On June 17th, Heritage is allowing collectors to bid on and win vintage posters and props from several iconic, and maybe even overlooked, movies. These posters range from James Bond to Spider-Man, and everything in between. There's something in here for everyone: horror, science fiction, and thriller fans. Vintage posters are highly collectible, with specific examples reaching hundreds of thousands of dollars. This auction has hundreds of unique posters, so let's look at some of the standout gems.
Japanese Tron Poster (1982)
Disney's Tron took viewers into the world of video games in 1982. At this point in pop culture history, arcades were prominent spots for kids and adults to hang out. The home console wars had yet to start, and we were only a year out from the infamous video game crash in 1983. While the industry rebounded after some time, the late 1970s and early 1980s were a vibrant time for video games.
But what was life like inside a video game? Did characters interact with each other while a game wasn't in use? Tron set out to explore those possibilities. Tron would become one of Disney's highest-grossing life-action films for several years after its release, but it wouldn't see a sequel until 2010s Tron: Legacy.
This poster is for the Japanese release of Tron. More commonly referred to as Japanese B2 Style A, this poster depicts the movie's main characters. This is an exciting poster with bold colors, but Heritage notes there is light wear and was previously folded. Overall it is in Very Fine+ condition. A similar example of this poster sold for $97 in December 2013. In the ten years since then, Heritage has not offered this poster style, but other Tron posters have sold for as high as $1,140. I believe this example will sell for over $150 for the right buyer.
Mars Attacks the World (1950s poster)
In 1938 Universal released Flash Gordon's Trip to Mars, starring Buster Crabbe as the titular hero. This 15-chapter serial was thrilling and exciting. The serial was accompanied by the feature-length version Mars Attacks the World. The film was released a week after Orson Welles' infamous War of the Worlds radio broadcast (despite being made prior) to capitalize on the broadcast's popularity.
Flash Gordon was one of the most successful serials of the era. Crabbe would also portray another famous space captain - Buck Rogers - and would later appear on the Buck Rogers in the 25 Century television show a few decades later.
Heritage notes this linen poster as being in Very Fine+ condition. Restoration is done, but restoration shouldn't hurt the ending price. A similar example sold for $960 in July 2018. Before that, sales have stayed under the $600 price point. To be fair, I'm not sure where to price this poster at. I feel it will sell for over $600, with a bidding frenzy at the end of the auction.
Frankenstein Spanish One Sheet (the 1970s)
Frankeinstein's Monster is one of the most beloved monsters of all time. Frankenstein, originally a novel by Mary Shelley, was released by Universal Pictures in 1931 and quickly became a fan favorite. Boris Karloff famously portrayed the Monster and would cement himself firmly in horror pop culture lore. By the early 1950s, Frankenstein had made over $10 million at the box office -- currently, individual VHS and Laser Disc copies of the movie can be worth a lot of money. Original posters from the movie's release are grail items for some collectors.
This 1970s Spanish One Sheet is very eye-catching. While most Frankenstein posters focused on the Monster's face, this poster gives you a full scope of his pieced-together body. The iconic windmill is also shown. Heritage noted this poster as being in Very Fine+ condition with some edge and fold wear. In February 2017, a similar example sold for $109.
Before that, this poster would sell between $150 - $300 when available. I do not think this is a highly sought-after collectible, and it will likely not exceed $250. This is a great poster for a Frankenstein or classic monster fan.
*Any perceived investment advice is that of the freelance blogger and does not represent advice on behalf of GoCollect.