Original Universal Monster posters/one-sheets

[barkleythedoggo]

Hi! I was wondering if folks had a recommendation for the best way to find affordable original movie posters from Universal Horror monster films.... that hung in movie theaters, one sheets that sort of thing.

I have found you can piecemeal search for stuff on Amazon etc.... but wondering if there's a better repository somewhere?

And don't want reproductions, or bad quality, but also would prefer to not purchase the top tier expensive stock either hah

[Sir Masksalot]

the best way to find affordable original movie posters from Universal Horror monster films.... that hung in movie theaters, one sheets

I might suggest hitting a Powerball mega-jackpot first. What you seek is improbable nowadays.
I've had some old paper in my collection since the 1970s, been meaning to have it appraised ...
that is, if the silverfish haven't gotten to it yet. What titles have you managed to score so far?

[Monster Mike]

Best possible recommendation?...Hmmm...

Do you have access to a time machine?

[Hepcat]

I was wondering if folks had a recommendation for the best way to find affordable original movie posters from Universal Horror monster films.... that hung in movie theaters, one sheets that sort of thing.

"Affordable" in the same sentence with "original Universal monster movie posters" constitutes an oxymoron.

[Mike Scott]

"Affordable" in the same sentence with "original Universal monster movie posters"

"Original" just means not a repro. Original "reissue" posters are a lot cheaper than the first run posters. Of course, when it comes to Universal Horror, "a lot cheaper" can still be kind of expensive. Too expensive for me! 

[Hepcat]

Original "reissue" posters are a lot cheaper than the first run posters.

How can they be reissued without having been reproduced? Previously unissued stock perhaps? Could you elaborate on these reissue posters?

[barkleythedoggo]

"Original" just means not a repro. Original "reissue" posters are a lot cheaper than the first run posters. Of course, when it comes to Universal Horror, "a lot cheaper" can still be kind of expensive. Too expensive for me! 

exactly. i wouldnt mind paying a few hundred maybe if it was verified first issue

[Mike Scott]

How can they be reissued without having been reproduced? Previously unissued stock perhaps?

Back in the pre-TV days, popular movies would be re-issued to theaters every so many years. They would, usually, make a new set of posters for these reissues.

A reproduction is made by photographing, or scanning an original poster (original issue, or reissue) and making a poster from that photo.

[Mike Scott]

i wouldn't mind paying a few hundred maybe if it was verified first issue

You are going to have to dig deep into the "B" movies for original issue Universal material from the '30s and '40s.

Frankenstein, Dracula and The Mummy one sheets have sold in the hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Lobby Cards (11x14) are cheaper than the larger posters, but still expensive for top titles.

Check Heritage Auctions for poster prices. http://movieposters.ha.com/

[darkmonkeygod]

exactly. i wouldnt mind paying a few hundred maybe if it was verified first issue

I can't think of a first run A style one sheet for a Universal monster film that, intact, would price out at less than ten thousand USD - unless you're interested in Invisible Agent or the like, and even those are in the $500 range on the lowest end. Realart reissues are typically in the several thousand dollar range, or higher.

You're taking about some of the rarest (true rare, with less than five examples known) and most expensive film posters in existence when looking at Dracula and The Mummy:

https://www.barnebys.com/blog/historys-6-most-popular-movie-posters

But perhaps there's hope, at least the Mummy DIDN'T sell at a million (leaving Dracula on top at a bit over half a mil).

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-film-mummy-poster/mummy-film-poster-expected-to-fetch-record-fails-to-sell-at-auction-idUSKCN1N52WJ

You can join Heritage and Hake's and search their sold posters to get an idea of going rates, but even the one color 1972 re-release of Creature is commanding $450 these days, or so it would seem.

https://posteritati.com/poster/6874/creature-from-the-black-lagoon-r1972-us-one-sheet-poster

Hell, have you seen what some of the Mondo releases are fetching? As of my post, this 2019 Creature poster has an hour and a half to go and is at $1200 USD. Bit of a mind blower for me, and I follow this stuff.

https://movieposters.ha.com/itm/movie-posters/horror/creature-from-the-black-lagoon-54-109-by-jason-edmiston-mondo-2019-rolled-near-mint-printed-signature-and-numbered-l/a/42153-9093.s

None of this is meant to discourage you, just to point out the lay of the land, as it were. Educate yourself on the specifics of what you're after and then give a go at attending a paper show. You never know what might turn up.

The image links are hot, if anyone cares.

[barkleythedoggo]

unless you're interested in Invisible Agent or the like, and even those are in the $500

yup this is exactly what i mean. can i find a "reasonable" original poster for like, invisible man returns? abbott and costello meets the mummy? etc.

appreciate the post. ill poke around

[Hepcat]

can i find a "reasonable" original poster for like, invisible man returns? abbott and costello meets the mummy? etc.

I'd say "Nope!" to those two as well if you want "original" release. The mathematics/economics is too grim. There might be 25-50 copies of the poster in existence, yet there are probably tens of thousands of collectors of either classic movie or horror movie posters. So who gets the poster? Whoever out of those tens of thousands of collectors is willing to pay the most ludicrously high price.

[darkmonkeygod]

can i find a "reasonable" original poster for like, invisible man returns? abbott and costello meets the mummy? etc.

"Reasonable" being in the eye (or wallet) of the beholder, somewhere between six and the thousand on Invisible Man Returns, around a grand for Abbott and Costello meet the Mummy. That's based on fine condition. The prices fall off considerably as the condition drops.

[Hepcat]

That's based on fine condition.

And Fine isn't really stellar condition.

[The Cantankerous Collector]

That Mondo Creature Variant Red poster sold for $1440 on Heritage but you can get one for $350 on ebay...lol I paid $189 for mine a couple of years ago.