Dick Campodonico Collection Part 2, Day 2
Sunday, November 11, 2012 | 11:00 AM Pacific
Auction closed.
Dick Campodonico Collection Part 2, Day 2
Sunday, November 11, 2012 | 11:00 AM Pacific
Auction closed.
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Description
Gold Rush letters & early California documents; Gregory's Express pocket letter books; manuscript collections; and California covers, express covers & other postal history.
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Uncut Sheet of Five Alameda County, CA, Poll Tax Receipts, 1856
Lot # 380 (Sale Order: 2 of 379)
Alameda County. Uncut sheet of five poll tax receipts (#s 71-75) for 1856 printed in blue ink on blue paper. The receipts are not filled out, but all 5 are signed by P.E. Edmundsen, County Treasurer, and H.M. Vesey, Clerk of Board of Equalization. Fold marks; some creasing and wrinkling of the thin paper; chipping around edges. Measures 17" x 11". [LS-140]
Manuscript Document Signed in 1852 by W.W. Chipman, Founder of Alameda
Lot # 381 (Sale Order: 3 of 379)
Alameda County. Manuscript document signed by William W. Chipman, founder of Alameda, 1852. The document, dated San Francisco, Oct. 13, 1852, is a request by Wm. W. Chipman to obtain "a warrant for the entry and location of three hundred and twenty acres of land for Edward S. Chipman for the purpose of making a permanent settlement therein in accordance with an act providing for the disposal of Five Hundred Thousand acres of land granted to the State of California &c said Act approved May 3, 1852." Edward S. Chipman, at the time, lived in Ohio, and came a few years later to California. W.W. Chipman, a lawyer, was an important figure in the development of the city and county of Alameda and the East Bay area. Was this request for 360 acres the beginning of Alameda? Written on blue legal size paper. Fold lines; some toning; left edge a little ragged. VG+ condition. [A4-45]
Morning Star Gold and Silver Mining Co Assessment Receipt, 1868
Lot # 382 (Sale Order: 4 of 379)
Alpine County. Assessment receipt from Morning Star Gold and Silver Mining Company issued to Almira Young for paying $50 for an assessment of $2.50 per 20 shares of stock. Signed by Geo. Robins, secretary. Dateline is San Francisco, Oct 30, 1868. Cut of a cherub with the words "El Dorado" above him. Printed by Towne & Bacon, SF. Measures 4 1/2" x 8 3/4". Some smudging of the brown ink; two fold lines. Overall in VG to VG+ condition. [A7-12]
Receipt for License to Sell Liquors & Wines, Drytown, CA, 1854
Lot # 383 (Sale Order: 5 of 379)
Amador County. Receipt issued to Samuel & Co. of Drytown for a license to sell liquors and wines, Dec 15, 1854. Issued by the Treasurer of the County of Amador and signed by him. The license was good for three months and allowed him to sell liquor and wine providing they were to be "in no less quantities than one quart measure". Evidently, this was not for a saloon that served liquor by the drink. Printed on blue paper measuring 4" x 6 5/8"; allegorical vignette on left side. The receipt was cut along the left side barely inside the border of the vignette in several places; o/w in Fine condition. [A6-49]
Lot of Paper Items from Amador Co., CA, ca 1855-1920s
Lot # 384 (Sale Order: 6 of 379)
Amador County. Group of 35 miscellaneous paper items. 1) Receipt issued on March 2, 1855 to Florence McCarthy "...which entitles him to a License for the space of three months, to keep a Bar, at Volcano of the third class..." Signed by Kim, the Amador County Treasurer. Measures 2 7/8" x 6"; printed on blue paper with an allegorical vignette of a woman with bags of gold or coin beneath her feet. Cut at left edge into the image, o/w in Fine condition. 2) Handbill advertising specials at the Martha Washington Grocery Stores, Inc, Placerville, California. "Our Specials are items chosen from our regular stock of Dependable, Standard, Merchandise. It will pay you to be on the lookout for our Handbills and Newspaper Advertising". The specials include 6 cans of Libby's Deviled Meat for twenty-five cents; a one pound can of Prince Albert tobacco for 93 cents; and three large cans of Libby's Pork & Beans for twenty-five cents. The dates, Friday January 9th and Saturday January 10th, suggest the handbill was distributed in either 1920 or 1948 (using a perpetual calendar). With a lot of ads for toilet tissue, we are guessing it dates to 1948. Measures 13" x 8 1/2". Three horizontal fold marks; some crinkling near middle right side; two stain marks. 3) Two receipts from the Keystone Consolidated Mining Company datelined Amador City (1886 and 1900). 4) Group of 31 billheads, receipts and other miscellaneous paper items from the towns of Plymouth and Jackson, dating from 1901-1928. Together 35 pieces. Various sizes and condition. [A22-18, LS-211, HO-5, A22-16, A22-18, A13-21]
Letter to Sheriff re Theft of a Meerschaum Pipe, Placerville, 1901
Lot # 385 (Sale Order: 7 of 379)
Amador County. Letter to Sheriff in Placerville from a man in Oleta dated 1901 regarding a theft of his meerschaum pipe and other items. The victim, Alonzo E. Votano, describes the pipe in great detail and gives a description of a stranger whom he suspects of being the culprit. Written in manuscript on lined off-white paper that has overall toning; a piece is torn out of the upper right corner affecting two words of text on the back side of the letter; another piece is torn from lower left corner affecting one word of text; some math figures on both front and back sides. Good condition. [A12-17]
Sheriff''s Letter to US Mint in Carson City, NV re Theft of Gold Precipitate, 1928
Lot # 386 (Sale Order: 8 of 379)
Amador County. Typed letter w/cover addressed to the United States Mint in Carson City, Nevada from George W. Lucot, Sheriff of Amador County, Jackson, CA, October 14, 1928. Great content about the theft of gold precipitate. "On the morning of October 12th, 1928, at about 4.10 oclock, there was stolen from the refinery of the Amador Metals Reduction Company...a quantity of gold precipitate... The total weight of the mud, when dried down, would be possibly 70 lbs. The mud was stolen in a wet condition, and it is possible, though not probable, that the thieves will try to sell it that way. They may possibly dry it down and try to dispose or sell it as a black or brownish powder. They may, on the other hand, melt it down into a brick If melted into a brick... it would probably go somewhere about 500 fine. The proportion of gold to silver is about 105 gold to $1.00 silver. The robbery in question was committed by two, and possibly three men, after they had bound and gagged the night watchman and tied him to a tree. In the event that any person should offer any or all of the above described property to you, wish you would immediately notify the nearest peace officer, and wire or telephone this office, collect. A liberal reward is being offered for the recovery of any or all of the stolen property." The letter is not signed, but is on the Sheriff and Tax Collector letterhead, and its original cover, postmarked from Jackson on Oct 15, is included. 11" x 8 1/2". Fold marks; VG+ condition. [A15-10]
Indenture for Sale of Bidwell's Store, Chico, 1867
Lot # 387 (Sale Order: 9 of 379)
Butte County. Indenture for sale of Bidwells Store in Chico from T.J. Bidwell to John Bidwell, 1867. The sale is dated July 1, 1867 and involves several lots, including one "...being the one in which the Brick Store, known as "Bidwells Store" in said town of Chico" was located. Signed by Thomas J. Bidwell. John Bidwell is well known in California history as an early pioneer who contributed greatly to the development of Chico and Butte County. Two $1 US Internal Revenue Foreign Exchange and a block of four 50 cent blue Passage Revenue stamps are attached to the front. The 4-page indenture, printed on light gray paper by Wm. B. Cooke & Co., Importing and Jobbing Stationers, 624 Montgomery St., Montgomery Block, San Francisco, measures 13 3/4" x 8 1/2"; per single page. Some toning; tape repairs to fold tears on inner pages. VG+ condition. [LS-195]
Claim for Settling on 152 Acres in Butte County, 1858
Lot # 388 (Sale Order: 10 of 379)
Butte County. Manuscript claim for settling on and improving government lands, 1858. William Monroe Harris of Butte County filed for 152 acres of government land upon which he had settled and made improvements as per the 1853 Act of Congress granting pre-emption rights. Signed on Dec 15, 1858 by Harris in the presence of L.J. Ashford. Written on blue lined paper measuring 10 1/4" x 7 7/8". Fine condition. [A10-40]
Billhead of W.H. Silsby & Co., Wagonmakers & Blacksmiths, Chico, 1867
Lot # 389 (Sale Order: 11 of 379)
Butte County. Billhead for W.H. Silsby & Co., wagonmakers and blacksmiths, Chico, April 1, 1867. The billhead advertised "The best of Wagons and Carriages Kept Constantly on Hand and Manufactured to Order. / Horses, Mules and Oxen Shod, and All Kinds of Repairing Promptly Done." The shop was located on Main Street and Sierra Avenue, Chico, California. A 2-cent revenue bank check stamp is affixed at upper left corner. Lower right corner torn off; small holes at corner folds; some toning; o/w in VG condition. [A4-36]
Railroad Flat, CA, IOOF Receipts, 1884/1898
Lot # 390 (Sale Order: 12 of 379)
Calaveras County. Lot of 3 IOOF receipts from Railroad Flat, 1884, 1898. All three are from the Independence Lodge, No. 158, I.O.O.F., located in Railroad Flat, Calaveras County, California. Two are from 1884; the other is dated 1898. The receipts were printed by Winterburn & Co., Print, S.F. and are all signed by the Treasurer, Edwin Taylor. Fraternal symbols are within a decorative bordered box on the left side of the receipts. Fine condition. [A6-47]
Billhead of B.F. Dorris, Dealer in Cooking, Parlor and Saloon Stoves, Crescent City, CA, 1868
Lot # 391 (Sale Order: 13 of 379)
Del Norte County. Billhead of Benj. F. Dorris, dealer in Cooking, Parlor and Saloon Stoves, Crescent City, Sept 17, 1868. Ben Dorris advertised as a dealer in all kinds of stoves, plus tin, Japan, sheet iron, copper and hollow ware. The bill, payable in U.S. Gold Coin, was to the Klamath Lodge No. 41 of the I.O.O.F., per Charles Strand, for a collar elbow for a stove, one lamp filler, and one candle stick and totaled $2. Attractively printed by Mullin, Mahon & Co., 505 Clay Street, San Francisco in red and blue ink with a vignette of several stoves circling a larger stove on off-white paper measuring 4 5/8" x 8 5/8". Two filing holes punched near left side edge; chip at lower right edge and a small spot of toning; o/w in VG+ condition. [A12-4B]
Murderers Bar, El Dorado County, CA Manuscript Receipt, 1856
Lot # 392 (Sale Order: 14 of 379)
El Dorado County. Manuscript receipt datelined Murderers Bar, Oct 1st, 1856 (or 1850) "For value received I promised to pay L.B. Merriman [?] the sum of three hu[ndred] and fifty Dollars in one year after date... use. [signed] George E. Edgerto[n]." Written on blue paper scrap with some foxing; some loss of writing on right side edge. A scarce item from Murderers Bar which was located two miles north of Cool along the Middle Fork of the American River. It is so named because five miners were killed by Indians there. [A22-26]
Grey Eagle, El Dorado County, CA Manuscript Receipt for Clothing Purchased, 1857
Lot # 393 (Sale Order: 15 of 379)
El Dorado County. Manuscript receipt datelined Grey Eagle, Dec 11, 1857. Written on blue lined scrap, it lists clothing purchased by Hardy & Kennedy from Garrison & Co. Unevenly cut; some toning around edges; VG+ condition. [A12-35]
Two Adams & Co Express Office Bills of Exchange from El Dorado County Towns, 1852/1854
Lot # 394 (Sale Order: 16 of 379)
El Dorado County. Lot of two Adams & Co. Express Office bills of exchange from El Dorado County towns. One is a Second of Exchange with the San Francisco dateline crossed out and replaced with a manuscript Placerville, October 11, 1854. No. 1804 payable at sight to Jane Odlin in the amount of $75 with Boston as the destination. Signed by Adams & Co. The name Wm Smith is written across the front. Vignettes of miners working at a sluice box; California state seal; and an allegorical scene with three women. Printed on blue paper by Toppan, Carpenter, Casilear & Co., NY & Philadelphia. Fold marks w/ some light toning; repair to vertical center fold on verso; o/w in VG+ condition. The other is a Second of Exchange with a manuscript Coloma, April 10, 1852 dateline above the printed San Francisco, payable at sight to the order of Hunter & Co. in the amount of $343. Signed by Freeman Co. Boston was the written destination point. Endorsement on the back indicates Hunter & Co turned it over to Joseph I. Brown. Same vignettes and printer as the above on off-white, toned paper. Fold marks with tear down portions of one vertical fold. VG condition. [A19-2]
Lot of 2 Items from El Dorado County, CA
Lot # 395 (Sale Order: 17 of 379)
El Dorado County. Lot of two items, including an 1858 indenture selling a parcel of land and an 1891 billhead of Thomas Alderson, Dealer in Fancy Dry Goods, Clothing, Carpets, Boots, Shoes, Etc in Placerville. The indenture, on blue, printed form paper, has been water damaged, and is nearly separated in two at the middle horizontal fold. The water stains make several words in the property description hard to read. The Alderson piece is toned and has a 1 1/2" tear running down from middle top edge, plus several other splits. [A12-20]
Five Billheads from A. Brizard's Store, Blue Lake, CA, 1891-1900
Lot # 396 (Sale Order: 18 of 379)
Humboldt County. Lot of five billheads from A. Brizard's Blue Lake store, J.E. Vreeland, manager, to the account of a Mr. T.W. Power, ranging in dates from 1891 to 1900. It lists Power's monthly purchases with prices paid. Brizard, an early Humboldt County pioneer with his main business house in Arcata, also had stores in Solano, Orleans, Willow Creek, and Weitchpec in Humboldt County; plus Francis, White Rock, and New River in Trinity County; and Somes Bar in Siskiyou County. The billheads were printed by Ericson's Print, Arcata, CA. Each sheet measures 14" x 8 1/2". VG+ to Fine condition. [A22-6]
L.K. Wood's Narrative, The Discovery of Humboldt Bay, 1932
Lot # 397 (Sale Order: 19 of 379)
Humboldt County. The Discovery of Humboldt Bay: A Narrative by L.K. Wood (SF: Society of California Pioneers, 1932). Paper wraps; 22pp. Great narrative of exploring what is now parts of Trinity and Humboldt counties the winter of 1849/1850. Wood was a good observer and recorded many interesting experiences, including Indian life in the region. Light water stain at top of several pages; some wrinkling due to past moisture; o/w a VG copy. [A12-1]
Yellow Aster Mining & Milling Co Letters, Kern County
Lot # 398 (Sale Order: 20 of 379)
Kern County. Two letters re the Yellow Aster Mining & Milling Co., 1898 / 1918. One is datelined Garlock, April 20, 1898 on Yellow Aster Mining & Milling Co letterhead addressed to H.V. Cooper from E.A.M. who used the stamp of A.D. Marchand. The other is on Yellow Aster letterhead datelined Los Angeles, Cal., Sept 10, 1918 and is addressed to G.W. Paymal, Supt., in Randsburg from R.L. Burcham, Secretary. Burcham informs the superintendent that "We have been discussing today the possibility of being able to dispose of all the horses if it can be arranged to do our hauling in some other way. With that in view will you kindly have Duke give us the weights, age and height of the five horses we have there, together with the condition of the wagons he is using? Mr. Ancker [the company's president] will then send this information to Lancaster and Tehachapi and see if any sale can be found." Vignette of a mining mill with the initials YA / M&M Co. on the side of the building at upper left corner of stationery. Two holes have been punched in the top of each for filing purposes; o/w in VG+ to Fine condition. [A13-14]
IOOF Document from Pre-Del Norte County, 1855
Lot # 399 (Sale Order: 21 of 379)
Klamath [Del Norte] County. Manuscript document from pre-Del Norte County attesting to the fact that Marx Strauss was initiated into and received the Scarlet Degree of Odd-Fellowship from a lodge in Livingston, Alabama, and requested and received from them a permanent Card and that now "that Said Card has been lost by him." Signed on July 1, 1855 by Strauss and the Notary Public (name indecipherable) with a green seal applied. Brown ink on blue, lined paper. 7 7/8" x 12 5/8". VG+ condition. [A15-5]
US Post Office Letter re Propriety of the Removal of the Postmaster at Crescent City, 1855
Lot # 400 (Sale Order: 22 of 379)
400 Klamath [Del Norte] County. US Post Office letter dated Dec 18, 1855 re propriety of the removal of David Hoovers removal as Postmaster at Crescent City. The note on USPO Appointment Office stationery is signed by Horatio King, First Assistant Postmaster General, to the Hon. J.W. Denver, Representative from California. In part it reads, "In May last David Hoover was removed & D.C. Lewis appointed the Postmaster at Crescent City, County of Klamath, State of California. Papers received soon after this change threw doubt on its propriety, but no application for the restoration of Mr. Hoover has been received since his removal was received..." Printed form No. 14 filled out by hand with the above message in manuscript. Blue paper measuring 9 7/8" x 7 7/8". Del Norte County was created from Klamath County in 1857. Early paper material from this northwest county is relatively scarce. [A12-4A]
Receipt from Long Valley, Mendocino County, 1862 w/Pioneer Signatures
Lot # 401 (Sale Order: 23 of 379)
Mendocino County. Filled-out printed receipt datelined Long Valley, July 25th, 1862 (?). Although there were many places named Long Valley in California, this one must have been in Mendocino County (or neighboring Lake County) because several of the signatures on it are Mendocino County pioneers. James Morez (?) was promising to pay J.F. Hills within 60 days. Hills was an early settler in the Mendocino City area, opening a store on the Big River flat near the Mendocino mill in 1857. On the reverse side of the receipt, Hills, in 1863, signed the note over to Isaac P. Smith, an early pioneer of Cahto. William Holden, a California pioneer of 1850 who settled in Mendocino County, also signed the receipt as Probate Judge in 1864. Holden was active in county and state politics. Early Mendocino County material is quite scarce and the bonus of several prominent signatures makes it very desirable. Small semi-circular piece missing from left edge, with some loss to the pattern portion of the vignette based on the California seal; light foxing; o/w in VG condition. [A22-27]
Napa County Warrant Paying for Road Viewer Services, 1857
Lot # 402 (Sale Order: 24 of 379)
Napa County. Second Series warrant issued by Napa County, 1857, paying for services of a road viewer. The warrant is datelined Auditors Office, Napa City, Feb 3, 1857 and promises to pay Isaac Young $28 for service as a road viewer from Oct 1, 1856. Signed by the Deputy Auditor for the Auditor. Printed on blue paper by Agnew & Deffebach, print, SF, measuring 4 1/4" x 7 1/4". Endorsed by Young on the back. Decorative motif at left side. Toning and color loss along fold lines; VG condition. [A6-15]
Bill of Sale of Mining Claims on Lost Hill & Wet Hill, Nevada County, 1854
Lot # 403 (Sale Order: 25 of 379)
Nevada County. Bill of Sale of mining claims in Nevada County, June 19, 1854. Handwritten bill of sale signed by Robert Little, of Nevada (City) confirming the sale of his interest in two mining claims to William Maltman: 1/12 part of the whole claim known as Lost Hill Co located on Lost Hill, and 1/12 part of the whole claim known as R. Little Co situated on Wet Hill. Along with these interests, Little was selling his interest in all the tools, implements, sluices and other equipment. Maltman paid Little $4,100 for his interest in the claims. Light toning at fold lines along with small fold tears; o/w Fine condition. [A1-44]
