Heritage Auctions’ Movie Posters Auction Nov. 18-19 in Dallas will feature more than 1,000 posters from an enormous array of movies ranging from the most obscure to some of the most well-known blockbusters of all time.
One such iconic feature is Casablanca, the 1941 timeless classic starring Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman that is on most short lists of the greatest films ever made. The upcoming auction includes 12 different posters from the film. The first one that jumps out is the Casablanca (Warner Brothers, 1947) First Post-War Release French Grande, which measures 46-1/2 by 63-1/4 inches, with Pierre Pigeot artwork (est. $100,000-200,000) … and with good reason, as it is one of just a handful of known existing copies of this extremely rare poster.
That poster has the highest pre-auction estimate among the Casablanca offerings, but it is far from the only one expected to draw major interest from serious collectors. Here are five exceptional examples, some of which were made by different companies – each from a different country:
Casablanca (United Artists, R-1962) Italian 2-Fogli, which measures 39 by 55 inches and boasts artwork by Silvano “Nano” Campeggi (est. $40,000-80,000), marks the first time this Italian poster has been offered by Heritage. There are minor indications of handling, but they do little to alter the impact of this gem, which is in Fine/Very Fine condition.
A Casablanca (Warner Brothers, 1946) First Post-War Release Danish Poster measuring 24 by 33-1/2 inches, with Ben Stilling artwork (est. $8,000-16,000), shows minor touchup work on the center horizontal crease, leaving behind some additional minor creases and pinholes visible at the top, but it is an eye-catching poster that is graded Fine/Very Fine on Linen.
Serious collectors around the world always are on the lookout for any original Casablanca offerings, and this 1945 Warner Brothers Casablanca First Post-War Release Finnish Poster with R.O.R. artwork (est. $6,000-12,000) certainly fits the bill, and is graded Fine/Very Fine.
A rare 1946 Warner Brothers Casablanca Japanese B3 (est. $2,500-5,000) measures 14-1/4 by 20 inches and is offered by Heritage for the first time. When Japan surrendered at the end of World War II in 1945, the United States set up bases and began an occupation of the island, which lasted until 1952. During that time, American films – including Casablanca – were distributed heavily. Despite a horizontal fold and pinholes in the corners, it carries a Very Fine+ grade.
A 1947 Warner Brothers Casablanca First Post-War Release Belgian poster, est. $1,000-2,000, measures 12 inches wide by 15.5 inches wide and boasts artwork considered by many to be superior to anything used in American promotion of the film. It includes light foxing on the borders and the imprint area has been trimmed, and carries a Fine/Very Fine grade on Linen.
Written by: Steve Lansdale