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$6,257 (35 bids, 12 bidders): Vintage Antique Delaware DE License
Plate 1187 – 1909. Original plate in fair condition.
PH: This plate of white-on-black porcelain enameled metal was issued as
one of a pair. Delaware began the requirement to have tags on automobiles
in 1905 but made the tags the responsibility of the car’s owner until April
of 1909. At that time, the state contracted the production to Horace Fine
Co. of Trenton, NJ.
The 1909 plate is considered one of the top ten rarest with only about
30 reportedly known to exist. The plate numbers ranged from 1070 to
$3,400 (22 bids, 3 bidders): Antique Vintage Vindex Cast-iron John 1450 with no low numbers, and the numbers above 1500 were reserved for
Deere Hay Loader Tractor Toy. Sold as-is, as shown, with original paint. the dealer class—of which no known examples appear until 1910.
The front wheels are broken off the bottom (but included), and there are Interestingly, Delaware allows plate numbers to be passed down or
other broken and missing components. The buyer receives everything purchased, and low number plates bring large sums. Single-digit plates of
shown and exactly what's shown. Please see photographs for the best later, more modern issue bring the largest prices: the record for which is
description of cosmetic condition and style. (photos courtesy of eBay $675,000. Paid for the number 6 in 2008, the same family paid $185,000
seller nospartsnow.) for the number 9 in 1993.
Without consideration of the actual plate, “A five-digit tag can sell
PH: Vindex brand toys were manufactured by the National Sewing between $500 and $1,000,” said William “Dutch” Emmert of Emmert
Machine Co. to keep skilled workers employed during the Great Auctions in Rehoboth Beach, DE, in an article* on Delawareonline.com.
Depression. The toys were given as subscription premiums for Farm It went on to explain, “Three-digit tags can stretch the $4,000 to $10,000
Mechanics magazine. A three-year subscription to the magazine was range, and two-digit plates are worth anywhere between $125,000 and
required to receive the hay loader toy (ca. 1928-1932). Nine examples of $350,000.”
this toy have been reported sold by Live Auctioneers’ participating auction Apparently, in Delaware, low plate number outweighs age and rarity,
houses since 2018. Prices reported have ranged from $1,800 to $8,100, but all are factors in the value of Delaware license plates.
putting the price realized for this eBay example in the lower mid-range of
realized prices. *Duvernay, Adam, “Delaware couple pays $325K for tag No. 14,” Feb. 15, 2006

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February 2021 9