DALLAS, TX.- An extremely rare Italian movie poster for a film noir classic, along with artwork for a one-off James Bond spoof and a poster for horror movie classic will vie for their shares of the spotlight in Heritage Auctions’ Movie Posters Signature auction November 20-21.

First up, the big one. Known to be the most prized and coveted Italian movie poster in existence, The Maltese Falcon first post-war Italian foglio featuring Sergio Gargiulo artwork (estimate: $30,000-60,000) is one of only a couple of copies to appear. Made for the 1941 remake directed by John Huston and starring Humphrey Bogart, it features text in Italian, the title being Mistero del Falco – un film Warner Bros … con Humphrey Bogart (and) Mary Astore (and) Peter Lorre. Measuring 39 by 27 inches, the poster was made in an unusual orientation: horizontal instead of the standard vertical.

“This is, without a doubt, the true meaning of ‘rare,’” Heritage Auctions Vintage Posters Director Grey Smith said. “We have never seen an image before of this poster - the Gargiulo artwork is jaw-dropping.”

Another highlight in the auction is A French four panel for King Kong (estimate: $40,000-80,000). This is an enormous (43-by-123-1/2-inch) French four panel that has been sold by Heritage only once before in the last 10 years. Restored on linen, this features the arresting work of artist C. Finel of the GB Hess workshop for the 1933 original. Posters from King Kong always generate interest and demand, especially those – like the one offered in this sale – that rarely reach the open market. Considering its size and the fact that it was printed 88 years ago, the condition of this poster is hard to believe.

Next is a collection of three, four-fogli artwork renderings of stars of the original James Bond spoof, 1967’s Casino Royale, each carrying a pre-auction estimate of $12,000-24,000. Featuring David Niven and Dahlia Lavi on one, Peter Sellers and Joanna Pettet on another and Woody Allen and Ursula Andress on the third, each was created by the legendary painter and poster artist Giorgio Olivetti, the artist known for creating posters for important films that featured some of the biggest cinematic stars, among them Charlie Chaplin in Luci della Ribalta (The Great Dictator), 1952, and John Wayne in A Cavalieri dei Nord Ovest (She Wore a Yellow Ribbon), 1949, and La battaglia di Alamo (The Alamo),1960. All of his Casino Royale posters in this sale are original gouache, full-body images of the actors, each signed by Olivetti.

“The James Bond movie series is so established, and the original Casino Royale is a reminder that it was ripe for satire all the way back in 1967,” Smith said.
Other highlights in the auction include, but are not limited to:

• Return to Oz by Drew Struzan (Buena Vista, 1985). Very Fine+. Original Signed Acrylic Poster Painting on Illustration Board (estimate: $40,000-80,000).

• The Champion (Essanay, 1915) One Sheet (estimate: $30,000-60,000)

• It Happened One Night (Columbia, 1934) One Sheet Style B (estimate: $20,000-40,000)

• The Wizard of Oz (MGM, 1939) Half Sheet Style B (estimate: $20,000-40,000)

• The Bride of Frankenstein (Universal, 1940) First Release Italian 4 - Fogli O. Grassetti Artwork (estimate: $20,000-40,000)

• Dracula (Universal, 1931) Lobby Card (estimate: $20,000-40,000)