LONDON.- From Hammer horror Dracula classics starring Christopher Lee to kitsch 1950s B movies, the market for film posters is booming, say Ewbank’s, whose May 5 Cinema Poster Collection auction is packed with fine examples.

Partner and head of Entertainment Memorabilia Alastair McCrea and his team have put together dozens of highly collectable posters for the sale, some running well into four figures. And they include a large selection of horror titles, including the 1966 Hammer horror Dracula Prince of Darkness (estimate £700-1,000) and the 1954 Sci-Fi horror Devil Girl from Mars (estimate £400-600).

“These posters have amazing wall power and provide more bang for your buck than almost any other decorative collectable,” says McCrea.

“At Ewbank’s we have sold over a million pounds’ worth of film posters over the past five years, with enduring favourites from the 007 James Bond series, rare original Star Wars designs from the 1970s and the cream of horror titles.”

In March Ewbank’s sold an original Dr No poster from the first James Bond film, released in 1962, for £22,750. And this time last year they sold an exceptionally rare British Quad poster for the 1953 film War of the Worlds for £22,100 – the first time this copy had ever been on the market after being consigned by someone who had owned it for nearly 70 years.

“One of my favourites was the wonderful poster from the 1954 classic Creature from the Black Lagoon, which we sold for £22,000 in March 2020,” says McCrea.

Rarity, condition, design, colour and subject matter are all factors in collectability and value, he explains, with professionals helping to preserve posters over the years by backing them on linen and framing them using special glass that filters out ultraviolet light, which can fade the colours.

“In this sale, outside of the horror films we have one of the most sought-after classic designs of all, the fantastic A. R. Thompson (1894-1979) and Sydney Wood design for The Man In The White Suit, the 1952 Ealing comedy starring Alec Guinness. As a graphic artwork, it would be hard to think of anything you could put on your wall for the same money. The estimate is £2,000-4,000.”

So talented was Thompson that even won the last gold medal for painting ever awarded as part of the Olympic games, in London in 1948.