How do you know if a poster is original?
There are particular indicators we use to determine whether or not a poster is original. These include the poster size, paper stock and style of printing. We have over twenty years’ experience handling thousands of poster and our invoices act as a certificate of authenticity.
Are posters folded or rolled?
As a rule all posters produced before the year 1977 were folded then distributed. Star Wars was first film to issue rolled posters (unfolded).
There are however some exceptions:
Certain countries had the policy of rolling posters, for example, Japan. Also, the heavier American paper stocks for larger posters created to display in foyers or at drive in movie theatres were also rolled.
Some United Artists e.g. some Bond films, and some Ealing studios rolled the posters. However the vast majority were folded.
Do posters come in different sizes?
Yes. We have more than 40 different sizes of poster in our collection for sale; to search by size use our faceted search on the left hand side of the homepage. Each country produced posters in sizes exclusively for their domestic market. In the UK cinema cases were horizontal 30×40 inches whereas in America the famous 1 sheet was a more portrait in dimension at 41×27 inches. Japanese and French cinemas had a small standard 31×24 inches. In addition to country of origin, there is the factor of how the poster is displayed and what format this took e.g. from a large billboard outside the cinema to petit lobby cards used inside the cinema. Put in context, there are seven different sizes just for American cinema posters alone.
What is a re-release?
Some films that acheived great success at the box offices were re-released to cinema audiences some years later due to their popularity e.g. ‘Gone with the Wind’ was re-released a total of seven times. Every time a film was re-released, a new poster design was created. As a rule in the collector’s market, posters attributed to the original film release are most valuable. Although, occasionally the re-release poster design is superiore to the original, and becomes more collectible. Also, as re-releases were often produced in fewer number, they are often more rare. The 1959 original of ‘North by North West’ was a relatively boring poster with a limited colour palette in contrast to the 1966 re-release that includes Mount Rushmore, as such the re-release is more valuable and more rare to source and purchase today.
Do you restore posters?
As a rule The Gallery does not have a restoring service, although for own clients and our own stock we do this. The Gallery does not buy posters that have ‘problems’ unless they are expectionally rare e.g. one of three in the world. Most vintage posters require minor restoration to the folds. All posters that come to The Gallery are deacidified to stabalise the paper then placed on a stretcher where acid free wheat starch glue is applied, then the poster is backed with paper then backed on linen. Minor blemishes are dealt with at paper backing stage. All of our posters are conservation backed.
Do you offer viewings?
Whilst the majority of our customers are very happy to buy online from images, we recognise that some clients wish to view posters prior to purchase. We hold viewings by appointment in Kensington and Mayfair. Also for clients in close proximity to London it is possible to arrange a home appointment. Please contact The Gallery for more information or to arrange a viewing.
What is your returns policy?
The Gallery will provide a full refund within 14 days of the receipt of the poster if you are not happy with the piece.
Do you only sell posters?
As well as original movie posters, we sell other related film memorabilia that was created during the production or for the release of a particluar film. These include lobby cards, stills photography, original concept artwork and our associated publications. Use the filters on the left hand side of the homepage to browse these different categories.
How does delivery work?
Delivery is calculated when you reach check out. We request that customers buying online ship to their billing address, however, if you wish to ship to an alternative address can you contact The Gallery directly on +44 (0)7970 846 703 and we will assist you. The cost of delivery is tiered according to where you are located in the world
For extremely high value items The Gallery will use Fedex, please enquire to find out more about this service.
What payment methods do you accept?
We accept all major payment methods including Mastercard, Visa, Visa Electron, Maestro & American Express. Customers can also pay by cheque or wire transfer. Cheques made payable to The Reel Poster Gallery.
Can I sell a poster to The Gallery?
If you have a poster or poster collection you would like to sell we are happy to provide a valuation free of charge and will consider purchases case-by-case.
What is the “wants list”?
Although The Gallery has in excess of 2000 posters at any one time, there may be an occasion when a customer is looking for a poster that we do not currently have in our stock. In this instance we would place the request on our “wants list” and set about sourcing the poster for you through our established network of contacts. It is important to bear in mind that some posters and rarer than others, and in some cases are one-of-a-kind. We can advise you whether a poster is possible to source and approximately how long this process might take.