Why do you collect movie posters? or advertising posters? or concert posters? or any kind of posters?
Not sure, but it is a sickness I cant stop... I think it was the idea a poster was a cheap way to make a wall look interesting, but it also had a history, viewed by the masses many years ago.
What started your obsession for this hobby?
I was putting on an 80s party and thought it would be good to give the place some atmosphere with a poster or two. Found a Thierry hates "French Grande" poster promoting a 1987 concert tour of Madonna in Paris. It was written in French and the ebay ad said it was used in bus shelters in Paris. Looked like a great image to me and as an original with some history, and big, thought it a good choice. I never owned a poster till that point (about 4 years ago when I started collecting).
It was folded and I didnt like the folds so I spent a fair bit of time researching how to remove them... Found somewhere that said they could steam them out ( a conservation place) but they said I should take it to a linen backer, and found one in Sydney. I went to his store and there I saw heaven... colorful large advertising posters: french & italian wow! I then looked and found some pricey advertising posters online which I bought. Then expanded into movie posters.
What do you personally look for in a new acquisition?
Size... size counts. I like'em big... US 1 sheet size and bigger (eg 3ht, 6sht). My main focus has been of late italian 4F & 2F and French Grands and Double French Grands. Probably more important though is color - got to have strong colors, else I want to throw them in the bin. They have to be art ie drawn... no photos (apart from madge). I hardly watch movies although starting to see a few classics lately. I have no desire to get a poster for a movie I like, unless it has great art work... but the posters I like have great art due to the movie being likely sh!t... a B movie - unknown actors so no point putting their floating mugs on the poster when great art then is used to sell the movie. Also look for boobs and legs and a hot face (am I allowed to be so superficial? oh yeah, who cares). I was shocked when I reviewed my collection and near every poster had a sexy woman on it (shocked as I might need to get out more). If no woman then a monster, then great art.
I also have a sizable stash of mexican lobby cards. Doesnt really conform to the size criteria, but they have art and a scene from the movie. Didn't like the combo (art and scene) at first but now really like it, especially as there are lots of boobs, but also because they are cheap and it quickly fills holes of titles I just will never own... but they still need to have great art.
Oh, also am into condition so I keep away from foxing, but tears and small missing bits I'm getting more tolerant of... restoration can fix. Oh, I also much prefer unbacked posters, even though I dont mind getting them backed myself. I dont buy as an investment, just want to display pretty posters. I don't really rule out any size or country. I collect mainly 50's and 60's posters. Posters from before then, the people are drawn odd, not to my taste.
Did another hobby, interest or passion lead you to movie memorabilia?
I grew up collecting stamps, heaps, like my only interest back then, soaking them, drying them, filing them, hundreds of thousands I guess. Still have every one. I guess re movie posters, advertising posters led me to them - to expand the horizon.
How do you collect?
It cycles, sometimes looking for Italian posters, then for weeks looking for circus posters, then mex lobby cards, the advertising posters. I usually don't have a $ limit, well, under 10K I suppose for a rare special one, but right now being out of work 9 months I trawl for cheapies, under $100.
What makes you buy one movie poster and not another?
Art, women/monsters, minimal writing, looking for a statement piece for a big wall space. What movie or what stars its got matters very very little.
How does this hobby affect your life?
It is my main focus, trawling websites, over and over and over and over. Its a sickness, I'm sick. I'm still buying, even though things are financially a bit grim for me at the moment.
Do you budget your purchases or buy impulsively?
I buy impulsively. I go into debt rather than saving first.
Where and how do you shop?
90% ebay, 9% checking over about 60 online stores, 1% in bricks and morter stores.
Collections and sub-collections -- Why do you do it and how do you differentiate?
...and on and on.
I consider I have 3 areas of interest, movie posters, advertising posters, and circus posters (well it is advertising, but I focus on that area big enough to seperate it out). I enjoy the art so doesnt really matter what its for.
