ANN ARBOR, Mich. – A rare Peters Ammunition poster with a bold, imposing graphic of a bear on a mountain cliff clawed its way to $12,540, while a 1912 Peters Cartridge Co. die-cut paper display sign depicting hunters brought $18,240 at a three-day auction held April 10-12 by Showtime Auction Services.

They were the top two lots in a sale of more than 2,100 items in many collecting categories. Headlining the event were the single-owner lifetime collections of Hal and Terri Boggess (firearms and gunpowder collectibles, mostly posters and calendars) and Mart and Kitty James (drug store and apothecary collectibles).

The poster with bear graphic had an image area of 14 inches by 20 inches and was framed, under glass. It boasted the original thin, metal bands, top and bottom.

While standing-room-only crowds of over 200 people attended the auction on Friday and Saturday, Mike Eckles of Showtime Auction Services said that more than half of all winning bids were placed online. LiveAuctioneers.com was one of the companies facilitating Internet live bidding.

All prices quoted include a sliding scale buyer’s premium.

An early coin-operated cigar vendor (below), which accepting one cent, in good working condition, 8 inches by 21 inches, sold for $8,550.

The beautiful 1934 Mobilgas porcelain neon sign with a rare star gasoline logo, in excellent working condition and measuring 54 inches by 53 inches, went for $4,800.

A Pure Drugs mortar and pestle glass trade symbol, 11 1/2 inches high by 10 1/4 inches in diameter, made $4,560.

For more information call Michael Eckles at 951-453-2415 or email him at mike@showtimeauctions.com.

Click here to view the fully illustrated catalog for this sale, complete with prices realized.