Diamond shape wood stop sign
20x20 painted wood , dates from between 1915-1922 from detroit michigan
great grandfather owned a garage and auto dealer ship in the early 1900 teens thru the 60s , used to have to drive a carload of men to detroit to get new cars to drive home to his dealership, he brought the sign home one trip! in my research stop first used 1915, the octagon shape became mandate 1922, cant find another like it in collections or museums , earliest known stop sign in usa at this point !
Inherited
Yes
Hi Charles,
Thank you for contacting Mearto with your appraisal inquiry.
The market for automobilia and transportation memorabilia and collectibles is very hot right now. While I have not found another wooden square/diamond stop sign at auction, related examples suggest an appropriate estimate of $1,000-1,500.
Based on the photos and information provided, and subject to examination, this is:
An American painted wooden diamond STOP sign
1915-1922
The diamond form with applied square molded edge, the word STOP painted in black block letters; holes to the front and back where the sign was affixed to a pole, the reverse with ghost marks of the pole.
20 by 20 inches
CONDITION: weathered and with a through-split
PROVENANCE: acquired in / near Detroit, Mich.
$1,000-1,500*
*represents a fair-market value for auction purposes; retail or asking price may vary.
Please let us know if you have additional items to appraise, and thank you again for using Mearto.
Hi Charles,
Happy New Year.
I've increased the value to $1,000-1,500 but as there's no precedent or comparable, that value may price this sign out of range of most collectors. I know both Morphy and Morford and they will tell you what THEY think this will bring, and if they agree that is the rarest stop sign in the USA.
i think need reevaluate , as much newer more common stop signs sell for 1500 or more , morphys and morford auctions both want this sign and have a 1k minimum value to consign , and its simply the rarest stop sign in the usa, as you said none have ever sold , and no collectors have or ever saw one the historical importance alone is exceptional