Hi Michael,

Thank you for contacting Mearto with your appraisal inquiry.

Collecting antique and vintage license plates has a surprisingly broad appeal—it sits at the intersection of history, design, and personal storytelling.

One major draw is the historical dimension. License plates are everyday objects, but they reflect changes in technology, population growth, and even government policy. Early plates—especially pre-1920—often show when states first began registering automobiles, tying directly into the rise of car culture in places like United States.

Design is another big factor. Plates vary widely in color, typography, materials, and embossing. Some collectors focus on especially striking examples—porcelain plates from the early 1900s, or mid-century designs with bold graphics. Certain states, like California or New York, are especially popular because they issued visually distinctive plates across decades.

There’s also the “completion” aspect. Many collectors pursue runs—trying to assemble every year from a specific state, or all plates from a particular era (like WWII years when metal shortages led to unusual materials). This gives the hobby a structured, almost puzzle-like appeal.

Rarity and condition matter too. Some plates were issued in small numbers or scrapped during wartime drives, making surviving examples scarce. Others are valued for pristine paint and minimal wear.

Finally, there’s a personal connection. People often collect plates from places they’ve lived, traveled, or have family ties to. In that sense, the hobby becomes a kind of autobiographical map—each plate representing a place and time that means something to the collector.

It looks like you have a complete run issued in Pennsylvania; it's interesting to note that the 1942 plate has the add-on miniature "43" tag, likely because of metal rations during World War II.

A “press tag” was a special license plate issued to members of the news media—typically reporters, photographers, editors, and sometimes publishers.

Its main purpose was identification and access. A vehicle displaying a press plate signaled to police and officials that the driver was a working journalist. That could make a real difference when covering fast-moving events—accidents, political gatherings, disasters—where access might otherwise be restricted. In some cases, it also helped with practical privileges like easier parking near scenes or entry past barricades (though not universally or automatically).

Press tags were most common in the mid-20th century, especially in large media markets like New York and Illinois. They were usually issued annually and often required proof of employment with a recognized news organization. Designs varied: some looked like standard plates with a “PRESS” prefix, while others were entirely distinct in color and layout.

They’re collectible today because they combine multiple appealing elements—unusual plate types, limited issuance, and a direct tie to the history of journalism and public life. As newsrooms shrank and press credentials became more standardized (badges instead of plates), these tags largely faded out, which adds to their nostalgia and scarcity.

License plates such as these typically have a comparatively nominal value because they are not in good condition, are not very low numbers and do not have fancy graphics. Each would be worth about $10 in a fair-market auction, though the collection as a whole would probably attract a slight premium in value and - without knowing the backstory or history of this collection - most auctioneers would evaluate this collection of 50 plates at $400-600.

I'd be curious to know what the history of this collection is, and who the reporter using the PRESS tag was. It might add to the value of this large collection which is otherwise unremarkable at face value.

Please let us know if you have additional items to appraise, or questions/concerns, and thank you again for using Mearto.

~ Delia