Collecting Vintage Poster Art
Collecting vintage posters has become very popular, and the reason for this is because there are only a very few genuine vintage posters available in today's market. Many vintage posters come with a very expensive price tag while others you can find at a reasonably low price, depending on popularity and the genre. Here are some things that may help you when you begin collecting vintage poster art.
Modernism, Art Deco, Art Nouveau and Symbolism are examples of period art. Posters also come is various sizes, designs and subject matter. There are also many different types of posters such as western genre posters, vintage movie posters, military posters, advertisements and political posters. The list goes on and on but choose what interests you the most and enjoy what you are doing.
When collecting vintage posters you will find that some are more collectible than others. World War II posters and autographed posters are rare finds and also more expensive. If you are purchasing an autographed poster, make sure the autograph is authentic, if it is authentic the owner will generally offer a certificate of authenticity with your purchase. Whether you are collecting for fun or because you have a passion for a specific period or subject, collecting vintage art is not only extremely interesting but can be profitable too.
During some research I found that an original German poster (a Fritz Lang Film) titled the Metropolis sold for over $ 700,000. Only a few are in existence to date and one is in the Museum of Modern Art in New York. So you can see for yourself that vintage art posters can be an extremely expensive hobby.
When looking to purchase your vintage poster you will want to make sure that it is not a reproduction and that it is genuine original and authentic, what condition the poster is in (mint, near mint, new, slightly used, etc. You will also want to know if the poster has undergone any kink restoration and how the poster has been stored and preserved up until now.
If you are interested in history, political posters are rare and highly prized, not just for the artistry of the poster but because of the place it holds in our history. Vintage horror posters are also highly prized and much sought after, such as the Bride of Frankenstein (which is to be auctioned off in November 2010 by Heritage Auctions) There are many collectors around the world that will pay a very high price for one of these rare vintage posters.
Today vintage poster collecting has become big business. Begin your collection with what you are interested in, be it films, movies, whatever pleases you and your finances.
