The Art of Hammer: classic posters from the horror studio

Uncertainty in the face of nudity on the cover Photograph: Titan

The horror, the horror! But, in fact, this 1954 one-sheet is from Hammer's pre-gore days Photograph: Titan

The poster for Hammer's first gothic film is now highly collectable, although its aesthetic qualities are perhaps outweighed by its historical significance. In 2008 the Royal Mail carefully adapted the sign for a 56p stamp. Whether the promise that death is certain for audience members was a wise marketing ploy is up for debate
Photograph: Titan

Eddie Paul's design for this 1958 Dracula poster emphasised an erotic element that would become and integral part of Hammer horror. Bill Wiggins' painting was inspired by a posed publicity photograph taken by unit photographer Tom Edwards. In 1995 Edwards remembered staging the shot: "I had a bed assembled in the stills studio, and played Melissa Stribling lying on it, with her head hanging over the edge towards the camera and blood on her neck. Christopher Lee was on top of her, with blood coming from his mouth. It must have been extremely uncomfortable for the artistes, but they did it without fuss." Now the most sought-after of all Hammer posters, in 2008 the Royal Mail subtly modified the design for a 48p stamp. Not one for the birthday card to your two-year-old niece, perhaps Photograph: Titan

John Stockle's poster for this 1958 film features a nudge, a wink, and remarkably pristine dentistry Photograph: Titan

The Hound Of The Baskervilles, from 1959, which either features a very silvery moon, or a very old mutt Photograph: Titan

Scream of Fear Poster – Taste of Fear (aka Scream of Fear: the minimalist teasing qualities of this were commended as the best of 1961 by the Motion Picture Association of America Photograph: Titan

One Million Years BC (1966): the most iconic of all Hammer posters was based on an impromptu still of Rachel Welch taken by photographer Pierre Luigi. Tom Chantrell's design and illustration formed the centerpiece for arguably the most successful marketing campaign in the company's history Photograph: Titan

When Dinosaurs Ruled The Earth (1970) Photograph: Titan

A highlight among Hammer's later British posters, Vampire Circus (1972) is notorious for the phallic shapes hidden at the sides and the centre of the design Photograph: Titan

Dracula AD (1972). Vampirism, Sweeney-style Photograph: Titan