Automobilia and petroliana collectors can fill ’er up at Morphy Feb. 24-25 in Las Vegas

LAS VEGAS — Morphy Auctions returns to Las Vegas for its Saturday, February 24 and Sunday, February 25 sale of antique and vintage gas- and oil-related memorabilia. The 1,247-lot auction includes porcelain and neon advertising signs, gas pumps and globes, vintage oil cans, service station display items, logo wall clocks, and railroadiana.

The sale’s top-estimated lot is a porcelain neon sign for Polly Gas. The 96in sign has never been removed from its original can and has been AGS-certified and graded 82. As a result, the neon is estimated at $60,000-$100,000.

Right behind the Polly Gas sign lot is a double-sided Frontier Gas ‘Rarin’ To Go’ sign with the company’s iconic cowboy-on-rearing-horse graphic, estimated at $40,000-$80,000. Also sure to go for top dollar is a Clipper Gasoline oval porcelain sign with a Pan American Clipper sea plane graphic. The 60in sign is AGS side-graded 87 and 79. The estimate is $30,000-$60,000.

Featuring a logo and name clearly lifted from the Southern Pacific Railroad is an outstanding Sunset Gasoline 15in single-globe gas pump lens. Issued by Sunset Pacific Oil Co. of Los Angeles, this example is considered early due to what’s known as its ‘blue-sky’ background, dating it to the 1920s. John Mihovetz of Morphy’s Petroliana & Automobilia believes it is possibly the only surviving example. It is AGS graded 91, with an estimate of $15,000-$30,000.

Perfect for any garage is a postwar GMC Trucks neon sign, featuring unique green porcelain as well as green and pink neon. And at 85 by 13 by 47in, it’s big. AGS graded 89 and 90, the sign carries an estimate of $15,000-$25,000.

Dan Morphy sees a bright future for automobilia and petroliana sales at the company’s recently opened Las Vegas facility, stating: “Las Vegas is one of the fastest-growing metropolitan areas in the United States. It’s also a magnet for West Coast car culture and classic-car events. Las Vegas is ideal for Morphy’s to hold automobilia and petroliana sales.”

Polly Gas porcelain neon sign, estimated at $60,000-$100,000 at Morphy.

Polly Gas porcelain neon sign, estimated at $60,000-$100,000 at Morphy.

Frontier Gas porcelain sign, estimated at $40,000-$80,000 at Morphy.

Frontier Gas porcelain sign, estimated at $40,000-$80,000 at Morphy.

Jim Bunte

Jim Bunte

Jim Bunte has worked in editorial, design and the toy and auction industries for more than 30 years. He co-founded Auction Central News in 2007.

Morphy returns to Las Vegas for coin-op and advertising event Oct. 27-30

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LAS VEGAS — After a four-year hiatus, Morphy Auctions will reestablish their Las Vegas auction series with a sale spanning Friday, October 27 to Monday, October 30 and featuring more than 2,200 lots of coin-op and gambling machines, antique advertising and general store treasures. The catalogs are now available for bidding at LiveAuctioneers (Day 1, Day 2, Day 3)

Morphy’s new Las Vegas facility will be the home for all its future coin-op and antique advertising sales, along with an added petroliana sale in February 2024. Morphy’s Tom Tolworthy said Morphy’s return to Las Vegas has been well received by collectors.

“West Coast consignors who were hesitant about having their valuable machines shipped across the country are excited to have the Las Vegas location,” Tolworthy said. “Our trucks travel to all western states, and we have a large, super-secure facility for the processing and storage of consignments.”

Top lot on day 1 is a pristine Chevrolet neon porcelain sign complemented by a Telechron clock. Marked ‘Walker & Co., Detroit’ and dated to the 1930s, the sign is a whopping 8ft in length and is estimated at $60,000-$85,000.

In excellent condition with only minor chipping is this two-sided Peerless Stages bus depot porcelain sign, probably from the 1950s based on the bus illustration’s decoration. Peerless Stages operated in the San Francisco Bay Area from 1916 to 1997 and ran lines between Santa Cruz, San Jose, Oakland and Reno. The sign carries an estimate of $30,000-$50,000.

Leading the general store category on day 2 is a carved wooden cigar store American Indian attributed to John Philip Yeager (1823-1899). Yeager was a leading creator of sailing ship figureheads and tobacconist displays. With all-original polychrome paint and no signs of touch-ups, this magnificent example is estimated at $40,000-$70,000.

Originally from Aquilla, Arizona, this hand-painted neon sign for the Burro Jim Motel has been completely refurbished from an electrical and neon perspective, while leaving the sign itself in beautifully aged original condition. It has an estimate of $10,000-$20,000.

With only a handful known to collectors, the 1-cent Mills Hats Off penny arcade lung tester is likely to be a top item in the sale. All original with only minor repairs and refurbishments, the game involves blowing into the mechanism to raise the hats off the figural faces. Blow all eight off and “the lucky windbag gets his penny back.” It is estimated at $50,000-$100,000.
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Chevrolet neon porcelain sign complemented by a Telechron clock, estimated at $60,000-$85,000 at Morphy Auctions.
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Two-sided Peerless Stages bus depot porcelain sign, estimated at $30,000-$50,000 at Morphy Auctions.
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Carved wooden cigar store American Indian attributed to John Philip Yeager, estimated at $40,000-$70,000 at Morphy Auctions.
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Hand-painted neon sign for the Burro Jim Motel, estimated at $10,000-$20,000 at Morphy Auctions.
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1-cent Mills Hats Off penny arcade lung tester, estimated at $50,000-$100,000 at Morphy Auctions.
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Morphy’s July 19-20 Automobilia & Petroliana auction crosses finish line at $2.3M

Outstanding Sinclair Aircraft double-sided porcelain service station sign with airplane graphic. Clean, fresh-to-market example. Condition of each side: 9.0 and 8.9+. Sold within estimate range for $62,400

DENVER, Pa. – Led by an enviable array of rare advertising signs, gas pumps, globes and early service station and motoring accessories, Morphy Auctions July 19-20 Automobilia & Petroliana auction attracted bidders from coast to coast and cruised to a grand total of $2.3 million, inclusive of buyer’s premium. Absentee and Internet live bidding was facilitated by LiveAuctioneers. Continue reading

World records tumbled at Morphy’s $8.1M petroliana auction featuring Knudsen collection

The top lot of the three-day sale was this stunning and rare Wasatch Gasoline 48-inch-diameter porcelain service station sign, which sold for $324,000 against an estimate of $75,000-$150,000. New world-record auction price

 DENVER, Pa. – The energy was palpable at Morphy’s March 21-23 Automobilia, Petroliana & Railroadiana Auction featuring Part II of the incomparable Bobby Knudsen Jr. gas and oil advertising collection. Aggressive bidding sent prices to the Moon, with the four top sellers knocking down nearly $1.1 million. The three-day event containing 1,600 lots from the Knudsen collection plus other select consignments, chalked up a grand total of more than $8.1 million, inclusive of buyer’s premium. Absentee and Internet live bidding was facilitated by LiveAuctioneers.

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Orange Crush neon sign commands record-setting $189K at Richmond Auctions

Circa-1950s Orange Crush neon sign, $189,750. Image courtesy of Richmond Auctions
Circa-1950s Orange Crush neon sign, $189,750. Image courtesy of Richmond Auctions
Circa-1950s Orange Crush neon sign, $189,750. Image courtesy of Richmond Auctions

GREENVILLE, S.C. – A new world record was set at Richmond Auctions last month when a circa-1950s Orange Crush neon sign sold for $189,750 – the most a soda sign has ever brought at auction. Richmond Auctions is now the first auction house to sell a soda sign for more than $100,000, breaking the previously held record of $46,000 for a Satanet Soda sign, which was also sold at Richmond Auctions. Absentee and Internet live bidding for the February 17 sale was facilitated by LiveAuctioneers.

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Morphy’s Mar. 21-23 auction rolls out Part II of Knudsen petroliana collection

Incredible 48in Frontier Gasoline (Denver, Colo.) ‘Rarin’ To Go’ double-sided porcelain sign with image of cowboy on rearing horse. Marked ‘S.P.S.’ and dated 1954. One of only a handful known. Side 1 graded 8.75+; Side 2 graded 8.5. Provenance: Bobby Knudsen Jr. collection. Estimate $50,000-$100,000

DENVER, Pa. – On March 21-23, Morphy’s will continue the exciting year-long adventure of auctioning the Bobby Knudsen Jr Collection of World-Class Automotive, Gas & Oil and Soda Pop Advertising. The series debuted to rave reviews on September 30 of last year and continues this month with Part II of Bobby’s collection anchoring the sale on day one, and additional select consignments following on days two and three. It’s going to be a high-octane event with more than 1,600 lots, enough to ensure that every bidder has a great chance of landing something special from a highly pedigreed source. Bid absentee or live online through LiveAuctioneers.

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1963 Corvette crosses Miller & Miller finish line at $95K

1963 red Corvette split window coupe, one of the most coveted Corvette models, CA$129,800
1963 red Corvette split window coupe, one of the most coveted Corvette models, CA$129,800
1963 red Corvette split window coupe, one of the most coveted Corvette models, CA$129,800

NEW HAMBURG, Canada – A bright red 1963 Chevrolet Corvette coupe with a desirable split rear window roared off for $129,800 in an online-only Automobiles, Advertising & Toys auction held December 3 by Miller & Miller Auctions, Ltd. The runner-up lot was a 1940s double-sided porcelain Chrysler Plymouth Fargo dealer sign that made $29,500. Prices quoted are in Canadian dollars.

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Signs, signs, everywhere great signs at Miller & Miller, Oct. 29

American-made 1930s United Motors Service single-sided porcelain neon sign, estimated at CA$20,000-$25,000
American-made 1930s United Motors Service single-sided porcelain neon sign, estimated at CA$20,000-$25,000
American 1930s United Motors Service single-sided porcelain neon sign, estimated at CA$20,000-$25,000

NEW HAMBURG, Canada – A single family-owned 1966 Ford Ranger 250 Custom Cab Camper Special pick-up truck with Avion camper and a United Motors Service single-sided porcelain neon sign are both expected to do well in Miller & Miller Auctions, Ltd.’s online-only Petroliana & Advertising auction slated for Saturday, October 29. The 381-lot auction, beginning promptly at 9 am Eastern time, will feature petroliana (gas station memorabilia), advertising signs, advertising tins, breweriana (beer and wine collectibles), general store items, jukeboxes and vintage and antique toys. All estimates quoted are in Canadian dollars. Absentee and Internet live bidding will be available through LiveAuctioneers.

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Knudsen gas & oil advertising collection anchors Morphy’s Sept. 30-Oct. 3 auction series

One of only two known examples of Husky Motor Oils tin billboard sign with original wood frame, 96in x 60in, 8.5+ condition. Original backing also in outstanding condition. One of the finest examples of graphics in all of gasoline and motor oil advertising. Estimate $75,000-$150,000

DENVER, Pa. – On September 30, Morphy Auctions begin the thrilling year-long adventure of selling the Bobby Knudsen Jr Collection of World-Class Automotive, Gas & Oil and Soda Pop Advertising. The massive personal collection will be offered in a series of three no-reserve auctions concluding in the fall of 2023, with all sales to be conducted live at Morphy Auctions’ gallery in Denver (Lancaster County), Pennsylvania. The September 30, 2022 series opener, devoted exclusively to Knudsen’s collection, will be followed by October 1-3 sessions featuring high-quality automobilia, petroliana and railroadiana from other consignors. Absentee and Internet live bidding will be available through LiveAuctioneers.

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Morphy’s secures right to auction peerless Bobby Knudsen Jr petroliana collection

L to R: John Mihovetz, head of Morphy Auctions’ Automobilia and Petroliana department and Dan Morphy, president of Morphy Auctions, with two of Bobby Knudsen Jr’s favorite gasoline signs, advertising the brands Husky (auction low estimate $125,000) and Musgo (auction low estimate $275,000), respectively. Morphy Auctions image

DENVER, Pa. – Morphy Auctions is delighted to announce that they have been chosen to auction the world-class Bobby Knudsen Jr Collection of antique and vintage petroliana and soda pop signs. The collection will be offered in a series of three no-reserve auctions over a one-year period, with Part I to take place around the time of the October 4-7, 2022 AACA Hershey Fall Meet & Show. Part II will be auctioned in spring 2023, and the third and final sale will be held on a date within close proximity to the Fall 2023 AACA Hershey event. All three auctions will be conducted live at Morphy Auctions’ gallery in Denver (Lancaster County), Pennsylvania, with all forms of remote bidding also available, including live online through LiveAuctioneers.

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