NEW HAMBURG, Canada — Miller & Miller‘s September 7 Petroliana and Advertising sale brought several elite Canadian collections of vintage signage and related artifacts to market with strong results. The completed catalog is archived at LiveAuctioneers.

The sale’s top earner was a Red Indian Motor Oil sign dating to the 1920s. Miller & Miller notes the firm only used the ‘Best Motor Insurance’ slogan in very early signage. The 23.25-by-17.25in single-sided tin sign was presented with a CA$9,000-CA$12,000 ($6,600-$8,800) estimate, but it soared far beyond that range to land at CA$55,000 ($40,520, or $49,840 with buyer’s premium).

The beloved but late Canadian gasoline retailer White Rose had two strong performances. The first was a 24in-diameter White Rose Dealer porcelain sign and iron bracket estimated at CA$9,000-CA$12,000 ($6,600-$8,800) that hammered for CA$25,000 ($18,420, or $22,655 with buyer’s premium). The three-piece monumental dealer building sign took CA$23,000 ($16,945, or $20,840 with buyer’s premium).

As anticipated, bidders flocked to the Mountie-artwork Drewrys Dry Ginger Ale & Crystal Soda sign dating to the 1940s. It more than doubled its low estimate to hit CA$4,250 ($3,130, or $3,850 with buyer’s premium).

An unusual Orange Crush ‘Come Again, Thank You’ door push doubled its high estimate to hammer for CA$8,000 ($5,895, or $7,250 with buyer’s premium). Miller & Miller noted the orange artwork’s textured, orange-peel-like embossing was unique in its review of similar signs. The sign was also offered with the vintage Aurora airplane model kit box in which the door push was found.