Gemstone Publishing; $15.00

The Overstreet Guide to Collecting Movie Posters is the latest in Gemstone Publishing’s “How To” line of books. The reference guide provides helpful tips for both new and experienced collectors. Market analysis and features on what makes movie posters attractive spotlight high selling posters and point out the factors that lead to these sales. Popular auction houses list their highest selling posters and explain grading categories.

The book features in-depth looks at collecting focuses. Features include categories such as Disney, Star Wars, Universal Monsters, film noir, musicals, and Blaxploitation. Movie poster artists like Saul Bass, Bob Peak, and Drew Struzan are profiled, along with directors Alfred Hitchcock, James Cameron, and Tim Burton. Film stars Marilyn Monroe and Elvis Presley are favored among collectors and the book presents a deeper look at their popular films and posters.

Tips and helpful information about poster care are also given. There are guiding steps for framing posters and storing them, in several formats. The book explains the process of linen-backing and gives suggestions on collecting autographed posters. U.S. poster sizes from glass slides to 24-sheets are defined, along with international sizes that include British, French, Italian, and German.

Interviews are found throughout the book with poster sellers and collectors. They point out trends, their perspectives on restoration and storage, chronicle their journeys collecting posters, and offer suggestions to new collectors.

The comprehensive guide is beneficial to people who are looking to start a new collection or those who have been collecting for many years.