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1950s Era Large Metal Letters
1950s Era Large Metal Letters

1950s Era Large Metal Letters

Located in Surrey, BC

only an "O" "l" x 2 left Two sets of custom-made metal letters made for the Wilkinson steel

Category

Mid-20th Century Canadian Signs

Materials

Metal

Pair of Vintage Letters P and A
Pair of Vintage Letters P and A

Pair of Vintage Letters P and A

Located in Pittsburgh, PA

Vintage iron letters "P" and "A" mounted on a metal bases. Likely tin and part of a vintage sign

Category

Early 20th Century American Signs

Materials

Iron, Tin

Antique Architectural Bank Building Bronze "No" Letters
Antique Architectural Bank Building Bronze "No" Letters

Antique Architectural Bank Building Bronze "No" Letters

Located in Santa Monica, CA

Fantastic cast bronze vintage letters. Great way to get your point across! Salvaged from a bank

Category

Early 20th Century American Folk Art More Furniture and Collectibles

Materials

Bronze

Large Metal Letters Cars Black Painted Advertising Mancave
Large Metal Letters Cars Black Painted Advertising Mancave

Large Metal Letters Cars Black Painted Advertising Mancave

Located in Poperinge, BE

Cool set of four large letters made of black-painted galvanized metal. These were used as

Category

1990s Belgian Signs

Materials

Metal

19th Century Gold Giltwood Carved Letters William Trade Sign
19th Century Gold Giltwood Carved Letters William Trade Sign

19th Century Gold Giltwood Carved Letters William Trade Sign

Located in Santa Monica, CA

Classic 19th century American wood trade sign with chunky hand carved and gold painted letters

Category

Antique Late 19th Century American Folk Art Signs

Materials

Wood

Set of 7 Mid-Century Era Painted Wood Carnival Folk Art Sign Box Letters
Set of 7 Mid-Century Era Painted Wood Carnival Folk Art Sign Box Letters

Set of 7 Mid-Century Era Painted Wood Carnival Folk Art Sign Box Letters

Located in Hamilton, Ontario

This set of seven Folk Art wooden box letters were made in Canada is circa 1965 and were once

Category

Mid-20th Century Canadian Mid-Century Modern Carnival Art

Materials

Wood

19th Century Iron Trade Sign Letter Box, Mail Box, Folk Art, Locksmith Design
19th Century Iron Trade Sign Letter Box, Mail Box, Folk Art, Locksmith Design

19th Century Iron Trade Sign Letter Box, Mail Box, Folk Art, Locksmith Design

Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight

there is a slot for letters and below this a lockable door flap to take them out The Post Box is in good

Category

Antique Early 1900s Folk Art Signs

Materials

Iron

“Whistle” Railway Sign, England 1870
“Whistle” Railway Sign, England 1870

“Whistle” Railway Sign, England 1870

Located in Culver City, CA

“Whistle” Railway Sign England, 1870 Painted backboard with alloy letters and glass “cats eye

Category

Antique 19th Century English Signs

Materials

Metal

Hand Painted Dentist Trade Sign c.1940
Hand Painted Dentist Trade Sign c.1940

Hand Painted Dentist Trade Sign c.1940

$350Sale Price / item|26% Off

Hand Painted Dentist Trade Sign c.1940

Located in San Francisco, CA

ABOUT Single sided wooden dentist tooth trade sign with gold and black letters. Hand painted, hand

Category

Early 20th Century Industrial Signs

Materials

Wood

Vintage Large Wooden “Bakery” Trade Sign
Vintage Large Wooden “Bakery” Trade Sign

Vintage Large Wooden “Bakery” Trade Sign

Located in Dekalb, IL

Large hand-crafted wooden storefront sign featuring raised block letters reading BAKERY across a

Category

Early 20th Century American American Colonial Signs

Materials

Wood

White Neon BOUTIQUE Sign in Lucite Box, 1990s USA
White Neon BOUTIQUE Sign in Lucite Box, 1990s USA

White Neon BOUTIQUE Sign in Lucite Box, 1990s USA

Located in Los Angeles, CA

capturing the neon gas moving through the letters and appear different colors. Neon is perfectly

Category

1990s American Signs

Materials

Glass, Acrylic

Phillips 66 Cast Aluminum Gas Sign
Phillips 66 Cast Aluminum Gas Sign

Phillips 66 Cast Aluminum Gas Sign

Located in Asbury Park, NJ

individual letters that can be hung by each letter or can we attached to a support on the back as we did in

Category

Vintage 1940s American Mid-Century Modern Signs

Materials

Aluminum

'COME ON IN' Neon Sign , 1990s USA
'COME ON IN' Neon Sign , 1990s USA

'COME ON IN' Neon Sign , 1990s USA

Located in Los Angeles, CA

Custom neon sign with aluminum channel cut letters. COME ON IN, lights up with green neon gas. Just

Category

1990s American Signs

Materials

Aluminum

French La Belle Époque Lighted Bistro Cafe Sign
French La Belle Époque Lighted Bistro Cafe Sign

French La Belle Époque Lighted Bistro Cafe Sign

Located in Rio Vista, CA

lacquer finish with pierced letters reading "Montre Ponctua" or a promise to be on time. The large sign

Category

Antique 19th Century French Belle Époque Signs

Materials

Metal

Hand Painted Dentist Trade Sign c.1940
Hand Painted Dentist Trade Sign c.1940

Hand Painted Dentist Trade Sign c.1940

Located in San Francisco, CA

ABOUT Single sided wooden dentist tooth trade sign with gold and black letters. Hand painted, hand

Category

Early 20th Century Industrial Signs

Materials

Wood

Monumental Los Angeles 101 Freeway Sign, 1988 USA
Monumental Los Angeles 101 Freeway Sign, 1988 USA

Monumental Los Angeles 101 Freeway Sign, 1988 USA

Located in Los Angeles, CA

roads in Southern California, and one of the busiest. Reflective white letters and border with a

Category

Vintage 1980s American Contemporary Art

Materials

Steel

Camel Boots Shop or Store Sign in hardwood, Circa 1960s
Camel Boots Shop or Store Sign in hardwood, Circa 1960s

Camel Boots Shop or Store Sign in hardwood, Circa 1960s

Located in Lincoln, Lincolnshire

varnished. The sign is colour stenciled on both the facing sides, back and front, with the letters CAMEL

Category

Mid-20th Century American American Classical Signs

Materials

Hardwood

Early 20th century English Hand Painted “HELL” Sign
Early 20th century English Hand Painted “HELL” Sign

Early 20th century English Hand Painted “HELL” Sign

Located in London, GB

these 4-letters stating “HELL”. Hand painted with gold gilt writing and mounted flat onto a new

Category

Vintage 1920s British Victorian Signs

Materials

Pine

Vintage Italian PIZZA Sign. 1970s
Vintage Italian PIZZA Sign. 1970s

Vintage Italian PIZZA Sign. 1970s

Located in Kojetice, CZ

Vintage industrial grey iron sing “PIZZA”. Set of five letters was made during the 1970s in Italy

Category

Vintage 1970s Italian Industrial Signs

Materials

Iron

Authentic Antique Folk Art Equestrian Horse Farm Sign
Authentic Antique Folk Art Equestrian Horse Farm Sign

Authentic Antique Folk Art Equestrian Horse Farm Sign

Located in Hopewell, NJ

Charming hand made vintage horse farm sign that is finished front and back. The horse and letters

Category

Vintage 1930s American Folk Art Signs

Materials

Iron

Breitling Retail Store Display Advertising Sign
Breitling Retail Store Display Advertising Sign

Breitling Retail Store Display Advertising Sign

By Breitling

Located in Forney, TX

solid wood frame, raised chrome Breitling letters, over a yellow jet plane in sculptural relief form, on

Category

Late 20th Century Industrial Signs

Materials

Metal, Chrome

Wood 'Dinner' Sign, 1980s USA
Wood 'Dinner' Sign, 1980s USA

Wood 'Dinner' Sign, 1980s USA

Located in Los Angeles, CA

borders. The reverse side features colorful flowers and the word "TEA" painted in maroon letters. Eye

Category

Vintage 1980s American Contemporary Art

Materials

Wood

Wood 'Lunch' Sign, 1980s USA
Wood 'Lunch' Sign, 1980s USA

Wood 'Lunch' Sign, 1980s USA

Located in Los Angeles, CA

borders. The reverse side features colorful flowers and the word "ROSE" painted in maroon letters. Eye

Category

Vintage 1980s American Contemporary Art

Materials

Wood

Vintage Blue and White 'Hairdressing' Sign
Vintage Blue and White 'Hairdressing' Sign

Vintage Blue and White 'Hairdressing' Sign

Located in Cirencester, GB

This French 'Coiffure' sign is mid 20th century. The silvery/blue Zinc letters are on a painted

Category

Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Signs

Materials

Zinc

"No Diving" POOL Sign, 1980s USA
"No Diving" POOL Sign, 1980s USA

"No Diving" POOL Sign, 1980s USA

Located in Los Angeles, CA

Vintage pool sign that reads "No Diving or Swimming Off Bridge". Bold reflective white letters on a

Category

Vintage 1980s American Contemporary Art

Materials

Metal

No Loitering Street Sign, 1980s USA
No Loitering Street Sign, 1980s USA

No Loitering Street Sign, 1980s USA

Located in Los Angeles, CA

white letters on a reflective white background. Good vintage condition and scale with wear as shown.

Category

Vintage 1980s American Contemporary Art

Materials

Metal

Elkwood, Late 19th Century American Trade Sign
Elkwood, Late 19th Century American Trade Sign

Elkwood, Late 19th Century American Trade Sign

Located in Nantucket, MA

With carved gilt wood letters with mounted against a blue painted sand ground American, c. 1890.

Category

Antique Late 19th Century American Folk Art Signs

Materials

Wood

"Save a Life" Pool Sign, 1980s USA
"Save a Life" Pool Sign, 1980s USA

"Save a Life" Pool Sign, 1980s USA

Located in Los Angeles, CA

Vintage pool sign that reads "Save A Life". Bold blue letters on a white background. Great colors

Category

Vintage 1980s American Contemporary Art

Materials

Metal

Neighborhood Watch Street Sign, 1980s USA
Neighborhood Watch Street Sign, 1980s USA

Neighborhood Watch Street Sign, 1980s USA

Located in Los Angeles, CA

Vintage street sign that reads "This is a Neighborhood Watch Community". Black letters on a

Category

Vintage 1980s American Contemporary Art

Materials

Metal

Trade Sign Depicting a Huge Skimmer Ladle, France, 1900
Trade Sign Depicting a Huge Skimmer Ladle, France, 1900

Trade Sign Depicting a Huge Skimmer Ladle, France, 1900

Located in Milan, IT

, made out of boxwood and iron, with 2 painted letters E X. France 1900 ca.

Category

Early 20th Century Antiquities

Materials

Iron

Large Woolworth & Co Gilt Metal Number Ten Sign Wall Sculpture
Large Woolworth & Co Gilt Metal Number Ten Sign Wall Sculpture

Large Woolworth & Co Gilt Metal Number Ten Sign Wall Sculpture

Located in Hopewell, NJ

. Made in the 1920s, these numbers letters have become very hard to find. They became available when F. W

Category

Vintage 1920s American Signs

Materials

Metal

Vintage Neon "YOU" Sign
Vintage Neon "YOU" Sign

Vintage Neon "YOU" Sign

Located in Los Angeles, CA

Vintage neon sign, spelling Y - O - U. handcut metal channel letters with hand bent neon glass

Category

Vintage 1980s American Signs

Materials

Metal

Manhole Cover Prototype Folk Art, 1960s USA
Manhole Cover Prototype Folk Art, 1960s USA

Manhole Cover Prototype Folk Art, 1960s USA

Located in Los Angeles, CA

letters nailed to the front of the main ply of the cap giving it its design. The base has some crossbars

Category

Vintage 1960s American Signs

Materials

Wood

Advertising Tin Sign "The Delaware Insurance Company of Philadelphia" Circa 1885
Advertising Tin Sign "The Delaware Insurance Company of Philadelphia" Circa 1885

Advertising Tin Sign "The Delaware Insurance Company of Philadelphia" Circa 1885

By The Delaware Insurance Company of Philadelphia

Located in Incline Village, NV

"--"Certain", in prominent gold letters on a circular aqua background displays their motto; while gold, white

Category

Antique Late 19th Century American Folk Art Decorative Art

Materials

Tin

Los Angeles County Line Freeway Sign, 1990s USA
Los Angeles County Line Freeway Sign, 1990s USA

Los Angeles County Line Freeway Sign, 1990s USA

Located in Los Angeles, CA

the county of Los Angeles. Reflective letters and border as well as a protective plastic sheet over

Category

1990s American Contemporary Art

Materials

Aluminum

French Anatomy Sign
French Anatomy Sign

French Anatomy Sign

Located in Los Angeles, CA

ANATOMIE. 8 free standing letters. Patina and wear to metal. Great piece of wall art that can have multiple

Category

Vintage 1960s French Wall-mounted Sculptures

Materials

Metal

1950's Commercial Sign "All - Stainless Inc"
1950's Commercial Sign "All - Stainless Inc"

1950's Commercial Sign "All - Stainless Inc"

Located in Hanover, MA

panel of patinated blue colored aluminum with 1/4" thick die cut letters in natural colored aluminum

Category

Vintage 1950s American Industrial Signs

Materials

Aluminum

Early 20th Century American "Chiropractor" Sign
Early 20th Century American "Chiropractor" Sign

Early 20th Century American "Chiropractor" Sign

Located in Chicago, IL

classic black background adorned with bold, radiant yellow letters spelling out "CHIROPRACTOR." This panel

Category

Early 20th Century American Folk Art Signs

Materials

Wood

Very Early X-Ray Building Sign
Very Early X-Ray Building Sign

Very Early X-Ray Building Sign

Located in Peekskill, NY

thick. The letters are painted in the negative, just like an X-ray. The letters are "white" and the

Category

Antique Late 19th Century American Industrial Signs

Materials

Tin

Hollywood Sign Artist Model
Hollywood Sign Artist Model

Hollywood Sign Artist Model

Located in Los Angeles, CA

at a later time. Letters are perfect scale. Made of wood with metal rods attached to plant into the

Category

Early 2000s American Signs

Materials

Metal

1981 California Highway Lodging Sign
1981 California Highway Lodging Sign

1981 California Highway Lodging Sign

Located in Los Angeles, CA

. Letters and trim have reflective pieces. Great coloring and condition. Fantastic piece of west coast

Category

Vintage 1980s American Contemporary Art

Materials

Steel

Vintage Czech Shop Sign, 1960s
Vintage Czech Shop Sign, 1960s

Vintage Czech Shop Sign, 1960s

Located in Wien, AT

This set of shop sign letters is made of steel sheet and spells out the Czech words "Smisene Zbozi

Category

Mid-20th Century Czech Industrial Signs

Materials

Steel

Advertising Mirror “Crawford’s Delightful Biscuits” Baker or Cafe
Advertising Mirror “Crawford’s Delightful Biscuits” Baker or Cafe

Advertising Mirror “Crawford’s Delightful Biscuits” Baker or Cafe

Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight

mirror is set in a 2” wide oak frame, in the centre in large letters etched into the glass it advertises

Category

Early 20th Century Art Deco Signs

Materials

Mirror

RICH Sign
RICH Sign

RICH Sign

$1,800

RICH Sign

Located in Darnestown, MD

the 1930's. Letters are metal with nicely patinated gold paint that may be gold leaf.

Category

Vintage 1930s American Signs

Vintage Americana Mid-Century Neon Barber Shop Sign
Vintage Americana Mid-Century Neon Barber Shop Sign

Vintage Americana Mid-Century Neon Barber Shop Sign

Located in Santa Monica, CA

three dimensional channel letters. Many layers of red, white and blue paint surface and original neon

Category

Mid-20th Century American Folk Art Signs

Materials

Metal

Three Dimensional Double-Sided Wooden Hovis Tea Shop Sign
Three Dimensional Double-Sided Wooden Hovis Tea Shop Sign

Three Dimensional Double-Sided Wooden Hovis Tea Shop Sign

Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight

sign is in wood it has been made with applied large letters, sadly here is a few bits missing but they

Category

Early 20th Century Art Deco Signs

Art Deco Chrome & Glass Skyscraper Directory Sign
Art Deco Chrome & Glass Skyscraper Directory Sign

Art Deco Chrome & Glass Skyscraper Directory Sign

Located in Hanover, MA

the brass clips to remove the black felt board. Pin your letters or announcement to the felt then

Category

Vintage 1940s American Art Deco Picture Frames

Materials

Chrome, Steel, Aluminum

1959 California Highway 'Signal Ahead' Sign with Reflectors
1959 California Highway 'Signal Ahead' Sign with Reflectors

1959 California Highway 'Signal Ahead' Sign with Reflectors

Located in Los Angeles, CA

Rare 'Signal Ahead' yellow sign from a California Highway. Letters are made of reflectors. Stamped

Category

Vintage 1950s American Decorative Art

Materials

Steel

Vintage French Letters "N. A. G."
Vintage French Letters "N. A. G."

Vintage French Letters "N. A. G."

Unavailable|$900 / set

Vintage French Letters "N. A. G."

Located in New York, NY

Vintage metal three-dimensional letters with worn green paint. Only letters available: N A G

Category

Vintage 1950s French Decorative Art

Materials

Steel

Huge French "DECOR" Letters in Black Paint
Huge French "DECOR" Letters in Black Paint

Huge French "DECOR" Letters in Black Paint

Located in Woodbury, CT

We sourced these amazing letters in Provence and thought they'd be the perfect find for a shop or

Category

20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Signs

Materials

Aluminum

1900s Gold Leaf Letters Sign "Herrieff's Boys Store"
1900s Gold Leaf Letters Sign "Herrieff's Boys Store"

1900s Gold Leaf Letters Sign "Herrieff's Boys Store"

Located in Chicago, IL

1900s gold leaf letters sign "Herrieff's Boys Store" on tin background with original wood frame.

Category

Antique Early 1900s American Folk Art Signs

Materials

Tin

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Vintage Metal Letters For Sale on 1stDibs

Find a variety of vintage metal letters available on 1stDibs. Frequently made of metal, wood and steel, all vintage metal letters available were constructed with great care. There are all kinds of vintage metal letters available, from those produced as long ago as the 19th Century to those made as recently as the 21st Century. Vintage metal letters bearing folk art or industrial hallmarks are very popular at 1stDibs. Vintage metal letters have been a part of the life’s work for many furniture makers, but those produced by Ross Johnson Drug Co, Breitling and Claude Neon Federal Sign Company are consistently popular.

How Much are Vintage Metal Letters?

Prices for vintage metal letters can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — at 1stDibs, vintage metal letters begin at $85 and can go as high as $15,000, while the average can fetch as much as $1,250.

Finding the Right Signs for You

Vintage and antique signs are popular collector’s items loved not only for the charm and pops of color they add to a space but also for the unique story each one has to tell. An interesting sign can help set the mood for a room and spark dozens of lively conversations.

Before and during the 18th century, many European peasants and colonists in the Americas couldn’t read, so shopkeepers, in an effort to promote their goods and services, hung trade signs with limited amounts of text.

Indeed, symbols and representational physical objects comprised early-day advertising efforts. In lieu of painted words on a wooden board, trade signs made use of handmade three-dimensional symbols to indicate the function of the shop. The iconic red, white and blue pole could be found outside barbershops, while a figural trade sign mounted to an apothecary’s storefront might be a mortar and pestle sculpted from bronze in order to indicate to passers-by that inside there were apothecary cabinets full of remedies for common ailments and a druggist to carefully dispense them.

As literacy rates improved, signs evolved into rectangular, round or square shapes that featured text. Short and sweet, early iterations were characterized by a mere few words, such as “tavern,” “boarding room” or “apothecary.”

During the 19th century, proprietors endeavored to render their signs more appealing. This meant the introduction of more color, font types and other pictorial representations. After the Civil War ended, logos, branding and advertising became increasingly more important, and the design of signage evolved. Trade signs were still in use during the 20th century, and you will likely find hand-painted tin eyeglasses for an optometrist’s office or an oversize bowling pin that likely had a home in the front window of a bowling alley.

Today, collectors and art aficionados alike collect and display antique and vintage signs. Old signs hearken back to a long-gone era, infusing any interior with warmth and nostalgia.

A vintage sign can help anchor a room — think of decorating with signs as you would arranging any kind of wall art. A large-scale sign in particular can prove a distinguishing feature in a living room or dining room, a focal point so prominent that it might lessen the burden of introducing any additional decorative elements to this particular space. Smaller signs work wonders too — pepper sparsely decorated corners with small colorful signs or add a humorous or graphic element to your gallery-style hang with a small text-based sign or two.

On 1stDibs, find metal, wood and glass antique and vintage signs that span a number of styles, including mid-century modern, industrial and folk art.

Questions About Vintage Metal Letters
Prices for most vintage metal letters on 1stdibs are negotiable. You’ll see a "Make an Offer" button on the item details page, indicating that the seller is willing to consider a lower price. It’s not uncommon for customers to get 15–25% off the list price after negotiating. See our tips for negotiating like a pro.
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