[MOPO] Aw: Re: [MOPO] Suspicion as of late

Helmut Hamm Wed, 17 Sep 2025 00:38:10 -0700

I'm with Dale here, I think there is some confusion what a 'printer's proof' actually is: Every print shop used to save a handful of 'proof' copies and stored them away. They usually saved between five and ten copies. Since they were usually put aside at the beginning of the print process, they often show better quality and colors than posters that came out at the end of the print run.

There's only one explanation for large number of uncut STAR WARS posters out there: Employees took them home before they were cut and folded. So the vast majority of these are simply uncut onesheets, nothing more.

Here is an actual 'printer's proof', a test printing for BLADE RUNNER:

https://www.filmposter.net/en/blade-runner-original-release-us-test-proof-movie-poster.html

These were saved from the estate of the print shop in Los Angeles, and only about five to seven copies exist. I bought other proofs from this find, and while not all of them were great titles (I remember SUPERMAN 2) the print quality and the colors on all of them were exceptional.

Re. EMPIRE STRIKES BACK: An 'estate find' of a rare poster can never be ruled out entirely, but in this case, it does seem extremely unlikely. I will definitely stay away from them.

Helmut

Gesendet: Dienstag, 16. September 2025 um 21:48

Von: "Dale Dilts" <[email protected]>

An: [email protected]

Betreff: Re: [MOPO] Suspicion as of late

Proofs shouldnt even be called that. They are uncut one sheets but the name has been thrown on them for so long its gonna stick. Some of my contacts over the years would get posters out the door in this state and then have to pay to have them cut at a second location. They were not Jaws and Star Wars, but just saying, there isnt one or two of these things that get run, its from the standard print runs that dont go to the cutter. The ones I had insight too were by the hundreds. Now I doubt Jaws and SW survived to that number, but I would imagine the folks that did have them certainly pulled more than 1.

From: MoPo List <[email protected]> on behalf of Rich Halegua <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, September 16, 2025 2:30 PM
To: [email protected] <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: [MOPO] Suspicion as of late

yes indeed. the more money they sell for, the more of them are offered for sale, not to mention that Gore Graphics employees saved lots of Star wars posters.

it goes for all titles that are valued and in all collectible fields. The fact that Star Wars is the one shining spot in this hobby means that the values don't slow down and that owners how got them cheap may wish to cash out, so they send them off to auctions houses to sell, and buyers who want them are also, plentiful.

On 9/16/2025 12:24 PM, Grey Smith wrote:

In reference to Jeff's concerns about Printer's Proofs, these have been present in the marketplace for many years. However, it's only recently that they've been perceived to have significant value. In the past, they may have even been looked down upon.

My belief is that when items begin to sell for good money, more of them tend to appear in the marketplace and often continue to be bought and sold again, which may give the impression that there are more than actually exist. I am confident in the Printer's Proofs that I have handled of late.

On Tue, Sep 16, 2025 at 2:15 PM Rich Halegua <[email protected]> wrote:

concerning the Empire Strikes Back poster that turns up from Japan

it is becoming clear that it is a probable bootleg poster and I heard one top Star wars collector was going to be writing and posting an article to expose this reality.

I won't sell them and have turned down a couple opportunities to buy them. However until such a time that the information is published, it is difficult to say for certain this is the issue.

One thing for certain, the auction that has sold the most of them is going to not like upholding his supposed "we refund our mistakes" policy, as they have sold hundreds of thousands of dollars worth

Rich

On 9/16/2025 10:29 AM, jeffrey walton wrote:

So in the past three or so years I’m seeing at auction more and more printers proof posters appearing- especially Star Wars posters and Jaws- they seem to be in every major auction. Yet years ago we rarely saw one if any. What is going on? This is also like that special Empire Strikes Back poster that now regularly sells for over $10k Apparently some Japanese collector found 2 of them and said there is about 6 in the world though Bruce has auctioned this poster 10 times not to mention all the other times by other auction houses.

There was a big stink years ago with all the minty inserts - to me there is an even bigger one with the flooding of printers proofs as of late - and the seem to be on the same big titles.

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[MOPO] Aw: Re: [MOPO] Suspicion as of late

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