What Makes a Film Poster “Original”

Authentic theatrical film posters were printed for movie theaters or other promotional purposes, not for retail sale. Prior to the 1980s, studios rented posters to cinemas and required returns after the run. On many of the American posters you will see words to that effect printed on the bottom with a statement similar to the one below...  

As such, signs of use like fold lines, pinholes, and handling wear are common and can support authenticity.

Confirm Size and Format Standards

We tend to refer to the sizes of posters in inches. Original posters follow regional standards. Some examples of typical sizes are below...

However, it is not uncommon for original film posters to deviate a little from the typical standards but noticeable deviations often indicate a reproduction or commercial reprint.

Also, should a poster appear to be authentic but is slightly smaller then check that it has not been trimmed. The value of a poster that has been trimmed  is vastly reduced.

Inspect Printing Techniques

Originals were produced using era-appropriate methods:

• Stone/offset lithography: Soft, layered dot patterns with blended edges.
• Screen printing: Bold, solid color fields.
• Offset presses: Minor registration drift may be visible at edges.

Digital reproductions often show pixelation under magnification, hyper-glossy photo paper, or colours that appear unnaturally sharp or slightly 'off'. Images are often cropped slightly or appear with fewer details.

Evaluate Paper Quality & Texture

Paper stock is a powerful indicator of age. Pre-1980 U.S. one-sheets were generally thin and matte, typically folded for shipment. Later posters moved to heavier, glossier stock and were more often shipped rolled. 

• Vintage paper may show mild yellowing, fiber irregularities, or tiny impurities when held to light.
• Modern fakes often use thick, bright-white photo paper or heavyweight art stock that feels “wrong.”

Being able to Identify the "right" type of paper really comes from many years experience of handling posters. Each country tends to have its own type of paper and feel, for example French paper is typically quite thin, "soft" and fragile.

Look for Studio Marks & Production Codes

Many originals include identifiers such as NSS numbers (U.S., pre-1984), printer’s marks, union labels, copyright lines, printer info, and revision codes. Missing or incorrect markings are major red flags.

Check Fold Lines & Ageing Characteristics

Factory folds were standard for shipments prior to the mid-1980s. Look for evenly aligned folds with natural wear along the creases and edges. Uniform or “too perfect” distressing can signal artificial aging. Posters can also be linen-backed to address the folds.

It is rare to find genuine pre-1980s film posters unfolded, however some, whether taken directly from printers or from studios, managed to escape being folded. Such examples, being scarce, command higher prices.

Compare Against Trusted References

Cross-check with reputable dealers and known originals. Small changes to taglines, ratings boxes, or billing blocks often distinguish reissues from first prints.

High-risk titles

Extra caution is required when shopping for popular titles and genres such as Star Wars, James Bond, Casablanca, Jaws and Classic Universal Monsters (e.g. Dracula, Frankenstein) as commercial posters were widely reproduced for these titles and are often sold as original film posters.

Aside from commercial reproductions, known fakes have been created and sold as originals by some notorious, unscrupulous dealers. Some have gone so far as to use the original NSS printing plates to create convincing fakes, identifiable only from the smallest of "tells".

Buy from or seek advice from reputable dealers like Orson & Welles or reliable autions houses like Bonhams or Sotheby's.

First Release vs later Re-Releases

Aside from reproductions and outright "fakes", buyers should be wary of posters from a film's re-release being sold as from its initital first release. Typically a first-year-of-release poster is far more valuable than a later re-release poster. All too often we see people incorrectly, whether by accident or with intent, say a poster is first release when it is a later re-release. An example being the From Russia With Love French Grande where the first release is worth four times its later re-releases. 

Ready to add authenticated pieces to your collection? Shop Original Movie Posters - all of the posters we sell at Orson & Welles are guaranteed original and come with a Certificate of Authenticity.