Last week we discussed in an article some tell-tale signs that a Cinema Poster may not be authentic. There are many specific examples online outlining the reasons certain US One Sheet Posters are reproductions, being passed off as originals.
However, we have found few articles examining a fake UK Quad Cinema poster. If you type ‘Fake UK quad poster’ into Google, few specific examples of fake UK Quad posters can be found. Therefore, in this article, we will examine a bootleg ‘Reservoir Dogs’ UK Quad poster that came into our possession. For comparison, we also look at an original poster and compare the differences.
To the seasoned collector, these photos may reveal an obvious fake. However, we hope the article can be used as a useful case study in compiling the evidence of multiple factors to arrive at a decision regarding a poster’s authenticity.
Size of Poster
The non-folded poster on the top of the photo is fake, the folded poster below it is an original. We talked last week about how fake posters often have cropped artwork. Notice Mr. Blues left shoe has been dissected in the fake poster. This is due to cropping. In the original poster, the entire shoe is visible.
Sometimes the dimensions of US One Sheet posters will be 1/8 inch or even ¼ inch smaller or bigger than the standard 27 x 41 inch or 27 x 40-inch size. Generally, UK Quad Posters will be very close to, or exactly, 30 x 40 inches. The height of the fake poster is 1/8 inch shorter than 30 inches. Although this measurement is far from conclusive evidence of a UK quad poster being fake, it is grounds to investigate further.
Print Quality
The photo above reveals a bigger potential issue than the size. The print quality of the letters has a pixelated appearance. This can happen with the print on movie posters. It may be the style of the font. However, we mentioned in last week’s blog that the font of the union logo, in particular, should be sharp. This is clearly not the case with the official logo on this poster. Along with the cropping and size we now have conclusive evidence this poster is a fake.
Paper Quality
Paper quality is subjective to many people but instinct is very important. If you look at the surface of this poster it has a wavy appearance that is unusual. Generally, when you unroll a rolled poster and pin it down with magnets, it will have a flat smooth appearance.
Single or Double Sided Print
The photograph above shows the back of the fake poster, it is double sided. Printing a double-sided poster is more difficult and more expensive than printing a single-sided poster. The reason an original cinema poster is printed double-sided is to enable the poster to be placed in a light box. Shining light behind a double-sided poster gives the shapes in the poster greater depth and the colours greater range.
The reason this Reservoir Dogs poster was printed double-sided was to deceive potential buyers into believing it is an original cinema poster when in fact it is a fake. When we queried the seller about the authenticity of this poster, the first line of defence they offered was that because the poster is double-sided, it must be authentic. This logic is flawed.
Hence, we will finish with a word of warning. A double-sided cinema poster is no guarantee that a poster is an original and might be used as a line of persuasion by a dodgy seller. Weigh all of the above factors about the authenticity of a poster and let your own better judgement make the final decision.
