Morphy Auctions’ Automobilia & Petroliana Sale Goes Into Overdrive, Realizes $3.8 Million

DENVER, Pa. – It was off to the races with Morphy Auction’s recent Premier Automobilia and Petroliana Auction, as the two-day event, held on April 23-24, offered up nearly 1,250 outstanding lots. A Kelly Tires “Lotta Miles” Logo Sign, featuring a beautiful young woman, was the auction’s top lot, realizing $ 94,550.

This standing room only auction, the third of four events featuring the world-class Kyle Moore collection, presented a breathtaking selection of outstanding oil and gas related signs, globes, and pumps. After the final bid crossed the finish line, 42 lots realized $10,000-$24,999; 10 lots realized $25,000-49,999; and 3 lots topped $50,000 (all prices reported include Morphy’s 22-percent buyer’s premium).

The rubber hit the road with this auction’s amazing selection of car themed signs. Those highlighting people and characters really caught the eye of collectors. Lot #22, a “Silent Chief” gasoline sign illustrated with a Viking, loudly realized $42,700, lot #141, a Champlain Oil Products sign featuring a well-dressed musketeer brought $76,250, and lot #1116, a Conoco Motor Oil sign, featured a colonial-period soldier hammered $26,840.

“The energy and enthusiasm generated by these Kyle Moore collection sales events are just remarkable,” said Dan Morphy, President of Morphy Auctions. “The collector base is loyal, passionate, and extremely collegial. These sales are like festive gatherings of old friends who share a remarkable and unifying passion. And the results are breathtaking as well.

It was also a bull market for signs featuring animals and industrial themes. Lot #713, a Shell Aviation Gasoline sign featuring the company’s famous “scallop” logo, tripled its low estimate to realize $12,200. Lot #968, a Waggoner Refining Company Petroleum Products steer logo sign, stampeded to $31,720, while lot #351, a Husky Service logo sign, pulled in $58,560. Lot #959, a Beacon Gasoline “Strictly Independent” sign was in a class by itself. It more than quadrupled its high estimate to realize $12,200. And lot #969, a die-cut Harbor Petroleum Products seaplane sign, soared to $58,560.

The sun also shined brightly on other sign highlights. Collectors really warmed to lot #456, a Sunset Gasoline porcelain sign, and lot #21, an oval Sun-Rae Gasoline motor oil sign. They generated $46,360 and $47,580, respectively.

Collectors seemed focused on this sale’s fine collections of lenses and globes. Lot #201, Popular Regular globe lenses, were a crowd favorite on the order of $34,160. Collectors took their liberties with lot #1257, a Dixie Gasoline “Liberty” OPC yellow keyhole globe, which nearly tripled its low estimate to ring in $14,640. Lot #81, a Metro Gas Mobiloil lenses featuring gargoyles, was a monstrous hit at $ 13,420. Wise bidders favored lot #293, Mileage Gasoline owl-logo globe lenses, which realized $14,640. And collectors were all abuzz over lot #414, Old Colony Pep Bee Hive Globe Lenses, which realized a sweet $17,690.

Other high-octane lens and globe highlights include lot #513, a Chief Gasoline milk glass globe body which realized $20,130; lot #1055, a Super Kanotex Kant-Nox milk glass globe body which realized $14,030; and lot #198, Apex Gasoline derrick logo 15-inch globe lenses which realized $17,080.

This auction’s fine selections of vintage gasoline pumps truly delivered. One highlight in this category worthy of a double take is lot #213, a Satam Twin Cylinder gas pump. Estimated at $6,000-8,000, this Shell-branded beauty realized $20,740. And collectors kept a close watch over lot #1073, a Bowser Model #97 “Square Sentry” gas pump. This hidden jewel went on to realize $14,030, seven times its low estimate.

“We remain delighted and honored to produce these auction events on behalf of the Moore family,” Morphy said. “And there one more to come. Please mark your calendars for the fourth and final Moore collection sale,” which is slated for July 23 and 24, 2016.

For more information about this auction, call 717.335.3435, email to info@morphyauctions.com or visit the Morphy Auctions web site.

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