270

"Emergency No Parking" notice in advance of the January 6 United States Capitol attack.

[Washington]: District Department of Transportation, 5 January 2021
Broadside, 16¾ x 10¾ inches, with official posting instructions on verso; 4 unused mounting punch holes, one strip of clear tape where taped to pole, 1-inch closed puncture, light wrinkling. 

  • Notes: This date first came into the public consciousness on 18 December 2020, when President Trump announced "Big protest in D.C. on January 6th. Be there, will be wild!" On 1 January 2021, Women for America First obtained a permit for a rally with an estimated attendance of 5,000 on First Amendment (free speech) grounds.

    In preparation for the rally, these parking notices were affixed to utility poles in the rally area. This example was posted on 7th Street where it meets the north end of the National Mall, about halfway between the Washington Monument and the Capitol building. It restricts parking along several blocks of 7th Street "from Independence Avenue SW to E Street NW." The reason for the restriction is given as "First Amendment Activity."


    On 6 January 2021, at about noon, President Trump gave a speech on the Ellipse, assuring his supporters that he would never concede the election, and urging them: "We fight. We fight like Hell and if you don't fight like Hell, you're not going to have a country anymore." They then marched east along the Mall, passing this sign, to the Capitol building where the certification of the Electoral College results was taking place. 5 people died, 174 police officers were injured, and over the next four years, 1,060 were convicted and sentenced for their roles in the attack. All of them were granted clemency by presidential pardon on 20 January 2025. 

    Our consignor witnessed the marchers heading toward the Capitol, and then salvaged this sign approximately 4 days after the attack.

    With--two similar notices from the Biden inauguration: an "Emergency No Parking" sign with similar design but spanning 15 to 23 January 2021 and its location given as "City-Wide," the reason given as "Presidential Inauguration" and the "owner" given as the United States Secret Service; and an "Emergency No Parking" sign with a different blue and red design, 17¾ x 11¾ inches, spanning 16 to 21 January 2021 for "59th Presidential Inauguration," signed in type by Mayor Muriel Bowser.
  • Condition:
    Please contact the Specialist for the auction to request a condition report.

    Condition reports and additional images are provided as a courtesy and should be used by you to aid in the formation of your own opinion regarding condition. All material is sold subject to Swann's standard Terms and Conditions of Sale as published in our catalogues and posted on our website, and include the following terms: (1) all property is sold "as-is"; and (2) works cannot be returned on the basis of condition.

Accepted Forms of Payment:

Money Order / Cashiers Check, Personal Check, Wire Transfer

Shipping

Upon request, Swann will facilitate the shipping of purchases to out-of-town buyers at an additional charge for packing, shipping and insurance, but will not be responsible for any loss, damage or delay resulting from the packing, handling and shipping thereof. Unless specific instructions are received, Swann is the sole judge of the method to be used for shipment. Packing and shipping costs will be noted on the invoice mailed to successful bidders after the sale, and are based on the actual costs involved. Be advised that a full commercial invoice must accompany any purchase shipped outside the US.

November 20, 2025 10:30 AM EST
New York, NY, US

Swann Auction Galleries

You agree to pay a buyer’s premium, as outlined below, and any applicable taxes and shipping.
Buyer's Premium
$0 - $100,000:
27.00%
$100,001 - $1,000,000:
22.00%
$1,000,001+:
12.00%

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $149 $10
$150 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $5,999 $200
$6,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,000
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $199,999 $10,000
$200,000 $499,999 $20,000
$500,000 + $50,000