So so COOL!
HA will auction POTO Style L:
Description
The Phantom of the Opera (Universal, 1925). One Sheet (27.5" X 41") Style L.
A piece of untold scarcity that should make any collector sit up and take notice, we at Heritage take the greatest pleasure in presenting this much sought after one sheet. As one of Universal's early horror hits, this adaptation of Gaston Leroux's famous novel became the stuff of movie legends, due in large part to the talents of its leading actor. In addition to turning in a terrifying yet moving performance, Lon Chaney more than lived up to his moniker as "The Man of a Thousand Faces" as the disfigured Erik. Among his skillful, and sometimes painful, make-up techniques were that of using a wire to hold his nose in place, heavy grease paint to give the impression of sunken, skull-like eyes, and wearing rows of jagged fake teeth. It remains the most accurate depiction of the Phantom to date, a horrifying visage said to have made patrons faint at the sight. To keep Chaney's feat of artistry a secret, Universal obscured and misrepresented the Phantom in every single advertisement, including this dramatic one sheet. Given the presence of a mysterious masked figure, lurking in the shadows while chaos reigns below, audiences no doubt assumed this was an illustration of the dreaded Opera Ghost. Instead, the poster treats us to the sight of Norman Kerry in his role as the valiant Raoul de Chagny in his masquerade costume, a much more dapper guise than the true Phantom.
From a lavish production worthy of its source material, this exquisite stone litho one sheet has undergone careful restoration to return it to its former glory. The first of its kind to ever be offered at Heritage, the poster once showed horizontal creasing under the Universal Productions credit, tears and small chips in the borders and folds, and general wear and tear at folds. There was a chip in the left border and the poster had a few vertical tears extending from the top and bottom horizontal folds into the background. Although it retained much of its original color, there has been very minor color touchup to a few areas in the image and the "Ph" of the title. The poster was partially trimmed into the border, leaving the majority of the white border still intact. The missing portion has since been completely restored, and the borders have been airbrushed. Now a marvel to behold, this exquisite gem of a poster would be a crowning piece in any collection. Fine/Very Fine on Linen.
Estimate: $50,000 - $100,000.
https://movieposters.ha.com/itm/movie-posters/horror/the-phantom-of-the-opera-universal-1925-one-sheet-275-x-41-style-l/p/7167-16002.s?ic5=Home-FeaturedItems-071515
