A rare, Canadian early-1900s 3 Strikes Cut Plug pocket tobacco tin, one of the most important pieces of Canadian tobacco history, was the overall top lot in five days of auctions held May 21 to 25 by Miller & Miller Auctions, Ltd. The tin came into the final auction session with a $10,000-$12,000 pre-sale estimate but ended up bringing $64,900. All prices in this report are in Canadian dollars and include an 18 percent buyers premium. The first three sales were online only, with no live webcast portion. They included a Toys, Banks and Beatles Memorabilia auction on May 21, featuring the Christopher Dennett collection; a Vintage Comics and Comic Art auction on May 22; and a Soda Advertising and Push Bars When Push Comes to Shove auction May 23, featuring part one of the Glenn Buchanan collection. The last two auctions were also online only, but bidders could tune in to the live webcast to watch lots close in real time. They included a Petroliana, Automobilia and Advertising auction on May 24, featuring the Wayne Woods collection, and a Soda, Tobacco and General Store Advertising auction on May 25, featuring part two of the Buchanan collection. Its a common fact that every collector in every category strives to acquire the holy grail, the best of the best and the rarest of the rare to add to their collections. The vertical, flip-lid 3 Strikes pocket tobacco tin checked all those boxes and was in excellent condition, with colors that were vibrant and glossy. Also, it appealed to collectors in a variety of collecting categories. The true sleeper lot of the five days also came on the last. It was a Canadian 1940s Sweet Caporal Cigarettes single-sided lithographed tin sign, featuring an image of the Majorette, that brought $16,520 against a $3,000 high estimate. Of the five auctions, ones in which 1,092 total lots came up for bid, there was an overall gross of a little more than $1.055 million (including the buyers premium). The 1,176 registered bidders combined to place 21,337 total bids. Internet bidding was provided by the Miller & Miller Auctions, Ltd. website, as well as LiveAuctioneers.com. Staying with the final session, two other items were noteworthy, as both surpassed the high estimate. One was a Canadian 1920s single-sided lithographed tin sign with a wood frame for Wilsons Bachelor Cigars (100% Havana Filler). Graded well at 8.5, the sign fetched $7,080. The other was an early and rare rolled-tin Taxi pocket tobacco tin, ca. 1910s, from the Imperial Tobacco Company of Canada, founded in 1906. Without question, it was one of the best examples of an iconic and highly sought-after Canadian pocket tin. The winning bidder paid $6,490 for the prize against a $4,000 high estimate. The star lot of the May 24 Petroliana, Automobilia and Advertising auction was a rare complete Canadian 1940s single-sided porcelain neon dealer sign for Hudson Automobiles, with excellent color and gloss. Tested and working, the ends were both graded highly at 9.25. The high estimate was $20,000, and it realized $28,320. From McColl-Frontenac was a 1930s Red Indian oil rack sign. The single-sided porcelain sign, like other items in the auctions, was authenticated by The Authentication Company. The sign, which was graded 9.25 and showed brilliant color and gloss, was discovered by the consignor in Quebec in 1969 and changed hands for $17,700. A well-preserved Starlite Gasoline reverse baked glass gas pump globe lens (Canadian, 1930s) knocked down for $10,030. Starlite was a brand of gasoline sold by the Sun Oil Companies of Canada, Ltd., and operated as the Miller Oil Co., Ltd. from 1932 until 1968 after being sued by Sunoco over their name. Starlite was the name of the owners sons horse. To learn more, email info@millerandmillerauctions.com or visit www.MillerandMillerAuctions.com.