Poster for 1927 horror film 'London After Midnight' starring Chaney sells at auction for $478K

A poster for the 1927 film "London After Midnight," starring Lon Chaney, has sold for $478,000, making it the most valuable movie poster ever sold at public auction.

Heritage Auctions in Dallas announced Monday that it is the only poster known to exist for the film in which Chaney, a star of early cinema, appeared as a vampire.

Saturday's buyer is a longtime collector of horror movie posters who requested anonymity.

The film for "London After Midnight" was lost years ago and the movie was reconstructed about 10 years ago using more than 200 still photos.

1932's "The Mummy" held the previous record for a poster's sale at public auction — more than $453,000 in 1997.