Movie Poster Studio information about vintage original movie posters / original film posters, lobby cards, movie memorabilia

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As collectors of film memorabilia ourselves, we hope you will get that same buzz when you stumble across something that reminds you of a special film, or even when you just look at the artwork in amazement/bemusement in its own right.
In many ways, items such as movie posters and lobby cards provide a last elusive link to the films and their stars, directors etc, as they were there at the time, part of the same film-making process, their role to bring the completed vision to public attention. And quite often, of course, the public weren't so enthralled by the film as by the advertising that drew them there in the first place! A little piece of history you can hang on your wall.

Please remember, though, that until recently these fragile, ephemeral items were never sold to the general public. They were printed in strictly limited numbers in line with how many would actually be needed, and were licenced temporarily to the cinema for a fee. Up to the mid/late 1980s, the vast majority of movie posters were folded for distribution. They were used, re-used, and generally abused. They were pasted on the sides of buildings, stapled to boards, exposed to the elements, taped up and thrown in with the cans as a film was passed from cinema to cinema. Then, under the terms of the licence, they had to be returned to the distributor and/or destroyed ("satisfactory evidence of destruction" would have to be provided by cinema owners!). If they escaped obliteration, they would most likely end up neglected in dusty storerooms, facing the risk of damp, heat, light, or providing a snack for hungry pests. In times of war and after, they would be recycled due to paper shortages. It's a wonder that any still survive.

So expect the odd scar or two - it's part of the history. It makes them genuine. After all, it's not so bad as it sounds. A surprising number have survived in good condition, occasionally even near perfect, thanks perhaps to enthusiastic cinema or film industry staff who kept back the odd "souvenir", or where distributors got their numbers wrong. Most of the ravages of time can be dealt with by careful framing. Folds and creases flatten out and become far less noticeable under glass; tears and edge damage get hidden in the mount. If that's not enough, it's the accepted norm for paper restorers to linen-back or paper-back treasured items to correct blemishes or missing areas.

Like the films themselves, nobody thought these disposable objects would become valuable artworks or investment opportunities long after their sell-by date. Thanks largely to TV, video, DVD and enthusiasts around the world, film became reassessed as a major art form, and by extension, some of the artwork created for it too. Probably no need to mention some of the prices famously commanded for high-profile pieces at major auction houses or in private deals ($453,500 for a 1932 Mummy 1-sheet or £397,762 for a Metropolis anyone?), but the great thing about movie memorabilia is the sheer diversity of subject matter and taste, and that the majority of items continue to be affordable for their age and rarity.

Since we usually only have one copy of each item, please email us first to check availability and obtain shipping costs (we are based in the UK).

The email should include:
The reference number(s) of the item(s), e.g. 2431
A brief description of the item(s), e.g. Bonnie and Clyde US 1-sheet
Your name - so we can keep track of your order
Your full delivery address including country - so we can advise you of shipping costs
Your telephone number (optional) - in case we are unable to contact you by email for any reason

We shall reply as soon as possible to confirm availability, shipping costs and payment methods.

If you wish to proceed with the purchase, please send payment and a confirmation email. If we do not hear from you within 10 days, we shall assume you do not wish to continue and shall make items available for sale again.

We shall send items once we have received cleared funds. Under normal circumstances, payments via PayPal or postal orders should clear immediately; cheques may take up to 5 working days.

** Important - Please do not send payment before we have replied to confirm availability and shipping costs.

UK Customers:
- UK Cheque
- UK Postal Order
- PayPal in £ sterling
- Cash in £ sterling at your own risk. If you choose this method, we recommend you send it registered & insured.

If you are not already familiar with PayPal, it is free for buyers. It enables you to use all major credit/debit cards securely, and to choose which currency to pay in. It is one of the easiest and most widely used methods for making international payments online. See the PayPal site for details.
(To protect against fraud, we can only deliver to the card-holder's registered address.)

Within the UK:
- Items up to £34 in value will be sent using the Recorded Signed For service.
- Items over £34 in value will be sent insured using the Special Delivery Next Day service.

Outside of the UK:
- Items will be sent using Airsure or International Signed For Airmail.
Please note - we are not responsible for any import/customs duties that may apply to the destination country.

We hope you will be satisfied with your purchase. However, if you are in any way dissatisfied, you may return it within 7 days for a full refund. (Please note that postage costs will not be refunded, unless we are at fault.)

It is important to ensure that any items returned are in the same condition you received them. Please package securely, preferably in the same packaging used for the original delivery. We request that you use an insured or registered delivery service, as we cannot be held liable for items we do not receive.

The images should give a general indication of the condition of an item, but as a further aid, we try to follow a grading system. In addition, we are always willing to give a more detailed report on request.

There is no single grading system within the world of movie posters and other collectibles. The categories we use below comprise some of the more widely-used terms. Obviously, some allowance must be made for the age of the item.

NEAR MINT - About as good as it gets. The artwork must be in excellent condition. There may be some very minor blemishes in the border area. The item may have fold-lines, but only if this was done as part of the original studio distribution.

EXCELLENT - The artwork must be in excellent condition, though there may be minor fold wear/splits, light creasing or extra folds. There may be minor blemishes/tape/pinholes to the borders. There may be a few small tears but no paper loss to the artwork.

VERY GOOD - The artwork must be in good, used, displayable condition. There may be fold wear/splits, creasing, minor fading/stains, small tears, tape, minor paper loss, restoration, pinholes in the artwork, but not so as to detract greatly from the main image. Frameable with little or no restoration.

GOOD - The significant areas of the artwork must be in displayable condition. There may be fold separation, pinholes, chips, tape and blemishes throughout the poster. Needs restoration.

FAIR - We would not normally sell an item in this condition. It would have to be a sufficiently desirable title to justify restoration. It will have major damage, including the artwork area.

Movie poster sizes can vary considerably between different countries and even within the same country. However, knowing the correct sizes can often help distinguish between an original and a reproduction. Here are some of the more common sizes:

UK:
British movie posters originated from imperial sizes, notably variants on the "Crown" (15 x 20 inches).
Quad (Quad Crown) - 30 x 40 inches horizontal. The standard size from the late 1930s onwards, still in use today.
Double Crown (D.C.) - 20 x 30 inches vertical.
British One Sheet (Export One Sheet) - 27 x 40 inches vertical.
British Half Sheet - 22 x 28 inches horizontal.
British 3 Sheet - 40 x 81 inches vertical. Usually in 2 pieces. The size has changed over time - originally it was around 40 x 90 and known as a "6 sheet".

US:
One Sheet - 27 x 41 inches vertical. More recent ones measure 27 x 40. The standard and most common size in the US, also used in many foreign territories.
Half Sheet (Lobby Display) - 22 x 28 inches horizontal.
Insert - 14 x 36 inches vertical.
Window Card - 14 x 22 inches vertical.
Three Sheet - 41 x 81 inches vertical. Usually in 2 pieces.
Six Sheet - 81 x 81 inches. Usually in 4 pieces.

Australia:
Daybill - 13 x 30 inches vertical.
One Sheet - 27 x 40 inches vertical.

Belgium:
14 x 22 inches vertical or horizontal. Pre-World War II 22 x 34. During/immediately post-WW II 12 x 17.

France:
"Grande" Affiche (1 Panel) - 47 x 63 inches vertical.
"Petite" Affiche - 23 x 33 inches vertical.
15 x 21 inches vertical - size varies.

Germany:
A1 Plakat - 23 x 33 inches vertical.
A2 Plakat - 16 x 23 inches vertical.

Italy:
Photobusta - 20 x 28 inches horizontal or vertical. Pre-1960s can be 14 x 20.
Locandina - 13 x 28 inches vertical.
Due Fogli - 39 x 55 inches vertical.
Quattro Fogli - 55 x 79 inches vertical. Usually in 2 pieces.