Find your way to auction with a collection of transport signs
08 September 2021 Transport signs are highly collectable and are also in demand for decorative uses in homes and venues.A single-owner collection of transport signs and ephemera is coming to auction via a timed online sale from September 10-24 at Catherine Southon via thesaleroom.com.
It follows a successful sale of Westminster street signs sold earlier this year.
The latest collection consists of more than 300 objects collected by an enthusiast since childhood including underground and railway signs, signage from trams, buses and trolleybuses, maps, posters, paintings and other ephemera.
Here's a preview of what's on offer.
1. Oxford Circus
Among the items on offer is a London Underground Oxford Circus enamel ‘bullseye’ sign in a bronze frame with an estimate of £1000-1500 (above).
2. Westminster street sign
Westminster Council street signs were created by architect and designer Sir Misha Black (1910-77) in 1967. The familiar black and red sans serif lettering is copyrighted, meaning they cannot be reproduced without permission from the council.
The council will sell old signs and issue Certificate of Authenticity. This example is for Whitehall SW1 and is estimated at £400-600.
3. Stroud Green picture
Artist Malcolm Drabwell painted a number of station scenes and was a member of the London Underground Railway Society. This oil on board of Stroud Green Underground Station is signed and dated '1980' although Stroud Green station closed in 1954.
It is offered with an estimate of £100-150.
4. Railway Map of London
The Catherine Southon sale includes a number of copies and editions of The District Railway Map of London. This copy is the 5th edition c.1895.
It was published by W J Adams & Sons, 59 Fleet Street, and is estimated at £50-70.
5. Tram sign
The collection also has a number of tram items including this early 20th century hand painted wooden tram sign stating 'NOTICE. BEWARE OF THE TRAMS' on a green ground.
It is estimated at £60-80.
View the entire Transport and Westminster Street Signs sale here.