Snow White North American 40 x 60s and Three-Sheets

40x60s: These gorgeous forty inch by sixty inch over-sized posters were often intended for front-of-house displays or for use as standees. They are less common than the standard one-sheets (27" x 41"), and due to their difficult-to-store proportions and sometimes fragile paper stock, they were rarely saved.

1937 Premiere...

There's rare, there's very rare, and then there's "Wow." This incredible poster (below) definitely belongs in the latter category. That this one has survived nearly seven decades is nothing short of a miracle, especially considering the thin, glossy photo paper on which it's printed. Posters of this size were usually printed on heavier stock, but Disney obviously wanted to emphasize the artwork and the colors in this beauty, leading him to use a photogelatin process that required the more fragile paper. The original 1937 pressbook listed this 40x60 at a whopping $1.25 apiece to theater owners. This was a tremendous amount of money for a poster at that time and undoubtedly few were ordered by the exhibitor. This breathtaking image, featuring artwork by animator Grim Natwick and art director Gustav Tenggren, practically tells the movie's story in its entirety with delicate watercolor scenes.  Text from Heritage Auction Galleries website.

RKO release (1937). Movie Poster (40" X 60"). Features artwork by Gustaf Tenggren with influences from Grim Natwick. Sold for $65,725.00 (USD) November 2007. 

[CLICK IMAGES TO ENLARGE]

R-1958...

 Buena Vista re-release (R-1958). Movie Poster (40" X 60"). Sold for $227 (USD) March 2010.

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Three-Sheets: As the name implies, these posters are stunningly larger than the normal one-sheet by about 3 times the size (41" x 81"). Printed in two (and sometimes three) separate pieces, they would be hung in the front lobby or on the outside of the theater. Never produced in very large quantities, three-sheets can be quite rare.

R-1943...

RKO re-release (R-1943). Three-Sheet (41" X 81"). Sold for $418.25 (USD) January 2007.

R-1951 ('52)...

RKO re-release (R-1951). Three-Sheet (41" X 81"). Currently for auction February 2011 via Heritage Galleries.

The fine print at the bottom of this 3 sheet reads:

Copyright 1951 RKO Radio Pictures Inc. Country of Origin U.S.A. Property of National Screen Service Corp. Licensed for Disney only in connection with the exhibition of the picture at your theatre. Must be returned immediately thereafter. Snow White and 7 Dwarfs 3 SH., No.3, 51/675

[CLICK TO READ]

R-1958...

Buena Vista re-release (R-1958). Folded Three-Sheet (41" X 81"). Sold for $ (USD) November 2005.

Information and images via Heritage Auction Galleries unless otherwise noted.

View earlier post to compare these North American 3-sheets with their 1-sheet counterparts. Also see upcoming post for a closer look at Gustaf Tenggren's promotional art.