Lot 1092
Gold Rush Gambling Set. Gambling set in black leather gilt trimmed box, lined with green felt, made for or put together by William Stillman, apparently a member of "Poker Players of Bodie" during the Gold Rush period. The case, with the exception of a few minor marks and scratches from age, is in overall good condition except for one of two latches missing and a carrying handle missing its holder. Consists of three 7 in. rows of blue poker chips marked PRB (Poker Players of Bodie) plus an additional 4½ in. row of poker chips, a pair of dice and a leather and silver plated flask. Also included: a set of Hart's Squared Pharo playing cards dated February 1, 1808. In a hidden compartment and lid is a 10 in. Will & Finck Bowie knife with a 5½ in. spear-point blade. The 4½ in. handle is ivory with a 2½ in. hairline crack down one side. The handle has aged to an even yellow patina. Blade has scattered pitting and scratches, particularly on one side, but overall condition is good. Embedded in same compartment is a metal medallion with an engraved heart on one side and the initials "PPB" extending from the other side and the inscription in the center: "Poker players of Bodie / William H. Stillman / 'Goodbye God, I'm going to Bodie.'"
Bodie was originally a ghost town in Northwestern Nevada that began in 1859 as an insignificant mining camp and 19 years later, when ore was discovered, became a full-fledged boom town. It became known as one of the most lawless towns of the West with gun fights, stage coach robberies and armed hold-ups being commonplace occurrences. Legend has it that this well-known reputation caused one young lady, upon learning that her family was moving to Bodie, to pray, "Goodbye God, I'm going to Bodie." This lament was later repunctuated by a newspaper reporter to read "Good, by God, I'm going to Bodie."
Estimated Value $8,500 - 10,500.
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