Cinema material is one of the most rewarding things to sell live and one of the easiest to describe carelessly, because the difference between a valuable piece and a cheap one is often invisible in a photograph.
Say which printing it is
An original release printing, a later reissue printing, and a modern reproduction are all legitimate things to sell. Only one of them is a problem, and that is a reproduction sold as an original.
If you know, say how you know. If you do not know, say that — "I believe this is an original release printing but I cannot confirm it" is an honest sentence that protects you and still sells the piece.
Measure it
Poster formats vary by era, studio and region, so the useful thing is not a format name but a number. Measure the sheet in centimetres and put the measurement in the listing. A buyer who collects this knows what the measurement means.
Folds are not automatically damage
Many older posters were folded for distribution, so fold lines can be original to the piece. What matters is how many folds, whether they have separated, and whether anything has been taped on the reverse. Say all three.
What to show on camera
- The whole sheet, flat, with something for scale
- The reverse, which is where tape, backing and repairs show
- The corners and fold intersections, where separation starts
- Any printed text small enough to need a close-up
Restoration must be declared
Linen-backing, trimming, retouching and tape repair are all normal in this field and all change what the piece is. A restored poster described as restored sells perfectly well. A restored poster described as original does not stay sold.
Autographs and props
These are provenance items, not authentication items. See buying cinema memorabilia for what that means in practice, and provenance, and why it matters.
Delivery
Paper, and often large paper. Packing posters is the page that decides whether it arrives as what you sold.
More: how to sell on Metzee, pricing cinema memorabilia.
Questions people ask
Can I sell reproductions?
Yes, described as reproductions, in the title. Sold as originals they are a counterfeit problem, not a grey area.
Should I flatten a folded poster before selling?
No. Flattening is restoration, it can crack the ink, and it is a decision for the buyer.
Is a lobby card worth listing on its own?
Usually yes, and sets sell well as sets. Say whether a set is complete.