Have you considered what makes a poster a sound investment? Movie posters make fantastic investments, just like any other form of art. And like other artworks, with the right frame, they can be displayed in your home for you to enjoy for years to come.
But given the vast array of choices available to film poster collectors, it can be challenging to know which ones will make the best investments.
There are a few criteria that you can use when deciding which posters to bring into your collection. This article will take you through them and help you know what to look for when investing in film posters.
A poster's condition is one of the most important things to consider when deciding whether to purchase it as an investment. Movie posters in 'good' condition will only fetch half of what a film poster in 'mint condition can bring. It is difficult to find a completely free poster from damage, given that they suffer folding, creasing, tearing etc., throughout their lives; you shouldn't completely write off a poster in bad condition.
If a poster can meet the standards of one of the other criteria on this list, then it may be worth having it restored. Most significant older posters have had some restoration work done, so it's not uncommon. But pristine posters that are completely original are always more valuable than those that have undergone extensive work.
Up until the 1980s, movie posters were folded when distributed to cinemas. Therefore it is rare to find original posters without folds or creases; consequently, these damages do not drastically affect a collectable poster's value. You can consider yourself extremely lucky if you manage to find an original poster that has been rolled rather than folded, as these are often far more valuable.
Posters for vintage movies that are considered classics always make the best investments. Given that, as an investment, you will eventually sell the poster on, hopefully, for a profit, you will only ever want to find posters for big films that are popular. Nobody wants to buy posters for movies that no one likes or cares about, so there won't add any value to your collection because you will not sell them on.
Posters for films starring great actors, films by renowned directors or award-winning movies are all incredibly collectable and will add great value to any collection. While classic, vintage and cult movie posters are more valuable, contemporary Blockbusters can also fetch anywhere from £100 to £1,000.
The country from which the poster comes can also affect its value. By this, we mean the country in which the film was produced. For example, given that James Bond is a classic British franchise, British Bond posters are considered far more valuable than those produced and distributed in America or elsewhere.
In recent years there has been an upsurge in the desire for European movie posters. Notably, Eastern European poster from the Czech Republic and Poland have become incredibly popular, far more popular than US-produced posters.
Design and great aesthetics are a trump card to all other criteria previously mentioned. While a film may be incredibly popular and considered a great classic, if the poster art for the said film is not desirable, its value will almost always be negatively affected. The quality of the poster art can make those produced in countries other than that in which the film was made more popular than its native counterpart. Additionally, re-release or anniversary posters can sometimes be more valuable than the originals, simply due to the more desirable art. It is also a safe bet to look for posters designed by renowned poster artists such as Saul Bass or Tom Chantrell.
Another crucial criterion for movie poster investing is a rarity. Naturally, the rarer the movie poster, the more valuable it is. Mass-produced posters for sale to general public audiences will not fetch anything near as much as a limited-release poster. Films that had limited runs in cinemas will often have rarer posters. Additionally, posters for older films will also be more scarce, leading to a more valuable collection.
Recalled posters are also very sought after. Given that they were not displayed, for whatever reason, it makes them far more desirable. Despite one-sheet posters being the norm for collectors, three-sheet designs are also recently growing in popularity, given their rarity.
BUY FROM A REPUTABLE DEALER
You should always make sure that you purchase your original movie posters from a reputable dealer. Given how much these posters can make when sold, fakes take up a fair share of the market.
Legitimate collector auctions are also an excellent place to find legitimate, original works to add to your collection. Buying from reputable auctions also gives you peace of mind, knowing you have been sold an authentic piece.
Are original movie posters worth anything?
The short answer is yes. Original posters always fetch the most money when sold at auctions and add the most value to collections. Posters for older films also fetch more money, with original posters from the 1930s worth hundreds of thousands of pounds.
Re-releases and anniversary posters can also be valuable, but this depends upon the printing company and the designs they are using. Additionally, limited-releases and posters for films that had short runs at cinemas are also incredibly valuable.
When investing in movie posters, you should always ensure that you buy originals that share true value rather than fakes or mass-produced replicas. That is not to say that modern film posters are not as valuable.
Designs for films such as Star Wars, Jaws, Pulp Fiction and even more modern franchises such as Harry Potter can raise hundreds, if not thousands, of pounds when sold at auction. As previously mentioned, it all depends on the criteria mentioned above as to how much money film posters will set you back.
Top Tips For Collecting And Investing In Vintage Movie Posters
Given the growth in popularity of vintage movie poster collecting, before you spend a single penny, it is best your learn what to look for and how to protect your investments best.
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Auction SitesThe best place to start a movie poster collection is to check legitimate movie poster auction sites. Buying from reputable dealers will assure you that purchasing is an original piece and not a replica or reprint. It is always best to make sure that what you are buying is authentic. Reprints have absolutely no collector value; therefore, only buying through a reputable dealer is your best place to start.
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professional framingWhile movie posters offer their collectors the option of displaying their collections, which is one of the great joys of original movie poster collecting, you should be careful how you display your posters. Professional framing is an option open to collectors; however, you should make sure that your posters are not backed onto foreign surfaces. Linen-backed posters are often worth considerably less than natural, original pieces.
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store undisplayed posters carefullyAlong with the framing, you should make sure that your store any undisplayed posters with great care. Given that the posters' condition is a crucial factor affecting their value, you should take great care to ensure they are well-protected. While auction houses will ship these posters in mailing tubes, these are not adequate for long term storage. There are certain sites, such as Bags Unlimited, that offer brilliant and affordable storage options.
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find what interestes you It is also often best to stick to what you know. While a great poster from a classic film may look like an excellent investment for your collection, if you are not a fan of the film it is advertising, you should probably leave it be. Invest in what you love, and your enjoyment in your collection will be even greater. Whether you love sci-fi, horror, vintage or classic Hollywood, there are posters aplenty for all collector types.
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trends in the marketYou should also make sure to pay attention to trends in the market. For example, the best time to invest in Back to the Future posters was before the recent franchise anniversary. Being able to spot trends and anticipate which films will become popular in the future is the best way to make sure that you are spending your money in the right places.
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certificate of authenticityLook out for certificates of authenticity. While this is a relatively new concept for movie posters, this trend is quickly gaining ground. When this becomes the norm, you should be sure to get your hands on an authenticated poster before prices rocket.
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mint conditionBuying posters that are in mint condition is also the best way to invest your money. Many posters are only in fair or good condition and are therefore not worth investment. Ensuring that your collection is majoritively mint condition will help you to invest your money wisely.
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correct lingoLearning the lingo is also an excellent tip for starter collectors. You need to know the difference between film posters, lobby cards and other promotional artworks. Additionally, it would be best to learn about the proportion of changes between different cinema artwork eras. All of this is not simply to show off but so that you can confidently invest your money when building a collection.
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spotting a fakeThe final tip we have for you is to learn how to spot a fake. The market has a large share of reprints and fakes, so much that you can go to eBay right now and find thousands of copies of classic movie posters for sale. If you want to invest your money, buying legitimate originals from reputable auctions is the best way to go.
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? Follow the links below to discover more about collectable movie posters.