The M.U.S.C.L.E. poster has been mentioned several times within the University of M.U.S.C.L.E. The most notable examples are within the 28-Pack Poster Offer and with the clarification that there are only only 2 posters. Hopefully the Advertising & Promotion 100 course, highlighting the poster, will be completed soon.
In the meantime, an auction, Vintage 1985 M.U.S.C.L.E. Men Poster, is worth highlighting. This auction is for the second version of the M.U.S.C.L.E. poster which features both Flesh and Color figures. This poster is often referred to as the “Color” poster.
The auction description states:
Mattel Inc. 1985 M.U.S.C.L.E. poster. Shows figures in different colors including red, flesh, green, purple and blue. Also shows figures numbered 1-233. It is 23 inches wide and 35 inches long. Still in good condition.
Has one tear on front right side and shown in picture. Bottom right corner has been folded over and is creased, also shown in picture. There are a few small tears (about 1/16″) and bends on sides.
The price of posters is very hard to predict. It seems only the most pristine examples command dollar figures in the low-hundreds. Anything below a nearly mint example depends greatly on the parties bidding on the poster – resulting in posters with final prices in the mid-twenties. The fact that this is a “Color” poster makes it even harder to predict. Collectors have been known to view the Color poster as both more and less desirable.
The feature of this poster that will most likely drive the price higher is the fact that #153 is featured as a Purple figure. Hardcore #153 collectors may view this poster as the closest they will come to owning an authentic Purple #153.
The final price of this auction will be $53.00.
Auction Screen Shot
Auction Picture
Auction Picture 2
Follow-Up: The final price of the auction was $158.05, which was $105.05 more than predicted. The passion of M.U.S.C.L.E. collectors often proves to be a difficult thing to predict.
Final Auction Screen
#1 by vette88 on February 8, 2010 - 10:34 am
I owe you a thank you. I seriously wouldn’t have found the Flesh and Color poster if it weren’t for your write up. I know I paid a lot more than expected, but I wanted it. I’ll admit I might have missed one in the past, but this is the first Color and Flesh poster I’ve seen on Ebay. Now I’m thinking of getting both my posters framed and hung on the left and right hand sides of my case. :thanks:
#2 by Chad Perry on February 8, 2010 - 1:22 pm
I really glad that Auction Watch helped you. Thank you for letting me know!
Maybe you could share some pictures when everything is framed and set-up?
#3 by vette88 on February 8, 2010 - 2:01 pm
Sure, I remembered though that my case is put up near a corner of a wall, and on the right hand side is a window. I’m not going to move the case, but I can shuffle some other things around to get the posters hung up. Now that I have both posters, I’ll be more motivated to get both framed and hung. The color-flesh one is my favorite, mostly for the reason you wrote about Purple 153.
#4 by vette88 on February 8, 2010 - 2:09 pm
I’ll do the Sociology write up when everything comes in, put together, and I can get some other pictures for you. I’ll take some pictures of my 49ers autographs. The story behind these autographs is neat. One I will never forget and the reason why I will NEVER sell the autographs.