"Expert on hard-to-find items adjusts valuation, anticipating significant returns"
Antique Tobacco Advertising Signs Fetch High Prices at Auction
In a recent auction, two rare antique tobacco advertising signs from the Laferme and Salem Aleikum brands were sold for 720 euros. The signs, considered valuable antiques, reflect a rich history closely tied to the rise of major tobacco manufacturers and changes in advertising regulations over the 20th century.
Manufacturer History
Key tobacco companies that historically produced iconic advertising signs include major U.S. tobacco companies active before the 1998 Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement, such as Benson & Hedges and Silk Cut. Mid-century brands like Premier Four Square Filter, known for vibrant lithograph tin signs popular in the mid-1900s, also played a significant role.
Early tobacco advertising evolved from large roadside billboards to tin and lithograph signs used in shops and markets, representing the golden age of tobacco brand promotion before advertising restrictions tightened.
Rarity Factors
Several factors contribute to the rarity and value of antique tobacco advertising signs. The age and era, material and condition, brand prominence and novelty, legal changes in advertising, and cultural or artistic value all play a part.
Signs from the early 20th century or pre-1950s that survived are rarer due to material degradation and limited original production numbers. Lithograph tin signs, enamel signs, and early paper billboards, particularly those in good condition with vibrant original graphics, are prized.
Signs from now-defunct or historically significant brands, or those featuring unique marketing themes or graphics, tend to be more collectible. The 1998 Master Settlement Agreement banned billboard cigarette ads in most U.S. states, making pre-1998 tobacco signs increasingly scarce.
Many vintage signs are considered collectible art pieces, especially those with strong graphic design or iconic imagery, which enhances their desirability among collectors and museums.
The Auction
Julian Schmitz-Avila opened the negotiation for the antique signs with 250 euros. However, the sellers, Christoph who ran a tobacco shop in Zwickau for 35 years, being the third generation, initially hoped for 400 euros for the signs.
The auction saw several bidders, including Markus Wildhagen, who eventually became the last bidder and purchased the signs for 720 euros. Jan Cizek placed a bid of 300 euros, and "Bares für Rares" traders bid against each other for the decorative signs.
Annika Raßbach, an expert in the field, confirmed that the signs are antique tobacco advertising signs and very rare to see today. She praised the condition of the signs and reiterated that they are in fantastic condition, rare, and make a statement.
The auction also featured other items, such as a bronze statue "Clotilde de Surville" by Jean Gautherin, estimated at 1,700 to 2,200 euros, which was sold for 1,000 euros.
The factory building of the Salem Aleikum brand, shaped like a mosque, still shapes the Dresden cityscape, with the highest beer garden in Dresden located in its dome. Horst Lichter expressed nostalgia for the past times in the tobacco shop business and was amazed by the existence of the beer garden in the Salem Aleikum factory building.
In summary, the auction of the antique tobacco advertising signs showcases the enduring value and interest in these collectibles, which serve as artifacts marking the tobacco industry's evolving public image and advertising methods throughout the 20th century.
- In the realm of antiques, antique tobacco advertising signs reflect a rich lifestyle that mirrors the rise and changes in the fashion-and-beauty industry of the tobacco companies during the 20th century.
- When it comes to shopping for decorative pieces that can add a historical touch to your home-and-garden, consider looking for antique tobacco advertising signs, which often carry intriguing stories of their past and Associated brands.
- For fashion-conscious people who appreciate the vintage aesthetic, incorporating an antique tobacco advertising sign into their fashion-and-beauty collection can serve as a conversation starter and a statement piece.
- With the rise of social media platforms, collectors can share their rare antique tobacco advertising signs and other collectibles, such as early food-and-drink memorabilia and vintage home decor pieces, to engage with others interested in entertainment and lifestyle history.
