A Fistful of Dollars: Rare European Ad Blocks

A Fistful of Dollars: Rare European Ad Blocks

Some time back I discovered these rare ad blocks for A Fistful of Dollars. Although some of these designs use some of the relevant artwork which was used on finished poster designs, it’s nice to see them in the context of these ads. However, there was one that was completely new to me – a Spanish ad which crudely illustrates a pair of hands reaching out to a stack of dollar coins (get it?). A curious design, which I don’t believe ever made it to a poster – perhaps this was used in the Spanish press as an early teaser design? The Teatro Principe ad is another Spanish block which featured previously used poster artwork.

The second 2 advertisements (Per un pugno di dollari) appear to be Italian. The Metropolitan utilises previous poster art, while the Colosseo Eliseo La Perla ad appears to use a photographic source for its design. The tagline translates as ‘Take a good look at this man's face: he is the architect who brought spectators from all over Italy to applause and who caused all attendance and box office records to fall’

Great vintage pieces that are worthy of a place here.