FAQ's (Frequently Asked Questions) | Movie Posters Australia

When looking for vintage, old and rare, collectable or new-age movie posters we highly recommend reading the following Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs). If new to movie poster collecting, the information provided in our FAQ’s may provide some helpful knowledge. At Movie Posters Australia, we pride ourselves on providing the best selection of movie posters, from classic films to the latest blockbusters. Our team is passionate about movies and believes that a great movie poster should capture the essence of the film and also be a great work of art. We understand the importance of preserving and collecting movie posters and have very high standards for the way we handle, store and help preserve these collectibles.
Does Movie Posters Australia sell movie poster reproductions?

No. Movie Posters Australia only sells original cinema release movie posters and ephemera, or limited edition movie poster releases by movie studios, movie production companies, or known movie poster artists.

Are your movie posters framed?

Not at this time. But we are considering offering this service in the future. In rare circumstances, some movie posters may be offered for sale already framed. You can use a local framer to do this for you but we recommend using a framer that provides 99% UV glass/acrylic, have the poster set back from the glass, and preferably use archival/acid free materials. The posters longevity would best be served by having it linen backed first to make framing easier but the linen backing process will also help neutralise any acid held in the paper fibres, stabilise the poster to prevent foxing, and ensure your poster maintains its appearance and value.

How do I know if a movie poster is authentic?

There are a number of factors that can help to authenticate if a movie poster is an original vintage release used by movie theatres, drive-in theatres, and for other movie promotion locations. These can be a mix of size, paper stock, printing process, identifying marks, age and condition, and comparison of printed artwork to other known original examples.
Size – Each movie poster size is known and most posters will measure to within 1-2mm of their expected size. But there are some exceptions and sometimes a comparison to other known original examples may be needed. It is also possible that a poster may have been trimmed by an owner at some point in an attempt to clean up worn or ratty edges and to improve its condition for sale. Trimming unnecessarily reduces the value of a poster more so than edge damage itself and is not recommended. But resource shortages also impacted size and during the second world war saw the change of size for Australia Long Daybills change from 15″ x 40″ to smaller War Time Daybill size of 10″ x 30″ to get four daybills cut from a single sheet and reduce paper usage. After World War 2, it increased to a Post-War size of 13″ x 30″, and later in the 1980’s the Daybill size was reduced again to 13″ x 26″.
Paper Stock – Weight, quality, finish, and acid content, has changed over the decades. As a short term and disposable advertising medium, the choice of paper in certain decades was impacted by availability of natural resources, type of printing process used, intended location etc. Window Cards, Lobby Cards, US Inserts, were printed on a card stock instead of paper. Pre-1960’s posters were printed using matte paper stock and during war time were impacted by resource shortages as discussed above. Measuring paper thickness (GSM) with a micrometer and comparing this with other known examples can also help authenticate a poster. The quality and finish of the paper can also be compared to other known examples from the period or printer.
Printing Process – From the 1910’s to the 1950’s, most printers used a stone lithograph process for printing movie posters in Australia and a stone litho print has a different texture, feel and under magnification will show the grain of the litho crayon and stone that makes the print. The more common offset printing process, and sometimes in reproductions of pre-1960’s posters that are printed on large format digital printers, under magnification you will see a mixture of overlapping dots (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Black) creating a pattern that make up the colours you see. The printing process used can sometimes help authenticate the
Identifying Marks – The printing process itself is not always perfect. Printers rely on the registration (or alignment) of multiple colours printed over each other. Visible registration marks, their location, can also help authenticate a poster. Sometimes, printing errors, plate imperfections, can add unique and small defects to a print run (for example, the Australian Daybill for James Dean’s Rebel Without a Cause has some imperfect printing of ink for the Warner Brothers logo. Other identifying marks might be seen on USA posters printed by the NSS (National Screen Service) up to the mid-80’s that show a year of release and a number allocated to that film title released that year (eg. ’66/102′ with first numbers the year of release and last 3 numbers being release number in that year for the film title – numbers were allocated consecutively, so early numbers signify a release early in the year).
Age, Condition, Signs of Restoration – generally, the older the poster, paper stock will show signs on wear and tear from handling or use. Paper stock may discolour from sun damage, dust, acid in the paper. Foxing marks may start to appear on older posters. Fold wear is common with age. Multiple signs of age and wear can often help to authenticate the general age of a poster even though these condition factors may reduce it’s value. Restoration to damage or older posters has also become fairly common and during the process of linen or paper backing a poster. Linen backing is a great way to stabilise a poster from further deterioration but restoration can be hard to identify. But all forms of damage, wear, and age deterioration can help authenticate a movie posters general age.
Comparison of Printed Artwork to Other Known Original Examples – if there is still doubt about a posters authenticity a thorough comparison to authenticated known examples, or high resolution images of authenticated examples, can also help resolve any doubts and authenticate a poster.
But if you have any doubts please feel free to contact us at Movie Posters Australia and we will be happy to help.

What's the difference between and original and re-printed movie poster?

An original movie poster is one that was printed at the time of the film’s release. Although, there are also cinema re-release versions that are released in later years, usually with slight artwork and/or print colour differences. The posters that are generally considered more valuable and collectible are the first release movie posters due to their rarity, age, higher budget in artwork production and print run. Reprint posters, on the other hand, are newer versions of the original poster that have been reproduced for various reasons such as special anniversary releases or limited edition prints or consumer demand. While they may look very similar to originals in some cases, they are not as valuable.

Can I return or exchange a movie poster?

We want our customers to be completely satisfied with their purchase. If for any reason you are not happy with your movie poster, we offer a 30-day return policy. Simply contact our customer service team and they will guide you through the process.
Please note that all returns must be in their original condition, with no tears, folds, or damage to the poster itself. We also require a copy of your receipt or proof of purchase for returns to be processed.
If you would like to exchange your movie poster for a different one, please follow the same process as a return and specify which poster you would like instead. Please note that any price differences between posters will need to be paid by the customer.
Our goal is to make sure every customer is happy with their purchase and we will do our best to accommodate any concerns or issues.
Thank you for choosing Movie Posters Australia!

How do I determine the value of a vintage movie poster?

Assessing the value of a vintage movie poster requires considering factors such as rarity, condition, demand, and market trends. Researching similar posters and their realised prices at auctions, or through reputable dealers, can provide insights into current market values. Consulting with professional appraisers, dealers like Movie Posters Australia, or specialized collectors’ communities can also help in determining the worth of a specific movie poster. If you would like some assistance on a valuation for insurance purposes for replacement value, or you have a poster or collection that you would like appraised, feel free to contact us and we would be happy to help.

Does Movie Posters Australia buy movie posters?

Yes. We are always looking to expand our dealer collection for sale, as well as add sort after titles to our own personal collection. If you have original movie posters that you are looking to part with please contact us with some details, or feel free to give us a call on +61 3 9005 0000 for a confidential discussion.

How do I care for and preserve my original vintage movie posters?

Proper care and preservation are essential to ensure the longevity of your original vintage movie posters. Store them in acid-free, archival-quality materials to prevent deterioration. If you purchase a poster from MPA, folded posters will come to you in an acid-free polypropylene bag and acid-free archival backing board. If the poster if flat/rolled it will be shipped to you rolled in an acid-free archival paper. Keep them away from direct sunlight and extreme temperature and humidity conditions. Handle posters with clean hands or wear cotton gloves to prevent oil and dirt transfer. If you choose to display them, you have a couple of choices. Linen backing them first, before framing, will make the process easier and you will be able to display the full poster including it’s boarders. Framing a movie poster without linen backing will require the edges of the poster to be taped to the matboard hiding the outer edges of the poster. All components used for the framing, including adhesive tape, should be archival/acid-free. It’s generally not recommended to use adhesive tape on a poster as even with archival adhesive tapes there is still a risk of damaging the poster. The glass, or plastic, chosen should filter 99% UV-protective for the best protection against sun damage. Most building/home windows do not or filter minimal UV.

What was the National Screen Service (NSS)?

The National Screen Service (NSS) played a significant role in the distribution of movie posters during the mid-20th century in the United States. They were responsible for preparing and distributing promotional material for films. The NSS often included their logo and a unique identification number at the bottom of movie posters for the release and use in theaters. NSS also created the main titles, end credits and optical effects, as well as distributing posters, stills and publicity material. In 1987, three directors of the NSS UK subsidiary bought the company from NSS. The name National Screen Service UK was maintained and it continued to distribute trailers and print publicity material for all major film studios and cinemas in the UK. In 2000, the company was bought by Carlton Communications (later taken over by ITV plc). It was closed in 2007 due to increased competition.

What do the numbers mean at the bottom of NSS (National Screen Service) released movie posters?

The unique identification number, often shown as YY/#### eg. 77/21, specifies the ‘Year of Release’ and the ‘stock number’ allocated by NSS to that title in that year. So, ’77/21′ would show that the poster was released in 1977 and the movie title was the 21st release in that year. This particular number you will see on the first release poster versions for Star Wars in 1977 for the 2nd to 4th printings.

Due to the immense popularity of the Star Wars movie release in 1977, there were four different printings of the Style A one sheet poster. The first printing has the NSS number of '77-21-0', while the next three printings have '77-21' NSS number.