A Universal Studio poster of The Mummy, 1932, still holds the world auction record as the most expensive poster ever sold, having made a premium-inclusive $453,000 at Christie’s, New York, in 1997.
The biggest crowd-puller at the second of Christie’s South Kensington (17.5/10% buyer’s premium) bi-annual vintage film poster sales on September 19 was that classic horror of the silver screen, The Creature From The Black Lagoon, 1954, Universal.
Although it may no longer have the power to terrify, the infrequent appearance of this title at auction saw it contested by UK, European and American trade and privates.
Consigned by a US dealer and in reasonable condition, it fetched £9500 from an American collector against an estimate of £3000-5000.
CSK have hosted sales devoted to vintage film posters since 1995, and usually hope for a take-up by lot in excess of 80 per cent. This 365-lot outing was no exception, selling 84 per cent of entries to the tune of £229,605.
A welcome sense of horror in the saleroom
Vintage Film Posters: For some people there is nothing more enjoyable than watching a late-night horror movie alone in pitch darkness. The fascination with terror extends to the world of vintage film posters where horror is the most sought-after genre.
