Porcelain Empire Gasoline sign brings $10,450 in petroliana auction

The superb condition porcelain Empire Gasoline sign beat Texaco's offering on August 3

A rare porcelain Empire Gasoline sign has sold as top lot in a US petroliana auction held on August 3 in Iowa.

The price achieve by the sign was due to its remarkable condition

The impressive sign achieved $10,450 due to its remarkable condition, which was graded nine out of a possible 10 despite heavy wear to the reverse side of the bottom. Measuring over 30 inches in diameter, it features a sunburst logo and is among the rarest of all gasoline signs.

Next up from the 475 lots offered in the sale was a rare Texaco Marine Lubricants single-sided porcelain sign with ships graphics, which sold for $9,900. Noted for its rarity, due to it featuring the black "T", the sign also rated highly on condition, scoring another nine for great colour and gloss.

Following this was an extremely rare original Ford Service canopy-mounted globe sign, which featured the Ford "The Universal Car" logo. Rated nine for condition, the body of the globe was in excellent condition with no chips, cracks or repairs, though the original paint was almost completely worn off. According to the auction house, repainting the globe will have no effect on the value, prompting a final sale price of $8,250.

The auction was held on the final day of the annual three-day Iowa Gas Swap Meet, a popular gathering for collectors of gas and oil petroliana and auto advertising.

Paul Fraser Collectibles has a great Standard Oil share certificate from 1888, which has been signed by JD Rockefeller. Check back with us regularly for more of the latest news on petroliana collecting

Recent and related articles

1920s Coca-Cola bottle lamp estimated at $9,000 in advertising sale | 19 July 2012

Case Agency 'Old Abe' sign to lead US petroliana sale at $9,000 | 4 June 2012

Coca Cola 'Coke' sign from 1933 is a big draw in US Petroliana auction | 6 March 2012

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Images: Matthews Auctions