Creature Features: Hake’s Auctions Brings Universal Monsters Back to Life
From Frankenstein to the Wolf Man, Hake’s Auctions showcased classic Universal Monsters and other horror collectibles, proving vintage creature memorabilia still thrills collectors.
When it comes to old-school horror icons, few stand above the Universal Monsters. These legendary creatures, including Dracula, Frankenstein’s Monster, the Mummy, the Phantom of the Opera, and the Wolf Man, have captivated (and frightened) audiences for over a century.
Appearing in comic books, movies, novels, and even theme park attractions, Universal Monsters have carved a lasting legacy in pop culture, and the memorabilia featuring them can be found in collections worldwide.
On July 30 and 31, Hake’s Auctions offered many collectibles from the Universal Monsters franchise, along with other horror memorabilia, including Americana, comics, entertainment, pop culture, and sports items.
The top horror-themed lot was a 1966 Topps Frankenstein 44-sticker set with wrapper, featuring many Universal monsters and artwork by legendary illustrator and card artist Norman Saunders, that sold for $4,900.
This Topps set is considered one of the company’s aesthetically finest issues of the Silver Age. The stickers have die-cut heart designs with humorous text and feature Bride of Frankenstein, Creature from the Black Lagoon, Dracula, King Kong, Metaluna Mutant, Mole Man, Wolf Man, and other classic movie characters.
To the delight of mid-century children who loved monsters, the Aurora Plastics Corporation allowed them to build their own with its line of model kits from 1961 through 1975. Two boxed and unused Aurora model kits from 1964 were offered: “Gigantic Frankenstein,” which fetched $2,855, and the “Mummy’s Chariot,” which brought $1,732 and has fun art of the monster driving a hot rod in the style of an ancient Egyptian chariot, with cobras serving as fire-belching exhaust pipes.
The Gigantic Frankenstein, with box art by James Bama, is almost two feet tall once assembled and has arms that move up and down. The largest monster figure kit Aurora ever released, this was designed by Marvin Glass, who also designed Mr. Machine, Mousetrap, and the Rock’ Em Sock’ Em Robots. Affectionately called “Big Frankie” by collectors, this is considered a holy grail model.
Additional monster highlights were two 8-inch-high action figures of Dreadful Dracula and the Horrible Mummy from Mego’s 1973 World’s Greatest Super-Heroes: The Mad Monster Series. The Horrible Mummy, graded AFA 80 Q-NM, has glow-in-the-dark eyes and hands and sold for $584, while Dreadful Dracula, also graded AFA 80 Q-NM and with glow-in-the-dark hands and eyes, brought $571.
Horror movie posters are always popular with collectors, and bidders were eager to nab the many offered from movies that made indelible marks on pop culture and our nightmares.
The top poster was for 1975’s Jaws, one of movie history’s most iconic art pieces. Artist Roger Kastel’s image communicates so much with just a single-word title and two characters: the toothy titular shark lurking menacingly below an unsuspecting swimmer. The one-sheet poster, graded Fine, sold for $1,493. Fifty years after the film hit theaters, Jaws still has a place in media rooms and on dorm room walls worldwide.
No horror collection is complete without a poster from one of the most famous slasher movies of all time: 1978’s Halloween. With its instantly recognizable and chilling art by Robert Gleason, the poster features a sinister pumpkin and a hand brandishing a large, sharp-looking knife. A graded VF copy sold for $761.
Prices include an 18% buyer’s premium.
For more results, visit hakes.com.
Photos courtesy of Hake’s Auctions.
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