Movie Poster Collecting
There is a great deal of history behind movie posters and movie
poster collecting. Jules Cheret, who created 2 movie posters in
the 1890’s, was the artist given credit for creating the first
movie posters. By the end of the first decade of the 1900’s,
movies had become a great source of public entertainment. In
this time period, the movie poster would become a standard size
known as the one sheet measuring 27″ x 41″.
In the early days, the names of actors did not appear on the
posters, which the movie studios liked, because it meant paying
actors less money. It was in this early period in movie history,
however, that movie studios realized movie stars were as much of
an attraction to the moviegoer as the movie itself. Thus, the
movie star was born, and movie posters began showcasing actors’
names along with the title of the movie.
By the 1920’s, the golden age of silent movies, movie posters
became more artistic and spectacular, with accomplished artists
being hired by movie studios to paint portraits of the stars for
posters. By the late 1920’s, movie poster images became sharper
due to a new printing process developed by the Morgan Litho
Company.
In the 1930’s, also known in the movie industry as “The Golden
Age of Movies”, another style of movie poster was created, the
half sheet. Major movies would sometimes get more than the two
styles. However, due to the depression, many movie materials
were being created more cheaply, causing a loss of quality in
movie posters.
The dawn of World War II in 1941 saw many of the movie stars
heading off to war and war was the major theme of movies at that
time. The movie industry cut advertising costs and used cheaper
paper for posters due to the paper shortage of wartime.
By the 1970’s, movie posters used photography, occasionally
using drawing and painting styles. Movie posters at this time
were being printed on a clay-coated paper, which gave them a
glossy finish. Star Wars and Star Trek posters were the most
popular posters of the time and are still collected by many
today.
In the 1980’s, the age of the special effects blockbuster, the
mini sheet was invented, and video stores became popular, thus
the video store poster was created. Today, reprints of movie
posters are mass-produced and sold in many stores or are just a
click away on the Internet.
There are several types of movie posters. Because of their
rarity, the avid movie poster collector has concentrated on
movie poster or theater art. These are the posters that are
delivered and displayed by the movie theaters and then intended
to be thrown away. Another type of movie poster is the
commercial poster, which is mass-produced for direct sale to the
public. Video posters are distributed to video rental stores for
advertising material. Cable and TV posters are use as
promotional material for TV stations for their programming. Like
theater art, video posters and cable and TV posters are not
produced for the public. Although not as valuable as theater
art, these types of posters are still popular among collectors.
Special promotion posters promote a movie along with a product.
Finally, there are anniversary issues, limited editions, and
special releases that are released in limited quantities and are
gaining favor with the theatre art collector. Other types of
movie posters include advance posters that promote a movie well
ahead of the movie’s release. The award poster, which indicates
that a movie has won an Academy award. The combo poster,
advertising two movies instead of just one. The popular
double-sided poster that has art on both sides, with the artwork
reversed on one side of the poster. There are featurette posters
highlighting short films or cartoons, review posters for when a
movie gets a good review, serial posters for movie serials, and
special distribution posters.
With the popularity of movie posters has come the necessity to
create various sizes of posters. The first and most widely used
poster is the one sheet, which is usually 27″ x 41″. The subway,
also known as the two sheet, is larger but not exactly two times
the size of the one sheet. The 3 sheet is three times the size
of the one sheet measuring at 41″ x 81″. The 6 sheet is six
times the size of the one sheet measuring of 81″ x 81″. There is
also a 12 sheet approximately twelve times the size of a one
sheet, and the colossal sized 24 sheet measuring 246″ x by 108″.
Other sizes include the mini sheet, which is usually much
smaller than the one sheet and comes in a variety of sizes, and
the stock sheet issued for cartoons or other shorts.
As with all collectibles, condition is a great factor when
placing a value on posters. A movie poster’s value is determined
by demand, rarity, and condition. Poster collectors use the same
grade system used by comic book collectors: mint (perfect), near
mint, very good, good, fair, and poor.
For those who want to be serious movie poster collectors, you
will need to know some things about taking care of your movie
poster art.
Tips to retain the total collectable value of movie posters
Never alter the appearance of a poster. Do not fold, bend, tear,
or punch holes in it even to hang it on your wall.
Never place a movie poster in direct sunlight. UV lights can
also be harmful.
Don’t write on your poster, even on the back. Marks on the back
can sometimes be seen from the other side, taking away from the
poster’s value.
Never put tape on the front of a poster even to repair tears. If
you do use tape, use acid free tape available from an art supply
shop, and place the tape on the back. For expensive movie art
take it to a professional to be restored. Posters can be
restored the same way rare comic books are professionally
restored.
When shipping posters use thick poster tubes or bubble envelopes.
For long time storage, frame, or place the poster in a plastic
bag or tube, and keep it in a cool dry climate.
When framing a poster do not dry mount it, and use an acid free
backing board.
Now that you know a little more about movie posters and movie
poster collecting, go ahead, start collecting!
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