; but the word dust, without explanation, conveys an erroneous idea. Gold dust is not a fine powder, but ordinarily consists of pieces larger than a pinhead, very often with lumps varying from a pennyweight to an ounce; and even if the lumps weigh ounces or pounds, it is none the less gold dust." [Ref: Hittell, J: Mining in the Pacific States of North America, 1861, pg 44 (Book cover as: Bancroft's Hand-Book of Mining for the Pacific States)]. This is possibly the only Wass, Molitor Memorandum of Gold Dust bullion/assay receipt known. At the very least it is an R8 rarity and the likelihood of it being Unique has a very high probability. There should be no doubt among collectors that the well-preserved 1852 gold dust receipt offered here is an item of historical importance that will be a highlight of any collection. Its overall condition is Fine, having typical "pocket" folds and some minor foxing and a few very small light colored spots. There ia also some soilimg on the reverse probably due to being carried by Mr. Rosborough in one of his pockets or his wallet. The receipt is signed Wass, Molitor & Co, From the John J. Ford, Jr. Collection. R8 and possibly Unique. Memorandum of Gold Dust Deposited by A.M. Rosborough. Inlike most other bullion deposit or assay receipts, this very early and incredibly rare Wass, Molitor is not numbered, although there is a space provided for a "No." on the preprinted receipt. The receipt measures 7 3/4 x 6 1/4" and is printed in black ink on light blue paper. Weight before melting 9 oz, 10dwt. After melting 8oz, 18dwt. Loss in melting 12dwt. Fineness .757, Value per oz $15.524, Full value $138.16, Fees $5.00. Estimated Value $11,000 - 12,000. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $12,650