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petroliana

Morphy Auctions tops off petroliana sale Oct. 2 with high-octane rarities

Tom Hoepf
Tom Hoepf
petroliana
Two ‘Husky’ mounted die-cut single-sided multi-piece signs mounted back-to-back, 57 in x 72 in. Estimate: $10,000-$20,000. Morphy Auctions image

 

DENVER, Pa. – Morphy Auctions will conduct a 460-lot sale devoted to petroliana and automotive memorabilia on Monday, Oct. 2. Bidding starts at 9 a.m. Eastern time. Absentee and Interenet bidding is available through LiveAuctioneers.

Outstanding signage tops the sale bill, including a number of spectacular double-sided porcelain signs. Lot 279, a red, white and black Frontier “Rarin’-to-Go” keyhole identification sign with very good color and gloss features a cowboy riding a horse. It is marked “Ing-Rich Tulsa” and is estimated at $7,500-$15,000.

This sale’s selection of singled sided porcelain signs is also outstanding. A Husky die-cut sign (above) made from two singled-sided multi-piece signs mounted back-to-back  is marked “Texlite” and estimated at $10,000-20,000.

Lot 83, a Wyeth Tires sign featuring a boy standing in a stack of tires, is estimated at $10,000-$20,000.

 

petroliana
Wyeth Tires singled-sided porcelain sign, 22 in. x 18 in. Estimate: $10,000-$20,000.  Morphy Auctions image

 

Signage featuring neon or neon components is another bright spot in this sale. Lot #117, a Marathon Best in the Long Run diecut sign with excellent gloss and color is certain to medal with its $10,000-$15,000 estimate. This is a rare sign that was made for neon and went on the top of Marathon gas stations.

 

petroliana
(Marathon Oil) ‘Best in the Long Run’ single-sided porcelain die-cut sign, 57 in. x 40 in. Estimate: $10,000-$15,000. Morphy Auctions image

 

The auction boasts a comprehensive selection of museum-quality globes and lenses. Two single globe lens examples from Gilmore featuring the company’s famous lion logo are the kings of this category.  The first is lot 58, a Gilmore Red Lion plus Tetraethyl lens (below), estimated at $10,000-20,000.  And the second is lot #59, a Roar with Gilmore single globe lens, estimated at $8,000-$12,000.  Both are in excellent condition and are housed in new HP metal globe bodies.

 

petroliana
‘Gilmore Red Lion plus Tetraethyl’ single-globe lens in a new metal globe body, 15 in. Estimate: $10,000-20,000. Morphy Auctions image

 

This comprehensive sale rounds out with a selection of other transportation related collectibles, including posters and prints, thermometers, oil cans, pumps, displays and other rare ephemera. Included in this category is lot 85, a Republic Staggard Tread Tires poster, estimated at $10,000-$20,000. This visually stunning piece captures the iconic image of two early cars meeting on a narrow road.

 

petroliana
‘Republic Staggard Tread Tires’ poster, 50 in. x 20 in. Estimate: $10,000-20,000. Morphy Auctions image

 

“This one-day sale offers automobilia and petroliana enthusiasts so many great collection opportunities at a full spectrum of price points. I find the Marathon Best in the Long Run porcelain die-cut neon sign particularly intriguing. They are seldom if ever seen on the secondary market, especially in such nice condition,” said Dan Morphy, president of Morphy Auctions.

 

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