An original poster for Tarzan the Ape Man (1932) - the first Tarzan film - has starred at Heritage Auctions' movie posters sale.

It made $83,650 against an $80,000 estimate - its value boosted by the fact it is the only known example of this style.

Johnny and Maureen as they actually appeared

"Never seen for decades, this original 1932 poster (unlike the other style one sheet) actually portrays [Johnny] Weissmuller and co-star Maureen O'Sullivan as they appear in the film," explains the auction house.

"The discovery of the only known copy of this one sheet is incredible!"

The November 21-22 Dallas auction was led by a poster for the Italian release of Casablanca.

The 1942 film was only screened in the Axis countries following the end of the second world war, making this 1948 poster a piece of political and film history.

Regarded as one of the finest Casablanca posters ever produced, it sold for $95,600.

A window card for Frankenstein (1932) was another top seller.

Arriving with an estimate of $30,000-60,000, it sold for $89,625 - a testament to its supreme rarity.

"Posters for this film have always been infamously difficult to find," says Heritage.

"Only a small handful of one sheets including one teaser, one six sheet, one three sheet, one insert, and a restored half sheet are all that have appeared of the posters, not including lobby cards."

The only known poster for 1927 Lon Chaney film London After Midnight holds the record for a film poster at auction, at $478,000.

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