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Sale 41: Western Postal History

Table of Contents

Ephemera - Early Western Photographs

Lot 63

(Photos) Coloma Stores, 1849-50. Rare half plate daguerreotype in velvet lined case showing one of the first stores in Coloma, the site of first gold discovered, store shown is a ramshackle building with cloth roof and sign, with small near contemporary label attached on upper right corner "My shanty store cloth roof built April 1849, My new store corner Perry St. built by my brother Fred in 1850. J.F. Bekeart"; mirror-like finish but easily seen at correct angle, with post-1949 note from relative Phil. K. Beckeart regarding original note by J. Francois (Frank) Bekeart, daguerreotype in unusually nice condition, Very Fine.
Estimate    $10,000 - 15,000.

For centuries the Nisenan Indians went about their day to day lives in the Cullomain Village in the plush and abundant Cullumah Valley. On January 24, 1848, their world, as well as the rest of the world, changed forever. James Marshall hired by John Sutter to build a lumber mill and supply materials for Sutter's dream empire "New Helvetia" discovered gold in the tailrace of the new mill.

Jules Francois Bekeart was a gunsmith who came to Coloma in 1849 to mine gold and soon became a friend of James Marshall. The hard labor of gold mining was not to his liking, so "Frank" Bekeart started a highly successful gunsmith business in a wood frame and canvas building near this site. A brick building was later constructed in 1852 after the wood building burned. It is thought to be Coloma's oldest structure.

Realized: $10,000

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