A vintage poster advertising the 1931 Dracula movie, starring Bela Lugosi, has sold for $143,400 at an auction in the US.
One of just four "Style F" versions of the poster in existence, the sale is a further reminder to the collecting community of the strength of the movie poster market, and the importance that rarity plays in boosting values.
It was one of a collection of 33 posters, unearthed in a Pennsylvania attic, which sold for a combined $503,000 on March 23.
They had previously changed hands at a provincial auction last year for $30,000 - an increase of 1576.6%, and confirmation that the collectibles market is awash with substantial gains for savvy buyers.
A poster for 1931 western Cimarron made $101,575 at the online auction, while a one-sheet for The Public Enemy from the same year achieved $59,750.
 One of just four in existence – this 1931 poster sold $143,400 |
Meanwhile, a poster for Warner Bros' 1931 film Little Caesar beat its $40,000 high estimate with a $41,825 showing.
The gangster film made Hollywood legend Edward G Robinson a star, thanks to his scene-stealing performance as Caesar Enrico "Rico" Bandetto, alias "Little Caesar". It set the standard for all gangster films that followed.
A title lobby card from 1935 Boris Karloff film The Black Room sold for $11,950, nudging the top end of its $6,000-12,000 estimate.
British actor Karloff (born William Pratt in 1887) continues to perform well for collectors; an original Bride of Frankenstein one sheet sold for $334,600 in 2007.
Paul Fraser Collectibles has many superb items of vintage movie memorabilia currently available - including this signed photograph of Laurel and Hardy.
