Apparently from 1926 to 1933 NC and VA had a US 17-1. Never heard of this before. Did AASHTO approve it or was it just the NC and VA highway agencies fooling around?
No fooling around...it was an official route until replaced by US 301.
It's real, all right.
http://www.vahighways.com/route-log/us17-1.htm
I only wonder if there are any 17-1 signs hanging somewhere...I can't imagine how rare it may be!
I have never seen a 17-1 shield, either VA or NC
(//www.aaroads.com/shields/misc/virginia_us_17-1.png)