“Gone With the Wind” Costume Sketches, Signed by Walter Plunkett

Long before Scarlett O'Hara stepped onto the screen in one of the most celebrated wardrobes in motion picture history, each gown began as an artist's sketch.

Those original costume renderings helped transform ideas into garments, guiding seamstresses, studio executives, and filmmakers as Margaret Mitchell's Gone with the Wind took shape.

The collection presented by Britannic Auctions isn't comprised of those one-of-a-kind production drawings from 1939.

Instead, it represents something different—and no less interesting for many collectors. Created in 1975, these large 16-by-20-inch limited-edition lithographs faithfully reproduce five of Walter Plunkett's most famous Gone with the Wind costume designs. Each example was hand-signed by Plunkett in pencil and individually numbered as part of a limited edition of 1,000.

The portfolio includes four of Scarlett O'Hara's best-known costumes along with Rhett Butler's white suit. While Walter Plunkett's original production sketches now reside largely in private collections—and only occasionally appear at auction—these signed 1975 lithographs gave collectors an opportunity to own authorized reproductions of some of his most famous designs.

What makes this collection especially appealing is that it celebrates not only one of Hollywood's greatest films, but also the remarkable artist whose pencil and paintbrush helped define its visual legacy.

Why These Designs Became Hollywood Legends

Few motion pictures have left a visual imprint on popular culture quite like Gone with the Wind.

Released in 1939, the epic Civil War drama earned ten Academy Awards and quickly became one of the most successful and influential films ever produced. Audiences certainly remembered Clark Gable and Vivien Leigh, but many also remembered what they were wearing.

More than eighty years later, many movie lovers can recognize Scarlett O'Hara's gowns without remembering the exact scene in which they appeared. That's a big achievement for any costume designer.

Each costume reflected Scarlett's changing fortunes, ambitions, and determination. Her delicate white gown worn at the Twelve Oaks barbecue captures the innocence and privilege of life before the Civil War. The black mourning dress reveals a woman expected to observe society's rules while quietly refusing to be defined by them. Perhaps no costume is more famous than the green velvet "Curtain Dress," fashioned from the draperies of Tara after Scarlett's family estate falls on desperate times. It remains one of the most recognizable costumes ever created for the silver screen, symbolizing resourcefulness, resilience, and the determination to survive against overwhelming odds.

Even Rhett Butler's crisp white suit tells its own story. Impeccably tailored and unmistakably confident, it reflects the charm, sophistication, and self-assurance that made Clark Gable's portrayal one of Hollywood's most enduring leading men.

What makes these costume designs especially fascinating is that they communicate character before a single word of dialogue is spoken. Long before audiences hear Scarlett's famous declaration that "tomorrow is another day," they understand her through the clothes she wears. The costumes chart her journey from pampered Southern belle to determined survivor, helping define one of cinema's most memorable characters.

Collectors often notice that the greatest Hollywood costume designs transcend fashion. They become visual symbols of the films themselves. Just as Dorothy's ruby slippers instantly evoke The Wizard of Oz or Marilyn Monroe's white halter dress recalls The Seven Year Itch, Scarlett O'Hara's wardrobe has become inseparable from Gone with the Wind.

The five signed lithographs in this collection celebrate those original designs, preserving the artistry behind some of Hollywood's most recognizable costumes and reminding us that, in classic cinema, wardrobe was never merely decoration, but an essential part of the story.

The Market for Original Gone with the Wind Costume Sketches

Original costume sketches created during the production of Gone with the Wind rank among the most desirable pieces of Hollywood production art. Unlike movie posters or movie stills, these one-of-a-kind drawings were working documents, created by costume designer Walter Plunkett as he developed the wardrobes that would appear on screen.

Collectors love these sketches for their direct connection to the filmmaking process. Many include pencil annotations, color notes, studio approval stamps, or fabric swatches that guided the wardrobe department as costumes moved from an artist's rendering to finished garments.

Only a relatively small number of Plunkett's original Gone with the Wind costume sketches have appeared at auction in recent years, making each sale an opportunity to gauge collector demand. Prices have varied considerably depending on the character portrayed, the costume itself, condition, and the amount of original production material that remains with the artwork.

Original sketches depicting Scarlett O'Hara's most recognizable costumes have brought some of the strongest prices. An original rendering of her black mourning dress, signed by Walter Plunkett and bearing a Selznick International Pictures studio stamp, realized $24,600, while a signed illustration-board sketch of Scarlett's Twelve Oaks Barbecue dress sold for $15,625. Even designs for supporting characters attract considerable collector interest. An original sketch of Melanie Hamilton, portraying the character played by Olivia de Havilland, sold for $4,875, demonstrating that collectors value authentic production artwork from throughout the film—not just its most famous costumes.

Those results reflect a collector market that extends far beyond Gone with the Wind. Original costume sketches by celebrated Hollywood designers including Walter Plunkett, Edith Head, Adrian, Orry-Kelly, Helen Rose, Travis Banton, and Irene have become one of the most fascinating areas of movie memorabilia collecting.

Designs for Grace Kelly's shimmering gold gown in To Catch a Thief have sold for $40,000, Edith Head's sketch for Audrey Hepburn's little black dress in Breakfast at Tiffany's realized $38,750, and the original design for Marilyn Monroe's pink satin gown from Gentlemen Prefer Blondes brought $30,000. While movie posters and lobby cards promoted a finished film, costume sketches capture something much earlier—the moment an unforgettable screen image first took shape on an artist's drawing board.

What Else Is Waiting to Be Found?

One of the pleasures of collecting Hollywood memorabilia is knowing that remarkable pieces continue to surface. Costume sketches, studio artwork, publicity photographs, production files, and other behind-the-scenes material still emerge from longtime collections, family estates, and archives that have remained untouched for decades.

If classic Hollywood is one of your passions, our collector mailing list is the best way to know when material like this appears in a future Britannic Auctions sale. You never know when another costume sketch, studio archive, or fresh-to-market collection will find its way into one of our catalogs.

And if you've discovered an original costume sketch, production artwork, or other classic film memorabilia of your own, we'd be happy to take a look. You can request a free auction evaluation or learn more about consigning Hollywood memorabilia to see whether your collection might be a good fit for a future auction.