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Sale 59
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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.
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| Realized $9,200 |
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