The ComicLink Fall Featured Auction, which is now open, includes an exciting find – an extremely rare original Night of the Living Dead 40” x 60” poster from the classic horror film. “The vintage film industry produced 40” x 60” size movie posters in an extremely limited run of just a few hundred per film and very few have survived for any film. We have thus far not been able to find any other example of this poster variety that has surface for Night of the Living Dead and it isn’t outside of the realm of possibility that this could be the only surviving example,” ComicLink founder and CEO Josh Nathanson said.

For movie theaters, the cost of acquiring and displaying the 40” x 60” posters was significantly higher than the cost of the one-sheets, which is a primary reason why so few were produced. While multiple examples of the one-sheet version of this classic poster are known to exist, ComicLink consulted with several movie poster experts who had never even seen an example of this extremely rare 40” x 60” version.

The story behind this poster having survived is a serendipitous mix of foresight and luck. The consignor’s father, Mr. Jack Cataldo, was manager of the Palms Theatre in Detroit, MI when the movie was released in the fall of 1968. This poster was displayed in the theater as a coming attraction and as currently playing feature. At the conclusion of the run, Mr. Cataldo told an usher when he took down the poster to give it to him. Mr. Cataldo rolled it up and took it home. It has been in the possession of the family for nearly 50 years, and is being offered on the market now for the very first time.

Night of the Living Dead has gone down in the history of cinema as one of the most important horror films ever made. Its influence has been profound. The 1968 independent zombie film was directed by George A. Romero on a shoestring budget of just $114,000. It opened in October of 1968 and was an initial success, generating $18 million at the box office and building a loyal fanbase.

Although it was initially criticized for its gory content, the film was eventually selected for preservation in the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress which deemed the film culturally and historically significant. It’s the precursor to the many zombie movies, games, books, and shows that have followed.  

“An offering of this extremely rare item is an incredible opportunity for collectors of vintage horror movie posters. The poster is in good condition, with edge and corner wear associated with having been hung in the theater,” Nathanson said.

Sellers interested in consigning to upcoming auctions can contact ComicLink at buysell@comiclink.com or (617) 517-0062 (option 1) to speak with Josh Nathanson, Douglas Gillock, Jason Crosby, Jon Signorelli, or Ross Kearney. Upfront cash advances are available upon request.

In addition to auctioning items for consignors, ComicLink is also always accepting new sellers for the ComicLink exchange marketplaces, brokering private placement deals, and buying outright.

The Featured Auction, auction schedule, Comic book Exchange, and Comic Art Exchange can be viewed on ComicLink’s website.