Vintage John Deere Memorabilia Worth Some Serious Green
Few tractor brands have reached icon status the way John Deere has. From lunchboxes to t-shirts, this brand has been huge for generations, reaching far beyond farmers, Billy Bob, and Charlene. Some vintage John Deere memorabilia, however, sells for more than a functioning John Deere tractor would. Here are some of the most valuable items we found.
1. John Deere Van Brunt Grain Drill Display
Sold for: $3,800
Only three of these John Deere Van Brunt grain drill displays exist. This one still has the original paint, decal, handle, stencil, and base, adding to its vintage appeal and value.
2. John Deere 1/2 Scale Model Tractor
Sold for: $3,250
Hey, if you have no need for a real John Deere tractor, this model will scratch the itch just fine. It’s half the size of the real thing, too, so you don’t need farmland to store it.
3. Turner John Deere 101 Pedal Tractor
Sold for: $2,750
It would be really hard to resist the urge to pedal this bad boy around, but for almost $3,000 and its vintage nature, we wouldn’t want to risk its pristine quality.
4. John Deere Farm Equipment Porcelain Sign
Sold for: $25,000
This massive sign is six feet tall and strays from John Deere’s typical green and yellow branding. Instead, it sports a bold black, yellow, and red color scheme, which accentuates the porcelain backdrop.
5. John Deere Cast Iron Letter Holder
Sold for: $2,100
Made in 1847, this cast iron letter holder is one of the most relic-like pieces of John Deere memorabilia. Despite its age, the letter holder has most of its original finish with very minimal wear.
6. John Deere Advertising Clock
Sold for: $1,500
We can visualize this piece of John Deere memorabilia on the walls of a tractor parts store or dealership some-60 years ago. Designed for advertising, this clock is quintessential JD branding with the deer and yellow and green colors.
7. Complete 1913 John Deere Calendar
Sold for: $1,500
This full John Deere calendar from 1913 is in alarmingly pristine condition, justifying its $1,500 price tag. Looking at it, though, it’s obvious that in 1913 calendars were just used for seeing what day it was rather than penciling in events and appointments — perhaps because farming is a round-the-clock job that never ends.
8. 1965 John Deere Toys for Boys Poster
Sold for: $1,400
The tagline “Toys for Boys” is inherently 1965 for this John Deere advertisement, but the “and little girls, too” beneath is almost as hilarious as the possessed look on the boy’s face.
9. John Deere Quality Farm Equipment Neon Hood Sign
Sold for: $107,000
We know plenty of folks shell out north of $100,000 to buy functional John Deere equipment, and well north of that for things like brand-new combines. But $107,000 for a vintage JD sign is mind-boggling.
10. Caterpillar John Deere Porcelain Neon Sign
Sold for: $91,000
Now that’s an elite brand combination. And although $91,000 is a lot of money for a sign, imagine what you’d spend on a CAT excavator and John Deere tractor.
11. John Deere Plows 3-Legged Deer Sign
Sold for: $70,000
Most John Deere memorabilia features the standard deer logo with four legs. This John Deere Plows sign, however, has only three legs in sight, making it one of the more rare vintage examples.
12. John Deere Porcelain Neon Sign With Privilege Panels
Sold for: $14,000
Porcelain and neon join forces to make this unique piece of John Deere memorabilia, and the privilege panels allowed for additional customization for Grade A advertising.