There are many reasons to start collecting movie posters. Maybe you're a big movie buff. Some people prefer to see the posters as pieces of pop art, and use framed posters to decorate their homes and apartments. Others are looking for investment pieces. Whatever you're goal is, there are a few things you need to know and think about before you start poster collecting.

There are thousands upon thousands of movie posters out there, so unless you want to spend a fortune on a piecemeal collection, you'll want to make a decision on what to collect. There are no hard and fast rules on this. If you're collecting to try and make money, you may want to collect rare or vintage posters for classic movies, as these are more reliable investments.

If you're collecting purely as a hobby, then you're free to choose whatever you like. You may choose to collect only Polish movie posters. Some collect only one genre, like film noir or science fiction movie posters movies. You can base your collection on a particular decade, or you can just collect posters of your all-time favorite movies.

Another way to collect posters is based on their size. When a movie is released, posters are issued in different sizes depending on where they will go. A 27 x 41 inch poster is called a one sheet, and is one of the more common sizes. There are also half sheets, which are usually 22 x 28 inches. Window cards, often with theatre names or showtimes printed at the top, are 14 x 22 inches. Then there are lobby cards, which are the smallest of the common posters at a mere 11 x 14 inches. These are often released as sets, and trying to get all of the lobby cards for a particular release is a goal for many collectors.

One thing you'll want to master if you are going to participate in poster collecting is knowing where and how to buy items for your collection. There are many different ways to buy. You can contact dealers through their websites, or you could buy off eBay. Or, if you're buying posters for new releases, you can often easily order them from websites like Discount Movie Posters.

Discount Movie Posters give you inside tips for movie poster preservation, restoration, and poster conservation framing. Read this articles because you will want to protect your investment.

Once you've learned the basics of poster collecting, progressing with your hobby should be easy. Learn to use common sense when talking with sellers, and be sure they have a refund policy in place if the item was not in the condition you hoped for. The only other thing you will need to do is frame your new acquisitions and display them as you like. You're well on your way to a fun new hobby of collecting posters!