License plates, gas station signs, oil cans, dealership advertising, tin litho signage, pump globes, badges, and automotive memorabilia are among the most counterfeited categories in the entire collecting world. Modern fakes range from cheaply screen-printed plates to artificially aged “porcelain” signs designed to fool even confident buyers. Without professional knowledge of stamping dies, enamel layering, metal behavior, oxidation patterns, and authentic wear, collectors risk costly mistakes.
DJR Expert Guide Series, Vol. 92 — Red Flags: Identifying Fake License Plates & Vintage Automotive Memorabilia gives you a complete professional-level system for evaluating stamping depth, fonts, metal thickness, enamel behavior, litho patterns, glass characteristics, and distressing methods used by forgers. This guide teaches you how to confidently separate genuine vintage automotive pieces from replicas, fantasy creations, and artificially aged fakes.
Inside, you’ll learn how experts:
Evaluate real vs. reproduction license plates using metal thickness, embossing pressure, and correct-era stamping dies
Identify incorrect fonts, shallow embossing, modern aluminum sheen, and chemical rusting
Distinguish authentic porcelain signs by enamel layering, true chipping patterns, and steel exposure
Recognize fake pump globes, dealership signs, and automotive advertising made with modern decals or thin glass
Detect printed-on distress, laser-printed litho graphics, and artificially aged metal
Compare natural oxidation vs. chemical or oven-created patina
Analyze mounting holes, bolt wear, edge behavior, and enamel failure patterns
Avoid marketplace scams involving fake “barn finds,” “garage discoveries,” and staged estate stories
Volume 92 gives collectors, pickers, antique dealers, flippers, and automotive-history enthusiasts a reliable, defensible method to authenticate automotive memorabilia—and avoid the costly reproductions flooding the market.
Digital Download — PDF • 7 Pages • Instant Access
License plates, gas station signs, oil cans, dealership advertising, tin litho signage, pump globes, badges, and automotive memorabilia are among the most counterfeited categories in the entire collecting world. Modern fakes range from cheaply screen-printed plates to artificially aged “porcelain” signs designed to fool even confident buyers. Without professional knowledge of stamping dies, enamel layering, metal behavior, oxidation patterns, and authentic wear, collectors risk costly mistakes.
DJR Expert Guide Series, Vol. 92 — Red Flags: Identifying Fake License Plates & Vintage Automotive Memorabilia gives you a complete professional-level system for evaluating stamping depth, fonts, metal thickness, enamel behavior, litho patterns, glass characteristics, and distressing methods used by forgers. This guide teaches you how to confidently separate genuine vintage automotive pieces from replicas, fantasy creations, and artificially aged fakes.
Inside, you’ll learn how experts:
Evaluate real vs. reproduction license plates using metal thickness, embossing pressure, and correct-era stamping dies
Identify incorrect fonts, shallow embossing, modern aluminum sheen, and chemical rusting
Distinguish authentic porcelain signs by enamel layering, true chipping patterns, and steel exposure
Recognize fake pump globes, dealership signs, and automotive advertising made with modern decals or thin glass
Detect printed-on distress, laser-printed litho graphics, and artificially aged metal
Compare natural oxidation vs. chemical or oven-created patina
Analyze mounting holes, bolt wear, edge behavior, and enamel failure patterns
Avoid marketplace scams involving fake “barn finds,” “garage discoveries,” and staged estate stories
Volume 92 gives collectors, pickers, antique dealers, flippers, and automotive-history enthusiasts a reliable, defensible method to authenticate automotive memorabilia—and avoid the costly reproductions flooding the market.
Digital Download — PDF • 7 Pages • Instant Access
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