Universal Monster Army

Collecting Monsters => Vintage Monster Toys => Topic started by: Mike Scott on July 22, 2025, 03:06:14 PM

Title: SPP Original Wallet Art Auctions
Post by: Mike Scott on July 22, 2025, 03:06:14 PM
The six Heritage auctions for the SPP wallet art original paintings.

Originally brought to our attention by darkmonkeygod.

Please make your comments relate to the art, or SPP.

https://www.ha.com/c/search/results.zx?term=Universal+Pictures+Monster+Wallet+%26+Wall+Plaque+Original+Illustration+Artwork&si=2&archive_state=5327&sold_status=1526&sb=1&mode=archive&ic10=OtherResults-ViewAll-071515
Title: Re: SPP Original Wallet Art Auctions
Post by: Mike Scott on July 22, 2025, 03:10:31 PM
Click (or save) for 3000 pixel sized image.


(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/img923/9546/pbFc1r.jpg)

(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/img923/6331/bCSz2E.jpg)

(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/img923/723/tDXm86.jpg)

(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/img922/5471/6DIn1S.jpg)

(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/img922/3427/7zcIrg.jpg)

(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/img923/8106/r7XhDj.jpg)
Title: Re: SPP Original Wallet Art Auctions
Post by: Anton Phibes on July 22, 2025, 08:04:34 PM
Mike, has the art for the Jaymar Puzzles ever been posted to the forums like this? I always liked the imagery, but will never buy them.
Title: Re: SPP Original Wallet Art Auctions
Post by: Monster Mafia on July 22, 2025, 08:53:48 PM
I remember when I first saw this image of the wolfman and wondered how he ate anything. Wouldn't food get caught on those upward protruding fangs? 
Title: Re: SPP Original Wallet Art Auctions
Post by: Mike Scott on July 22, 2025, 10:40:44 PM
Quote from: Anton Phibes on July 22, 2025, 08:04:34 PMMike, has the art for the Jaymar Puzzles ever been posted to the forums like this?

Never seen original paintings. Maybe a good scan of a box lid.
Title: Re: SPP Original Wallet Art Auctions
Post by: John Pertwee on July 23, 2025, 08:36:19 AM
These are amazing. Between these and the Remco auction we are really lucky to see them. Thankfully, they don't watermark the images.
Title: Re: SPP Original Wallet Art Auctions
Post by: Rex fury on July 23, 2025, 09:28:57 AM
I had one of these wallets as a kid. The only memory I have of owning it was that my dad was in the hospital for some reason (long forgotten) and I distinctly remember showing him the art. I thought it would make him feel better!
RF
Title: Re: SPP Original Wallet Art Auctions
Post by: Monsters For Sale on July 23, 2025, 11:57:47 AM
There are places that make jigsaw puzzles out of whatever photos or art provided to them.  They don't cost that much.  I had one made for a friend.  They even put the image on the front of the nice box they include.

One of these would make a nice gift for a monster kid friend.
Title: Re: SPP Original Wallet Art Auctions
Post by: Monster Mafia on July 27, 2025, 09:29:11 PM
I wonder why these exact images weren't used for the plaques.  The reason is that they seem to be painted with "3D" like parts (hands,drac's bat,mummy's cobra,etc.).  The plaques have similar images but are not identical. The wolfman seems the closest to being same image.

Title: Re: SPP Original Wallet Art Auctions
Post by: darkmonkeygod on July 28, 2025, 11:28:30 AM
Quote from: Monster Mafia on July 27, 2025, 09:29:11 PMI wonder why these exact images weren't used for the plaques.  The reason is that they seem to be painted with "3D" like parts (hands,drac's bat,mummy's cobra,etc.).  The plaques have similar images but are not identical.

It's likely not just the need to exaggerate the foreshortening for the vacuform plaques, Monster Mafia, but also the size of the reproduction. Particularly at the time (early to middle 1960s) small illustrations blown up to the size of the plaques would look "off" or cheap, and large illustrations tend to chunk up when reduced.

Title: Re: SPP Original Wallet Art Auctions
Post by: Mike Scott on July 28, 2025, 11:38:06 AM
Quote from: darkmonkeygod on July 28, 2025, 11:28:30 AMsmall illustrations blown up to the size of the plaques would look "off" or cheap

How about a small painting blown up to a 24-sheet movie poster?
Title: Re: SPP Original Wallet Art Auctions
Post by: Monster Mafia on July 28, 2025, 05:21:24 PM
That's what I would have thought they could do.  But I'm just guessing they did the wallets first, then got the idea to do plaques.  The plaques needed more bigger/exaggeration areas to show off the vacuum form so they needed to redo/alter them?

Does anyone know how the vacuum form molds were made?  Did they have to carve out the areas on clay or some other material for the sheet to be laid on when it was heated?

They didn't have 3D printers back then.
Title: Re: SPP Original Wallet Art Auctions
Post by: Mike Scott on July 28, 2025, 06:39:37 PM
Quote from: Monster Mafia on July 28, 2025, 05:21:24 PMDid they have to carve out the areas on clay or some other material for the sheet to be laid on when it was heated?

If you were sculpting in clay, you would then have to make a negative mold and then fill that mold with whatever you're using to make the positive mold for vacuum forming.
Title: Re: SPP Original Wallet Art Auctions
Post by: Earth 2 Chris on July 29, 2025, 06:54:43 AM
These are wonderful. I always love seeing the weirdo combo of Lon Chaney's Larry Talbot and Oliver Reed's Leon.
Title: Re: SPP Original Wallet Art Auctions
Post by: Mike Scott on July 29, 2025, 12:03:14 PM
Quote from: Earth 2 Chris on July 29, 2025, 06:54:43 AMI always love seeing the weirdo combo of Lon Chaney's Larry Talbot and Oliver Reed's Leon.

Of course, they're all just copying the Aurora art.