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THE GREATEST MOVIE POSTERS FOR SALE!
A Trip to the Moon The Day the Earth Stood Still War of the Worlds The Thing When Worlds Collide Forbidden Planet Mighty Joe Young The Man From Planet X Star Wars
* * * * * * * "These posters are not for everyone - They're for people who only want the best!"* * * * * * * *
The following 9 posters constitute arguably the greatest science fiction/fantasy film poster collection in the world. Certainly, one couldn't say they have the greatest science fiction/fantasy collection without them. 8 of the 9 posters are unique and are the only originals known to exist. All 9 of these posters transcend the movie poster field. An entire business can be created around these posters. They would certainly make an overwhelming public display. The magnitude and importance of these artifacts warrant presentation at the Smithsonian Institute or The Museum of Modern Art. These are among the rarest and finest movie posters that do exist worldwide!
#1 - 1914 - A TRIP TO THE MOON - 1-sheet (27 1/4 by 40 1/2 inches) - Here is truly one the earliest - if not the earliest - most imaginative pieces of science fiction poster artwork ever discovered: an original 1914 one-sheet for “A Trip to the Moon.” This amazing artifact has an unusual history, which represents the best in early cinema, science fiction, and motion picture animation:
There are very few things in life that garner unanimous consent; man’s liking of the moon is undoubtedly one of them. In 1865, Jules Verne tapped into this phenomenon of human interest with his groundbreaking novel, “From Earth to the Moon,” which is often cited as being seminal in establishing and popularizing science fiction as a literary genre. Thirty-seven years later, in 1902, another Frenchman, Georges Méliès, applied the same premise to motion pictures with his historic film, “A Trip to the Moon.” The film became a motion picture sensation, securing its place in history as being the first movie title to achieve worldwide fame.
Méliès was not the only first-generation filmmaker to cash in on his film’s popularity; Thomas Edison, Sigmond Lubin (sometimes spelled Siegmund), and a host of other motion picture players at the time, were cited for illegally duplicating and distributing “A Trip to the Moon” throughout the Americas. Georges Méliès promptly responded by sending his brother here to the United States to stop the pirating of his hit creation. The Méliès brothers subsequently prevailed in the US courts – many of the copyright laws that still stand today were implemented because of that initial effort. Nevertheless, they were unsuccessful in actually stopping the movie from being illegally distributed. Additionally, Sigmund Lubin, of the Lubin films credited on this poster, decided that he wasn’t going to be stopped in exploiting the popularity of the widely familiar title. He figured out an innovative way of doing it without paying Méliès any royalties.
Lubin, from the very earliest days of film, was an innovator and pioneer in the medium. He’s credited with manufacturing and selling the first motion picture projector ever offered for sale, and so, continuing with that pioneer spirit, he rendered one of the earliest FULLY animated films ever produced, an American version of “A Trip to the Moon.” Animated films were extraordinarily unusual for the time. The production is so early in the history of motion picture animation that it was released to the public the same year as - six months prior to - the cinematic release of Windsor McCay’s “Gertie the Dinosaur” – which is often (incorrectly) sighted as the beginning of movie animation – making this the earliest movie poster to ever surface representing a significant title in animation.
Besides the purposeful and obvious intent of creating confusion with the popular Méliès’ film, this poster’s artwork and graphic design is notable for being unusual for several other important reasons. Few films back in 1914 carried any unique elements. There were no movie stars or well-known feature films. Charlie Chaplin and “A Birth of a Nation” had not yet come on the scene, and so few film posters expended much attention or space towards highlighting the name of the movie as a headline attraction. Happily, this poster is a rare exception, resulting in an emboldened definition and refined clarity in the title treatment that’s decades ahead of its time. Yet, the artwork of the moon itself is rendered in a style patterned after 19th Century classic illustration design. These contrasting sensibilities add wonderfully to yet, perhaps, the most unusual element featured on this early 1910’s poster - futuristic outer space travel. Worldwide, there are no posters know to exist on the Méliès version of “A Trip to the Moon,” and, it’s highly unlikely that there were any ever made for it. Almost all the known surviving examples of film posters produced during that earliest period in motion picture history (when Méliès produced his film) advertise the new and novel medium of film itself, showing nothing but a projector and/or an audience viewing a generic projection. And so, finding any early turn of the century film poster with any specific imagery from a movie (especially depicting space travel) would be an extraordinary event. Science fiction was in its infancy when this poster was printed, making this one of the finest and earliest representations ever discovered.
Lubin spared no expense in producing this poster. The fine stone lithograph has unusual elements seldom seen on any poster, printed in any era! The white color within all the artwork is printed white, meaning it’s actual white ink printed on top of the other colors. It’s NOT the white of the paper. This extra technique in the printing process creates a dimensional effect, which helps to give the poster a true surreal presence, adding nicely to the many otherworldly elements shown on this charming antique treasure. The A.B.C. Co. in Cleveland Ohio is credited with making the poster, which was printed by the Otis Litho. Co.
This movie poster’s obvious significance as an early science fiction artifact is undeniable, yet at the same time it represents the beginnings of motion pictures and film animation like no other. An earlier, or more important example, of any kind, has not come up for sale anywhere. This poster is unique, being the only surviving original known, and it’s likely to stay that way. Nearly 100% of all posters made prior to 1915 are now lost. Only a few handfuls still exist today, mostly on insignificant, unknown conventional films. With animation (and science fiction) now dominating the film industry – as the most popular genres – this item continues to grow in importance. It’s projected that, in years to come, the vast majority of all films will consist of being (in one form or another) a vast majority of all animation. Besides its tradition of honoring the animated short subject, the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences recognized this growing trend back in 2003 by permanently adding a new major category to their globally watched Academy Awards telecasts – Best Animated Feature Film, and so this poster will only grow in importance as animation takes over the industry.
#2 - 1951 - THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL - 24-sheet - The 1950s were not all "Happy Days," the war was over but the aftershock was still very present. Post-WWII paranoia spawned from the fear of the new atomic age. This prompted a wave of science fiction cinema, exploiting the nightmare proposition of annihilation and radiological mutation.
The Day the Earth Stood Still, granddaddy of the 1950s films, is one of the few movies to change cinema - it was the Star Wars of its day. The Day the Earth Stood Still holds up well as a classic, it's still very relevant and entertaining today. This poster shows all of the main elements: the robot, the girl, the government, and, pandemonium - as alien forces grip the world! Robert Wise's best film.
It's a well known researched fact that the studios typically designed their poster campaigns - STARTING FIRST - with the 24-sheet billboard designs. The result being that the 24-sheet would most often have best and the strongest images. This collection of posters more than proves that point. This "The Day the Earth Stood Still" couldn't be more spectacular, as a more fantastic poster does not exist on any title! This poster is also as rare it they get - being THE SINGLE ONLY ORIGINAL KNOWN TO EXIST WORLDWIDE! It's not surprising as the 24-sheet posters are the rarest poster size. Very few 24-sheets survived on any films, only several hundred were originally printed. Most were destroyed in their original outing - when they were pasted-up on billboards, or displayed on dead walls throughout the city. They'd even use the 24-sheet posters by pasting them to the sides of trucks. It's remarkable this poster survived. The story of how it was rescued is impressive:
The 24-sheet billboard posters in this collection were actually obtained by one of the pioneer movie poster collectors back in the early 1950s, when almost no one in the United States collected posters! 24-sheets are nearly nonexistent on any film. The only reason this group has survived was because they were originally purchased directly from the poster exchange back in the 1950's by this collector - at the time when the films were originally released! Pretty remarkable for someone to have that foresight over six decades ago. This group has remained intact for over 60 years, making this one of the oldest collections of movie posters ever saved here in the United States. The poster measures approximately 9-feet by 20-feet. I had it linen-backed in one piece (WITH NO RESTORATION), and so it's ready for display. The photo I posted was taken with a 35mm film camera, so it's a little grainy, especially on the robot - but you can still see the glory. "Klaatu barada nikto."
#3 - 1953 - THE WAR OF THE WORLDS - 24-sheet - For just plain style this poster wins the prize! Remarkable artwork coupled with the fantastic title treatment add beautifully to the legend that is The War of the Worlds. It began as classic novel by H.G. Wells, then it was turned it into the most listened to and talked about radio play of the century by Orson Welles. Fifteen years later, George Pal made this classic film version. "The War of the Worlds" clearly is one of the most important and enduring stories and at the top of the 1950s science fiction movie genera.
As a note of fact: The 24-sheet posters in this collection were ALL printed sharper than their smaller 1-sheet counterparts. Different printing presses of higher quality were used. The War of the Words is a great example of the superior resolution. On the 1-sheet, the two human characters are soft. If you've ever seen the one-sheet you know what I'm talking about, it's one big BLUR! That's why the one sheet on this title does not sell for more money, it's uninspiring in it's execution. This 24-sheet is just the opposite - It's razor crisp! In fact, upon close-up inspection, the images (down to the tiniest detail) are clear. I've posted a direct high-resolution scan of the image at the bottom of the poster (see photo #10) to show you just how sharp this amazing treasure really is. If you own the blurry one sheet you might not want to look at this photo, it will likely upset you. This poster was never used and measures approximately 9 feet by 20 feet. This War of the Worlds 24-sheet poster is also the only original that is known to exist.
#4 - 1951 - THE THING - 24 sheet - Howard Hawks' 1950's masterpiece! AKA - The Thing From Another World. This production is noted for having the first space monster on film, as well as being rumored to have had Orson Welles' input on set during filming. A classic film and a classic poster! This is another example of how the 24-sheet design is far superior to the smaller (blurry) paper. The exquisite sharpness brings the bloody letters to life when viewed in person. It's impressive and effective - A GREAT piece of movie art! This poster is unused and measures approximately 9 feet by 20 feet. It's the only original known to exist.
#5 - 1951 - WHEN WORLDS COLLIDE - 24-sheet - One of cinema's first disaster films. This early George Pal science fiction won an Academy award for special effects back in 1951. A breathtaking poster with tons of impact! What an amazing display! A great companion to the rest of the posters in this offering. This poster is unused and measures approximately 9 feet by 20 feet. It's the only original known to exist.
#6 - 1956 - FORBIDDEN PLANET - 24 sheet - No serious science fiction collection is complete without this title. LEGENDARY! Shakespeare's The Tempest in space. The definitive robot (Robby the Robot) on the definitive robot poster. AMAZING is the word! However, the photo I've posted is not too amazing, but it gives you a general idea of the colossal nature of this item. However, I've posted direct high-resolution scans of the poster (see photo #11) so you can see how nice it truly is. Again, this is the only original known to exist, measuring approximately 9 feet by 20 feet. Robby the Robot at his best!
#7 - 1949 - MIGHTY JOE YOUNG - 12-sheet - This iconic image is from the same filmmakers of King Kong. This "kinder gentler" version is loaded with lots of charm. It made a star of Terry Moore and showcased the great classic animation created by the master, Ray Harryhausen. The film developed a tremendous following throughout the years, largely due to holiday television broadcasts. The story became so popular a remake was produced some years back.
In 1933, when King Kong was first release, RKO issued a special upright six-sheet to promote the spectacular colossal nature of King Kong. In 1949, they topped themselves and invented this unique upright 12-sheet poster king - Specially just for the original 1949 first release of Mighty Joe Young. Amazing artwork - The best for this film!!!
This poster was found in a collection of rare circus posters, and is the only original known to exist! It is even RARER than the original 1933 King Kong one sheet and three sheet posters as well as being equally as rare as the Kong upright 6 sheet - Quite a find! In fact, it's the only upright 12-sheet poster known to exist on ANY film! " The poster towers at approximately 12 feet tall and was never used.
#8 - 1951 - THE MAN FROM PLANET X - United Artists Lobby Standee cut-out Kit - "The WEIRDEST Visitor the Earth has ever seen!" One of the most popular 1950's movie titles and poster images. Here is the biggest of them all! This display when assembled stands 3 inches shy of 10 feet tall! 117 inches by 82 inches to be exact.
The kit includes the original United Artists MAN FROM PLANET X - 24 inch by 82 inch title banner. It also includes the 3 panel (24-sheet) image of the man from planet X (see photo #12). This is the left side of the 24 sheet poster printed by the studio. United Artists along with ALL the major studios designed and produced their 24 sheet posters to be displayed in full AND to be made into cut-out lobby displays. This information comes from the pressbooks. It is quite common for pressbooks to show illustrations on how to make the cutouts. This poster WAS DESIGNED TO BE A CUT-OUT. This section was found together with an additional small bottom piece (see photo #12 of the 4 sections you will get). This is the only original known to exist. The colors and the printing are fantastic. The standee would need to be assembled by a qualified expert. The photo pictured of the cut-out (photo #8) was digitally assembled to show what the poster will look like when mounted. IT HAS NOT BEEN CUT-OUT YET! This display is one of the strongest entertainment memorabilia items to be offered on eBay.
#9 - 1977 - Star Wars - 24 Sheet - Certainly, no Science Fiction collection can omit the the genera's most important title: Star Wars, and, if you're looking for the ULTIMATE Star Wars poster, well - YOU JUST FOUND IT! This more than fantastic 24-sheet has artwork rendered by the legendary poster artist Tom Jung. It's another amazing artifact of cultural significance. It was made in 1977 to advertise the upcoming film Star Wars, produced by 20th Century-Fox - The rest of the story we all know. Star Wars became a force of world changing history that still impacts everyone on the planet today. This is the beginning of that movement. OWN IT!
This 24-sheet billboard poster size was only issued when the film first came out. There are less than ten of these known WORLDWIDE! That's RARE by any standard! Many consider it the HOLY GRAIL of ALL Film Posters. It's definitely the MOTHER of ALL Star Wars posters. This poster, as is the case with all the 24-sheet posters in this collection, was printed in 12 sections. When assembled, it measures 19 feet 7 inches by 8 feet 9 inches. I know this because about 25 years ago I obtained another one, which, in 1999, I had professionally linen-mounted in one solid piece. I carefully measured it then, before it was cut down from the stretcher. Photo #9 shown here on eBay is of that poster mounted. I went to great lengths to have it professionally photographed back then, and so I'm able to provide this great photo now - you can really see how stellar of an item this original truly is. The poster you'll be buying is folded down and is still UNBACKED ORIGINAL STATE! That's how it was issued back in 1977, folded. Photo #12 shows the folded sections you'll be getting. Photo #12 also shows the stamp that's on the back of the 24-sheet. The stamp was put there to show the paper hanger how it goes together. This, as well as all the original 12 and 24-sheet posters in this collection can easily be mounted in one section, but I'll leave that decision up to the new owner. As a service, I can provide the winner with all the necessary information on where and how this can be done for them, if they so choose to have them mounted. Many collectors like to keep these type of items in their original state.
☆ Please write with any questions. If you're in the market for top quality original vintage movie posters or Star Wars, then please click here
A Trip to the Moon The Day the Earth Stood Still War of the Worlds The Thing When Worlds Collide Forbidden Planet Mighty Joe Young The Man From Planet X Star Wars
* * * * * * * "These posters are not for everyone - They're for people who only want the best!"* * * * * * * *
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