Poster Linen Backing Overkill

HONDO · March 25

I am of the opinion that the linen backing of film posters is not always a wise move to do if one intends to sell at a later time. Linen backing of minor film titles in excellent condition, and where numerous poster numbers of the same title in good to fine condition are commonly available in the marketplace on a regular basis is now happening a lot.
I have a good example of where selling a linen backed Australian daybill film poster ended up in the losing of a sizable of money in having done so. Before I reveal the name of the film poster in question I would like to hear what others think. Is linen backing become an overkill in many cases?

Rick · March 25

I've only linen backed a few posters and that was because they needed repairs - King Kong, Psycho and Jailhouse Rock - all good titles. I've seen many examples of linenbacked posters where the cost of the backing would have been more than the value of the poster. Ridiculous.

Bruce · March 25

Linenbacking ANY poster that would sell for under $100 unbacked is truly throwing money away.

Yet people do it all the time. The only benefit is to the buyer, who often gets a steal, assuming the linenbacking was well done in the first place.

There are a number of linenbackers who should stop what they are doing, due to a lack of skills.

HONDO · March 25

Bruce said:

Linenbacking ANY poster that would sell for under $100 unbacked is truly throwing money away.

Yet people do it all the time. The only benefit is to the buyer, who often gets a steal, assuming the linenbacking was well done in the first place.

There are a number of linenbackers who should stop what they are doing, due to a lack of skills.

I appreciate your comments Bruce and I will shortly provide an example of where selling a poster after linen backing it would have resulted in a big financial loss to the person who sold it.

HONDO · March 25

Before I do comment any further I would like to have some feedback from members who use professional linen backing servic.es, In the case of an early 1960's Australian poster in good condition without restoration required, or perhaps only some minor work to be attended to, what would be a realistic cost to have a poster linen backed? I have read on Google that Posterfix do charge $195 Australian to have a daybill poster in good condition lined backed. Love to hear from anyone their knowledge regarding Australian daybill linen backing costs?

Rick · March 26

I used Dario from Vancouver and was very happy.

Charlie · March 26

Is there where I ask if you have read all the Linenbacking threads? There is a ton of discussion on this forum and other forums. For a guy that likes research, you skipped 15+ years of discussion.

$195 is too high for a shit job posterfix would do. I would imagine you could get a daybill backed for <$150 in the US with the exception of extensive restoration work.

Fourth Cone has become so popular they are hard to get access to. Dario is pissed off at Americans since they lost the Hockey match. Aussies maybe not so much.

Try Lumier, Poster Nest, Our Guy here on the forum, Tom Tom, Poster Mountain still does work, Bee easy, and on and on… There are European backers in France that appear to do nice work too.

HONDO · March 26

No, I rarely read linen backing threads as they don't interest me at all. All I have focused on here was to ask a question regarding the cost of having a good conditioned 1960's Australian daybill linen backed, and not who the linen backers are. The information i am after was to assist me in making a point in the senseless linen backing that is currently being practiced. To clear things up I am not contemplating having a daybill linen backed. From the members here I thought that surely someone that has had daybills line backed in good condition perhaps would be able to assist me..

Charlie · March 26

If it is senseless and you aren’t contemplating having one backed, why do we have another Hondo thread?

This passive, setup “the answer I want” posting for member manipulation is so confusing and frustrating.

Why do you want to know a price if you aren’t going to have anything backed, and think backing is senseless, etc.

You just want to make some statement/diatribe about how “this one poster was backed that didn’t need it and it sold for less than the value plus cost of backing but if they had kept it original it would have been worth about the same…”

If you had interest in Linenbacking or read any of the threads about restoration “that don’t interest you” but that now do but for no apparent reason - you would know that this happens all the time and this is why many people try to learn Linenbacking DIY I used to back daybills for $5-$10 of cotton duck, $3 worth of masa, and a few bucks for wheat paste and chems and watercolor pencils…

It is not the material cost - it’s the labor. It takes 15 minutes to stretch, 15 min to wash, 15-20 minutes to back and another 30 to touch up a straight forward daybill.

So $15 for materials, 1.5 hours labor plus overhead.

~$110 - $130 cost - add 10% to 12% profit = $150 for a basic $20-$24/hour art school graduate.

This is why Bruce can’t auction anything less than $50 average low item.

HONDO · March 27

O. k. then Charlie. After our pervious time of butting heads many years ago it seems that you now wish to rekindle hostilities. After not a single positive or otherwise comment from you on anything that I contribute here on the forum, that certainly appears a factor in keeping the forum in business, this negativity from you has returned.
It would appear that my simple question regarding linen backing that I asked here has triggered something with you that has upset you. After our earlier problems were such a long time ago, and a thing of the past, and you did leave me alone I have been happy in participating here. Things have now changed, and I don't intend to go through another tit for tat period with you again, which does appear could be on the cards.. Your above comment does seem like it is personal with you.

Duke · March 27

My opinion, linen backing has a purpose. I agree PosterFx is not the answer. There are many restoration services available, if getting a high price is there model, but like any business, you have to ask should it be. How many posters do you have to restore to be considered a professional? There is no school for linen backing. I think the choice becomes what type of service are you looking for? I think air brushing is not restoration , but destruction. I have an air brushed poster but can’t tell if there is any original paper remaining. I think conservation of posters is important. There is a satisfaction of restoring possibly the last remaining poster, who knows as there are no records of posters, or numbering like art work. I have been lucky to learn the process and restore over 600 posters in the last three years, many have gone to auction and have been won at auction for thousands of dollars, even on Bruce’s site, why is that a negative? Again, in my opinion a linen backed poster that can be framed is a better solution than a framer using a permanent adhesive to a poster and adhering to foam board. There should not be an argument over backing as the discussion has always been 50-50.

Duke · March 27

This poster was rotting away, restoring brought it back to life.

Rick · March 27

that's a good example of linen backing being needed and working.

HONDO · March 27

My main point I had to make is many minor film titles in good to fine condition, and where numerous copies in good condition are readily also available, are being frequently and in my mind unnecessarily linen backed, and when regularly sold occur a loss in the process.

HONDO · March 27

Another comment I will make is regarding restoring of film posters is that the finished result particularly in the whiteness brightening has a more modern look and thus loses the vintage look of what a poster from the past had looked like. The vintage feel is then missing.

Charlie · March 27

Hondo – I probably came in a little hot.

My actual frustration is more with the setup than the topic. We’ve covered linen backing pretty heavily over the years, and these threads tend to land in the same place.

Your point isn’t wrong—backing common titles in good condition usually doesn’t make sense. That’s been proven plenty of times.

I just think it’s more helpful to focus on where backing actually adds value, especially for newer collectors. And even though it may not make sense in some cases, linen backing definitely has its place in the hobby.

Not looking to get into another round here—just keeping things on track.

HONDO · March 27

Charlie. yes let us not get into anymore discussions, but i do intend to follow through with my original details on a linen backed daybill that when sold lost money for the consignor. After that it is most unlikely that I will comment on this particular thread in the future.

HONDO · March 27

The poster that I now wish to highlight is an Australian daybill of Captain Clegg (1962) that was sold on Bruse's website on 12/21/2025.This poster that was lined cacked sold for $99 U,S. Bruce mentioned that the poster was nicely linen backed and displayed well. There were also a total of 22 other non lined backed Captain Clegg daybills appearing there, and also currently another daybill is up for auction by Bruce.

Image: https://vintagemoviepostersforum.com/uploads/editor/gg/a3qid9bhc0cu.jpg

Since in 2026 Bruce has auctioned three more Captain Clegg daybills that were not linen backed and were sold for $69, $67 then $50.
Judging on what Charlie and other people have told me, along with Google sourced information, that with the linen backing cost involved, and only receiving a total of $99 it would certainly appear a substantial loss would have occurred as this wouldn't have covered the original cost of purchasing the poster, plus the substantial linen backing costs involved, especially if professional services had been used. One then has to ask why was this poster of a highly accessible film poster of a minor film ever considered one to be worthy of linen backing.

theartofmovieposters · March 28

There was a time when Captain Clegg was hard to come by, believe or it not. Recently, there seem to have been a few of them surface. Happens more often than you think.

HONDO · March 28

I am curious to see what a current up for auction in very good to fine condition non linen backed copy sells for on Bruce's website.

Duke · March 29

I think linen backing is ones own choice, and collectors have as many opinions why and why not to linen backing.

Rick · March 29

theartofmovieposters said:

There was a time when Captain Clegg was hard to come by, believe or it not. Recently, there seem to have been a few of them surface. Happens more often than you think.

Agreed, and that has resulted in the prices falling.

HONDO · April 8

HONDO said:

I am curious to see what a current up for auction in very good to fine condition non linen backed copy sells for on Bruce's website.

Results in and the price the poster sold for is $48.

Rick · April 8

Not a good time to be selling my spare Captain Clegg!

HONDO · April 13

The following linen backed Australian Step By Step daybill has just been sold by auction on Bruce's website. The price realised being $102 U.S.. A gamble by the consignor to have the poster linen backed hasn't resulted in having a financial win on selling it. The poster is certainly beautiful so the person who had consigned it apparently had thought it would have sold for a much higher amount.

Poster Linen Backing Overkill

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