When auction ends Oct. 31, it could set a record.
By Halloween, « The Mummy » could set the record for the world’s most expensive movie poster. A 1932 lithographic poster promoting the Boris Karloff classic went up for online auction Thursday, and if sold, might potentially fetch more than $1 million when the gavel drops Oct. 31, according to Sotheby’s New York.
The poster, advertising the influential Universal Pictures horror hit by Oscar-winning filmmaker Karl Freund, is believed to be one of only three remaining copies, according to Sotheby’s.
The « Mummy » poster, designed by Universal advertising director Karoly Grosz, set a record two decades ago, selling for $453,500, before relinquishing the record in 2014.
Last year brought the highest auction bid ever for a movie poster: $525,800 for 1931 « Dracula » art — another release from the so-called Golden Age of Horror. (The cinematographer on that « Dracula » film, coincidentally, was Freund.)
Grosz created the brightly tinted « Mummy » artwork exclusively for theatrical advertising, so it was never sold to the public, Sotheby’s says.
The « Mummy » poster spotlights « Karloff the Uncanny » as the entombed Egyptian monster, as well as the crimson-robed Zita Johann as his love interest, and blares with the tag line: « It comes to life! » The type also trumpets Universal Studios founder Carl Laemmle.
Metallica guitarist Kirk Hammett, who reportedly owns another copy of the rare poster, told Rolling Stone last year: « For me, it’s the ultimate image for that movie. Karloff’s head is just iconic. It looks godlike. »
Michael Cavna wrote this story, (c) 2018 The Washington Post.
