A rare one sheet from The Three Stooges’ classic film “Playing the Ponies” may bring more than $20,000 to lead the largest collection of pre-1940s Three Stooges movie posters and lobby cards ever offered at auction in Heritages’ Movie Posters Signature® Auction July 27-28.
“This is the largest and most diverse vintage Stooge poster and lobby card collection offered at one time that I can remember,” said Grey Smith, Director of Movie Posters at Heritage Auctions. “These are posters that really seldom turn up, to the tune of 17 different varieties, all relating to the golden age of the careers of the Stooges and some of their greatest comedy.”
A scarce one sheet for the hilarious short “Mutts to You,” a rare pre-1940 Three Stooges poster highly sought after by collectors, is expected to bring $15,000+. The short was directed by silent screen comedian Charley Chase and remains one of the most beloved of the threesome’s early work. A rare one sheet featuring a bold image of Curly Howard taken from the 1941 short “I’ll Never Heil Again” is expected to bring $6,000+.
A group of 13 lobby cards is expected to be led by a rare find from the 1935 classic “Hoi Polloi,” in which a professor bets that he can turn the Stooges into gentlemen, the rare title card is expected to bring $6,000+ in its first-ever appearance at Heritage. A delightful lobby card from the 1937 short “Cash and Carry,” graced with a scene of Moe bonking Curly on the head with a gold brick, is expected to bring $4,000+.
