Movie Poster Collecting | Information about collecting Movie and Film Posters

Collecting

This page is set up to answer as many questions as possible, concerning the ins and outs of motion picture art collecting , usually called poster collecting.

Clicking on the links, will bring you to a fuller explanation of the processes.

The basics of collecting
Poster sizes and descriptions
The MPAG quality standards grading system
Recommended reading on collecting

The Basics of Poster Collecting

What to collect

There are no set rules when it comes to deciding what to collect. Go with what you like. There are many people who will only purchase motion picture art by format, such as lobby cards. Others opt to collect based on the country of origin, for example, all Italian posters. Still yet, some collectors prefer to collect only within a particular genre or certain preferred film titles. The combinations are limitless. The best way is to go with your instincts. (For additional information on collecting motion picture art, see below "Recommended Reading on Collecting".)

Ordering a poster

When you are ordering a poster, know with whom you are dealing. Different dealers have different definitions of grading condition. Make sure you understand what is meant by "good condition". Ask about tears, stains, scratches, pin or staple holes, fading or any retouches or repairs. While mounting a poster on linen-backing is a perfectly acceptable archival process, it can also be used to hide severe condition problems. (See below "Preserving Your Collection" for explanation about linen-backing process.) Make sure you know the condition of the poster before it was linen-backed and how much restoration has been done to it.

Another concern is how your posters will be packed and shipped. A poster may leave the shop in good condition, but due to negligent packing, arrives in worse condition. It is recommended to ask about the dealer's/shop's return policy in the unfortunate event that item is damaged or turns out to be in lesser condition than you imagined. Usual practice is to insure the package for the dollar value of the item. When returning items, consideration should be taken as to repacking. The best method is to use reinforced poster tubes, wrapping the posters in brown Kraft paper or plastic. For flat items, use a couple of thick pieces of cardboard, cut slightly larger than the item itself, and packing tape around the edges.

Re-issue vs. Reproduction

Many people are confused by the difference between a reissue and a reproduction of a poster. Many movies were released subsequent to their original dates. For instance, The Wizard of Oz was originally released in 1939, but it was re-released in '49, '51, '55, etc. The studio produced ad campaigns for all of these releases. All of the posters (lobby cards, etc.) are designated as "re-issues". Oftentimes, the artwork is completely different, but interesting and valuable in its own right. A reproduction, however, is simply a photographic copy of an original poster and has little or no value as a collectible.

How do you know the difference?

Many of our favorite movie posters are in such high demand that some companies have reproduced them. There are many ways to tell a reproduction from a re-issue/original poster. For instance, all 1- sheets posters before 1980 are folded, with very rare exception. (To find out about 1-sheets, see below "Standard Poster Sizes".) A rolled, original poster of Gone with the Wind is simply inexistent. Making sure the fine print is in focus is another indication of originality. If you have any doubt about authenticity, contact a trusted dealer to give you his or her opinion.

Preserving your collection

Like most art mediums, certain materials require the appropriate preservation methods to insure their longevity. One method in poster preservation is a process called "linen-backing". This entails mounting the poster on a treated canvas material. A sheet of rice paper is sandwiched between the poster and canvas and adhered to both with an archival glue. This permits the process to be reversed at a future time, if needed. "Paper-Backing" is a similar process, except in lieu of canvas, the poster is mounted on thick archival paper. For the most part, posters are usually linen-backed.

One warning is clear: Never dry mount posters! Dry mounting yellows the paper and cannot be reversed. Accordingly, it devalues the poster. Another recommendation is to keep your collection out of direct sunlight. If you have a large collection both in size and quantity, you may want to invest in flat file drawers. They can be purchased in most larger art supply stores.

For display in frames, we suggest using UV filtered glass or Plexiglas. Also because of changes in weather, resulting moisture and mildew from condensation can wreck havoc on paper. Some solutions are to use a frame with "spacers" which elevate the glass or Plexiglas off the poster, or by having the poster matted professionally. Although we can't recommend particular framing stores in your area, here is a website that might accommodate your framing needs: www.americanframe.com Otherwise seek out a reputable local framing store.

Most of all, use common sense when handling, storing and displaying your motion picture art collection. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us and we'll help you in any way we can.

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Standard poster sizes

Lobby Card
11"x 14" (28 x 36 cm) Also known as 'scene cards'. These cards were situated in the lobby of a theater and were originally distributed in sets of 8; they can be sold separately or in a set.

Title Card
11" x 14" (28 x 36cm) The first card of a lobby card set. It usually has a more complete list of credits and more elaborate Graphics.

Jumbo Lobby Card
14" x 17" (36 x 42cm) Usually photographic and unlike Lobby Cards, they are usually borderless.

Window Card
14" x 22" (36 x 56cm) It has a large white border at the top where theatres would display dates for local showings.

Mini Window Card
8" x 14" (20 x 36 cm) Same as a window card only smaller dimensions

Insert
14"x 36" (36 x 91 cm) vertical

Half Sheet 22"x 28" (56 x 71 cm) horizontal

1 sheet
27 "x 41" (69 x 104 cm)

3 sheet 41"x 81" (104 x205 cm)	6 sheet 81"x 81" (205 x 205 cm)	Subway Varies
R after the year of the film in our inventory stands for "re-issue” (See above for Re-issue vs. Reproduction)
All foreign posters have their own standard sizes, which will be notated in the inventory.

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Grading Standards

The Motion Picture Arts Gallery uses the following system for grading the condition of our inventory:

Near Mint:
Never or hardly ever used condition. Colors are still vibrant with no marring of any kind.

Fine:
Colors very bright, perhaps pinholes in the border. Very lightly used. No major flaws.

Very Good:
Good color and overall very presentable appearance. It may have had some minor restoration.

Good:
Acceptably used condition. Pinholes or tape on border. Nothing significantly wrong with the actual image. Possible minor fading or scratches.

Fair:
Signs of usage. Perhaps separation along fold lines. Fading, excessive pin-holes or possible border paper loss.

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