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Maître Nicolas CONSTANTY

439 - Richard Mantel (XX) - The Racing Game. 1971. 117x76cm. Origi…
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Estimate €20 - €30
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Description
Richard Mantel (XX) - The Racing Game. 1971. 117x76cm. Original offset printed poster. Not backed. Condition A+, perfect state of conservation. Original poster produced to promote the television series The Dick Francis Thriller: The Racing Game, produced by Yorkshire Television and broadcast by PBS in the United States. Printed in colour offset on paper, measuring approximately 117 × 76 cm, this poster was sponsored by Mobil as part of the series' promotional campaigns. The Racing Game series is an adaptation of the novels by Dick Francis, a British writer and former jockey whose stories combine suspense, mystery and the world of horseracing. It features Sid Halley, a steeplechase jockey whose career is cut short by a serious injury; after losing the partial use of one hand, Halley becomes a private detective and solves cases involving fraud, rigged betting and crime around racecourses. Richard Mantel's poster for The Racing Game reflects the narrative style he developed at Push Pin Studios, where he worked on images that combined visual narrative and symbolism. According to exhibition archives, Mantel incorporates subtle graphic details - such as a skull hidden in elements of the set - as a nod to the thriller genre and the mysterious dimension of the series. On the poster, the main image evokes the world of horse racing and the dramatic tension inherent in the story: stylised silhouettes of horses or jockeys, moving figures and a dynamic layout around the title place the action centre stage. The text and visual elements highlight the name of the series and the Mobil sponsor, reflecting the importance of private funding in the television promotion of dramatic productions in the late 1970s. In this way, the poster illustrates not only the television series The Racing Game and its roots in the thriller genre inspired by the novels of Dick Francis, but also the use of advertising graphics to support the broadcasting of dramatic works at the time, combining literary narrative, television and brand support.
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About the sale Collection of an ink merchant, sale of posters n°17 and miscellaneous.
Auction location
Auction time 06/12/2026 at 1:30 PM
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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