Better Business Bureau

RalphDeLuca.com is accredited as meeting Better Business Bureau standards with a BBB Rating of A+

88085

Sell Movie Posters - Free Appraisals of Movie Memorabilia

 

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 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.

Experienced and Fair Appraisals for your Art

Vintage movies are my passion.  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.

I would encourage you to contact me about any movie memorabilia you may have. I will help guide you through the process of getting the most money for your memorabilia.  As a professional appraiser I can help you determine the true value of any item you may have, at no cost to you. As a private collector, I can offer you a full cash payment for your items.  Even if I am not personally interested in purchasing your items, I am happy to refer you to other private collectors.

After determining the value of your classic movie poster, you also have the option of trying to sell 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.

Fair and Free Movie Poster Appraisals, Fast Cash

If you have movie posters or any other movie memorabilia from before 1980, I’d love to talk to you about your items and offer you a free appraisal.  If you are interested in selling me your movie memorabilia, I will pay you in cash without any hidden fees.


 

Movie Memorabilia Finders Fee:

Ralph DeLuca will pay a finders fee to anyone who points him 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 Ralph DeLuca will pay a finders fee equal to an agreed upon % of the purchase price. This is usually 10%. All transactions are confidential. Whether you are a dealer or collector Ralph DeLuca is open to leads. This offer is applicable to those people Ralph DeLuca has 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.
Call me now at 1-800-392-4050 for a free appraisal OR fill out my CONTACT FORM.

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.

 

The Public Enemy
(Warner Brothers, 1931)
One Sheet (27" X 41")
Style B
Grade: FN+ 6.5
Bought by Ralph DeLuca for: $59,750.00
March 23, 2012
Auction - Dallas, Texas
The Song of Songs
(Paramount, 1933)
Full-Bleed One Sheet (26.25" X 40") Style B
Grade: VF- 7.5
Bought by Ralph DeLuca for: $28,680.00
July 19, 2014
Auction - Dallas, Texas

 

 

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.

 

King Kong
(RKO, 1933).
Lobby Card (11" X 14")
Grade: FN+ 6.5
Bought by Ralph DeLuca for: $4,780.00
March 22, 2014
Auction - Dallas, Texas
The Golem
(Paramount, 1920)
Lobby Card (11" X 14")
Grade: VF+ 8.5
Bought by Ralph DeLuca for: $8,365.00
July 19, 2014
Auction - Dallas, Texas

 

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.

 

 

The Wizard of Oz
(MGM, 1939)
Oversize Sepia Publicity Stills (6) (10" X 13") six in all
Grade: VF 8.0
Bought by Ralph DeLuca for: $1840.00
July 17, 2004
Auction - Dallas, Texas

 

 

Original Hollywood Photography and Portraits

During Hollywood's golden age (1926-1949), the publicity shots taken of some of the most beautiful stars in Hollywood have become highly desirable by movie memorabilia collectors. The Depression era Hollywood publicity photographs are beautifully composed via light, shadows, make-up, and props. Original black-and-white Hollywood photography and portraits are truly captivating as they project a nonpareil glamor.

 

I am Interested in Acquiring Vintage Photos of Actors / Movie Stars and Directors including:

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

Directors:
Howard Hawks
Clint Eastwood

 

Joan Crawford by Ruth Harriet Louise
(MGM, 1920s)
Portrait Still (10.25" X 13")
Grade: FN 6.0
Bought by Ralph DeLuca for: $310.70
Nov 11, 2009
Auction - Dallas, Texas
Boris Karloff by Jack Freulich (
"The Old Dark House" (Universal, 1932)
Portrait (10.5" X 13.5")
Grade: FN/VF 7.0
Bought by Ralph DeLuca for: $1,195.00
Nov 12, 2009
Auction - Dallas, Texas

 

 

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.

 

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.

 

 

UFA Exhibitor Book
(UFA, 1925-1926)s
180 Pages, (9" X 12")
Grade: VF 8.0
Bought by Ralph DeLuca for: $3,107.00
July 16, 2011
Auction - Dallas, Texas

 

 

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.

 

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.

 

The Old Mill
(RKO, 1937)
Standee Title Placard (13.75" X 28")
Grade: VG+ 4.5
Bought by Ralph DeLuca for: $657.25
March 11, 208
Auction - Dallas, Texas

 

*mem·o·ra·bil·i·a

memorabilia
noun
  • 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.

 

I Offer Fair Appraisals and Fast Cash

For many years I have bought vintage movie posters and memorabilia from dealers heirs, estates, and other like minded collectors as myself. I will help you to determine the real value of your movie posters and memorabilia offering instant cash if I am interested in what you have. No one will pay you more!

FOLLOW ME ON: