A unique Frankenstein insert poster has seen the highest bids in Heritage Auctions' July 27-28 Movie Posters Signature Auction in Dallas.
 An insert size poster from Frankenstein has not been seen publicly since the movie was released in 1931 |
The poster, the only known example of its kind to have survived the tests of time, sold for $262,900. It was originally estimated at $100,000+, yet even trimmed edges and several repaired tears and chips did not deter collectors from spirited bidding.
Any movie poster from the 1931 Universal classic is sought after by movie poster collectors, with only a few single-sheet examples, a solitary six-sheet and a partial half-sheet ever discovered.
This example is the only insert size (14 x 36 inches) poster found. There are two other Australian daybills known, though they are both in different layouts with varying colours.
 The poster was accompanied by an 'Exploitation Section' from the original press book |
The second highest bids in the sale were seen by a Style A half-sheet from The Wizard of Oz (1939), which topped its $40,000 high estimate by 79.2% to sell for $71,700.
Like Frankenstein, surviving posters from The Wizard of Oz are both popular with collectors and extremely rare due to their ephemeral nature. The example at auction is in fantastic condition, with touch-ups and colour enhancement truly bringing out its fantastic design.
Included in the lot was an "Exploitation Section" from the original release press book, which is filled with colour images of all the characters as well as promotional materials and posters, some of which have never been seen at auction before.
Paul Fraser Collectibles is currently offering an extremely rare signed photograph of a young Judy Garland.
