A large poster which has travelled across the seas from Russia stands proudly at the centre-piece of a magnificent display.

The rare exhibit is just one of many fascinating pieces brought together for the first time to create a unique insight into the public life of JB Priestley.

Priestley: On Stage and Screen boasts memorabilia as diverse as photographs of the literary genius making a very rare appearance on stage, to treasured personal belongings which are set to make the event a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for literary enthusiasts.

"In my opinion he is a one-man walking 20th century," said Michael Nelson, publicity officer for the JB Priestley Society, which has organised the display.

"He wrote in a way which was approachable and enormously prolific and he spoke very much for ordinary people.

"He was immensely gifted and left a wonderful legacy."

Obviously a devoted fan of the late Bradford-born author, Mr Nelson is hoping the exhibition will attract Priestley's most ardent fans and introduce many more to his work.

The event coincides with the anniversary of the very first Priestley stage production, The Good Companions, in London in 1931.

But the treasured centre-piece of the exhibition is a poster of the very first production of his great play An Inspector Calls which was given its very first performance in Russia.

Priestley wrote the play at the end of the Second World War and the production was taken to a stage in Russia.

"This was something very rare in the theatre world but there was such a shortage of theatres in this country at the time," said Mr Nelson.

"It is great news that this is going to be a centre piece of the exhibition and we are proud to be able to put it on display."

Many playwrights would have paid huge sums of money to see the man himself rehearsing for a role in the stage production of When We Are Married in London in 1938 and pictures of the rehearsals will be on show.

They were taken after the main actor had an accident and Priestley took over the part of the drunken photographer at the last moment.

It was one of the very few times he actually took to the stage himself.

During the Second World War he also wrote They Came to a City which was performed at the Prince's Theatre in Bradford. From this production there are precious photographs, a copy of the programme and also of the review in the Telegraph & Argus on display.

"We are delighted that the exhibition is a minefield of very rare memorabilia," added Mr Nelson.

During the last two years more than 200 productions of Priestley's work have taken place at amateur theatres across the country.

"The exhibition is also intended to pay tribute to the amateur theatre movement," said Mr Nelson, who meets regularly with other members of the JB Priestley Society in Bradford.

"The amateur theatre represents all sorts of people from all sorts of walks of life and they have been active in staging Priestley's work.

"While professional companies do stage some of his work it is the amateur groups which provide the lifeblood."

The work of companies such as Bingley Little Theatre and Ilkley Playhouse will feature predominantly in the exhibition and companies from Chelmsford and Eastbourne have also donated exhibits such as posters, photographs and playbills.

The BBC and Yorkshire TV have also contributed.

Tom Palmer, organiser of the successful seven-week Reading the City festival, said: "We are really pleased that this exhibition is a major part of the festival because it represents Bradford's past and its rich literary culture.

"We are thrilled because it was just the sort of thing we were looking for.

"JB Priestley is a well respected national writer so hopefully the exhibition will attract people from all over to come into Bradford."