Should I get an original movie poster signed?

[Tedw9]

Hey all,

I'm kind of on the fence about this, so I thought I would throw it out there and see what others think.

I live a few miles from Leatherface himself, Gunnar Hansen. Last year a local theater showed TCM around Halloween and had Gunnar come to speak and sign autographs after. Seeing one of my favorite movies in the theater and then meeting the man himself after was quite the thrill. After that experience, I went out and purchased a few TCM related items (figures, lobby cards and other items) for my collection.

Not long after I started collecting TCM items I was able to acquire an original Bryanston Texas Chainsaw Massacre movie poster that's in pretty good shape. I was thinking of having Gunnar sign it for me, but I can't decide if I want the original signed or if I should buy a reprint and have him sign that. Either way, it will be framed and hung on a wall.

Any opinions on what you would do?

[ArmyOfDarknessAW]

I would (and did) get a reprint. I just cant see having someone write an original poster of a classic movie. If we where talking a new movie sure use an original, but not for TCM. BTW i am meeting him myself next month and will get my reprint of TCM signed.

[Trekkie313]

Originally Posted by ArmyOfDarknessAW

I would (and did) get a reprint. I just cant see having someone write an original poster of a classic movie. If we where talking a new movie sure use an original, but not for TCM. BTW i am meeting him myself next month and will get my reprint of TCM signed.

Let me guess, the HorrorHound convention?

[Monstar]

I agree. Get a reprint. It would look just as cool framed up and such.

I have gotten some 11x17 reprints of movies because they do not take up as much wall space and have had a few of those signed.

[Tedw9]

Thank you all for the feedback. I think I'm leaning to not getting it signed, but to get something else signed. I like the idea of 11x17 signed as they are smaller and easier to display.

[Monstar]

Yeah, I recently had Richard Roundtree sign an 11x17 from Shaft. And I've had some Hammer Horror 11x17s signed.


Here is one, Captain Kronos.

[LordCrumb]

If you change your mind, and get the original signed, just try not to get it personalized.

[roar]

Did you buy the poster as an investment? If you did, then no, don't get the signature, you will never be able to ‘prove’ beyond a shadow of a doubt that the autograph is authentic. If you didn't buy it for an investment and you bought it for you and your own enjoyment, then if it were me I'd get it signed in a heartbeat!

I would even prefer to have it personalized as pretty much any 'collectible' I buy these days I buy for myself without any regard to resale or their perceived value or worth by other people and I do what I want with them that will give me the most enjoyment.
Yes, I am a selfish person

[ArmyOfDarknessAW]

Originally Posted by Trekkie313

Let me guess, the HorrorHound convention?

Sorry this is such a late reply i just got back to this topic. The convention i am going to is called Monster Mania in NJ.

[Tedw9]

Thank you for all the feedback!

Roar, I appreciate your honesty, nothing wrong with being selfish and having your collectibles the way you want. I collect sport cards also and actually prefer having those signed to me, so I totally understand where your coming from.

I think I am going to stick with an 11x17 signed. I think the poster would look really nice just framed and hung on the wall with a smaller replica signed hung by it. I also had a copy of the 1980 New Line version which I sold. I kinda kick myself for selling that one, I could have had that one signed. Oh well, it helped me recoup some of the money I put into the Bryanston poster.


Monstar, I love the look of your "vintage" signed poster!

[roar]

Originally Posted by Tedw9

Thank you for all the feedback!

Roar, I appreciate your honesty, nothing wrong with being selfish and having your collectibles the way you want. I collect sport cards also and actually prefer having those signed to me, so I totally understand where your coming from.

I think I am going to stick with an 11x17 signed. I think the poster would look really nice just framed and hung on the wall with a smaller replica signed hung by it. I also had a copy of the 1980 New Line version which I sold. I kinda kick myself for selling that one, I could have had that one signed. Oh well, it helped me recoup some of the money I put into the Bryanston poster.


Monstar, I love the look of your "vintage" signed poster!

Can't go wrong either way, I think it will look really nice with the 11x17 signed one next to it.

I got a chance to meet Tom Sullivan at a showing of Evil Dead the Musical in Toronto and had him personalize a poster from the show to my wife and I. Now I know that poster really has no value so it isn't like I 'ruined it' by getting the signature on it, but if I had an evil dead original poster with me I would have gotten that signed too!

[SymbioticFunction]

Signatures on original movie posters actually hurt their value, even with photographic evidence. Strange but true. Personally I'd prefer a signed poster...

[rockyfan]

When I go to signing events I never go for the 10 x 8 picture to get signed, I always like something original to be signed, usually an original poster or a lobby card. Yes the value of the poster is reduced if you get it signed and personalised but this isn't an issue if it's something you intend to keep and not sell.

[ssjmichael]

Originally Posted by roar

Did you buy the poster as an investment? If you did, then no, don't get the signature, you will never be able to ‘prove’ beyond a shadow of a doubt that the autograph is authentic. If you didn't buy it for an investment and you bought it for you and your own enjoyment, then if it were me I'd get it signed in a heartbeat!

I would even prefer to have it personalized as pretty much any 'collectible' I buy these days I buy for myself without any regard to resale or their perceived value or worth by other people and I do what I want with them that will give me the most enjoyment.
Yes, I am a selfish person

These are pretty much my thoughts exactly. If it's for your personal enjoyment then get the original signed. If you're doing it as some sort of future investment then don't.. If you do get it signed for an investment, make sure to take a picture of him doing it, or with you or something and don't get it personalized.

[Tedw9]

I appreciate all the feedback....and it's making me really debate if I want it signed or not.

Being a collector (sports cards) I do collect with future returns in mind as well as my enjoyment. I don't want to "devalue" a piece, but in all honesty, I don't have a ton of money invested into the poster to begin with. And I want to buy a frame and hang it so I can enjoy it in my home.

If I did get it signed, I would either take pics or take video of Gunnar signing it, I try to always do that when getting something signed.

And for the record, my wife thinks I should get it signed and hang it up in our apartment.

[HotRats]

If its a rare original poster I'd only get it signed if its done without a personalised dedication. Then if times are hard and you ever need to sell you're not restricting potential customers to those with your name. I usually ask people who sign things to add the date, then even if you haven't go photographic proof of the item being signed, a flyer or ticket goes a long way to convincing people its genuine.

Many repro posters are very poor quality so if you don't want to risk an expensive original one sheet look at other countries, Belgium has some great posters that can be picked up very cheap, I paid £5 for a pristine Strange Vice Of Mrs Wardh poster. Turkey does some wonderfully OTT drawn artwork. My favourites are Japanese, a good size for easy framing, great designs and still at reasonable prices compared with US one sheets

[Aloha from Hawaii 73]

I never buy repro sgd items , always prefer 1st issue or re-issue if I can't find 1st print. Even if it's not flawless it's still a piece of history.

Obviously a poster sgd by someone like Bruce Lee , Elvis or McQueen is worth some good coin (since '99 I've never seen a Lee sgd poster , did see a lobby though......sold for 4k or 5k I think)

[Tedw9]

I just wanted to come back and update this thread I started a while ago.

This past weekend my daughter and I went to Rock and Shock in Worcester, Massachusetts. I spent a ton of money there, but it was worth every penny and then some. I had a Walking Dead 11 x 17 poster signed by 4 of the cast members, a replica Freddy Krueger glove signed by Robert Englund and I met up with Gunnar Hansen while we were there.

I debated on the poster right up until I was at the show and finally pulled the trigger. When I pulled it out and laid it on the table, he was surprised I had an original '74 Bryanston for him to sign. He said he didn't see them too often and he then gave me the full run down on it.

When he went to sign it, he said he didn't want to personalize it because it would knock the value down and I agreed. For what little I have into the poster and autograph (about $125), I don't think I would lose money if I decided to sell it. I guess that don't matter anyway, cause this bad boy is getting framed and hung on my wall. I'm thrilled with the way it came out and I'm glad I decided to have it signed.

[ScarredLungs]

Originally Posted by Tedw9

I just wanted to come back and update this thread I started a while ago.

This past weekend my daughter and I went to Rock and Shock in Worcester, Massachusetts. I spent a ton of money there, but it was worth every penny and then some. I had a Walking Dead 11 x 17 poster signed by 4 of the cast members, a replica Freddy Krueger glove signed by Robert Englund and I met up with Gunnar Hansen while we were there.

I debated on the poster right up until I was at the show and finally pulled the trigger. When I pulled it out and laid it on the table, he was surprised I had an original '74 Bryanston for him to sign. He said he didn't see them too often and he then gave me the full run down on it.

When he went to sign it, he said he didn't want to personalize it because it would knock the value down and I agreed. For what little I have into the poster and autograph (about $125), I don't think I would lose money if I decided to sell it. I guess that don't matter anyway, cause this bad boy is getting framed and hung on my wall. I'm thrilled with the way it came out and I'm glad I decided to have it signed.

That is really cool!

[Xenomorph]

I think you made the right choice! Very cool!