1917 California License Plate with Golden Poppy validation tab

Description

1917 California License Plate 35626 with Golden Poppy validation tab
This plate is in unretouched condition. The 1917 Golden Poppy year validation tab is very rusted and it’s not possible to verify that the serial number on the poppy matches the plate, but by examination it appears to be original to the plate.
Per historical California state records license plate 35626 was issued to W.H. Howell of Walnut, CA for a 1911 Kissel Kar touring model, factory number 3847.
The 1916-1919 California “porcelain” license plates were issued very unique metal tabs each year they were registered. The vehicle owner would keep the plate that was issued and affix a new year tab. These tabs were shaped to represent iconic California images. In 1916 the tab was a Grizzly bear, 1917 was a Golden Poppy, 1918 was a green Mission Bell, and 1919 was a Red star. The tabs have a number on them that was matched to the license plate.
After 1919 California departed from the use of year validation tabs and transitioned to issuing new plates each year with a stamped year indication.
Because the 1916-1919 validation tabs were removed and replaced each year, California license plates with matching number tabs from years prior to 1919 are difficult to obtain. Additionally, the Golden Poppy tab was prone to rust so a plate with matching poppy tab is rare.
I am thinning my vintage California license plate collection to a single example from each year, so this one is available here on eBay.