Heritage Auctions to Sell Rare Collection of Historic Movie Posters

Lauren Novak March 20, 7:25 pm

Heritage Auction posters — Courtesy of Rebecca Perlmutter

Heritage Auctions is offering the public a chance to get their hands on some very rare classic movie posters as it auctions off the collection of Dwight Cleveland, a Chicago-based collector who has been collecting posters for over 50 years. Some of the movie posters in his incredible collection include Cabaret, Casablanca, King Kong and Barbarella.

“Dwight Cleveland has elevated movie posters from promotional materials to fine art, and this auction is a testament to his unparalleled vision,” says Joe Maddalena, Heritage’s Executive Vice President. “From Hollywood’s Golden Age to avant-garde international interpretations, his collection captures the very essence of cinema’s visual storytelling. This is more than an auction – it’s a rare opportunity to own pieces that have shaped film history and inspired generations of collectors and cinephiles alike.”

Courtesy of Rebecca Perlmutter

Cleveland noted about his collection, “The best posters in my mind are those that reduce the entire essence of a movie into a single vivid sheet. My collection represents 125 years of film history and transcends global differences and even literacy through the deceptively simple universal language of the world’s most refined film art.”

Many of the posters are quite rare; some other items in Cleveland’s famous collection have gone to the Library of Congress and various museums and universities around the country. The Heritage auction features over 500 pieces from Cleveland’s collection, including some that are billboard-sized.

Courtesy of Rebecca Perlmutter

Cleveland concluded, “I hope Heritage’s clients and all movie and art lovers experience that same initial lightning bolt I felt when viewing these rare treasures for the first time.”

The auction dates are on March 27-28, 2025 and you can view the offerings on Heritage Auctions website.