I've been reading articles on Fake Movie Posters by some popular Ebay sellers/reviewers, and I agree with the respected dealers on everything stated in their reviews - except for one thing: 

INSERTS (14" x 36" thick stock U.S. posters)

I've been collecting movie posters - for 19 years now (2008) - of all sizes and country backgrounds without any kind of 'prejudice', so to speak.  In other words, I don't think that the U.S. One Sheet (27" x 41") is the ultimate of all poster sizes, I just purchase what poster I feel has the most attractive artwork or style.  No matter where it's from or what size it is.

My topic though is INSERTS.  I'm getting quite tired of how someone feels about how they "absolutely know" that these posters are fakes, because of their 'minty bright white" paper that they are printed on.  I remember a very big and proud collector, who had a website just to show off his wonderful collection (no complaints there), but he also had given a very closely detailed smear against these posters - just as these posters were becoming more readily available for the first time in years.  Such Titles as:

• "A CLOCKWORK ORANGE" (X-Rated / Original Release)
• "A HARD DAY'S NIGHT" (The Beatles / Re-Release)
• "ALIEN"
• "APOCOLYPSE NOW" (Bob Peak Artwork)
• "BLADE RUNNER" (John Alvin Artwork)
• "EMPIRE STRIKES BACK, THE" (Star Wars: Episode V / Style 'A' / 'Gone With The Wind' concept - Roger Kastrel Artwork)
• "EMPIRE STRIKES BACK, THE" (Star Wars: Episode V / Style 'B' / Tom Jung Artwork)
• "EXCALIBUR" ('The Lady Of The Lake' - Sword Style / Bob Peak Artwork)
• "GREASE"
• "JAWS"
• "LAST TANGO IN PARIS" (Tag-Line: "You will never see the most highly acclaimed film of our time on television")
• "RAGING BULL"
• "RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK" (Original 1981 Release / Richard Amsel Artwork)
• "RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK" (1982 Re-Issue / Richard Amsel 'collage' Artwork)
• "RETURN OF THE JEDI" (Star Wars: Episode VI / BOTH Style 'A' & Style 'B' of the Original Release)
• "ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW, THE" ('Lips' with Tag-Line: "A different set of Jaws")
• "ST. ELMO'S FIRE"
• "SHINING, THE" (Saul Bass Artwork)
• "STAR TREK: THE MOTION PICTURE" (Bob Peak Artwork)
• "STAR WARS" (Episode IV: "A New Hope" / Style 'A' - Tom Jung Artwork)
• "SUPERMAN" (1978 / Bob Peak Artwork)
• "TAXI DRIVER"

He claimed that because they were all "GOOD" titles and well known money-makers, that it was impossible to have such an assortment of great classic titles all of a sudden and that they could be in really fantastic shape.  He felt that even if you had stored them in a smoke-free basement and never touched them that they would still show signs of age.  Not true.  Not true at all.

I had listed that I was a collector of movie posters for 19 years (2008), but have had posters years before that - I just didn't see myself as a collector at the time with only a few titles on hand.  And being that I was young at the time and that something like a STAR WARS poster back then would have been lucky to have sold for $10 in those days, I can tell you this:  I left my posters out, I didn't look after them, let them collect minor dust, etc., and they look almost as good as new.

Every poster collector strives to know EVERYTHING about what they collect and I'm no different, but I still learn new things every year AND I will make the odd mistake from time to time.  But something I have an even larger knowledge in than movie posters is PRINTING.  My father was a printer for over 33 years, I took printing/lithograph myself throughout Tech/High School & worked at my father's shop.  I was born around this stuff and grew up with it my whole life.  The 4-Color Heidelberg Press & 5-Color Off-Set Press jobs, right down to the smaller printers - I've watched it, I've lived it.  My Father (nor myself) never printed movie posters, that's not the point - he and myself understood Printing/Litho and the printing process.

These INSERTS are "GARBAGE".  Not junk or fakes - Garbage.  For every print job, which is a very lengthy process that passes through many hands before it's even deemed finished.  And a mistake: a flaw, improper paper size, out of focus image, misspellings, etc. can happen at any time along the process.  Whether it's a photo mistake - a hair on the glass or lens, to improper alignment or cutting the poster (at the very end of the printing job) to the incorrect size.  A mistake is well too easy to occur, even with the most talented and seasoned printers on the planet.  Most of their work (a group effort - from salesman to binary/shipping) ends up in the trash.

Ever wonder how some dealers got a hold on uncut rolls of 70's trading cards?  Most of these people (or who had sold it to them) had once grabbed what was thrown out into the garbage bin.  It was a common practice among printers and it didn't REALLY do anyone any harm at the time.  But once these things became worthy of selling - no matter if they were 'perfect' or not - they started locking the garbage bins (along with other precautions) and it now was deemed as stealing.  Just as what it states on every single one of those fantastic old titles you have in your collection, that these materials must be either destroyed or sent back to the respective distributors.  So, of course, even the Theater owners/workers 'stole' this material as well.

I have INSERT titles that no-one in this world would want (eg. "Take This Job And Shove It", "The Hand", etc.), and guess what?  They are printed on the same exact paper, in pristine shape, cut sometimes incorrectly to size - does that mean these crafty 'illegal' printers had re-printed up all of these 'dud' titles as well?  Boy, they have one heck of an operation going on there.  How much did you pay for your last cartridge of ink from the electronics store - quite a bit right?  You know how much it costs to use up barrels and barrels of ink, let alone the cost of thick stock paper?  Do you know how expensive it is to run a 4-Color Press daily to do all of these individual jobs?  Plus, you would literally need a staff or a print job would take a very long time - and would have many errors along the way.

I admit, these fakes are getting better and better (One Sheets, British Quads, some Polish 'rarities', etc.).  But I DO NOT buy into this fake INSERT thing - not as yet anyway.  What's out there, is the exact same stuff from back when they first surfaced.  I don't believe the 'infamous' warehouse story either (explained later).  But I am certain that these are items of real value.  Technically speaking, they were made BEFORE the banged up one that you might own now - because it was cast into the trash and they printed the title again - possibly your copy.

Also, why did they stop there?  Look at the technology today - why haven't 'they' printed up anymore "Fake" titled Inserts?  Like the following choice movies:

1. Animal House
2. Caddyshack
3. Chinatown
4. Dirty Harry
5. Easy Rider
6. The Exorcist
7. Halloween
8. One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest
9. Pink Floyd The Wall
10. Slapshot

I haven't seen any around.

I just feel it started with one (unfortunately) respected collector who didn't believe that these were real because he compared them with his own.  It should have stopped there, with his opinion only.  Just as with my knowledge and background on printing and collecting of old film materials - the choice is yours to make, stop carrying on the 'legacy of the warehouse fakes' and consider that these posters came from where they were supposed to come from.  I'm solidly holding onto my 'garbage', and I will continue to buy it if it's available and reasonably priced.

And on this person/company's Guide, they had mentioned the name "Rick" - if it's who I think it is, I don't believe a word of it.  If your ever at his "store" online, look at the description of most of the popular titles of INSERTS.  They list it only as "14 x 36 Insert" and then it's condition - never "Original".  Why?  Legal reasons I would figure, but also because they heard the same story and are obviously worried about listing them as "Original".  That's why you can afford a poster for "JAWS", "CLOCKWORK ORANGE", "STAR WARS" - Because if they knew for absolutely sure it was an original, you would be paying an "original's PRICE".  "STAR WARS" for $125.00?  That's NOT an original price.  So their being fair.  They don't mislead you that it is original and they don't charge you for and original.  How much WOULD you pay for a well made fake on thick stock paper anyway?  The "Pop" posters you buy at department stores and even here on ebay aren't really worth anything, and yet they always do become valuable.  It's getting so bad that some of these dealers are folding and damaging their stock on purpose so that you will feel that it is original, when really their just damaging the real thing.  This madness really needs to stop - now.

To come back to the "suggested price" of the "STAR WARS" poster listed - if these delinquent printers sold the "fruits of their labours" to each individual dealer that had a stake or interest in accumulating these titles, these dealers would have only paid these printers a FRACTION of the price their selling them for (so they of course can make back their money and a profit).  So say the "Star Wars" posters were purchased from the printers for $50 to $60 each, the printers would not have made a profit at all (as compared to the cost of the materials, time, etc.).  It would seem like a waste of time to do all of that work and not only NOT turn a profit, but puts them into the 'red' even deeper.  BUT if the posters were printed anyway as part of their job (working for their respected clients: Movie Distributor Companies) and the posters were deemed 'imperfect', for all the same reasons that all the "experts" seem to pull them apart for (out of focus, cut incorrectly, hair line on image), AND thrown out into the trash in multitudes of sheets at a time - then it cost the printers NOTHING!  Par for the course (unfortunately), but the printers smart enough to dig these titles and many 'unknown' titles (that are just not as focused upon because their not worth anything) out of the garbage and made a few extra bucks at the time.  Same as the Theater Owners/employees who did the exact same thing.  We wouldn't have had anything to really collect without these people, if you catch what I mean - we weren't meant to OWN these things in the first place, nor was anyone supposed to make a tidy profit off of the posters.  But then they would have just been destroyed and long gone by now, and what a waste that would have been indeed!

Just so it's known, I'm not affiliated with any Poster Companies or The respected Sellers of the material - I'm just an avid Collector.  I just buy from some of them - and some of YOU out there.  I think it all started because of the collector I had referred to in this 'letter'.  I think that he put a scare on all of us "little collectors" who can't afford a $1000 poster at a drop of a hat, so he could grab all of these posters up for himself - and for a cheap price too.  Because WE have to be cautious on everything we buy, he doesn't.  I especially liked that he bought all of the titles to show on his site, placed them next to his pathetic pieces of 'original' crap that he had bought.  And suggested that we as 'little collectors' should buy only old, ripped, soiled pieces of junk - and not these affordable mint condition posters.  How kind of him to be looking after all of us, eh?  Make your own judgement, don't follow these INSERT rumours - there's no proof to them, just words.  I feel the same about the HALF SHEETS (22" x 28" thick stock U.S. posters) as well.  I'm going to continue to buy them, even if they are "too perfect".

Also of interest is that the famous Christie's Auction House has sold some movie poster titles (One Sheets - 27" x 41") in the past and have had a few complications of selling the odd fake by accident - even though they had an "authority" on movie posters look them all over.  Food for thought.

Happy Collecting, Good Luck, and don't be afraid to make a few errors in purchases along the way - NOBODY knows EVERYTHING about movie posters!

[Shown throughout this Guide are INSERT Posters from my own collection, and also serve as examples of the so-called INSERT "fakes" circulating around, and which are used as a reference]

Thanks For Reading.

{This following Section of the Guide was added on October 19, 07}

I was hoping to keep my Guide as is, but I've been bombarded by Sellers who obviously don't agree with what I state here, and feel that they have the right to contact my personal Email address to express it - along with threats like: "We're watching you".  What are they, the Movie Poster 'Mob'?  So I thought it best to clarify their accusations (even though I don't have to, nor really wish to).

I was accused of being a "liar" and apart of a conspiracy, having a connection to some 'bad guys' who are purposely selling "Fake Inserts" - with "those guys from Rochester" (I'm guessing they mean New York).  Personally, I have never known or have ever purchased from anyone from Rochester, New York.  I tried Google Searching to look up who these dastardly criminals are and couldn't find them or even who they were making reference to.  The main places I purchase from that are outside of Ebay are from: Toronto, Calgary, Florida, Michigan, California, Ireland & Australia.  Those are the Companies/Dealers I've been in touch for a very long time & always will be.  I do not list their company names because they may not share my point of view on the Insert.  But I assure you that they don't mind me passing on my "theory", because some have shown uncertainty and are becoming more unsure about what to think anymore.

Another aggravated emailer passed on some names (that he or she claims that I would know): "Tom & Ed".  I have no idea WHO the heck "Tom & Ed" are, but apparently their the one's that allegedly sell the "Fake Inserts" from Rochester, New York.  I don't have a clue if they do this practice or not, because I don't know which Poster Store they are referring to, nor have I obviously bought from there (if it exists).  Another mentioned name was "Rick" (which I had written down earlier in my Guide).  Apparently "Rick" has a store in Oklahoma.  News to me - the "Rick" I was referring to is to do with a very fine and reputable store in Florida.  So I'm not familiar with "Rick" from Oklahoma.  I'm not disputing these peoples/companies claims, because I do not know these places that they refer to.  You'll have to read their Guides and decide for yourself.  I'd list their names to help steer you to their respective Guides, but again, they've made it quite clear that they don't wish to be affiliated with me - which is a shame, I buy once in a while from two of them (I'm guessing they don't want my business anymore, just because I disagree with them on one issue and have a different opinion - let alone different experience & expertise to bring to the table).  But their easy to find, just look up some of the top best Guides for: Movie Posters.

Besides this recent annoyance, as stated earlier on in my Guide, there are just too many different 'sources' to this story - that's another reason why I just don't buy into it all.  The history/story of the "Fake Insert" started off long ago with the telling of two guys who 'specialized' in selling ONLY Inserts, when they decided to sell off their own stock of posters to other dealers.  Then it was about a 'couple' of guys who had found these multitudes of "Great Titled" Inserts, unharmed in an abandoned warehouse (stored away for years - even though the movie titles were from many different years/dates).  They unearthed these marvelous finds and sold them off to dealers - without a hitch.  I was also told along the way that it was a couple of guys from England who had printed up these masterpieces and unscrupulously sold them to 'unsuspecting' buyers and sellers.  I've even seen Canada listed amongst these Re-printers (my own country).  C'mon already.

If these Dealers are so ABSOLUTELY SURE of their claims, that these posters are indeed fakes and that the Dealers selling them are ALL being deceitful, then why not "out" them.  List their Company Names, their Store Websites, etc.  Why all the "first names" and hush hush routine?  Afraid of being sued?  Can't you PROVE that their Fake?  If you can, then why would you be worried about being sued by a bunch of 'liars & fakers'?  Give us some names - save us...or do you not have solid proof?  You wish to prove something?  Get someone who knows something about PAPER, not movies, not poster styles, not the history of this size poster and rumour of that poster - a PAPER EXPERT.  Someone who knows the paper that was traditionally used in those particular years.  What the wear and tear should be, if any in some cases, after a set amount of years.  How the Printing Process would have been followed for a rather large company that has plenty of money to throw around to get an advertisement just the way they want it.  There are many avenues to thoroughly explore to Guarantee the proper result.  "Stories" and "Rumours" aren't going to cut it.  Present the proof.  Again, I may be wrong (you never know), but why are you 'definitely' right?  Because you "said" so?  We're all a bit smarter than that.  Why don't we find out the answers together, as collectors and admirers of this wonderful piece of history and culture, why always the harsh words?  I've done nothing to you or the progress of your companies.  By calling these posters "Real", how does this hurt your sales?  It doesn't make sense.  Now it COULD make sense if your scared of someone else selling the same poster for a much lower (and more reasonable) price than your 'astronomically' priced poster.  I do not make charge of this though, because I do not know if this would be true.  But when one cannot make sense of your allegations, then that person must wonder WHY you are so eager to make this point.  Your helping people?  What if your wrong? 

I had recently bought three Inserts (deemed as Copies) from a Sci-Fi Convention 2 months ago for $20 each.  I asked the dealer how he knew for sure that these were fakes, he looked at me (as if:  How can I be so blind?) and just pointed to the posters I had just bought:  "A Clockwork Orange", "The Empire Strikes Back" Style 'B', and "Return Of The Jedi" Style 'B'.  The titles and condition of the posters (perfect) obviously were what he referred to.  I asked him again how he could be ABSOLUTELY sure, he replied:  "They're too Perfect looking, and the paper is Minty White".  I had further asked where he got his knowledge about this, and he replied:  "Ebay".  That's it?  Ebay?  I asked what he would do if he later found out that they were in fact Real AND in Perfect Condition, and he answered:  "I'm not wrong, but if I was - then I would have a fit".  That's because he'd been selling those posters ALL weekend.  Even if they were fake, $20 bucks a piece sure ain't bad for some great titles and beautiful artwork like these.  I KNOW that it was $60 well spent.   

I remember writing to once respected (and still should be) Movie Poster Guide Author Jon R. Warren.  He was the one who used to be "The Guy', the one who wrote up a Poster Guide annually and listed the prices the posters were going for and what they were "worth".  Now, the sky is the limit apparently.  Anyway, he agreed ONLY that the One Sheet (27" x 40" or 27" x 41" pre: 1985) for "STAR WARS" Style 'A' (Tom Jung Artwork) had fakes going around, at that time - early 1990's, and that the print job was pretty obvious.  And EVERY Dealer will tell you about the "Hair-line on Luke's Belt".  When I asked about the Inserts though, He said that he couldn't find any he knew of that were fake.  He may have changed his opinion or feeling at this time (I can't reach him anymore), but he did feel this way when all of this worry and hysteria started.  [If you can find any of his older Poster Guides, their worth the purchase & read.  I HIGHLY recommend them].  Of course there are MANY reprints going around for a vast amount of titles, but still mainly the One Sheet.  Usually the Reprint/Re-strike Job is legally aquired from the Movie Distributor by these companies and they proudly have their names printed at the bottom of the poster (Zig Zag, Portal, etc.).  Many usually printed in Germany (where the Heidelberg Press is made and produced).  Plus, if you run one of these gargantuan presses in another country, if you have any repair problems, you have to get someone who understands those presses inside and out.  You have to hire a German repairman to fix it (Yes, he flys in and everything - very expensive I would figure), there isn't anyone over in the North America area that has the 'know-how'.  Their very big and complicated machines.  [The famous Star Wars Style 'A' One Sheet - the 'Holy Grail' of posters, is pictured below]

Now I could have written a Full Movie Poster Guide here on Ebay, but all of the big Dealers have already done so, and they have them exactly to the Tee.  I know ALL of the same stuff, so why not...right?  Maybe I've got another Guide in me, but at this time my topic and concern was ONLY about the Inserts.  Again, I highly recommend the Guides whole-heartedly (the Dealers themselves, I'm not so sure anymore).  Everyone's entitled to an opinion, but to send nasty Emails to your Email address is just plain low.

To sum up:  I still stand by my original findings, I believe these Inserts were once "Garbage" from the printing company.  They were 'imperfect', so the Respected Movie Distributors had new ones reprinted until they were right to their liking - all the other print jobs found themselves in the trash bins.  Ever notice how most of the bigger dealers all claim to either have worked at the NSS Printing facilities or had worked at a Movie Theatre?  We always have to take their word for it, don't we?  But we don't actually know, and never will.  (A picture of them at their 'Old Jobs' wouldn't hurt business).  Try not to get caught up in all this crap.  If you like a poster, if your willing to pay for that poster - Buy It!  Enjoy it!  It's not always about their worth, is it?  I thought it was about displaying something you loved, and you want to share it with your friends, family, and so on.  Make mistakes...collecting should be fun, because it sure as heck used to be until everything became "worth" something.  If it's still on your mind and you don't want to through all this "Fake"/"Not Fake" stuff, try the 'Australian Daybill' - a wonderful alternate choice for the same kind of shape and size poster.  There are plenty of wonderful and honest Dealers here on Ebay that sell them, and most of them have their own Guides on collecting them.  Especially if your looking for a movie title that was out in theatres after 1985, Where you'll only find the One Sheet (& the Small Sheet for larger budgeted titles - eg. "BATMAN RETURNS").  If you want that title smaller like the Insert, or just for the lack of room, it's the poster style to go with.  Some of the ones I've picked up over the years were: "BIG TROUBLE IN LITTLE CHINA" (same artwork: Drew Struzen), "THE BREAKFAST CLUB", "SOME KIND OF WONDERFUL", "FULL METAL JACKET", etc.  I just love these posters, it helps me keep the size of poster I prefer.  Give 'em a try sometime!  [One of these wonderful Daybills is pictured below, to give you an idea of how nice they look]

Thanks For Reading.

If you found this Guide to be either HELPFUL and/or ENLIGHTENING, Please leave a "YES" Vote Below - Happy Collecting!