The Belgian version of the film poster for “The Mummy” starring Boris Karloff. Image: Heritage Auctions
Rare movie posters from classic American horror flicks, including the only-remaining Belgian poster for The Mummy (Universal, 1933) starring Boris Karloff, haunt Heritage Auctions’ Movie Posters event taking place 7th – 8th April in Dallas. Cinema’s classic monsters in the 600-lot auction range from a beastly, 47-inch tall poster for King Kong (RKO, 1933) to an elusive poster from the iconic vampire film London After Midnight (MGM, 1927).
“Our spring auctions traditionally offer posters with stunning images from some of the most iconic movies ever made,” Heritage Auctions Vintage Posters Director Grey Smith said. “We believe there are rare posters in this wonderful group for every taste.”
The 24-1/2-by-33-1/2-inch stone lithograph poster for The Mummy, which is making its auction debut at Heritage, is the only remaining poster of its kind. Utilising art for the US version of the poster, it depicts the haunting visage of Boris Karloff as the shrouded Egyptian priest Imhotep, the mummy who escapes thousands of years after being buried alive. The well-preserved piece comes from Universal’s original European distribution and is expected to sell for $60,000.
A London After Midnight Argentinean one sheet (est. $30,000-60,000) shines a spotlight on one of the “holy grails” of lost cinema, the last known copy of the film which was destroyed in a fire in an MGM studio vault in 1965. Posters from the film, which starred Lon Chaney and directed by Dracula’s Tod Browning, have been as elusive as the film itself over the last 80 years, and this Argentinean one sheet is the first to appear at Heritage since 2009.
A 21-by-58-inch Japanese STB tatekan from The Seven Samurai (Toho, 1954) (est. $20,000-50,000) is an extraordinary collectible poster for fans of Japanese cinema and director Akira Kurosawa. This rare country-of-origin poster from Kurosawa’s most prestigious film is believed to be the only known copy in existence. A bittersweet tale of the price of war and the loss of noble warriors, The Seven Samurai is one of the most influential films in cinema history and was among the highest-grossing films ever made in Japan.
An oversized Swedish King Kong poster (which has a sales estimate of $20,000-50,000) features “The Eighth Wonder of the World” raging through New York, holding Fay Wray in one hand while smacking planes out of the sky with the other.
Considered by most to be among the greatest horror/fantasy films ever made, King Kong definitely was one of the most innovative, using stop-motion animation that became the industry standard for decades. The rare, oversized stone litho Swedish poster, from the Kirk Hammett Collection, is reminiscent of the US three sheet with its striking image of King Kong atop the Empire State Building.
Also on offer is a smashing The Day the Earth Stood Still one sheet and an extraordinary post-war French release double grande poster from the 1947 film Casablanca, which is expected to sell for $60,000, as well as an arresting British six sheet poster from the 1939 hit The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, which measures a mammoth 77-3/4 inches by 87-1/2 inches.
• More information about Heritage Auctions Movie Poster auctions
- About the Author
- Latest Posts
The founder of downthetubes, which he established in 1998. John works as a comics and magazine editor, writer, and on promotional work for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He is currently editor of Star Trek Explorer, published by Titan – his third tour of duty on the title originally titled Star Trek Magazine.
Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine, Babylon 5 Magazine, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics. He has also edited several comic collections, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”.
He’s the writer of “Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies” for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs” with Dave Hailwood.
Categories: Art and Illustration, Auctions, downthetubes News, Events, Other Worlds
Related Articles
-
Cheers! Star Wars, He-Man, “Goofy” toys and more offered in final Anderson & Garland’s Collector’s Sale of 2024
-
Beano Number One sells for over £4000, 2000AD Prog 2 With Free Gift for over £1000
-
Grab a Four Legged Friend – and support the Quentin Blake Centre for Illustration!
-
Upcoming Sworders auction of Modern and Contemporary Art sees Dennis the Menace offered alongside Picasso!