We have two fabulous auctions worth of movie posters and other memorabilia currently up for bid! The stars of the second session are a collection of linen-backed original one-sheets. Linen backed posters are the Cadillac of display pieces, looking great on your wall for years to come. But what exactly are they? Let us explain!
Some Problems with Vintage Movie Posters
Linen backed poster for Young Frankenstein
Historically, movie posters weren’t designed to last. That is why vintage specimens can be valuable, a trait they share with comic books and trading cards. We’ve explained this before, but for over half of cinema history, posters were mailed to theaters folded up. That means creases and crease intersections, weakened seams where breaks can easily happen.
They were also printed on cheap paper. We’ve written about this problem as it relates to comic books before, but cheap paper has a higher acid content leftover from manufacturing. That cheapness isn’t really noticeable, at least not at first. Over time, the acid in the paper reacts with the air to discolor the item, as well as rendering it brittle and prone to breakage.
Modern movie posters are manufactured in such a way as to make these problems non-issues. They’re glossy, double-sided, and ship rolled. They don’t deteriorate like vintage specimens do, which is part of why standard movie posters don’t grow in value like they once did. But vintage specimens can, in essence, slowly self-destruct if not tended to properly.
Linen Backing as Preservation Technique
Linen Backed Poster for Beneath The Planet of the Apes
Backing old paper with linen is a longstanding technique for its preservation. It’s a very involved process and has a lot of chances to go wrong, so it isn’t the kind of thing easily done by the layman (at least not correctly). The process itself goes back to the American Civil War, where it was used to preserve maps, but it wasn’t really used on movie posters until the 1960s. A paper collectible is washed and humidified, then applied with a strong adhesive to a piece of linen. This cleans up the paper, flattens it, neutralizes the acid, and mounts it on a sturdy, tear resistant medium.
The results are beautiful. They can make 70+ year old pieces of ephemera look like new, free of folds and dislocation. Furthermore, it makes them easier to store. They can be rolled and unrolled repeatedly with a reduced risk of damage and have a stronger outer layer of protection when shelved. To be clear, nothing can undo color breaks or paper loss that’s already happened, but linen backing can stop those progressive problems in their tracks. The process itself can be pricey, but the results speak for themselves.
Linen Backed Posters are Top Notch Collectibles
For all the reasons outlined above, linen backed movie posters are highly sought after. As such, we are excited to be bringing a collection of them to auction on May 18th, 2024. Classic films with linen backed posters in that auction include Jaws, Airplane!, Scanners, The Nightmare Before Christmas, The Magnificent Seven, Star Wars: Return of the Jedi, Stop Making Sense, and many more! They’re supported by an all-star cast of regular movie posters, lobby cards, and other memorabilia on both the 18th and the 11th.
If you have a collection of high-end collectibles that you’re looking to sell, let us help you! We bring in collections from all over the United States and sell our wares all over the world. We do the hard work and you get the reward, what more could you want? Until then, follow us on social media @b2pcollect to keep up with all the great collections we handle! You wouldn’t want to miss out on your Holy Grail, your White Whale, your Infinity Gems, would you?
