Collecting Old License Plates

07/27/2024

I am very thankful to have returned home to the Lover State with first issue 1909 Virginia #4471.

This plate spent the last 114 years collecting dust in a Boston, Massachusetts area carriage house.

While it may seem odd to hear that the plate surfaced in Massachusetts, it’s not all that unusual to find Virginia first issues out of state.

At the time, motorists from out of state were required to register their vehicles and display Virginia license plates when they traveled here. Many motorists passed through Virginia en route to Washington, D.C.. My 1906 example #473 was issued in New York!

This group of out of state motorists included the great grandfather of the man I recently purchased #4471 from.

I am always buying and trading for early license plates - Call me!

Koby Vinokor
Collecting Old License Plates
516-353-2440

02/07/2023

Looking forward to the New Britain, CT ALPCA Meet on Saturday, February 11.

8 AM at 41 Veterans Drive New Britain, CT 06050

http://www.alpcacolonial.org

See you there?

Koby Vinokor
516-353-2440

10/15/2022

My keeper from the Hershey, PA Antique Automobile Club of America car show and swap meet was this lovely original paint 1906 Cincinnati Ohio.

I’m always buying early license plates - call me!

Koby Vinokor
516-353-2440
Hindsight Antiques

10/03/2022

Off to Hershey, PA in the morning!

Have early tags for sale?

Call me!

Koby Vinokor 516-353-2440

09/28/2022

Michigan bound looking to score some early license plates…

09/09/2022

I was absolutely thrilled to add this 1906 St. Louis, Missouri porcelain license plate to my collection from the recent Lee Roy Hartung auction sold by Donley Auctions - Northern Illinois!

Even Fox News Fox2Now was excited for me -

https://fox2now.com/news/missouri/rare-st-louis-license-plate-sells-for-8500-at-auction/

Have any early license plates for sale? I would love to hear from you!

Koby Vinokor
516-353-2440

Hindsight Antiques

08/23/2022

I am extremely pleased with how well this 1910 South Dakota prestate license plate cleaned up! I purchased this plate in an eBay auction in July. The plate was absolutely filthy when it got to me and I’ve spent a lot of time carefully cleaning it up. A before cleaning photo can be seen in the comments below.

The construction of the plate is awesome - 2 leather pads sewn together with 2 different sized tack rivets used to spell out the number and state designation. The cleaning process was extremely time consuming due to the fragile nature of the plate and the delicate fastening of the rivets.

According to the South Dakota Historical Society records, #7485 was issued on September 29, 1910 to E.H. Wampler in Hecla, SD for use on a 10 Horsepower Cadillac. In 1910, Hecla - a rural border town with North Dakota - had a population of 462. As of 2020, Hecla is home to 162 people. The South Dakota prestate era began on May 4, 1905 and lasted until July 1, 1913.

In terms of provenance, my initial research tells me that this plate came into the hobby in the early 1950’s, likely acquired in the rough through extensive advertising by Tony Shupienus (ALPCA #369). Clarence Titus (ALPCA #50) purchased Tony’s collection in the late 1950’s. Vernon Streiffert (ALPCA #269) purchased Clarence’s collection in the mid 1960’s. In late 1971, Lee Roy Hartung (ALPCA #3003) obtained Vernon’s collection. The plate collected dust in Lee Roy’s cluttered warehouse until being sold by RM Auctions in 2011. The buyer of the plate held onto it (and another South Dakota leather) until auctioning both on eBay last month.

I am always looking to purchase or trade for early license plates to add to my collection!

Koby Vinokor
ALPCA #11725
516-353-2440

08/23/2022

Lee and Penny Anderson’s dedication to correctly restoring this 1932 Duesenberg with its original parts that had been split up decades ago is a testament to provenance and preservation - something we as collectors can certainly appreciate.

Congratulations to a well deserved Best of Show win at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance.

Chassis and body were separated for decades, but this 1932 Duesenberg J Figoni Sports Torpedo is whole once more—and a champion to boot.

08/23/2022

I would love to trade this 1938 Texas “2 Star” #6 towards or for a Texas prestate. Please reach out if you can help with that.

08/21/2022

Superb 1914 Pennsylvania #20….

Thank you for the trade, Jeff Leider! I love it.

Jeff Lesher - now we can reunite the pair??

I’m always buying and trading for early license plates!

Koby Vinokor
ALPCA #11725
516-353-2440

08/19/2022

Fabulous recent trade acquisition - I missed a shot at this 1913 - 1914 Muskogee, Oklahoma porcelain license plate in 2015. I stalked it for 7 years and then pounced when the right trade opportunity came along!

Koby Vinokor
516-353-2440
ALPCA #11725

08/12/2022

Great trade acquisition - 1912 Wichita, Kansas porcelain pre state. I sold #898 to Nathan Edward Kuehn a couple years back when doing some “shuffling”. I’m very happy to add one to the wall this time! Thank you for the trade Charles Westphal!

Koby Vinokor
ALPCA #11725
516-353-2440