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JANUARY, 2008 - 1906-07 LOUISVILLE, KY
This fascinating plate was found on a deer hunting expedition in the 1950s, and
has remained out of ALPCA circles for a half-century - just now surfacing for
collectors to see. Not only is it the earliest of six different varieties of porcelains
from Louisville, but it is the oldest porcelain plate from the state of Kentucky.
JANUARY, 2008 - AIKEN, SC
When this unique plate showed up, it became the second variety of Aiken
porcelain known, the other being a dated 1917 plate. The large "SC" prefix is
typical of many South Carolina plates, and the emergence of this plate now means
that there are 29 different porcelain varieties known from the state.
FEBRUARY, 2008 - VIRGINIA 1911 MOTORCYCLE
Although not a new plate (there are two others known), this amazing plate was
shaken loose out of the rough by Virginia collector Tom Smith. The other
surviving examples are absolute wrecks, making this plate the only presentable
1911 cycle known.
MARCH, 2008 - WASHINGTON COUNTY, NC 1923 FOR HIRE
Between 1922 and 1926, each of the 100 counties in North Carolina is believed to
have issued standardized For Hire porcelains to taxis and buses. However, the
vast majority of these remain unaccounted for. When this plate turned up on
EBAY, it became the first plate from any year known from Washington County.
MARCH, 2008 - UNKNOWN 1928-29 DRAY LICENSE
Over the years, a small handful of Dray porcelains have shown up, all of which
bear a distinct similarity to one another. Whether they were actually issued by the
same jurisdiction - and what that jurisdiction was - remain open to question. This
1928-29 plate is the third variety we've seen and the latest known year by far.
APRIL, 2008 - ST. LUCIE COUNTY, FL 1916-17 FOR HIRE
This remarkable plate surfaced on EBAY and blew collectors away. Not only is it
the first new Florida porcelain to show up since 2006, but it is the only example of
a For Hire version ever seen from St. Lucie. St. Lucie porcelains were issued
from 1912-13 through 1916-17 and are quite scarce.
APRIL, 2008 - SAPULPA, OK 1914
Discovered by a license plate collector safely stored away in a museum, this
previously unknown Sapulpa porcelain is only the third known surviving plate
from the city, and is the only example from 1914. Its seemingly high number
suggests that the run may have started at #1,000.
SEPTEMBER, 2008 - LAMPASAS, TX PRE-STATE
It's not all that unusual for a new Texas porcelain to show up, since there were so
many different jurisdiction tiles produced for use on these homemade kit-plates.
In fact, when this Lampasas plate showed up on EBAY, it became the 77th
different known jurisdiction tile to be used on a Texas porcelain.
SEPTEMBER, 2008 - OSCEOLA, FL 1912
For the second time in 5 months, a never before seen Florida pre-state turned up
on EBAY - this time a 1912 Osceola recently dug out of the ground. Not only is
this plate the earliest known Osceola porcelain, but it is #1 to boot! With this
discovery, there are now seven different varieties of Osceola porcelains known.
OCTOBER, 2008 - 1914 TENNESSEE PRE-STATE PAIR
Michigan collector Greg Gibson obtained this previously unknown Tennessee
pre-state type from bottle collectors who dug the pair up in Alabama. Made by the
Baltimore Enamel & Novelty Company, this large white & black variant constitutes
the 10th different known variety of Tennessee pre-state porcelain.
OCTOBER, 2008 - 1911 HEALTH DEPARTMENT MILK LICENSE
This dated 1911 plate showed up on EBAY, filling in a previously unknown year in
the long run of such plates dating to as early as 1907 and stretching all the way to
the mid-'30s. It is not clear what the issuing jurisdiction of these plates was, but
conventional wisdom has long suggested that they hail from Rochester, NY.
OCTOBER, 2008 - DALLAS, TX PRE-STATE
Texas porcelain pre-states are relatively common, with perhaps more than 100
surviving examples known, but this Dallas plate which showed up at an antique
mall outside of Dallas is the first example ever seen of a 5-digit porcelain. It was
previously assumed that Texas porcelain kit plates only accommodated four digits.
NOVEMBER, 2008 - 1916-17 CLINTON, MA LICENSED PEDDLER
This plate came as a shock to collectors who were well aware of the two prior
years of Clinton peddler plates, but presumed that porcelains were discontinued
after 1915-16. It is a mystery why there is only one surviving example of this red
1916-17 plate, whereas there are a half-dozen or so of each of the prior two years.
This fascinating plate was found on a deer hunting expedition in the 1950s, and
has remained out of ALPCA circles for a half-century - just now surfacing for
collectors to see. Not only is it the earliest of six different varieties of porcelains
from Louisville, but it is the oldest porcelain plate from the state of Kentucky.
JANUARY, 2008 - AIKEN, SC
When this unique plate showed up, it became the second variety of Aiken
porcelain known, the other being a dated 1917 plate. The large "SC" prefix is
typical of many South Carolina plates, and the emergence of this plate now means
that there are 29 different porcelain varieties known from the state.
FEBRUARY, 2008 - VIRGINIA 1911 MOTORCYCLE
Although not a new plate (there are two others known), this amazing plate was
shaken loose out of the rough by Virginia collector Tom Smith. The other
surviving examples are absolute wrecks, making this plate the only presentable
1911 cycle known.
MARCH, 2008 - WASHINGTON COUNTY, NC 1923 FOR HIRE
Between 1922 and 1926, each of the 100 counties in North Carolina is believed to
have issued standardized For Hire porcelains to taxis and buses. However, the
vast majority of these remain unaccounted for. When this plate turned up on
EBAY, it became the first plate from any year known from Washington County.
MARCH, 2008 - UNKNOWN 1928-29 DRAY LICENSE
Over the years, a small handful of Dray porcelains have shown up, all of which
bear a distinct similarity to one another. Whether they were actually issued by the
same jurisdiction - and what that jurisdiction was - remain open to question. This
1928-29 plate is the third variety we've seen and the latest known year by far.
APRIL, 2008 - ST. LUCIE COUNTY, FL 1916-17 FOR HIRE
This remarkable plate surfaced on EBAY and blew collectors away. Not only is it
the first new Florida porcelain to show up since 2006, but it is the only example of
a For Hire version ever seen from St. Lucie. St. Lucie porcelains were issued
from 1912-13 through 1916-17 and are quite scarce.
APRIL, 2008 - SAPULPA, OK 1914
Discovered by a license plate collector safely stored away in a museum, this
previously unknown Sapulpa porcelain is only the third known surviving plate
from the city, and is the only example from 1914. Its seemingly high number
suggests that the run may have started at #1,000.
SEPTEMBER, 2008 - LAMPASAS, TX PRE-STATE
It's not all that unusual for a new Texas porcelain to show up, since there were so
many different jurisdiction tiles produced for use on these homemade kit-plates.
In fact, when this Lampasas plate showed up on EBAY, it became the 77th
different known jurisdiction tile to be used on a Texas porcelain.
SEPTEMBER, 2008 - OSCEOLA, FL 1912
For the second time in 5 months, a never before seen Florida pre-state turned up
on EBAY - this time a 1912 Osceola recently dug out of the ground. Not only is
this plate the earliest known Osceola porcelain, but it is #1 to boot! With this
discovery, there are now seven different varieties of Osceola porcelains known.
OCTOBER, 2008 - 1914 TENNESSEE PRE-STATE PAIR
Michigan collector Greg Gibson obtained this previously unknown Tennessee
pre-state type from bottle collectors who dug the pair up in Alabama. Made by the
Baltimore Enamel & Novelty Company, this large white & black variant constitutes
the 10th different known variety of Tennessee pre-state porcelain.
OCTOBER, 2008 - 1911 HEALTH DEPARTMENT MILK LICENSE
This dated 1911 plate showed up on EBAY, filling in a previously unknown year in
the long run of such plates dating to as early as 1907 and stretching all the way to
the mid-'30s. It is not clear what the issuing jurisdiction of these plates was, but
conventional wisdom has long suggested that they hail from Rochester, NY.
OCTOBER, 2008 - DALLAS, TX PRE-STATE
Texas porcelain pre-states are relatively common, with perhaps more than 100
surviving examples known, but this Dallas plate which showed up at an antique
mall outside of Dallas is the first example ever seen of a 5-digit porcelain. It was
previously assumed that Texas porcelain kit plates only accommodated four digits.
NOVEMBER, 2008 - 1916-17 CLINTON, MA LICENSED PEDDLER
This plate came as a shock to collectors who were well aware of the two prior
years of Clinton peddler plates, but presumed that porcelains were discontinued
after 1915-16. It is a mystery why there is only one surviving example of this red
1916-17 plate, whereas there are a half-dozen or so of each of the prior two years.
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Gallery - 2008 Discoveries
This page illustrates a handful of some of the more significant discoveries of
2008. For other significant finds of recent years, please visit the following:
2008. For other significant finds of recent years, please visit the following:
| 2008 DISCOVERIES |