Odball Depression Era Sign With Stamp Affixed

Was found in a hardware/tractor store in the 1960's that closed down, it was found in the attic by my grandfather who bought the building. The building was built in the 1910s/1920s. It seems to be a depression era piece from Indiana (where it was found). I plan on buying a frame for it. Can you also tell me about the stamp (year?). I also really wonder what the value of something like this is. I'm sure the real value is as a piece of art/history.

Also it's 14x20, seems to be done on the side of a box of some sorts as there is a handle like piece on the back like it came of a part box or something. Imagine something like a dole banana box.
Who ever made it really took some time to draw it out and did a nice job, they must've really wanted work.

What an awesome piece of American history.

Welcome.
3 Cent "Prexie" coil stamp issued on 1/20/1939
This stamp saw use through the 1950s.
Don

Hello JD.
The stamp itself is worthless. Pennies really, if that. It was part of the Presidential Series, called Prexxies by philatelists, original issued starting in 1938 and was the workhorse stamp of its day. it was printed in the millions, if not billions. Note the straight edges top and bottom. This is what is called a coil stamp, sold in rolls or strips and dispensed from machines. This version was issued in 1939.
The real value, I think, is in the sign overall. A great artifact of the depression era. I'd love to know the story behind it, as I know you would.
I really like the lettering! I'm assuming it was all painted by hand. Pretty impressive.

'
We might be reading way too much - and the wrong too much - into this sign.

For example, "Depression Era" brings a whole lot of baggage with it and, as noted for this stamp, "WW2 Era" and "Cold War Era" would be more accurate.

Moreover, pretty much every custom sign back then was hand-painted, so there is no need to imagine a starving hillbilly trying to feed his barefooted brood.

<guess>

More likely, this professionally produced sign was hung on a tractor - by the dealer or the manufacturer - and the point was that the marginal cost of plowing a small field was just a postage stamp's worth of fuel. This would not be a small point during the WW2 labor shortages.

</guess>

What would take the price of this neat piece of Americana into orbit would be a photograph placing this sign in an exhibit at the 1939 World's Fair.

Cheers,

/s/ ikeyPikey

I do believe that you are correct Mr. Pikey. A bit of Giggling returned once-over two-row machines. Still cool but not as cool as Bonnie and Clyde vintage hoe woe.

A small point. Flatlanders had tractors, hillbillys lived where tractors were of no use.

You made me laugh out loud littleriverphil. Cracked me up.

Well, I was just impressed by the skill and style of the lettering. I don't think I suggested Pa Kettle sitting down with a tattered beret tilted to one side on his head, staring down his arm at his upturned thumb checking proportions.
I think any assumption about the age of the sign is just that, an assumption. There are no real indicators save for the issue date of the stamp, January 20 1939. The US didn't enter the war for another year and a half.
Probably a bit of clever local advertising, as suggested.

...as a followup, I'd also suggest that the style of the type form suggests a more whimsical feel from the 1930s, rather than the more serious 1940s. Again, that's only an educated guess, and is no proof of anything.