Antique & Vintage Advertising Signs Auctions

Behind most of the biggest brands of today and yesteryear are recognizable, memorable signs.  Antique and vintage advertising signs are great time-capsules, in that a quick glance can tell you when and where that sign was used.

Some signs that were unavoidable haven’t survived in large numbers.  Other signs are for businesses that closed years ago.  Those kinds of advertising signs and others often have value to collectors today.  Aficionados of vintage and antique signs include bar owners, professional decorators, and private collectors. The subcategories of petroliana, tob

Whether you’ve got one sign or a collection of them, Central Mass Auctions can help you get maximum return at auction.  Below are photos of some vintage signs we’ve sold at auctions.

We work throughout Central Mass, Greater Boston, New England, and beyond.  Call Central Mass Auctions at 508-612-6111, or email us.

“Petroliana” refers to any collectibles or antiques that relate back to gas stations or the oil industry.  Most petroliana enthusiasts focus on advertisements and signs, but some collectors also focus on oil cans, road maps, spark plugs, tires, promotional items, and gas pumps. Because almost every gas station had a soda machine, vintage Coke and Pepsi signs may also appeal to petroliana collectors.

The most popular brands are Mobil (remember the big red pegasus?), Texaco, Standard Oil, Phillips 66, Shell, Sinclair, and Esso. The most valuable pieces tend to come from the 1910s to the 1950s, the early days of the American automobile era, in which filling stations were a relatively new phenomenon. Pieces from the 1940s and the 1950s are in the most demand, and tend to fetch the best prices at auction they are in good condition.

Getting an appraisal is even more important than usual when you’re working with petroliana collectables, because the niche is highly prone to counterfeits. We can help you identify whether you’re holding on to a convincing replica or have the “real deal” and an item that can sell for a significant sum at auction. 
 
 

Tobacciana is the pursuit of collecting advertisements or memorabilia related to the tobacco industry, particularly cigarette brands. Early tobacco-company advertisements, cartons, cardboard stands, tins, signs, memorabilia, tobacco cards, lighters, cigarette holders, match holders, ashtrays, and artwork all capture the imagination of certain collectors.

The rarity of, demand for, and condition of pieces can influence their value. In some cases it can be harder to narrow tobacciana down to items from specific eras, because (for example) some collectors may be interested in cigar cutters from the Victorian era, whereas others will want collectable tobacco tins or picture cards.

Picture cards from 1875 to the 1940s can vary widely in value, from $5 all the way up to over $2 million. Pre-WWII tobacco tins tend to attract the most attention from collectors. There is a large market for signs and advertisements, with many going for over $10,000.