Metal John Deere sign auctioned for a record price

Aumann Auctions, an Illinois-based auction house specialising in the sale of lots, houses, old farm machinery and other antiques, recently sold a vintage "John Deere" advertising sign for $71,500 (approximately €63,600).

This is the highest amount of money so far for this type of old item.

The 51x71 cm metal sign was found in a barn in the US state of Montana, and is unique in that it may be one of the first in the long history of "John Deere".

The sign shows a farmer sitting on a Gilpin plough. The plough is pulled by three horses. The 120-year-old Deere & Co collection has a similar sign depicting a different cultivator, but this time, experts believe, it shows one of the first John Deere ploughs.

Until then, ploughs were made in cast iron, but John Deer decided to make it bright. The self-cleaning plough soon became very popular. It soon sold around 1,000 units.

The advertising sign was produced in the late 19th century by the Wells & Hope Company Chromo-Litho Iron Show Cards in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The use of the phrase „Iron Show Cards“ instead of „mark“ underlines the early date of this work. The company was known as a producer of bright, high-quality promotional material, mainly for breweries.