Clemens Samuel

Samuel Clemens Signed Fresno Mining Company Certificate, 1 of 3 Known & the Only Available!

A Fresno Mining Company certificate signed by Samuel Clemens (1835-1910), noted American author, as "Sam. L. Clemens" verso. The scarce early document was also signed by H.D. Bequette, secretary, and B.F. Hawley, president, at "Esmeralda Mining district / Aurora, Mono Co., Cal." on May 19, 1863. With 25-cent revenue stamp at left cancelled by Bequette. With a dramatic vignette featuring two Plains Indians in front of a tipi at center, and a dog's head facing left at bottom. Accompanied by period postcards depicting Clemens's homes in Hartford, Connecticut and Elmira, New York, as well as an original pen illustration of Clemens once erroneously attributed to Frederick Remington.

Certificate No. 6 authorized the transfer of ten company shares at $200 each, but evidence suggests Clemens's transfer was unaccomplished.


The great majority of Clemens's autographs date from the years after he achieved national fame in 1865. This unusual piece is even more desirable when one considers the curious circumstances behind the name change of Aurora, California. After a survey conducted in 1863, it was decided that the town, then called Esmeralda, was actually in Nevada.

Provenance: This certificate sold for nearly $50,000 at a Floyd E. Risvold sale in 2010.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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