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Up for sale is a rare, pristine lot of eleven (11) original vintage 1950s promotional advertisement bills from the historic Rebel Motel in Memphis, Tennessee.
These unique mid-century roadside novelties were cleverly designed to look like a standard 1864 Confederate States of America $20 bill on the front. On the back, they feature a highly detailed street map of mid-century Memphis alongside a vintage text advertisement boasting \"One of America’s Best,\" \"Home of Southern Hospitality,\" and classic period amenities like \"Innerspring Mattresses,\" \"Air Conditioned,\" and \"Television.\"
Historical Significance & Condition Notes:
• Authentic 1950s Ephemera: The 2-digit phone number format (Phone 33-7641) and the listed 1940 census data on the map firmly date these items to the early 1950s boom of American automotive tourism.
• The James Earl Ray Connection: For historical researchers, this is the exact motel documented extensively in FBI files where James Earl Ray checked into Room 34 under the alias Eric S. Galt on April 3, 1968, spending his final night there before the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. the following day.
• Excellent Condition: These pieces are structurally sound with fantastic paper crispness, clear printing, and vibrant coloration. (Please see the high-resolution listing photos to verify the edge profiles and surface quality of the entire lot).
This is an incredible, instant collection for anyone specializing in Memphis regional history, 1950s roadside motel collectibles, or unique historical ephemera.