A rare 1916 Harley-Davidson cardboard sign has provided the top lot of Matthews Auctions' Harley Davidson Motorcycle, Vintage Advertising sale on August 28 in Iowa.
The sign, which bears the name of the "J.D. Dickenson, Rural Home" dealership, arrived at the sale with a 9+ condition rating and a $5,000 high estimate.
 The Harley-Davidson sign had a 9+ rating, despite being almost 100 years old |
It almost doubled that figure, selling for $8,000, a result of its rarity and its superb condition.
The sign came with additional documentation on Harley-Davison letterhead paper that reveals the motorcycle manufacturer owed J.D Dickenson 10c, which it was reimbursing with two 5c coins attached to the letter.
Both items were professionally framed with archival glass.
Vintage automobilia signs are big business. A Veltex Pennsylvania Motor Oil sign, also graded 9+, made $5,600 at the sale, while a Hancock Gasoline example, featuring an "early rooster", achieved $5,500.
Away from the automobilia, the sale featured three Harley-Davidson Servi-Cars - three-wheelers produced in the 1950s and 1960s, that were often used as police vehicles.
The top seller of the three was a 1957 example, in "all-original" condition, which made $6,500, while a 1965 specimen, which had undergone a complete restoration, achieved $6,000.
The third, a "ground up" restored machine from 1956, made $4,500.
Bonhams will auction two iconic Royal Enfield motorcycles once owned by Bill Lomas as part of its motorcycle sale in Stafford, UK on October 20.
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