19 Advertising Signs Collectors Compete Over
Vintage advertising signs from the early twentieth century through the 1970s, particularly those made from porcelain or metal with intact lithography, have become serious collectibles commanding prices reaching into the thousands of dollars for rare examples. Sign value depends on the product advertised, the maker of the sign, whether the piece is porcelain or painted metal, the condition of the graphics, and the historical significance of the brand.
A single large porcelain advertising sign in excellent condition can bring several hundred or even several thousand dollars.
Coca Cola Porcelain Button Sign Vintage
Vintage Coca-Cola porcelain button signs from the 1920s and 1930s with the iconic rounded shape and bright red background remain among the most sought advertising signs. A large format sign in excellent condition with no chips or fading brings $800 to $1,500, while smaller or weathered examples bring $300 to $800.
The iconic brand and the distinctive design ensure consistent premium pricing.
Pepsi Cola Porcelain Advertising Sign
Vintage Pepsi-Cola porcelain signs from the 1940s and 1950s with the circular design and bright graphics command strong collector demand. A large format sign in excellent condition brings $400 to $800, while smaller or weathered examples bring $150 to $400.
The brand’s historical rivalry with Coca-Cola increases collector interest.
Texaco Porcelain Double-Sided Sign
Texaco porcelain double-sided signs from the 1930s through 1950s with the iconic red star design remain highly sought by gas station and oil company collectors. A large format double-sided sign in excellent condition brings $600 to $1,200, while single-sided or weathered versions bring $300 to $600.
The distinctive branding and the double-sided design increase value.
Sinclair Dinosaur Green Porcelain Sign
Sinclair oil company porcelain signs featuring the iconic green dinosaur mascot from the 1950s onwards attract oil company and brand collectors. A large format sign with bright green graphics in excellent condition brings $500 to $1,000, while smaller or faded examples bring $200 to $500.
The distinctive mascot and brand recognition drive strong demand.
Sunoco Porcelain Gas Station Sign
Sunoco porcelain advertising signs with the distinctive yellow and orange design from the 1940s through 1960s command steady collector interest. A large format sign in excellent condition brings $400 to $800, while smaller or weathered examples bring $150 to $400.
The brand’s widespread distribution increases collector accessibility.
Esso Put a Tiger in Your Tank Porcelain Sign
Esso porcelain signs with the famous tiger mascot, particularly those with the slogan “Put a Tiger in Your Tank” from the 1960s, attract both oil company and advertising enthusiasts. A large format sign with vibrant tiger graphics in excellent condition brings $350 to $700, while smaller versions bring $150 to $350.
The catchy slogan and iconic mascot drive demand.
Shell Gasoline Clam Shell Porcelain Sign
Shell oil company porcelain signs featuring the distinctive clam shell logo from the 1930s onwards command collector interest. A large format sign with bright yellow and red graphics in excellent condition brings $500 to $1,000, while smaller or weathered versions bring $200 to $500.
The iconic shell design ensures consistent demand.
Mobil Flying Horse Pegasus Porcelain Sign
Mobil oil’s distinctive flying Pegasus horse trademark on porcelain signs from the midcentury onwards attracts oil company collectors. A large format sign with bright red background and vivid horse graphics brings $400 to $800, while smaller or faded examples bring $150 to $400.
The iconic Pegasus design and brand recognition drive appeal.
Pennzoil Porcelain Double-Sided Sign
Pennzoil porcelain signs, particularly double-sided examples from the 1950s and 1960s with the distinctive yellow branding, command collector demand. A large double-sided sign in excellent condition brings $400 to $800, while single-sided or weathered examples bring $150 to $400.
The brand’s prominence in racing advertising increases interest.
Delco Batteries Porcelain Sign
Delco batteries porcelain signs from the early-to-mid twentieth century with the distinctive battery imagery attract automotive and vintage advertising collectors. A large format sign in excellent condition brings $300 to $600, while smaller or weathered versions bring $100 to $300.
The automotive connection drives steady demand.
Goodyear Tires Porcelain Sign
Goodyear tire company porcelain signs with the iconic blimp imagery or the distinctive logo from the midcentury attract tire enthusiasts and advertising collectors. A large format sign in excellent condition brings $350 to $700, while smaller or weathered examples bring $100 to $350.
The brand’s cultural significance ensures consistent demand.
Dunlop Tires Porcelain Sign
Dunlop tire company porcelain signs, particularly those from the 1930s through 1950s with period-appropriate graphics, attract vintage advertising collectors. A large format sign in excellent condition brings $300 to $600, while smaller or weathered versions bring $100 to $300.
The brand’s racing heritage adds appeal.
Firestone Tires Porcelain Sign
Firestone porcelain advertising signs with the distinctive logo from the midcentury onwards attract both tire enthusiasts and vintage advertising fans. A large format sign in excellent condition brings $300 to $600, while smaller or weathered examples bring $100 to $300.
The tire manufacturer’s prominence ensures steady interest.
Michelin Man Porcelain Sign
Michelin tire company porcelain signs featuring the iconic Michelin Man mascot from the midcentury attract collectors of licensed characters and tire advertisements. A large format sign with colorful character imagery in excellent condition brings $400 to $800, while smaller or weathered versions bring $150 to $400.
The distinctive mascot and character appeal drive demand.
Nehi Bottling Company Porcelain Sign
Nehi soda porcelain signs with bright graphics from the 1930s and 1940s command collector interest among vintage soft drink enthusiasts. A large format sign in excellent condition brings $300 to $600, while smaller or weathered examples bring $100 to $300.
The vintage soda brand nostalgia drives appeal.
Listerine Antiseptic Porcelain Sign
Vintage Listerine porcelain signs with medical or health claims and period graphics from the early-to-mid twentieth century attract medical advertising collectors. A large format sign in excellent condition brings $250 to $500, while smaller or weathered versions bring $100 to $250.
The pharmaceutical connection and vintage health claims drive interest.
Burma Shave Roadside Advertisement Signs
Vintage Burma Shave painted metal signs from the famous roadside advertising campaign from the 1920s through 1960s remain highly sought collectors’ items. Individual signs in excellent condition bring $300 to $600, while matched sets bring $1,000 to $2,500.
The nostalgic advertising campaign and the Americana appeal ensure strong demand.
Chewing Gum Brand Porcelain Signs
Vintage porcelain signs for chewing gum brands such as Wrigley’s or Spearmint from the early-to-mid twentieth century attract advertising enthusiasts. A large format sign in excellent condition brings $250 to $500, while smaller or weathered examples bring $75 to $250.
The vintage packaging aesthetics and brand nostalgia drive appeal.
Cola Nut Soda Porcelain Sign
Vintage Cola Nut soda porcelain signs with bright graphics from the 1930s and 1940s attract soft drink collectors. A large format sign in excellent condition brings $200 to $400, while smaller or faded examples bring $75 to $200.
The regional soda brand status and nostalgic appeal drive demand.
When Metal and Porcelain Told Brand Stories
Vintage advertising signs represent more than commercial messages; they are artistic documents of twentieth-century brand development, graphic design, and consumer culture. A large porcelain sign with original bright graphics, intact edges, and no chips or rust becomes a museum-quality artifact capturing a specific brand moment.
The finest examples combine vibrant graphics, iconic brand imagery, and exceptional preservation. A sign from a defunct brand or a short-lived campaign can appreciate substantially as fewer original examples survive and nostalgia for that era intensifies among collectors.
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