Thai Poster Rarity

[Test1]

Hey! guys,

I've noticed many on these forums (like myself) have a decent number of Thai posters in the collection.

Just wondering to those of you that collect Thai posters are you finding that many Thai posters seem to be getting rarer and harder and harder to find nowadays?

I'm finding no matter where you look it always seems to be the same bunch of Thai posters on sale nine times out of ten.

I've looked into this a bit myself and done a little homework and if you look on websites that show an "auction history" say ten years or so ago many Thai posters were around, but, now it seems everyone knows about them many Thai posters for US made films are near impossible to find.

Just wondering what everyone's thoughts are on this, agree/disagree etc.?

 

[erik1925]

Are you saying in general, that they are getting scarcer to find, John?

Or certain genres or decades?

Horror posters seems less frequent, especially older titles. And then again, how many were ever printed for certain titles, in the first place? I wonder if there is any kind of info out there that has that kind of data or numbers?

[Test1]

Are you saying in general, that they are getting scarcer to find, John?

Or certain genres or decades?

Horror posters seems less frequent, especially older titles. And then again, how many were ever printed for certain titles, in the first place? I wonder if there is any kind of info out there that has that kind of data or numbers?

Hey! Jeff,

Yes, in general, but, especially for big US made films, a few examples Jaws, Jaws 2, Rocky, The Thing, The Goonies, IJ and the Temple of Doom, Ghostbusters, Friday the 13th to name a few..

Looking at auction history on some websites a few years ago there seemed plenty around of many of these posters, but, now my advice if you see any of them for the right price and you like the film I say snap them up right away because they just don't seem to show up in my experience, reason being most are probably already in the hands of collector's that never sell their posters (like most of us on these forums )

[erik1925]

Hey! Jeff,

Yes, in general, but, especially for big US made films, a few examples Jaws, Jaws 2, Rocky, The Thing, The Goonies, IJ and the Temple of Doom, Ghostbusters, Friday the 13th to name a few..

Looking at auction history on some websites a few years ago there seemed plenty around of many of these posters, but, now my advice if you see any of them for the right price and you like the film I say snap them up right away because they just don't seem to show up in my experience, reason being most are probably already in the hands of collector's that never sell their posters (like most of us on these forums )

That's why i was also wondering what kind of print runs they had for big US movies like that. You'd think they would have printed a good number, but maybe not with the size and number of theaters in Thailand. Maybe they did print runs that were about the same (or less) depending how wide US flicks opened over there, too.

But like you said... im sure certain titles like JAWS etc are also scarfed up by collectors left and right, too.

[Test1]

That's why i was also wondering what kind of print runs they had for big US movies like that. You'd think they would have printed a good number, but maybe not with the size and number of theaters in Thailand. Maybe they did print runs that were about the same (or less) depending how wide US flicks opened over there, too.

But like you said... im sure certain titles like JAWS etc are also scarfed up by collectors left and right, too.

Yes it certainly makes you wonder about the print runs, I mean if you take posters like the "A Nightmare on Elm Street" series and the Evil Dead films and Superman films etc. they seem to be on sale all the time constantly.

Maybe it's a case that all the really good Thai posters for real classic films like Jaws and the like were picked up a decade or so ago and I'm a little late to the party therefore many just don't come on the market anymore unless a collector is forced to sell their collection and needs the money etc.

Whatever the reason many seem scarce nowadays no doubt about it.

[eatbrie]

I have a very tiny, tiny Thai collection, but it's true that it took me a long time to acquire titles like Back to the Future, Gremlins, E.T. triptych, Elephant Man, Goonies and others...  Don't know why.  Back to the Future was the first one in 10 years, and many dealers knew I'd pay whatever to acquire it.  When it's rare like that, you just have to be ready to pay what's asked or someone else will get it.  There were 5 people after the Back to the Future, but I was #1.  Now that I have it, it's one less on the market, and there are only a handful according to Pea.  Someone will probably have to die for another one to surface.

T

[Test1]

I have a very tiny, tiny Thai collection, but it's true that it took me a long time to acquire titles like Back to the Future, Gremlins, E.T. triptych, Elephant Man, Goonies and others...  Don't know why.  Back to the Future was the first one in 10 years, and many dealers knew I'd pay whatever to acquire it.  When it's rare like that, you just have to be ready to pay what's asked or someone else will get it.  There were 5 people after the Back to the Future, but I was #1.  Now that I have it, it's one less on the market, and there are only a handful according to Pea.  Someone will probably have to die for another one to surface.

T

How's it going T.

You certainly done well with some of the Thai posters you managed to pick up, you obviously are a major collector and have been collecting for many years, so no doubt you knew all about Thai posters way before me and I'd guess although some posters will always be tricky to find it was probably a little easier to find some of them when you picked them up, another one you done very well to find was Pale Rider, very cool poster and another fine Eastwood western and another Thai poster rarely seen.

Funny enough the Back to the Future Thai poster is one I'm not at all fussed about, totally love the film which I've seen tons of times but IMO the Thai poster for BTTF is not one of the better ones in terms of artwork, Fox's face in particular looks way off so for me it holds this poster back a bit, still nice to own though if you just to want to own another rare Thai poster.

[eatbrie]

Well, I've only been collecting since 2001 (I had 100 posters in 2002  ) and looking at your avatar picture, you look much older than that.  I probably bought my first Thai poster less than 10 years ago, so I don't think the market has changed that much.  You just have to look for them and grab them as soon as you see them.  I got both Gremlins and Back to the Future in the last 2 months.

And re: Back to the Future, I completely agree, but I'm a completist, so it was a no brainer for me.  I need less than a handful of Spielberg posters to call my collection complete, and the Thai Back to the Future was one of them.

T

[okiehawker]

Hi John,

I've written some about my Thai poster hunting experience on some of the other Thai poster threads on APF.  I don't actively hunt much for them now, other than wouldn't mind certain original paintings.  The height of my Thai poster hunting was 2012-2013 when I was in Thailand quite a bit.  I did buy a few Thai posters for U.S. movies back then, and many were plentiful and wildly different in price from one dealer/night market to the next.  What was much more challenging to me, though, was finding beautiful Thai posters from many other countries' movies.  Also, since my wife was born there, we looked for posters from early Thai movies and those can be especially tough to find.  I personally suspect there are several Thai posters for U.S. movies that are in demand that may have had extra printings as they are/were very commonly seen.  Also, at least a couple seem to be later "commercial" posters (not too far off to say "fake" perhaps) and even could be rerelease posters that are original to that rerelease.  Buy what you like my friend and I recommend not spending too much on individual posters, because there is the possibility of some market driven shenanigans from what I've seen.  Okie

[Test1]

Well, I've only been collecting since 2001 (I had 100 posters in 2002  ) and looking at your avatar picture, you look much older than that.  I probably bought my first Thai poster less than 10 years ago, so I don't think the market has changed that much.  You just have to look for them and grab them as soon as you see them.  I got both Gremlins and Back to the Future in the last 2 months.

And re: Back to the Future, I completely agree, but I'm a completist, so it was a no brainer for me.  I need less than a handful of Spielberg posters to call my collection complete, and the Thai Back to the Future was one of them.

T

Truly appreciate your feedback T, although I feel old enough at times, lol, I can assure you I'm not as old as the guy in my avatar

As for the Thai BTTF poster, fair enough mate, like I said if it was not for Fox's face being a little off/awkward then I'd say it was almost a perfect poster, either way I totally understand and fully respect your reasons for picking it up

[Test1]

Hi John,

I've written some about my Thai poster hunting experience on some of the other Thai poster threads on APF.  I don't actively hunt much for them now, other than wouldn't mind certain original paintings.  The height of my Thai poster hunting was 2012-2013 when I was there quite a bit.  I did buy a few Thai posters for U.S. movies back then, and many were plentiful and wildly different in price from one dealer/night market to the next.  What was much more challenging to me, though, was finding beautiful Thai posters from many other countries' movies.  Also, since my wife was born there, we looked for posters from early Thai movies and those can be especially tough to find.  I personally suspect there are several Thai posters for U.S. movies that are in demand that may have had extra printings as they are/were very commonly seen.  Also, at least a couple seem to be later "commercial" posters (not too far off to say "fake" perhaps) and even could be rerelease posters that are original to that rerelease.  Buy what you like my friend and I recommend not spending too much on individual posters, because there is the possibility of some market driven shenanigans from what I've seen.  Okie

Thanks! for all the info Okie, nice one!

I must admit I have heard mentioned before about some of these Thai posters being "commercial" posters and to be perfectly honest it would not surprise me if some of mine fall into this category, all I can say is that I bought all my Thai posters in good faith and was assured they were all 100% original from the time of the films first release, but, whether that is totally true I really could not say, I certainly hope so, but, I would say some are in especially good condition and are forever available like the NOES & Evil Dead posters in particular, I'm forever seeing them, so maybe these are "commercial" Thai posters, I'm not enough of an expert (far from it in fact) to know.

All I will say is someone did mention to me a while back that when you mention "commercial" posters to many Thai dealers they seem to go very quiet on the subject and don't want to discuss it, so make of that what you will?

I'd happily say some of my collection are 100% the real deal, but they would be posters like Bonnie & Clyde and Star Trek II which clearly have issues and show their obvious age, other posters I own I'm less sure about and I'm only going by the fact I bought them from a trusted seller.

[okiehawker]

Another thing, John, that makes even a commercially produced poster interesting to me is the Thai artist who created the original painting.  Some great Thai poster artists for sure!  Maybe some of these Thai posters are what we might call "Mondo's Uncle"!  Okie

[Test1]

I thought it would be better to post in this Thai related valuation thread rather than open up a brand new one.

To any of you that buy (or in the past have bought) Thai posters, do you have a cut off point when it comes to price and what you'd pay for a Thai poster?

Just for arguments sake, lets say you have a chance to buy your most wanted Thai poster, what is the max amount you'd pay?

 

[eatbrie]

I don’t think I have a cut off point.  It’s all about how much you want it and how rare it is.  I don’t think I’d spend more than $1k on rare 80s tiles, I haven’t so far, but if it is needed to complete a collection, so be it.  But we’re all different.  I’m a completist, and with that comes the danger of overspending on something you might never see again.

T

[Test1]

I don’t think I have a cut off point.  It’s all about how much you want it and how rare it is.  I don’t think I’d spend more than $1k on rare 80s tiles, I haven’t so far, but if it is needed to complete a collection, so be it.  But we’re all different.  I’m a completist, and with that comes the danger of overspending on something you might never see again.

T

Appreciate your input T as always

Your quite right that we all have our own personal limit to what we will or can afford to spend.

Overspending is always in the back of my mind for sure, I certainly spent to much on some of the first posters I bought, but luckily I've learnt a bit more since then, I do try and do as much homework as possible now and try and find out "where possible" how much certain posters have gone for in the past, but of course this is not so easy with Thai posters as many of the rarer ones are not often sold on auction sites, even if you take a website like emovieposter they don't seem to sell that many Thai posters and when they do they are usually ones that are easy to find, so it certainly can be tricky knowing if your overspending on rarer titles as there's very little info out there to go on.

I guess like you said it just comes down to how much you want the particular poster in question.