{"id":12514,"date":"2020-05-21T10:37:31","date_gmt":"2020-05-21T17:37:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.westerndriver.com\/?p=12514"},"modified":"2020-05-21T14:38:19","modified_gmt":"2020-05-21T21:38:19","slug":"high-octane-petroliana-sets-the-pace-at-morphys-1-2m-gas-oil-auction","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.westerndriver.com\/?p=12514","title":{"rendered":"High-octane petroliana set the pace at Morphy\u2019s $1.2M Gas & Oil auction"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Shell Gasoline two-piece porcelain neon sign with all four original mounting brackets, 61 x 54 x 6in. Sold for $17,220 against an estimate of $9,000-$13,000.<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

It pays to advertise, but investing in rare oil and gas company advertising signage pays even better.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s the conclusion that can be drawn from Morphy Auctions\u2019<\/a> May 13-14, 2020, Automobilia & Petroliana sale in Pennsylvania, which achieved US$1.2 million in sales\u201420 per cent more than the overall low estimate.<\/p>\n

\u201cMarket prices are stronger than ever, and interest in antique and vintage gas and oil memorabilia remains very strong,\u201d said Dan Morphy, founder and president of Morphy Auctions. \u201cOur team went above and beyond in this challenging time to accommodate all customers\u2019 bidding needs with absentee and phone bidding, and more importantly, online bidding through Morphy Live, where we debuted live streaming, which proved to be a huge hit with our customers.\u201d<\/p>\n

A spectacular array of 530 premium-quality signs brought color and eye appeal to the 802-lot specialty auction, which featured several important collections, including a premier assemblage from Canada.<\/p>\n

An elusive circa-1940s porcelain sign advertising Harbor Petroleum Products, of Long Beach, California, rose to the top of prices realized. Boasting 8.9+ condition, the high-gloss sign with an image of a Boeing 314 Clipper airplane coasting over water landed comfortably within its estimate range for $44,000.<\/p>\n

A round, 30-inch-diameter Shell Aviation Gasoline porcelain sign had everything going for it: rarity, bright colours, and beautiful graphics, including a central clamshell. Very hard to find in any condition, Morphy\u2019s example was graded 8.75+, with only minor chipping to the edge and no condition exceptions to the field itself. Estimated at $7,000-$10,000, it attracted 21 bids before settling at $20,910.<\/p>\n

Yet another advertising classic touting the popular Shell brand was a two-piece shell-shaped porcelain neon sign measuring 61 by 54 by 6 inches and retaining all four of its original display brackets. It came to auction with a $9,000-$13,000 estimate and was soon off to a new owner for an impressive $17,220.<\/p>\n

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Top lot of the sale: a circa-1940s porcelain sign advertising Harbor Petroleum Products, Long Beach, California, with Boeing 314 Clipper airplane graphic, 8.9+ condition, 39 x 35in. Sold for $44,000.<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

Many bidders competed for a neon sign promoting a West Coast company called Pacific Bait & Tackle. With Art Deco styling and letters that illuminate in four colors on each side, the sign\u2019s focal point is a painted, neon-outlined fish that \u201cleaps\u201d from a neon-detailed body of water. This visual knockout sold near the top of its estimate range, reeling in $23,370.<\/p>\n

The long list of coveted signs also included: a rare Wood Oils & Gasoline tin service station sign with a roaring-lion mascot, $15,990; an unflawed new\/old stock tin sign for a Diamond T Trucks dealership, $10,455; and a \u201cGet Badger Tires Right Here\u201d tin sign with original wood frame, $7,995. Also finishing at $7,995 was a Mobil Gasoline porcelain cookie-cutter sign depicting the company\u2019s flying-horse mascot \u201cPegasus.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Expertly restored \u2018Wayne 50\u2019 illuminating showcase gas pump with Super Shell one-piece cast globe, Shell side decals, and glass shelving. Sold near the top of its estimate range for $17,220.<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

Thirty-five gas pumps and 46 globes found favour with bidders. A finely restored \u201cWayne 50\u201d illuminating showcase gas pump with Super Shell one-piece cast globe, Shell side decals, and central glass shelving was entered with a $12,000-$20,000 estimate. It was bid to a healthy $17,220.<\/p>\n

One of today\u2019s most popular subcategories within the broad classification of petroliana is that of antique and collectible license plates. Morphy\u2019s presented 30 extremely desirable examples, led by the unique porcelain plate emblazoned with the number \u201c1\u201d that was issued by the Commonwealth of Virginia in 1906. Unquestionably authentic and truly one of a kind, it was accompanied by an extensive archive of supportive documentation dating back more than a century to the plate\u2019s original owner. Morphy\u2019s catalog description noted that \u201conly one or two other true first-issue #1s license plates [exist] in the USA,\u201d a fact that added considerable cachet to the lot. After 14 bids, the license plate changed hands for $27,060.<\/p>\n

To discuss consigning to a future Morphy Auctions event, call 877-968-8880 or email info@morphyauctions.com.<\/a> Online: www.morphyauctions.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

It pays to advertise, but investing in rare oil and gas company advertising signage pays even better. That\u2019s the conclusion that can be drawn from Morphy Auctions\u2019 May 13-14, 2020, Automobilia & Petroliana sale in Pennsylvania, which achieved US$1.2 million in sales\u201420 per cent more than the overall low estimate. \u201cMarket prices are stronger thanRead Full Story<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":12515,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[74],"tags":[32],"class_list":["post-12514","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-auctions","tag-slider"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.westerndriver.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12514","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.westerndriver.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.westerndriver.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.westerndriver.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.westerndriver.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=12514"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/www.westerndriver.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12514\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12557,"href":"https:\/\/www.westerndriver.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12514\/revisions\/12557"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.westerndriver.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/12515"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.westerndriver.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=12514"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.westerndriver.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=12514"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.westerndriver.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=12514"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}