This has to be one of the rarest Snow White posters in existence today. A 1938 British 24-sheet billboard, it measures 234.25" x 119" (that's approximately 20' wide x 10' high)! The artwork is based on the designs of Disney artist Gustaf Tenggren and features three distinct scenes.
Five months ago, the poster went up for sale through Heritage Auctions. Apparently, it once belonged to a French woman who had it stored in her attic. She sold it to a movie poster dealer in Paris, who in turn moved it along to the private collector who put it up for auction this year.
Heritage Auctions' Grey Smith, director of vintage movie poster auctions, poses with the billboard.
The poster was originally printed by W. E. Berry Ltd, Bradford.
The piece was in excellent condition, except for the original bottom left panel which was missing. The owner had it
professionally restored and the entire poster placed on linen. On July 19, 2014, it sold for $10,755.00 (USD).
In a 1938 photo of the Empire Theatre in Southampton, Hampshire, UK, we see a crowd outside waiting for tickets to see
Snow White. Note the oversize poster to the right, possibly an eight-sheet. It actually looks small compared to this 24-sheet seen above the marque.
This is what our 24-sheet looked like in action 76 years ago. The fact that one of these billboards has survived to this day is truly amazing!
It goes without saying that the folks standing in line below, paying only a few coppers for their movie tickets, could never have imagined that the billboard that drew them into the theatre would someday be worth over $10,000.
