10 replies to this topic

[e.s.blofeld]

I have recently started looking at branching out into collecting one sheets, but I want to make sure I'm getting the 'real deal'. Not that I want to insinuate there are any unscrupulous people out there on eBay ( ) but I want to make sure I'm not getting a reprint yet paying for an original.

I know the older one sheets are generally (always?) folded rather than rolled, and there are certain dimensions of the poster depending on the year, but I'm pretty much starting with minimal knowledge in this area.

Do we have any one sheet collecting experts here that could shed some light on the topic for me? Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks!

[doublenoughtspy]

Congrats for deciding to collect posters - it's a lot of fun.

Do you have the two books on Bond posters? One is in English and another is in German.

Yes, I would be very suspcious of any pre-1975 rolled one sheets.

Folding doesn't guarantee they aren't reprints, but it can be a clue.

I wouldn't necessiarily go by the vendor's word. I've had some on ebay swear up and down that they are originals and they quite obviously weren't when I got them (these were French posters so I didn't know enough until later).

The vendor could have been told they are originals and not know better.

One clue is the United Artists logo. It changed when Transamerica bought them in 1967.

So if you have anything pre-1967 with a Transamerica logo - it is a reprint.

If you are not sure about what you are buying, I would stick to established dealers like Bruce Hershenson - emovieposter.com on eBay. He knows the differences between reprints and originals and fakes - it's his reputation on the line.

[e.s.blofeld]

Thanks doublenoughtspy.

I will see if I can track down at least one of the books for the movie posters. I imagine that will help immensely. Do the books discuss what to look for, or do they pretty much just show the posters themselves?

Could you describe that the UA symbols should look like? That sounds like it would be a good clue to look for. Any other obvious things to look out for, such as the size of the poster? I thought I read somewhere reprints will not be the same size...

Thanks again!

[doublenoughtspy]

Both books just show the posters, so they don't really help distinguish between reprint and original - but both are great references.

This German site shows the UA logo progression:

http://www.logofan.5...com/photo3.html

Yes, reprints are sometimes smaller, especially recent reprints. Maybe 27x40 instead of 27x41, or 26x40 or so.

[Doctor Shatterhand]

You also want to be careful of any Bond posters that are pre-1983 MGM/UA symbols. MGM bought out UA during the release of FYEO (because of the financial blunder of a film called HEAVENS GATE). If you see any OO7 posters that have MGM/UA logo in the bottom right hand corner (or left) and the film was made before Octopussy - it is a reprint.

I have collected many different Bond posters since the 1970s and the original posters from the 60s and 70s were always folded. It helped to be working at a movie theater in 1979 too, since all of the posters we received were folded.

As previously mentioned, any poster that is rolled and is pre 1981 is most likely a reprint. The paper changed too during this period. Many newer posters are printed on lighter and glossier paper. The paper from the 60s and early 70s almost feels like linen and tended to be thicker.

Also, many reprints tend to be blurry or the color is different from the original. A friend of mine has two versions of the OHMSS poster. The original is vivid in color - very bright. But the 1980 poster is dull in comparison.

Beware of the notorious GF poster from recent years. That poster was reprinted with newer text and many mispelled names such as Harry Saltman.

One sheet posters are usually 27" x 40" - make sure you don't fall into the trap of a Bond poster that is rare but is also 11" x 17" (hint - it's not rare - it was printed off of a computer and most likely scanned from the James Bond Poster Book).

Many of the 60s Bond posters are high in price. Anywhere from $100 to $600 depending on which film and condition. YOLT volcano poster is my favorite and it fetches near $1000. Personally I find it very hard to believe that so many 'original' Bond posters from the 1960s and being sold on eBay are in excellent condition.

But be smart and keep doing your homework. Go to a local comic book shop and see if they have any old posters from the 60s. Most of the time they will and you can feel the paper and get an idea what you're looking for. Try attending a movie convention and check out the posters there. You will be surprised how many reprints are there and how high the dealers are hoping to charge.

Good luck and remember to buy the posters you want to buy for your pleasure. Buying movie posters and hoping that they will increase in value over the years is not a good way to start. This hobby can be expensive, but once in awhile a great deal will come up and you will be in the right place at the right time. I was back in 1985 when I picked up an original GF 3 sheet poster for only $5. I paid in cash and ran like hell.

[Simon]

You should sign up to this type of forum;

http://www.movieposterforum.com/ and

http://www.movieposterchat.com/ and also this site;

http://www.learnaboutmovieposters.com/ which has a department given over to JB at some part of the site - but I'm damned if I can now locate it via the search. Better of just searching for Dr No and going from there.

But this site has loads of images from the world over, which, combined with the forums, should tell you everything you need to know.

So;

NSS numbers are good to search for on 1 Sheets, bottom right.

There were a reprinted series of Bond posters for a festival in the 80s, they were restruck from the originals so they WILL have the correct date of initial release, but no NSS info. They are sort of collectible but if you're after the real thing, stick with initial release.

Reprinted Gf posters can have a black background as opposed to the correct green.

There are two Thunderball 1 sheets, one that has the jetpack going over the top poster framing line, and one that gets cut off at said line.

More modern ones. The US TND teaser had two versions, one with a foil 007 in the middle, and one without. The one with was withdrawn due to catching fire in the lightbox.

So, there's tonnes to learn but over time, it'll all slot into place.

Good luck.

[Mark_Hazard]

Beware of the notorious GF poster from recent years. That poster was reprinted with newer text and many mispelled names such as Harry Saltman.

Could the mis-spelling be deliberate so that those in the know, knew it was a reprint?

Good luck and remember to buy the posters you want to buy for your pleasure. Buying movie posters and hoping that they will increase in value over the years is not a good way to start. This hobby can be expensive, but once in awhile a great deal will come up and you will be in the right place at the right time. I was back in 1985 when I picked up an original GF 3 sheet poster for only $5. I paid in cash and ran like hell.

I very much agree that fan collections should be done for the love of the character and not as an investment. I too have had a couple of lucky buys but as far as I'm concerned (unless in my old age I need the cash) i consider them to be worth the same as everything else in my collection.

Having said that, I did once come across the LTK hardback, and as I already had a copy bought this to sell on, at quite a profit.

[Righty007]

A few years back I decided to buy an original one sheet of all of the James Bond films I've been alive for. I own Licence To Kill, GoldenEye, Tomorrow Never Dies, The World Is Not Enough, and Die Another Day. All I have to do is get The World Is Not Enough and Die Another Day professionally framed and I'm done until the one sheet for Casino Royale comes out.

[Sir Miles]

Having said that, I did once come across the LTK hardback, and as I already had a copy bought this to sell on, at quite a profit.

If you ever come across another copy - you know where to come

[Doctor Shatterhand]

Beware of the notorious GF poster from recent years. That poster was reprinted with newer text and many mispelled names such as Harry Saltman.

Could the mis-spelling be deliberate so that those in the know, knew it was a reprint?

Good question. Since that poster exhibits many mis-spelled names and words, it may be a clear case of a company who acquired the license to sell reprints but did not have a decent copy to print from. Therefore some retyping of names came to order and obviously was not proof-read before sending it to the printer. My personal guess would be that they did not do it so that the authentic poster collector would catch it.

[e.s.blofeld]

Thanks for all the input. I did get a copy of the poster book, which will obviously be a great resource.