How is posters condition established?
Posters for the most part were printed in large format with an expected life of 2 or 3 month on billboards. They were ephemeral by definition. Therefore, in grading a poster we use a rating system which has been accepted by most poster dealers and associations. The following ratings are used, with an appropriate + or – to indicate slightly better or worse condition: A : The poster is in excellent condition. Colors are fresh and defects are minor. They may include slight creases, blemishes, nicks or folds, but nothing significant. B : The poster is in good condition. There may be some tears and paper loss along folds and edges. When a poster has been linen backed these may have been restored or repaired. Sometimes, there are some fadings. C : The poster is in fair condition. There may be tears and losses in the image or heavy restoration. Colors may be faded or washed out.
