POSTER CONDITIONS AND GRADING
The condition/grade that is given to a certain movie poster is based on the characteristics or lack thereof characteristics that are commonly found in the movie art.
Movie art has been designed as a dispensable advertising material, they weren’t handled as “collectibles”. Most were taped, stapled, written on, hung in windows and generally in very poor shape. It is incredible that any managed to remain to make it to the collector’s market. But many of the remaining posters are still pretty damaged.
The most common problems and defect on Posters are:
- Bleed-throughs
- Creases
- Drill Hole
- Fading
- Holes
- Marks
- See-throughs
- Stains
- Tape
- Tears
- Trimming
- Wrinkles
It is very subjective to assess the condition of movie art, since there is no manual or specific rules for grading the condition of posters. Nonetheless, there are three basic accepted “grading systems” that most collectors/dealers use to determine the condition of a movie poster. Auction houses also use a fourth grading system. Since there are no standards, the grades can vary depending on who does the assessment.
The main grading systems are as follows:
6 Grade System
9 Grade System
10 Grade System
Auction House System
6 GRADE SYSTEM
MINT – A poster in MINT condition looks brand new, like it was just printed. It will have no characteristics or defects what so ever. It can be folded or rolled. A poster in MINT condition is certain to generate a top dollar in that title’s normal price range.
NEAR MINT – A poster in NEAR MINT condition can have minor characteristics or defects in the border area only. The art work must be in excellent condition with no defects. A NEAR MINT poster should generate slightly less than a MINT condition poster.
VERY GOOD – A poster in VERY GOOD condition has defects near the border and up to around one inch of the poster’s artwork. Some defects may also appear near the fold lines only. It might also be slightly faded. A poster in VERY GOOD condition will generate slightly less than a NEAR MINT condition.
GOOD – A poster in GOOD condition can have tears or small holes that are no larger than a quarter on the outer edges of the poster’s artwork. Some parts on the outer border might be missing or ripped, there might be some bleed-through in the outer area, as well as fading. The “central area” of the artwork must remain without any defects. The value of a poster in GOOD condition usually pertains in the middle to lower end of the price range for that title.
FAIR – A poster in FAIR condition can have major defects directly on the artwork of the poster, but it must remain recognizable and mainly intact. The price of a poster in FAIR conditions will affect greatly on its title. If it is a rare piece it might still generate the lower end of the poster’s normal price range, but it must be professionally restored.
POOR – Posters in POOR condition are greatly damaged and contain many defects. The price of a poster in POOR conditions will affect greatly on its title. If it is a rare piece it might still generate the lower end of the poster’s normal price range, but it must be professionally restored.
9 GRADE SYSTEM
The 9-grade system is the most commonly used. It includes the same terms as the 6-grade system, but includes three new grades EXCELLENT, VERY FINE and FINE. These grades belong between the grades of NEAR MINT and VERY GOOD.
EXCELLENT – EXCELLENT condition is a term commonly used in various ways by different dealers. It usually fits between VERY GOOD and NEAR MINT conditions on the six grade scale. Where some dealers use VG+, other dealers will say excellent condition. But be careful! There are some dealers that use the excellent condition phrase to mean anything from GOOD to NEAR MINT on the six grade scale. This is very unspecific, and when it is used, it is wise to ask for more specificity about the condition.
VERY FINE – VERY FINE condition is a term used by some dealers for a condition that is comparable to the VERY GOOD condition in the 6-grade system, which can be confusing since both systems use a VERY GOOD condition grade at different levels.
FINE – FINE condition is a term used by some dealers to describe a condition fits between GOOD and VERY GOOD on the six grade scale. Some dealers will say the same condition G+ or VG-.
10 GRADE SYSTEM
The 10-grade system was invented by Jon Warren and is also patterned after other collectible hobbies, such as comic books. These fit in categories from C-1 to C-10
C10 – MINT – Item is “as new” or in the same condition as the day it was made. The item might or might not be very close to the “perfect” condition, but it must display a remarquable state of preservation with no visible defects other than natural printing marks. Printing registration should be perfect. Usually, an otherwise “mint” poster might have some printing flaws in the registration, or alignment of colors causing one color to be slightly offset from the others. The folding/trimming process must not have damaged the item in any way. A poster may have slight fold lines that occurred when it was put through the folding machine. If the fold line broke the ink, therefore causing a faint white line, the poster should not be grated C10. No similar defects are allowed in this grade.
C9 – NEAR MINT – Remarquable. Unused or very carefully used, with very minor defects, minor tearing, one pinchole in each corner of very minor flaw. Item may have never been used, or may have been used in the theatre, but was carefully stored after use to reach a very well preserved state. Slightly offset color registration is allowable in this grade, as well as very slight compression mark. No edge fraying is allowed. One Sheets posters, which were normally quarter-folded until recently, may have very slight fold wear, if the wear does not significantly affect the visual state of the image.
C8 – EXCELLENT – Usually referred to as Condition A or Very Fine condition. Item may have never been used, or may have been used in the theatre, but was carefully stored after use to reach a very well preserved state. If a C9 condition is nearly like new, then a C8 is really close to a C9. A very well preserved poster showing minimal signs of use. Clear and clean. Poster has no major defects but could have an accumulation of various minor ones, small border chips. No major creases, but normal/minors on one sheet and larger poster is to be expected. There could be a few pinholes or border tears. Aging effects on some older pieces could be present. Paper could be slightly yellowed, but not brown. Slight restoration signs could be present if professionally done. There might be signs of wear and use, such as folds or creases (except on lobby cards), maybe a minor border tear, or pinholes in the border. Not soiled; clear and clean. No frontal tape repairs are permitted in this grade, but maybe one very minor tape repair to the back of the piece. Window cards may have written or printed banners, but the image area of the poster should be undamaged. Poster should be clear, supple, and clean. May exhibit more fold wear than a C9, but without significant color loss in the fold areas. A slight amount of color loss is acceptable in this grade, but if a very visible white line appears along the folding lines due to color loss then the item would not qualify for a C8 rating. No edge wrinkling or fraying is allowed in this grade. No tape is allowed in this grade. No writing on the front of the poster is allowed in this grade, although writing on the back of the poster that DOES NOT BLEED THROUGH is acceptable in this grade. Minor tears are allowed in this grade, meaning less than 1″ in length, and not more than two total tears on the item.
C7 – VERY GOOD to EXCELLENT – Often referred to as Fine condition. Still a very well preserved item. Usually, an item in this grade is almost a C8, but because of one or two disallowed flaws in the C8 grade, causes the item to be assigned to the C7 grade. Heavy damp stains eliminate the item from this grade. However, a minor damp stain on the borders of the poster could be allowed. A window card with the top 4 inch blank area trimmed away should not be rated higher than C7, even if in otherwise C9 condition.
C6 – VERY GOOD – Commonly referred to as “Very Good” condition or “Condition B.” The commonly used poster in average condition. The typical used poser with defects and characteristics of an item that was used several times. Unusual defects should be described. The poster may have slight browning of paper but not brittleness or flaking; it can also have a small amount of writing in the non important parts of the poster. Minor border repair, edge tears, stains, or other signs of average use could be present. The overall visual state of the image should be good. Minor soiling could be present. Larger posters could have minor fold tears, but the length of the tears should be specified; also normal folds, creases, minor fold tears, possible repaired tear from the back. Professional major restoration is acceptable in this grade. The poster should be complete and if not, major problems should be described (such as paper replacement). Tape anywhere on the poster should be mentioned and described. Small pen markings on the front can be present if specified, but must not be large and must not affect the visual state of the image. Sun-fading on the poster should be described, and if significant, should prevent the item from being in this grade. Heavy insect or rodent damage is not allowable in this grade. Amateur color touchup with colored markers is allowable in this grade. Common flaws that might assign an item to this grade include heavy fold wear, large number of pinholes or staple holes, taped corners or taped fold lines, minor tears, possibly minor paper loss from the edges, edge fraying and so on. The C6 grade is very common, because posters were often used and reused.
C5 – GOOD to VERY GOOD – A heavily-worn item, showing great signs of use such as multiple pinholes or staple holes, tape, tears, soiling, pieces missing, small markings or pen/pencil marks. This grade is an “in-between” grade and may be difficult to differentiate from a C6, items are assigned to this lower grade when there is a greater number of general defects that would make the C6 grade unacceptable.
C4 – GOOD – Below average but still suitable for display. Heavily used, with significant signs of use that affect the overall visual state of the piece. Small pieces may be missing from the borders (should be specified). Image area will usually have minor defects that may impinge upon the graphics. Could have tape, writing, or tears. Numerous pinholes and resulting tears could be present. Complete, but graphics are face-worn.
C3 – FAIR – Often referred to as Fair condition, or Condition D. Heavily damaged and worn, but still complete item.
C2 – POOR to FAIR – An extremely worn and damaged, possibly even incomplete item.
C1 – POOR – The lowest possible grade. Heavily damaged, possibly missing large pieces, possibly brittle and crumbling. Except for valuable rarities, items in this grade have little to no value.
AUCTION HOUSES
In addition to the grading systems that are commonly used by collectors/dealers, the auction houses usually use their own alphabetical system. The following descriptions are used by most major auction houses:
For Unrestored Posters:
CONDITION A: OUTSTANDING – Posters have clear colors and are basically free from any flaws, but may have the tiniest of imperfections. Posters from before 1950 are almost never found in this condition.
CONDITION B: AVERAGE – Posters are in average used condition. They may have minor flaws, including some of the following: clean tears, very slight paper loss, very minor stains, very slight fading, tape on the reverse that does not bleed through to the front.
CONDITION C: BELOW AVERAGE – Posters have significant flaws, such as paper loss that extends into the artwork, significant fading or staining.
For Restored (Backed) Posters.
CONDITION A: OUTSTANDING – Posters were in excellent condition and had only the tiniest of flaws that were corrected through restoration.
CONDITION B: AVERAGE – Posters have some restoration on the edges and folded areas, and very slight restoration in other areas.
CONDITION C: BELOW AVERAGE: Posters have significant overall restoration. It had major flaws that required extensive restoration.