Dwight Manley likes to collect originals, things that were among the first made, and items that are unique. Nowhere is that seen more vividly, not to mention boldly and colorfully, than in his collection of silent film posters that will find new homes when they are sold in Heritage Auctions Treasures of the Silent Screen Movie Posters Signature Auction on Friday and Saturday, July 15 and 16, the largest ever dedicated to silent-era posters. Manleys collection is widely recognized as the premier assemblage of silent film posters, a trove that includes the largest selection of silent Westerns, in the world, a trove of roughly 2,300, more than 550 of which will be included in this exceptional event. Manley said he is parting with the collection because much of it has been stored away, instead of displayed appropriately for others to enjoy. A significant portion of the remaining collection will be donated to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Its a crime that much of this collection has been stored away, where others who love film history were unable to enjoy it, said Manley. Movie posters werent created to be kept. They were created to promote films, and maybe get reused, but ultimately to be discarded. But when you look at some of the pieces in this sale, especially the stone lithograph posters, these are undeniable works of art that should be enjoyed. This is the best collection of silent film posters ever compiled, according to Heritage Auctions Movie Posters Associate Director Zach Pogemiller. You have to remember, not too many people focused on that specific era. In addition, movie posters were not made to be collected. They were meant to promote films and eventually be thrown away or destroyed, so there werent many made, and most of those that were made were not kept. On top of that, the period most people think of as the silent film era ran from about 1911-29, meaning some of the posters in this collection are over 100 years old. Theyre basically antique paper, and again, if they were kept at all, they often werent stored very carefully, so the fact that they still exist at all is remarkable. So few examples survived that Manley estimates that about half of the lots are unique, without a replica to be had anywhere in the world. That rarity, he said, makes it difficult to part with many of them. In a way, they are like children, because theyre unique, a lot of them in this auction are unique, stated Manley. When you look at them, you often have an emotional connection to when you found them. Manley could remember years of such emotional connections during this sale, which includes the two first posters in his collection, a King Kong (RKO, R-1938) one sheet, notable because it is the only poster in which Kong carries Fay Wray in his hand, and a three sheet from The New Frontier (Republic, 1935), starring John Wayne. The auction is chock-full of stunning posters, among them what is believed to be one of just two copies of a one sheet from The Grim Game (Paramount, 1919) that is being offered by Heritage Auctions for the first time. The thriller starred Harry Houdini in his first feature film. Poster material of any kind from any of the five Houdini movies is extremely rare. Any showing him performing magic are even more scarce. The poster features Houdini in the midst of the feat for which he is remembered best: escaping from a straitjacket. Also offered are a pair of Disney rarities (offered in separate lots): an Alice Gets in Dutch (Winkler, 1924) one sheet and a one sheet from Alice the Lumberjack (Margaret J. Winkler, 1926). The Alice the Lumberjack poster includes a character that evokes the idea of Mickey Mouse before there was a Mickey Mouse. In addition, the films producer was Joseph Kennedy, father of John and Robert Kennedy. One impressive lot in the auction is not a poster at all. Manleys collection includes a White Shadows in the South Seas (MGM, 1928) Academy Award statuette. Of the roughly 3,700 Oscars that have been handed out, only 15, including this one, have been awarded for silent films. This is the first Oscar for a silent film ever offered at auction, according to Manley. For more information about all 556 lots in the sale, visit www.HA.com/7276.