Collecting movie posters can prove rewarding, both emotionally and financially. Here are some tips to move forward. First of all, not every movie poster that gets released is a "collectors item." The best investments are known as one-sheets. These are large prints that studios hang up in theaters, bus station kiosks, and the like to stimulate audiences. Reprints look very similar to one-sheets but lack commercial value. A typical one-sheet movie poster measures 27 inches by 40 inches. You can also collect lobby cards and billboard sized cards, but these are harder to trade with others and tougher to preserve. Studios often put out multiple versions of movie posters to advertise. The Style A one-sheet for a film may be worth way more than the Style B sheet for the same film. Posters for old films are, as a rule, more valuable than posters for new films. However, age is not the only determinant of value. Occasionally, studios will release successful films in multiple incarnations over decades. Each time a film gets released, the studio may put out original poster art to attract audiences. Although these reissue posters are considered "originals" (and therefore collectible), the newer posters will garner far less at auction than the original release posters. Objectively grading the condition of a poster requires redundant analyses. You can check online to find out how similar prints have sold on the open market. Don't just "go by" one auction. Extenuating circumstances may inflate or deflate the price of a sale. For really rare finds, get multiple professional evaluations, so you don't undersell or overpay.
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