How Do I Authenticate My Movie Posters?
Have you been wondering: How much is my movie poster worth? Find out the value of your movie posters. We have created this guide to help you find out if your poster is worth collecting or selling.
Deciphering and examining the value of a movie poster can be inherently complex and such a confusing process. There are many subjective views and opinions on film posters, and the grading system can differ between different dealers.
Collectors can utilise numerous factors to determine the overall grade of a movie poster. We analyse the condition, the authenticity, design and artist and objectivity. The first step in examining a movie poster or movie artwork's value is understanding that it's based purely on supply, demand and economics. The basic principle is determined by a product's availability and the overall order in the market.
Overall, it is vital to remember that a poster is only worth how much your audience is willing to pay for it. So if it has been used frequently to the point where there is apparent visual wear and tear or fading marks, it will inevitably decrease in value. To establish the authenticity of a classic movie poster, you can check various features. Look for the size of the pictures, the texture of the poster and the NSS information; this will allow you to determine the age of the movie poster.
Mass numbers of vintage posters that the studio's made before 1940 had specific studio logos and copyrights but were undated. However, after the 1940s, the National Screen Service (NSS) distributed most film posters, dated within the year of release. The information is at the bottom of the movie art.
However, unreleased posters are often considered original and authentic but hold less value than an official poster issued for the initial release. Commonly, it is easy to decipher the release of a poster from the NSS information in the right-hand bottom corner. Newer posters made after the 1990s or onwards, it becomes a little more challenging to tell the authenticity. The most popular and well-loved films have experienced posters being illegally reproduced over the years.
What Makes My Movie Poster Worth Money?
As with many classic collectable objects, items or movie artwork, prices and costs can rapidly fluctuate because of the many factors. There is no definite guide or process for deciphering movie posters, unlike other items that can be almost immediately determined via industry guides.
Objectivity and subjectivity plays a huge role in the process; different collectors value pieces and grade them differently. Collectors can find staying objective challenging, especially as people can have emotional attachments to specific items or certain films and posters. It can result in differing opinions and impair a collectors overall judgement.
The most vital part of examining or assessing the value of movie posters is research and lots of information. Many dealers will search for comparable movie posters to analyse them against the item or poster bought in.
It is essential to note that the same characteristics should be looked for, for example, one sheet vs one sheet or half sheet vs half sheet. Or comparing a poster in perfect condition and then comparing it to a poster in good condition. It is somewhat like comparing apples with pears or a horror genre movie (Frankenstein, Dracula, IT, Alien, etc.) to a romance (The Notebook, Casablanca, Titanic, Dirty Dancing, etc.). You won't receive a true reflection on the value or overall price.
Are They ORIGINAL POSTERS?
Collectors tend to stick to buying "original" movie posters, authorised by the film studios and printed only for promotional purposes. The original posters often have a more direct connection to the movie. It allows the buyer to feel a closeness with the film and its making, resulting in a more valuable and desirable poster. Original posters are displayed in the theatre lobby or foyer and plastered outside on bus stops, platforms, shopping centres, and places in town centres perfect for advertising like shop billboards.
Several collectors also purchase exceptional commercial movie posters or posters that audiences perhaps viewed as bad initially but now garnered a considerable cult following.
Whilst there are exceptions, collectors often avoid reprints and bootleg prints of movie posters and artwork as they aren't viewed as the same or have the same high value. However, if the movie was rare, not frequently viewed in cinema's worldwide or for a long time, some collectors will accept these movie posters.
However, some bootlegs/reprints are challenging to decipher from the original artwork released for promotional material. It is known that some prints are deliberately designed just like the original to fool movie poster collectors. Looking at the MPC Authentication section, it may allow you to distinguish the original and commercial posters on your own accord.
CONDITION OF POSTER
Collectors tend to prefer high-quality posters, although a few posters are considered so rare that any condition can be acceptable to take on.
Dealers universally use Jon Warren's grading system to help or as a guideline. The grading ranges from C10, which is considered a perfect condition, almost untouched. Up to C1, unsuitable for any purposes and unable to be ever sold onto consumers but only on infrequent occasions.
RESTORATION
In the hobby of movie poster collection, restoration is a highly controversial subject. Generally, an excellent condition, but unrestored posters are pretty much always selling for more than any restored poster. Unrestored posters have more value. They often have more connections that link directly to the making of the movie and the film studio, so fans and "purist" collectors tend to prefer them.
Other collectors, like linen-backed posters as linen-backed posters, advance the visuals and overall appearance of the movie posters. If you wish to purchase a restored poster, make sure the seller entirely discloses how they restored it and whether it was done legally, mainly down to the significant paper replacement materials used.
The heavily-restored poster receives a shunning from collectors and purists as they are worth much less than a well-restored or moderately restored poster.
ROLLED VS FOLDED
Until the late 80s and early 90s, the vast majority of film posters were often machine-folded. So collectors would pay a pretty price or premium for rolled posters because they were so rare. Pre-rolled posters tend to be seen as more attractive, as they do not have any distracting or unappealing fold lines or separation lines that distort faces in the imagery. Both folded and rolled are still valued today by dealers and collectors; however, rolled tends to be the most loved still to this day.
RARITY
The rarity of the piece is a critical valuation factor during the examination process for all movie posters. Generally, the older the poster or film, the rarer the poster will be for dealers and collectors.
Until the late 70s, film art was considered "junk", and studios and cinemas quickly trashed them after promotions of the film were over after-theatre viewing. For most pre-1940 movie posters, many don't exist anymore because of how fast many were thrown away.
The rise in popularity of the Star Wars original movies in 1977 fuelled such hype and interest in the movie poster-related hobby. Such is why posters after the late 70s are more common, as people had more incentive to keep and hold onto these posters and artwork.
Several pre-mid 80s posters get sold today that originated from liquidated sales. International one-sheets are also a style of a poster that is relatively rare in the modern day.
ARTISTRY
Many dealers and collectors in the hobby value artistry, especially rare or unique art styles that are not common anymore in more recent movie art. Many posters of the modern era are photo posters with small elements of editing that involve digital art and text editing.
Before the mid-80s, many posters were illustrated by famous artists or artists on the movies graphic design team. Using photos is often less expensive than hiring artists to come in and depict the movie in their unique way.
CREATIVITY
Collectors also value creativity and greatly appreciate it. In the modern-day, you can often make collages and compilations of movie posters of the same genres with little inventiveness. Many posters are beginning to look repetitive and reiterating the same designs and interpretations.
It is exciting for a collector to find a unique poster that seems entirely different from the generic or unimaginative photo posters we see in this era. Several posters that aren't unique often decrease in value because why purchase a poster that looks exactly like the four others you may have in your possession.
POPULARITY OF MOVIE
The popularity of a movie often places a high value on the poster in question. Numerous collectors will pay top dollar and pretty prices for even the most average or mediocre looking posters, as long as it's prevalent.
Even non-collectors swarm eBay and Amazon sites for posters from the most popular movies; a great example is the American movie Pulp Fiction, with a huge cult following.
Many people invest in these posters just because the film is considered trendy. The popularity makes for a precious investment. Some of the most popular are James Bond, Jaws, The Mummy and even original Disney movie posters are welcomed by collectors.
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN
Suppose a poster originates from the country where the movie title was shot or even where the movie's events take place. In that case, collectors often prefer to collect these posters to enhance the value and closeness to the cinema.
RELATABILITY
Sometimes collectors will collect posters with movies that they identify with or relate to. For example, for those with hobbies in motorcycling or who love cars, they may be interested in collecting a poster of a movie about cars or motorcycles, i.e., fast and furious.
POPULARITY/ATTRACTIVENESS OF ACTOR
An actor's popularity or level of attractiveness can often enhance the value of a title even slightly and make a collector eager to purchase the poster.
Famous or attractive movie stars often drive the price of a film poster, for example, Marilyn Monroe, Angelina Jolie, Megan Fox, Ryan Gosling, George Clooney, etc. Iconic poses in cinematic history depicting these movie stars can also drive up the price of a film poster for example the famous pose by Marilyn Monroe. The more popular the movie star or pose, the more likely the price is to be higher.
How Can I Determine A Value For My Movie Poster?
A crucial part of assessing the overall value of a movie poster is through researching and viewing the condition. Collectors aim to compare film posters with others they have sold or the original they find online with yours.
They frequently look for the same characteristics that appear on the original piece online or one they already have.
You cannot compare an excellent condition with a satisfactory condition or an imperfect condition with many flaws. Such a comparison means you can never really get a proper reflection of the value to give it.
Original Vintage Movie Posters for Sale
We created this website to provide a vintage movie poster guide. If you have an interest in classic movie posters from the 1950s, 1960s or 1980s, we hope you will learn more about the most popular posters of the period.
Take a sneak peak at some of the posters we have in stock here. However, if you have a film in mind and don't see it here, please get in touch as we'd be happy to locate it for you.
Are you interested in movie poster collecting? We hope you have gained useful information from this article discussing: How much is my movie poster worth? Follow the links below to discover more about collectable movie posters.