Old movie posters were printed using the technique of lithography. In some cases, the posters were even hand painted. Each Hollywood studio had its own characteristic style of poster making. While some were extremely colorful, others were witty, some were bold, and others were subtle. Old movie posters were created as advertising tools. They were a means to attract people to the cinema. Thus, they were printed on normal, even inferior, quality paper. They were rented out to cinema halls, which were expected to return them once the movie left the theatres, or pass them along to the next cinema hall.

These posters were not considered a potential art form and were not preserved or maintained; therefore old movie posters are quite rare. In some cases, there are only a few posters remaining of a certain film, as cinema owners returned the posters for a price. This rarity makes them exclusive and expensive. Collectors might have to spend thousands of dollars for these posters.

However, collectors do not mind paying for these posters because of their value. They are rare and, thus, their resale is extremely profitable. As time passes, their value only increases, making their collection and dealership a very attractive proposition. They also have great aesthetic value and are visually appealing.

Old movie posters can be purchased through dealers or ordered online. It is advisable to learn a little about posters and their prices before purchasing. There are reliable price guides available for this purpose. Prices may depend on how old the posters are as well as on their condition. Most old movie posters might be slightly damaged, depending on their age. It is imperative to ensure the reliability of the dealer, as some of them might sell reproductions for the price of originals. The buyer is advised to look into these factors before buying an old movie poster.

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Hand painted crates and sandwich boards were the first forms of movie advertising. However, the turn of the century saw the introduction of posters with vibrant colors and pictures and limited words. These old movie posters were used to promote a variety of products and services, including the early cinema.

One of the best ways of maintaining the value of an old movie poster is to restore it. If you plan to remove tape residue, rubber cement thinner is very effective. Using a q-tip, rub a small amount on the spot to be removed. Be careful not remove the poster ink. If the old movie poster is very valuable or if there is lots of tape residue, it is better to have it restored by a professional. Old movie posters were printed on high-acid, low-grade paper. So the process of deacidification helps arrest the deterioration.

There are three methods of de-acidification — linen backing/mounting, lamination and encapsulation. The process of linen mounting is when a restorer fuses the old movie poster onto linen fabric. The poster is strengthened, facilitating necessary repairs and reducing the possibility of the poster getting torn through mishandling. In lamination, there is a clear coating on both the front and back of the poster. If the poster is to be handled a lot, this makes it more durable. However, this process should be handled by an expert, as there is a possibility of destroying the intrinsic value of the poster. In encapsulation, the old movie poster is first de-acidified and then sealed in an acid-free polyester enclosure. This process protects the poster from handling, and keeps it free from dirt and air contaminants.

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