AUTOMOBILIA AUCTION RESULTS – APRIL 23 & 24

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.

Denver, Pennsylvania, May 4, 2016 – It was off to the races with Morphy’s recent Premier Automobilia and Petroliana Auction!  This two-day event, held on April 23rd-24th, 2016, featured almost 1,250 outstanding lots.  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% 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.  There was uniform interest in lot #141, a Champlain Oil Products sign featuring a well dressed musketeer, and lot #1116, a Conoco Motor Oil sign featuring a colonial-period soldier.   They realized $ 76,250 and $ 26,840 respectively.  And lot #845, a Kelly Tires “Lotta Miles” logo sign featuring a beautiful young woman, generated a-lotta interest to realize $ 94,550.

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 diecut 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, Metro Gas Mobiloil lenses featuring gargoyles, were a monstrous hit at $ 13,420.  Wise bidders favored lot #293, Mileage Gasoline owl logo’ed 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 milkglass globe body which realized $20,130; lot #1055, a Super Kanotex Kant-Nox milkglass globe body which realized $14,030; and lot #198, Apex Gasoline derrick logo’ed 15″ 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.

According to Dan Morphy, President of Morphy Auctions, “The energy and enthusiasm generated by these Kyle Moore collection sales events are just remarkable.  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.  We remain delighted and honored to produce these auction events on behalf of the Moore family.  And there one more to come.  Please mark your calendars for the forth and final Moore collection sale.  It will be held in our Denver, PA auction gallery on July 23rd and 24th, 2016.”

About Morphy Auctions:
Morphy Auctions, the finest auction destination for fresh to the market collectibles, is headquartered in Denver, Pennsylvania. The company also has an office in Las Vegas, Nevada.  A full service auction house, the company presents over 30 premier auctions annually, as well as monthly discovery sales. Morphy’s team of specialists includes the nation’s finest and most recognized experts in popular collecting categories including advertising; firearms; fine automobiles, automobilia and petroliana; coin-operated machines; antiques, fine, and decorative art; dolls, bears, toys, and trains; cast iron; coins; marbles; and jewelry.  Morphy Auctions is owned by President and Founder Dan Morphy, himself a lifelong and passionate collector of antiques, banks, and numerous other categories.  Morphy’s has been in business since 2004 and has grown from two to over 65 employees in over a decade.
Morphy Auctions is located at 2000 North Reading Road, Denver, PA 17517.   We can be reached by phone at 717-335-3435, by fax at 717-336-7115, and by email at info@morphyauctions.com.  Morphy Auctions is open seven days a week from 9am to 4pm.  For more information on Morphy’s, please visit www.MorphyAuctions.com.