Holabird's huge Desert Riches Auction, Jan. 31-Feb. 3, featured mining, gold, numismatics, Americana

RENO, Nev. - Feb. 11, 2025 - PRLog -- An exceptionally rare 1862 Nevada Territory receipt issued to Samuel Clemens (better known as author Mark Twain) for his work as a legislative reporter sold for $23,125, and a pair of 1871 documents appointing the melter and refiner to the Carson City, Nevada Mint, one of them signed by President Ulysses S. Grant, rang up $15,625 in a huge, four-day Desert Riches Auction held January 31^st thru February 3^rd by Holabird Western Americana Collections, LLC.

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

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

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

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

The pair of 1871 documents appointing the melter and refiner to the Carson City, Nevada Mint

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

Online bidding was via iCollector.com, Invaluable.com and LiveAuctionbeers.com. To learn more about Holabird Western Americana Collections, LLC and their calendar of upcoming events, please visit www.holabirdamericana.com.