Choice stock certificates from three difference Aurora mining companies from very early on. Includes: 1) Governor Quartz Lode Stock, Territorial Governor Nye. Quartz Lode claim for 200 feet to Governor James W Nye in the Esmeralda Mining District. 1861. A search by the holder believes this is a fantasy piece: can't find mention of the recorder, book number not included, page number not included, etc. Still Governor Nye was actively infused in the Esmeralda district and this would have been right up his alley. 2) Esmeralda Consolidated G&S Stock; Rare and Early Nevada Territory Stock. Incorporated December 1, 1860. Very early! #101 for 20 shares to A. P. Bouton on January 19, 1861 in San Francisco. Signed by S. B. Hopkins as secretary and William D. Robinson as president. Not cancelled. Shows some discoloration and wear. Eagle with shield vignette proudly announcing, Incorporated 1860. 1860 stock certificates are very rare! Black on green with white box underprint $600,000. Fancy design border. No printer. The Daily Alta California on May 20, 1863 confirms this company was located in the Esmeralda District (Aurora). This cert comes with the earliest references to the Esmeralda Mining District [a rich lode has been discovered that assayed at $4,200 to the ton] and the mining camp of Aurora [There are currently seventy-five houses of various grades occupied by about 450 inhabitants]. 3) First North Extension Esmeralda Mining Co. Stock Certificate. An incredibly early 1861 issued Aurora stock! Inc. March 2nd, 1861. No. 90, issued for 5 shares to Isaac Kirkpatrick on July 15th, 1861 in San Francisco. Signed by Alex. Gamble, president, and Solon Pattee. Not cancelled. Beautiful design by Britton & Co. Grey background, fancy logo, vignette of child with dog. Fold, extremely fine. 5.25 x 9.25" Pattee was the secretary for a number of Aurora mines, including the Wide West. Gamble is listed in the SF directory as being in the mining business. Gamble was a very successful merchant in Big Oak Flat, California during the Gold Rush. He took that money and became a mining speculator and investor. His brother Peter and he were founders of the immensely successful Wide West Mine on Last Chance Hill. They sold their stock at a great profit and bought Real Del Monte stock cheap. Within a few months it had risen to $500 a share and Gamble was a millionaire. Not too long after that Governor R. K. Colcord of Nevada in his memoirs of territorial Aurora noted that he had fallen into poverty, "...his shirt was unlaundered and he was living in a two-bit restaurant." Clemens never mentioned this mine and its activity is unknown. The original district was ten miles square and named by M.J. Corey, one of the three original discovers in the summer of 1860. James Braly, E.R. Hicks, and Corey were camped at Esmeralda Hill when Hicks went out to shoot some game for breakfast. He noticed quartz outcrops, and brought back chunks to camp. They tested them for quartz and gold. The first claim was the Old Winnemucca Ledge, located August 25, 1860. The first mill was built in June 1861. Within a year, there were ten mills. Nevada 1861 Fred Holabird Collection