Fragments of early Levi jeans from the 1880s sell for $10,312 in Holabird auction held August 5-9

RENO, Nev. - Aug. 19, 2021 - PRLog -- Fragments of Levi jeans from the 1880s soared to $10,312, two period photos of the surrender of Geronimo in Arizona in the 1880s brought $5,125, and a circa 1838 one-dollar gold coin struck in North Carolina by Christoph Bechtler fetched $7,500 at Holabird Western Americana Collections' Sizzling Summer Western Americana Auction, held August 5^th thru 9^th.

The five-day mega-event, packed with nearly 3,000 lots of Native Americana, philatelic (stamps) and numismatics (coins), militaria, railroad collectibles, Americana, mining memorabilia, stock certificates, art and more, was held live in Holabird's Reno, Nevada gallery, as well as online, via the platforms iCollector.com, LiveAuctioneers.com, Invaluable.com and Auctionzip.com.

The Levi jeans fragments – which were unearthed in Eureka, Nevada – were the top lot of the sale and its biggest surprise, too. They had a pre-sale estimate of just $100-$150. They consisted of the upper parts of two pairs of early Levi pants, one with a partial label on the side. Each was made for suspenders. They measured 15 inches and 16 inches across the waist when laying flat.

The two photographs of the Apache leader Geronimo's surrender are copies from the period, taken by the Tombstone photographer CS Fly. They were mounted by G.W. Bradley in Menasha, Wisc. The photos show Geronimo with other Apaches and Native children, plus a white child – Santiago McKinn – who had been kidnapped by Geronimo in 1885 in the New Mexico Territory.

The one-dollar gold coin produced by Christoph Bechtler around 1838 was actual legal tender, even though the coins he made at his home were not struck at a U.S. Mint. The German-born immigrant had a jewelry and clock repair business. It was miners and merchants who convinced him to produce gold coins, which he did from 1831-1840. They were accepted in the Southeast.

Anyone owning a collection that might fit into an upcoming Holabird Western Americana Collections auction is encouraged to get in touch. The company has agents all over America and will travel to inspect most collections. It prides itself as a major source for selling Americana at the best prices obtainable, having sold more than any other similar company in the past decade.

To consign a single piece or a collection, you may call Fred Holabird at 775-851-1859 or 844-492-2766; or, you can send an e-mail to fredholabird@gmail.com. To learn more about Holabird Western Americana Collections and its calendar of events, visit www.holabirdamericana.com.