Earlier this week on Collectors Weekly, someone posted a Coca-Cola porcelain "salesman sample" sign on Show & Tell, asking how rare his sign was. I commented "Your sign is not rare...and not original. No salesman sample signs are known to exist." Immediately my comment was deleted by the person...and that turned into a heated, ugly argument, with others getting involved. And eventually, his post as well as my counter-post, were deleted by CW.
But this show & tell post needed to be shown, since the market is literally being flooded with these fake, fantasy porcelain signs. I've featured just a sampling of the dozens of porcelain signs now being sold on eBay, craigslist and other online auction sites, as well as popular antique shops and the recent 127 world's longest yard sale. Young novice collectors as well as older, experienced collectors are being duped and scammed into plunking down some serious cash for these worthless signs. Scrap metal is pretty much their only value.
Many of these signs being listed and sold on eBay, are being sold by a certain individual by the name of stencilwork. And this seller is a piece of work. Because he's raking in $350-$1500 for some of his signs, and not only porcelain Coca-Cola signs, but Petroliana, Automobile and other popular brands. They're being produced in foreign countries like India, Australia, Bangkok and London.
They're being produced as rectangular, round, oval..in red, blue and green colors. They are crude; the script logo, the type, usually bear no trademark or manufacturer identification and the backsides almost always look the same; cross-hatch marks. These signs have "distress" age marks added to them and chipping the edges and around the hanging holes...to further make these fakes appear to be old.
I've reported many of these seller to eBay. Many were removed...unfortunately, too many are still being allowed to sell and nothing is stopping them. To me and other collectors who are passionate about the history and preservation of vintage Coca-Cola memorabilia, this sickens me to no end.
The last photo shown, features a few of the Coca-Cola "salesman sample" miniature versions of the large (6-8' size Tennessee Enamel signs). And the "Curb Service" and "Fountain Service" versions were also sold by stencilwork, out of Mumbai, India. Unfortunately, collectors are thinking they found a rare item when they purchase these signs. Again, you won't find these listed in any Coca-Cola price guide. And as many of you are aware, I specialize in collecting early Coca-Cola paper items and I have never come across a photo or even an article about Coca-Cola salesmen bringing these sample signs around to show customers. I have early Red Barrel, Bottler, Refresher magazines, as well as advertising manuals produced by The Coca-Cola Com and there is no mention whatsoever of any of these so-called "salesman sample" signs.
I hope this Show & tell post will help collectors and hopefully, this will be a warning to research these signs before purchasing them. Too many collectors, young and old, have been burned by these fakes. Thanks for reading.
–TGBWC