Caring for Your Original Film Posters

Caring for Your Original Film Posters

A Collector’s Guide to Handling, Storing and Displaying Vintage Cinema Posters

Original cinema posters were created as temporary advertising materials for cinemas, yet many have survived for decades and become highly desirable collectibles. Proper care is essential to preserve their condition, colour, and long-term value.

We receive many questions from collectors asking the best ways to store and display original posters. The guide below outlines practical advice on handling, storing and displaying vintage film posters so they can be enjoyed while remaining protected for future generations.

Handling Your Film Posters

The first step in protecting a poster is careful handling. Vintage posters are often printed on relatively thin paper and can tear or crease if handled incorrectly.

Best practices when handling posters:

  • Always handle posters with clean, dry hands. Oils or dirt from your hands can transfer onto the paper and cause staining over time.
  • Unfold posters slowly and carefully, supporting the paper with both hands to avoid stress on fold lines.
  • When refolding, follow the original fold lines exactly. Creating new folds can reduce a poster’s value and cause permanent creases.
  • Avoid placing posters on rough or dirty surfaces when viewing them. A clean table or large flat surface is ideal.
  • If working with particularly valuable posters, some collectors choose to use cotton or nitrile gloves for extra protection.

Taking a few moments to handle posters carefully can prevent most accidental damage.

Storing Film Posters

Correct storage is one of the most important factors in preserving vintage posters.

Flat Storage (Recommended)

The safest way to store a poster is flat. This reduces stress on fold lines and prevents curling.

Ideal storage options include:

  • Plan chests or flat files used by artists and archivists
  • Frames designed for posters
  • Archival sleeves or poster browsers

If using sleeves or portfolios, choose acid-free and archival materials so the paper is not damaged over time.

Storing Folded Posters

Many cinema posters—particularly British Quads—were originally sent to cinemas folded. These posters can safely remain folded if stored correctly.

  • Keep them in acid-free storage boxes
  • Store in a dry environment with stable temperatures
  • Avoid placing heavy objects on top of them

Since the posters were originally distributed folded, this method remains perfectly acceptable for many collectors.

Storing Rolled Posters

Posters that were originally issued rolled (such as many modern posters) can be stored rolled in tubes.

However:

  • Avoid rolling posters that were originally folded when storing long-term, as this can create stress along the fold lines
  • Use wide archival tubes rather than narrow mailing tubes
  • Wrap posters in acid-free tissue or paper before placing them in tubes

Displaying Film Posters

Displaying posters is one of the great pleasures of collecting, but it should always be done in a way that protects the artwork.

Framing

Framing is the most popular display option for collectors.

When framing a poster:

  • Use UV-protective acrylic or glass to prevent fading
  • Ensure the poster does not directly touch the glass (a mount or spacer helps prevent this)
  • Choose acid-free backing boards
  • Avoid permanently mounting the poster, mounting posters on to board removes their value.
  • Professional conservation framing can dramatically increase the longevity of a poster.

Protecting Posters from Light

Light is one of the biggest causes of damage to vintage posters.

To protect your poster:

  • Avoid direct sunlight, which can quickly fade colours
  • Display posters in rooms with controlled lighting
  • Use UV-filtering glazing when framing

Even indirect sunlight can cause fading over long periods.

Environmental Conditions

Paper is sensitive to environmental changes. Ideally posters should be kept in conditions similar to those used in archives and museums.

Recommended conditions:

  • Stable temperatures (around normal room temperature)
  • Low humidity to prevent mould and paper deterioration
  • Avoid areas such as lofts, garages, or damp basements

Consistent conditions will help prevent warping, brittleness, or discolouration.

Professional Restoration and Linen Backing

Some collectors choose to have posters professionally restored or linen backed. This process involves mounting the poster onto archival linen and repairing tears or fold wear.

Benefits can include:

  • Improved structural support
  • Enhanced display appearance
  • Stabilisation of fragile paper
  • The opportunity for a professional artist to replace artwork that may have been missing.
  • If repairing closed tears always use good quality PH7 acid free restoration archival tape and apply this to the reverse side of the film poster. Double-sided posters are best left without any tape as this will show through on the lightbox.
  • However, restoration should always be carried out by experienced conservation professionals to ensure the poster’s value is preserved.

A Final Tip for Collectors

Original film posters are pieces of cinema history. With careful handling, proper storage, and thoughtful display, many posters can remain in excellent condition for decades.

Whether you are collecting posters from classics like Star Wars, The Godfather, or modern favourites, taking the time to care for them properly ensures they can be enjoyed by collectors for years to come.