November 16, 2012
King Kong & Mickey Mouse at Heritage Auctions’ Movie Poster Event
DALLAS - A rare three sheet poster for the 1933 classic King Kong goes head to head against Dracula, The Three Stooges and a previously unknown Mickey Mouse cartoon poster for top lot in Heritage Auction’s Nov. 29-30 Vintage Movie Poster Signature® Auction.
With almost 1,200 lots to choose from, the auction has rarities from every genre including horror, science fiction, film noir, Western, Alfred Hitchcock, musicals, comedy and many more.
With almost 1,200 lots to choose from, the auction has rarities from every genre including horror, science fiction, film noir, Western, Alfred Hitchcock, musicals, comedy and many more.
Considered a visual triumph and one of the rarest three sheets in the hobby, the 1933 poster for King Kong gives justice to the monster ape. Standing 40-1/4” wide by 79” high, it features Kong on the side of the Empire State Building, clutching Fay Wray and snarling at the world below. It is expected to bring $80,000+.
“Posters from King Kong are rare to begin with, however far fewer examples of this style B poster are known to exist and rarely have they ever been offered at auction,” said Grey Smith, Director of Vintage Movie Posters at Heritage. “This poster has all the details necessary to qualify as the top of the collecting hobby. This is the opportunity of a lifetime for a top collector to acquire this gem."
Another monster movie poster sending shivers down collector spines is a rare title lobby card for the 1931 Universal classic Dracula, which is expected to bring $40,000+. The card is unrestored and represents the second time Heritage has offered a title card to this famous film. It is just one of 11 cards from an important lobby card collection, which also includes a hard-to-find title card from Son of Frankenstein (estimate $12,000).
The group of lobby cards is just one of the top-of-market collections represented. From the Leonard and Alice Maltin Collection comes a one sheet from the 1938 Three Stooges comedy Tassels in the Air, which is expected to bring $20,000.
“One sheets for the Stooges short subjects are among the rarest and most sought after within the hobby and the constant demand has pushed the value to record levels,” Smith said.
From the collection of the late Crowell Havens Beech, a major movie poster collector and dealer, comes a one-of-a-kind Mickey Mouse cartoon poster from 1928 - the earliest known poster of the world’s most famous mouse. After buying it nearly 25 years ago, Beech secreted the poster away from everyone - even his family. It is now expected to bring $20,000+.
Other highlights include, but are not limited to:
A 14-inch by 36-inch insert from 1942’s blockbuster Casablanca, considered the greatest and most romantic films ever made, features all of the principal characters and is expected to bring $18,000+.
A scarce one sheet for the Charlie Chaplin classic The Bank, from 1915, is expected to bring $14,000. The comedy short was produced by Essanay Studios, which created the poster with an image taken from Chaplin’s hit The Tramp.
A French Grande poster for King Kong, measuring 46 inches by 62-3/4 inches, shows Kong illuminated by torches after pushing open the massive gate doors to reach a terrified Fay Wray, is expected to bring $12,000+.
Suitable for a pulp paperback, a one sheet for This Gun for Hire shows a hard-boiled Alan Ladd superimposed before a sultry Veronica Lake. The poster for the 1942 thriller is expected to break $12,000+.
Considered one of the greatest comedy teams of the 20th century, the Marx Brothers are represented on an impressive and rare three-sheet poster for Horse Feathers (estimate $10,000+).
Heritage Auctions is far and away the largest auction house founded in the United States, and the world’s third largest, with annual sales of more than $800 million, and 750,000+ online bidder members. For more information about Heritage Auctions, and to join and receive access to a complete record of prices realized, with full-color, enlargeable photos of each lot, please visit HA.com
Want to get the up-to-the-minute updates and breaking news stories about Heritage Auctions? Get them as they happen at: HA.com/Twitter; Facebook: HA.com/Facebook.To view a complete archive of Heritage press releases go to: HA.com/PR. To link to this press release on your blog or Website: HA.com/PR-2280.
“Posters from King Kong are rare to begin with, however far fewer examples of this style B poster are known to exist and rarely have they ever been offered at auction,” said Grey Smith, Director of Vintage Movie Posters at Heritage. “This poster has all the details necessary to qualify as the top of the collecting hobby. This is the opportunity of a lifetime for a top collector to acquire this gem."
Another monster movie poster sending shivers down collector spines is a rare title lobby card for the 1931 Universal classic Dracula, which is expected to bring $40,000+. The card is unrestored and represents the second time Heritage has offered a title card to this famous film. It is just one of 11 cards from an important lobby card collection, which also includes a hard-to-find title card from Son of Frankenstein (estimate $12,000).
The group of lobby cards is just one of the top-of-market collections represented. From the Leonard and Alice Maltin Collection comes a one sheet from the 1938 Three Stooges comedy Tassels in the Air, which is expected to bring $20,000.
“One sheets for the Stooges short subjects are among the rarest and most sought after within the hobby and the constant demand has pushed the value to record levels,” Smith said.
From the collection of the late Crowell Havens Beech, a major movie poster collector and dealer, comes a one-of-a-kind Mickey Mouse cartoon poster from 1928 - the earliest known poster of the world’s most famous mouse. After buying it nearly 25 years ago, Beech secreted the poster away from everyone - even his family. It is now expected to bring $20,000+.
Other highlights include, but are not limited to:
A 14-inch by 36-inch insert from 1942’s blockbuster Casablanca, considered the greatest and most romantic films ever made, features all of the principal characters and is expected to bring $18,000+.
A scarce one sheet for the Charlie Chaplin classic The Bank, from 1915, is expected to bring $14,000. The comedy short was produced by Essanay Studios, which created the poster with an image taken from Chaplin’s hit The Tramp.
A French Grande poster for King Kong, measuring 46 inches by 62-3/4 inches, shows Kong illuminated by torches after pushing open the massive gate doors to reach a terrified Fay Wray, is expected to bring $12,000+.
Suitable for a pulp paperback, a one sheet for This Gun for Hire shows a hard-boiled Alan Ladd superimposed before a sultry Veronica Lake. The poster for the 1942 thriller is expected to break $12,000+.
Considered one of the greatest comedy teams of the 20th century, the Marx Brothers are represented on an impressive and rare three-sheet poster for Horse Feathers (estimate $10,000+).
Heritage Auctions is far and away the largest auction house founded in the United States, and the world’s third largest, with annual sales of more than $800 million, and 750,000+ online bidder members. For more information about Heritage Auctions, and to join and receive access to a complete record of prices realized, with full-color, enlargeable photos of each lot, please visit HA.com
Want to get the up-to-the-minute updates and breaking news stories about Heritage Auctions? Get them as they happen at: HA.com/Twitter; Facebook: HA.com/Facebook.To view a complete archive of Heritage press releases go to: HA.com/PR. To link to this press release on your blog or Website: HA.com/PR-2280.
