2 VY RARE GOLD RUSH/CALIFORNIA HISTORY RARITIES w DAMPSTAINING SAVE $100's! 1857

Description: 2 very rare historic documents from 2 rare and famous California institutions - The Tuolumne County Water Co. in Columbia and The Excelsior Homestead Association in San Francisco. The first, founded in 1850, delivered much-needed water to the thirsty miners and water-intensive mining operations (and later homes and stores) in the Mother Lode (see below). The second, founded in 1869, delivered land and homes to both new arrivals in San Francisco and those who prospered during the Gold Rush and the subsequent growth of the city. See here: Excelsior District, San Francisco - Wikipedia The large and very crisp EHA certificate is a receipt for the first $20 installment on 1 share of the organization's capital stock. It displays a "U.S. Patent" alongside a determined Civil War era Liberty moving forth with flag and laurel crown. Dynamic graphics and ornate green and beige lettering! Hand signed by the Company Secretary located at No. 5 Government House, corner of Washington and Sansone. Micro edge split below Liberty and light water staining along the top to the upper right edge. If you carefully submerge and swab the edge in hot soapy water, rinse and dry it flat between 2 clean hand towels, the water stain may just magically disappear. The TCWC Treasury draft in the amount of $400 is payable to one F.R. Cowles, dated 1857 and hand signed by both the Company President and Secretary. It displays an amazing full height mining scene at the left! The left 80-90% is crisp AU (almost uncirculated!). Only the right end, which has one edge split, has been subjected to water staining, and it scarcely takes anything away from the overall eye appeal. Don't try soaking this one as the paper in the affected area is too soft to withstand a wash. Without the mentioned imperfections, these would easily command $300 or more. We figure that a 75% discount ought to make up for the difference! After all, the history is all there, with no impairments at all. Columbia is the heart of the richest gold mining area in the Mother Lode. Its history can be traced back to the original gold rush. In 1850, the first miners began arriving and, within a month, about 6,000 miners, most living in tents, called Columbia home. By the end of 1852, the new community had more than 150 stores–including lots of saloons.In 1854, fire, the scourge of many mining towns, destroyed everything in Columbia’s central business district except one brick building. When the town was rebuilt, locally produced red brick was used for 30 buildings. Iron doors, iron window shutters and bricks laid on the buildings’ roofs were additional fire protection. A year later, the local water company provided piped water for firefighting and domestic use. Seven cisterns, each with a capacity of 14,000 gallons, were built under the streets. Some still store water for firefighting today. The early pipes were used until 1950, when the state installed a new water system.

Price: 52.47 USD

Location: New York, New York

End Time: 2024-11-22T15:30:47.000Z

Shipping Cost: 4.95 USD