The collective noun ‘petroliania’ may be unfamiliar to some readers, but it’s a useful and profitable one as evidenced at the biannual sales held by Chippenham Auctions’ sister-auction house Richard Edmonds (20% buyer’s premium).
The firm hosts triannual classic cars sales in Wiltshire. Early enamel advertising signs were the major target of nationwide collectors at the 750-lot Petroliania and Automobilia sale on March 3. It was led by a rare Stepney Tyres sign depicting a bulldog, above right, which took a lower-estimate £4000.