Yes, it does make sense that heralds usually sell for a fraction of the price of lobby cards and posters. They were distributed by the carload to anyone who bought a ticket for a movie. Lobby cards and posters were printed distributed in much less quantity to theater owners and less survive today. It's a matter of Adam Smith's principle of supply and demand meets movie ephemera. FRANC
-----Original Message----- From: MoPo List [mailto:mop...@listserv.american.edu] On Behalf Of Bruce Hershenson Sent: Saturday, June 13, 2009 10:06 AM To: MoPo-L@LISTSERV.AMERICAN.EDU Subject: [MOPO] FA: Does anyone collect heralds, and does it make sense they sell for a tiny fraction of the price of a lobby card or poster? I am auctioning heralds this week (hence the "FA" at the start of my post, so it is clear this relates to my auctions), and I have a really excellent collection of heralds this week (from two different people). As I say on the auctions, "Many collectors (especially newer ones) seem pretty much unaware of heralds which are basically tiny posters that were given away to theaters to entice people into that theater. They often provide one of the absolute most affordable ways of getting an original first release item from titles that otherwise sell for "out of this world" prices! Note that the heralds we are auctioning this week come from two different exceptional collections we were consigned, and included in those collections are some extremely rare titles, and almost all of the heralds are in really excellent condition (they were either never used, or were used once and then carefully stored away)." My question to all you MoPo experts is, does it make sense they sell for a tiny fraction of the price of a lobby card or poster? Look at this one (1932's White Zombie): http://auctions.emovieposter.com/Bidding.taf?_function=detail <http://auctions.emovieposter.com/Bidding.taf?_function=detail&Auction_u id1=1439580> &Auction_uid1=1439580 It has a great image of Lugosi on the cover and inside as well, and it is filled with tons of cool ad copy. Now I have no clue, but I would think a first release one sheet would surely sell for tens of thousands (hundreds of thousands if it were a "Buy It Now" on eBay. I would think a full-color first release lobby card would surely sell for thousands (but I seem to recall they are green and black). Yet this herald (which is in great condition) languishes at $9 and might well sell for $20 or $30! And the same can be said for many of the other excellent 1920s and 1930s heralds I have currently listed. Does that seem right to you, and does that mean that heralds just stink and will never be worth anything, or does it mean that these are under-valued and under-appreciated and will likely appreciate over the coming years (especially as the posters and lobby cards completely dry up and are both unavailable and unaffordable)? Bruce Visit the MoPo Mailing List Web Site at www.filmfan.com ___________________________________________________________________ How to UNSUBSCRIBE from the MoPo Mailing List Send a message addressed to: lists...@listserv.american.edu In the BODY of your message type: SIGNOFF MOPO-L The author of this message is solely responsible for its content. Visit the MoPo Mailing List Web Site at www.filmfan.com ___________________________________________________________________ How to UNSUBSCRIBE from the MoPo Mailing List Send a message addressed to: lists...@listserv.american.edu In the BODY of your message type: SIGNOFF MOPO-L The author of this message is solely responsible for its content.
