Inspired by the opening of Tutankhamun’s tomb just a decade earlier, 1932’s The Mummy starring Boris Karloff was one of the three early horror releases for Universal that set the tone for the genre.
Now an extremely rare movie poster for The Mummy could become the most expensive in the world after it goes up for auction from Sothebys. The auction house expects the poster to fetch anywhere from $1 million to as much as $1.5 million. Just three original posters for The Mummy are believed to still exist. The other two are in the hands of private collectors, including one that’s owned by Metallica guitarist Kirk Hammett. This rare original stone lithograph was designed by Universal advertising art director Karoly Groszis and is considered one of the most prized film posters in existence.
The poster for The Mummy last sold at auction for $453,500 in 1997. It was the most expensive movie poster ever sold and held that title until 2014 when a 1927 poster for London After Midnight broke The Mummy’s record selling for $478,000. The current record holder is a 1931 poster for Dracula, which sold for $525,800 last year.
Check out the auction HERE.