Morphy Automobilia, Petroliana and Soda Advertising Auction Brings $1.6 Million

Morphy Auctions’ July 15-16 Automobilia, Petroliana and Soda Advertising auction totaled more than $1.6 million, led by a 1940s Harbor Petroleum Products porcelain sign with seaplane graphics.

The auction was held live at Morphy’s flagship gallery in Denver, Pennsylvania, with remote bidding also available. The sale included nearly 1,300 lots of motoring-related signage and service station items.

The top result was a circa-1940s Harbor Petroleum Products Co. porcelain sign from Los Angeles. The sign featured seaplane graphics, measured 39 inches by 35 inches and was graded 9.0 by AGS. It sold for $54,120, within its presale estimate range.

Morphy said the Harbor sign had full color and gloss throughout and described it as an icon of early California petroleum history.

A 1939 Harley-Davidson EL Knucklehead motorcycle sold for $40,590. Morphy described the motorcycle as a legendary model known for establishing Harley-Davidson’s overhead-valve V-twin legacy. The 1939 model year is prized by collectors in part because its 61-cubic-inch, 1000cc engine could reach speeds of 100 mph. The motorcycle was an older restoration and was mostly original, with chrome accents added later. Its final price was within estimate.

A complete 1930s Ford double-sided porcelain neon sign with bullnose attachments sold for $31,200. Morphy said the sign was clean, with outstanding color and gloss on each side. The lettering was also in excellent condition on both sides and lit up in bright neon. The 101-inch-wide sign was graded 8.75+ out of 10 for condition, and the final price topped its $30,000 high estimate.

A circa-1930s Richlube Motor Oil double-sided porcelain sign also drew strong bidding despite condition issues. Morphy said bidders looked past heavy dirt and rust staining, field chipping and wear on the as-found sign. The sign retained its original ring and base and measured 63 inches by 27½ inches by 22 inches. It had a presale estimate of $3,000 to $6,000 but sold for $23,370.

A circa-1950s two-piece porcelain neon skin sign for Flying A Gasoline sold for $22,755, nearly doubling its $12,000 high estimate. Morphy said the sign had a cookie-cutter-style edge and good color and gloss throughout the field. Both access panels were intact on the 96-inch-diameter round sign, which was graded 7.0 for condition and ready for neon.

Another Flying A sign, a smaller 1930s aero-type double-sided porcelain sign, sold for $14,760. The round sign measured 36 inches in diameter. Its two sides were graded 8.0 and 7.0, with both showing good gloss and color throughout. Morphy said Side 1 had some light surface scratching and cloudy spotting. The final price beat its $12,000 high estimate.

A rare circa-1930s Super Shell Gasoline porcelain pump-plate sign sold for $22,200. The sign measured 12¼ inches by 12 inches and was graded 95 by AGS. Morphy said it had strong color and gloss throughout, with heavy shelving between each color and an extremely clean field. The final price topped its $20,000 high estimate.

Morphy said the auction showed strong bidder enthusiasm for automobilia, petroliana and soda advertising collectibles. The sale’s overall total was more than $1.6 million, including buyer’s premium.