Alaska Gold Rush Archive

This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 8/31/2004

Extensive grouping of 37 items related to Swan Johnson's twelve years in the Alaskan gold fields. By the early 1890's recent Swedish immigrant Sven Johansson had made his way to St. Joseph, Missouri, changing his name to Swan Johnson so as to assimilate into his adopted society. Like so many other young men of his era, he was soon lured to the far north by stories of Alaskan gold. Unlike the vast majority of fortune-seekers, however, Johnson was successful in the fields and enough of a visionary to invest in a practical business while he was ahead. After some years as a Valdez merchant in partnership with Sylvester Grogg, also of St. Joseph, the prosperous Johnson returned to Missouri and married Emma C. Krucker in 1910. Johnson's material includes the following: Book, PSALM-BOKEN, 526 pages, 3" x 4 1/2", 1891, Stockholm, Sweden. A small pocket book of Psalms in Swedish and inscribed "Sv. Johansson". Wear to the cover and spine, else VG condition...Plus; Pocket journal, 4" x 6", approximately 100 pages, ca. 1903. The first few pages of this book record Johnson's power of attorneys, name his partners in Valdez Creek claims, and record accounts. The last 12 pages of the journal contain entries for an expedition spanning the period from March 4 to May 16, 1903. Terse daily entries record Johnson's movements and often itemize his business activities. Fine condition...Plus; Bank book, 22 pages, 3 1/2" x 5 1/2", 1905, Valdez Bank & Mercantile Co., Valdez, Alaska. Deposits for 1905-1910 are recorded. Expected wear to cover, VG condition...Plus; Pocket Journal, approximately 100 pages, 3" x 6", 1909. Supplies are recorded in this small book having "Compliments of Schwabacher Bros. & Co. Wholesale Grocers" on the cover. Loose back cover, VG condition...Plus; Map, RECONNAISSANCE MAP OF CHITINA QUADRANGLE, COPPER RIVER REGION, ALASKA, 39 1/4" x 40 1/2" , 1909. This large fold-out map is printed in color and comes with a custom envelope. A few small splits along folds, else Fine condition...Plus; Book, MINERAL RESOURCES OF THE KOTSINA-CHITINA REGION, ALASKA, by Fred H. Moffit and A.D. Maddren, 104 pages, octavo. 1909, Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. Gray paper wraps, Fine condition...Plus; Book, THE FORTYMILE QUADRANGLE YUKON-TANANA REGION ALASKA, by L.M. Prindle, 52 pages, octavo, 1909, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. Gray paper wraps, Fine condition...Plus; Book, WATER-SUPPLY INVESTIGATIONS IN THE YUKON-TANANA REGION, ALASKA 1907 AND 1908, by C.C. Covert and C.E. Ellsworth, 1909, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. Orange paper wraps, Fine condition...Plus; Newspaper front, ST. JOSEPH GAZETTE, folio, April 26, 1910, St. Joseph, Missouri. The lead story is about the return of Swan Johnson and his upcoming marriage to Emma Krucker. Above individual photographs of the attractive couple is a headline reading "Striking It Rich In the Shadow of Mt. McKinley, He Returns From Gold Fields to Wed St. Jospeh Sweetheart". The story recounts the courtship, Johnson's success, and mentions that the only wedding guest will be Sylvester Grogg, Johnson's business partner. Fine condition...Plus; German china plate, 7" diameter, ca. 1909, Valdez, Alaska. A three-man kayak is shown on the plate's center around which reads: "Alaska's Indian Bydarka. Compliments of The Valdez Bank & Mercantile Co, Valdez, Alaska. 1909". Excellent condition...Plus; German china plate, 7" diameter, ca. 1909. The Valdez Bank & Mercantile Company building is shown in the plate's center. Excellent condition...Plus; Cabinet card portrait of Swan Johnson, ca. 1895, by Byarlay, St. Joseph, Missouri. Excellent condition...Plus; Mounted photograph of Swan Johnson, 5 1/4' x 8 3/4", ca. 1910, by Gantwell, Valdez, Alaska. VF condition...Plus; Mounted photograph of Swan Johnson, 6 1/2' x 10 3/4", ca. 1910, by Gantwell, Valdez, Alaska. VF condition...Plus; Mounted photograph of Sylvester Grogg, 6 3/4' x 8 3/4", ca. 1900, by L.C. Larson, Valdez, Alaska. VF condition...Plus; Lightly colorized photograph of Emma Kucker, 6 3/4" x 10", 1909, by Shrader, St. Jospeh, Missouri. VF condition...Plus; 5 mounted photographs of outdoor views, each 8" x 10", ca. 1900's, Alaska. Per pencil inscriptions on the verso of each image, these pictures show "Horses Swimming the Lazelina River", "Looking North up Keystone Canyon", "Waterfall in the Keystone Canyon", "Grade south of Yokona River", and "Mount Drum from bluffs above Copper Center". VG condition...Plus; Photographic print, "Valdez Glacier", by P.S. Hunt, 6" x 13 1/4", ca. 1900. Separation along fold. Fair condition...Plus; Photographic print, "Looking Up Valde Bay From the Cliff Quartz Mine", by P.S. Hunt, 6" x 8" , ca. 1900. Small areas of paper loss on corners, else Good condition...Plus; Photographic print, 6" x 8", ca. 1905, Alaska. Two men are posing with a dog sled attached to husky puppies. Certainly a goofy staged shot. Splits, Fair condition...Plus; 4 small photographic prints showing people and places in Johnson's world. Included are shots of friends on a sailboat, a man with his dog, Johnson with dog and friends, and a man with two horses. Fine condition...Plus; Photographic restoration, 8" x 10". Modern print with negative of a ca. 1900 view of gold miners. VF...Plus; Postcard showing the White Star Line's "M.V. Britannic:. ca. 1910. Some stains, else Fine condition...Plus; Miner's torch, 19 1/2" long, ca. 1900. A large wax candle is encased in tin and affixed to a wooden handle. The entire affair is painted black and chipped from use. VG condition...Plus; Leather pouch containing a 5" bottle halfway filled with volcanic dust containing flecks of gold. VF condition...Plus; A second leather pouch, 8" long, containing a 2 1/2" glass vial of small gold nuggets and flakes. Fine condition...Plus; Johnson's gold pocket watch, 2 1/8" diameter, 1894, Elgin Watch Company. The watch, although attractive and solid, will need mechanical repair in order to work again. VG condition.

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