Sell Movie Posters & Movie Memorabilia
VINTAGE MOVIE POSTERS ARE MY PASSION
Any image found on this site that was purchased by Ralph DeLuca will be identified.
All other images are examples of the type of movie memorabilia Ralph DeLuca is looking to purchase.
Original Vintage Movie Posters
Movie posters have been used to advertise films since the earliest public showings of movies. While today’s movie posters typically show photographs of the main actors, illustrations are far more common on vintage movie posters. I am interested in your original vintage movie posters in all sizes and in any condition.
So, you have a vintage movie poster (or other piece of classic movie memorabilia) and are hoping to sell it. Getting an accurate appraisal for your movie posters can be challenging because of all of the variables that make one poster worth only a few dollars but another worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. Finding a knowledgeable appraiser or collector who understands the true market value of your poster should be your first step. Without a seriously experienced guide, it is easy to fail to get the money your posters are worth. Although I am not a certified appraiser, I can assist with market valuations.
Vintage movies have been my passion for a long time. I have spent many years collecting all forms of classic movie memorabilia, and I am one of the largest movie poster collectors in the world. As an avid collector, I am intimately knowledgeable on the current value of movie memorabilia, and I am always willing to spend top dollar to expand my collection. You can check out some of the examples of classic movie memorabilia I have purchased below.
The value of vintage entertainment memorabilia extends far beyond its material worth. Each piece tells a story—a glimpse into the bygone era of Hollywood glamour or a snapshot of a cultural moment frozen in time. Recognizing this intrinsic value requires more than just a cursory glance; it demands a nuanced understanding of art history and cultural context.
As a dedicated collector of vintage entertainment, I possess this insight in abundance. Not only can my knowledge help in quantifing the monetary value of an item, but also in illuminating its historical and cultural significance, enriching your appreciation of your entertainment memorabilia / movie poster.
Furthermore, the market for vintage entertainment memorabilia is constantly evolving. Trends shift, tastes change, and new discoveries emerge, making it essential to stay abreast of developments in the industry. Here, my deep-rooted connections and insider knowledge provide a distinct advantage.
I would encourage you to contact me about any movie memorabilia you may have. I can help guide you through the process of getting the most money for your memorabilia. Even if I am not personally interested in purchasing your items, I am happy to refer you to other private collectors.
After the value of your classic movie poster has been determined by a certified appraiser, you have the option of trying to sell vintage movie posters or other entertainment memorabilia through an auction house. However, I would generally advise you to sell through a private collector because selling through an auction house is inherently riskier and more complicated. Not only are there fees that reduce the amount of money you will end up taking home, but there is no guarantee that your poster will sell for its true value.
See my blog post discussing auction houses.
Movie Crazy
The Public Enemy
The Song of Songs
King Kong
The Golem
Movie Memorabilia Finder’s Fee:
If you have movie posters or any other movie memorabilia from before 1980, I’d love to talk to you about your items.
I will pay a finder’s fee to anyone who points me to a lead that results in a purchase of either a single piece or an entire collection of vintage movie items. Upon completion of the transaction I will pay a finder’s fee equal to an agreed upon percent of the purchase price. This is usually 10%. All transactions are confidential. Whether you are a dealer or collector, I am open to leads. This offer is applicable to those people I have not worked with before.
I will always pay high prices for:
- original movie posters
- movie memorabilia
- vintage concert posters
- original music posters
- vintage lobby cards
- old movie photos / stills
- old movie photo archives and film
- boxing style concert posters
I collect all original movie memorabilia, US and foreign, in all sizes and in any condition.
Through my extensive network of appraisers, dealers, and industry insiders, I remain at the forefront of the market, with invaluable insights into current trends and future prospects.
Authenticity is paramount in the world of vintage memorabilia. With the rise of online marketplaces and the proliferation of counterfeit items, distinguishing genuine artifacts from fraudulent replicas has become increasingly challenging.
So, call others first if you so desire, but make sure you contact me for the best deal when selling your original movie memorabilia.
Other Movie Memorabilia I Am Interested In
Original Lobby Cards
Lobby cards are no longer used in theaters and rarely printed for today's films. These small posters (usually 11" x 14" in a horizontal format) were generally produced in sets of eight consisting of one title card and seven scene cards each featuring a different scene from the film. There were some exceptions to the standard eight cars with some lobby card sets including up to 12 cards.
Lobby cards were intended for display in a theater's foyer or lobby. Lobby cards were also issued for some short subjects, but typically those were in sets of four card.
An original lobby set typically consists of one Title Card (TC), a lobby card of special design usually depicting all key stars, listing credits and intended to represent the entire film rather than a single scene; and seven Scene Cards (SC), each depicting a scene from the movie.
In 2009 there was a major scandal unfolding regarding fake posters, lobby cards and window cards in the niche horror film collectors’ market. This scam had been going on for about 3 years before I also was caught up in it. A number of serious collectors were burned.
Although there were some exceptions, at the time, most of the faked collector items were related to Universal Horror film posts, lobby cards and scene. So please be cautious of ANY Universal Horror Title, including re-issues!
The Wizard of Oz
Original Movie Photos and Film Stills
The main purpose of film stills /publicity stills from the Silent Period through Golden Age of Movies was to help studios advertise and promote their new films and stars. A “still” photographer worked on set although was not directly involved in the making of a film. The movie studio included these images in press kits, sent to movie theaters to help them promote the latest offerings, and to publicize the film and actors via magazines, newspapers and other media. The most popular kinds of film stills are those portraying glamour, menace, or gag interpretations. It can sometimes be very difficult to identify original, collectible material since there is a huge market specializing in both standard re-issues and later printings.
Hedy Lamarr by Robert Coburn
Original Hollywood Photography and Portraits
During Hollywood's golden age (1926-1949), the publicity shots taken of some of the most beautiful and famous Hollywood stars have become highly desirable by avid movie memorabilia collectors.
Exquisitely composed with the use of light, shadows, dramatic make-up, and props, the Depression era Hollywood original black-and-white publicity portrait photographs are truly captivating. They project an incomparable glamour that epitomized Hollywood’s golden age.
See more specifics on my Vintage Photography page.
Joan Crawford by Ruth Harriet Louise
Boris Karloff by Jack Freulich
I am interested in acquiring vintage photos of Actors / Movie Stars and Directors including the following:
- Adolphe Menjou
- Barbara Stanwyck
- Betty Page
- Buster Keaton
- Carolyn Jones
- Cary Grant
- Clark Gable
- Clint Eastwood
- Drew Barrymore
- Groucho Marx
- Humphrey Bogart
- James Dean
- John Wayne
- Laurel and Hardy
- Louise Brooks
- Mae West
- Raquel Welch
- Steve McQueen
- Veronica Lake
- Howard Hawks
- Clint Eastwood
Cary Grant
Pressbooks
Classic movies made before 1980 were marketed to movie theaters and film distributors through pressbooks, which contained promotional materials, including information about the main actors and illustrations of advertisements.
UFA Exhibitor Book
Campaign and Exhibitor Books
Campaign books, like pressbooks, were used to buy movie studios to market vintage movies. Campaign books were typically hardcover bound books that contained information about the movie stars and plot of the film. Campaign kits also included promotional ideas and copies of advertising materials such as movie posters.
Glass Slides
Glass slides were shown between films and used much the way movies trailers are used today. Glass slides measure 3 ¼ inches by 4 inches and promoted upcoming movies or advertised local businesses. Earlier slides are made up of two layers of glass with a painted surface between the glass layers. Later slides have only one layer of glass with an exposed painted surface.
Photoplay Edition Books
During the silent-film and early-sound years, movies were known as “photoplays.” Photoplay edition books can either be novel reprints that have been illustrated with scenes from the film, or novel-versions of a film.
The Old Mill
Standees and Theater Displays
A standee is a large self-standing display promoting a movie, product or event. Standees are also referred to as lobby stands in the film industry.
*mem·o·ra·bil·i·a
memorabilianoun
- objects kept or collected because of their historical interest, especially those associated with memorable people or events.
such as: "Movie memorabilia"
- archaic
memorable or noteworthy things.
Interested In Vintage Posters
For many years I have bought vintage movie posters and memorabilia from dealers, heirs, estates, and other like-minded collectors as myself. Contact me if you think I might be interested in your film posters and entertainment memorabilia.