Poster Condition

Grade "A"
Practically flawless, with very little natural ageing apparent. Some restoration may be present.

Grade "A –"
Nearly flawless.

Grade "B"
Mild flaws are present.

Grade "B –"
Some imperfections are present.

Grade "C"
The piece may have been printed a little less than perfect, or was discovered in average or a bit less than average condition, or was laid down on "linen" improperly, or was not handled properly after it was discovered. Remember that the condition grade of "C" does not necessarily imply that the poster is less valuable or less desireable.

Grade "F"
The piece has been altered. Most commonly this occurs when the framer mistakenly cuts or trims the poster image. A poster damaged in such a way usually holds no value to collectors, although to some people it may be a charming and affordable way to decorate a home.

All of our posters are mounted on acid free linen and suitable for framing. A linen mount is universally recognized as the proper method of preserving vintage posters. In some instances a client may choose to remove the linen backing for various reasons, in which case employing a qualified restoration professional is essential.

The topic of grading a poster's condition in a straightforward and forthright manner is our ongoing concern. Poster art purveyors around the world commonly use the grading standards we have adopted. Following are several factors unique to grading the condition of poster art. Due to the relative limited availability of these original works, a poster's value is more likely to be dependent upon its popularity and availability than its condition. Because of this, it is not uncommon for a poster with a condition of "C" to be more valuable than a poster with a condition "A."

A poster is considered to be in mint condition even if it has minor imperfections created at the time of printing. It is also considered to be in mint condition if mild foxing, or some natural paper ageing is present. A poster that was originally discovered folded is not penalized by the mild age enhanced staining along the folds. It should be noted that such posters look terrific framed and under glass. The folds simply demonstrate the character and rarity of the medium, as it was common for the posters to be folded and placed in leather carry-bags by the youngsters that the advertising agencies hired to post them. This is ofcourse a matter of taste. On the other end of the spectrum, we have clients who only purchase art that appears fresh or "brand new." For this reason it is somewhat common for many posters, especially high-end pieces to undergo a certain degree of professional restoration. Unlike many antique collectibles, restoration does not devalue poster art. With all of this in mind let us examine how we assign a grade to a poster's condition.