DESCRIPTION
This is genuinely unused, new old stock—the kind of frame that sat on a shelf in a store, priced at fifty-nine cents, and never sold. Still has the original oval price tag glued to the mat.
Ornate border with engraved floral detail. Cream or ivory mat backing. Hinged easel back for tabletop display. The brass is bright, the mat is clean, and the whole thing feels like finding a 1950s-era frame that somehow skipped six decades of use.
It's the object collectors hunt for: a time capsule of what things cost, how they were made, and what got left behind in a cardboard box.
What you're getting:
- 1 vintage metal photo frame
- Condition: Unused, new old stock (NOS)
- Dimensions: 5 inches (H) × 4 inches (W) outside / 3½" × 5⅝" mat opening
- Materials: Brass or brass-plated metal frame; cream/ivory mat
- Easel back: Yes, hinged, functional
- Original price tag: Yes, still attached
- Era: Vintage, circa 1950s–1960s (based on price and style)
The right piece for you:
You'll want this if you collect vintage frames, collect items with original price tags and deadstock appeal, or simply appreciate the fact that something so beautiful and functional was once worth fifty-nine cents.
It's a frame that never had a photograph in it, never traveled, never wore out. It's pristine in a way vintage items almost never are.
Condition Grade: Near Fine
Positives
- Completely unused—never opened, never displayed
- Brass is bright and clean
- Mat is pristine and unmarked
- Easel mechanism intact and functional
- Original price tag still attached
- No fading, no patina, no wear
- Exactly as it was when it left the factory
Issues / Wear
- None. This is new old stock.
- Original price tag may be faded slightly, but is legible and intact
- No chips, no dents, no damage
See all photos for condition—sold as pictured.
Condition Grade Key
- Near Fine — minimal wear; clean throughout.
- Very Good — light wear; clean; minor age marks.
- Good — noticeable wear; patina visible; fully functional.
- Fair — significant wear; heavy tarnish; complete but worn.
Collector's Notes
Genuine NOS (new old stock) vintage frames with original price tags are increasingly rare. Most frames were either sold and used, or eventually discarded if they sat too long. Finding one that made it all the way to 2026 still in factory condition with the original price tag is remarkable. The fifty-nine-cent price point dates this frame to the 1950s or early 1960s.
Collectors of vintage retail, advertising ephemera, mid-century design, or deadstock items actively seek pieces like this one. The frame can be displayed as-is (with the price tag as part of the appeal) or used to display a photograph.
One frame that never lived a day. Still looks like fifty-nine cents worth of optimism from an era when that meant something.
Interested in collecting a set of vintage metal frames? Browse my shop to find other sizes—I regularly stock matching and near-matched frames for collectors building their collections.
Shipping + Trust (Reading Vintage standards)
∙Photo-verified condition (no surprises)
∙Packed with our protective packaging standard
∙Ships in 1 business day
∙Free Shipping on $35+ (U.S. only)
Disclaimer
All items are vintage and may show signs of age, wear, or use consistent with their history. Photos show the exact condition of each piece—please review them carefully, as they are part of the description.
While I do my best to capture colors accurately, your monitor or device screen may display colors slightly differently from the actual item.
Please Note:
These pieces come from estate collections and have been surface cleaned. You may wish to perform additional cleaning depending on your preference.
