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Original lithographic poster by Paul Colin - Cie Générale Transatlantique "French Line" (1949).
THE DIFFERENT CONDITION OF A POSTER
If a poster is appreciated for its rarity, subject, signature or age and sometimes its size, it is also appreciated by its condition, which is an important component of its value. Please find below the different conditions of the posters proposed by www.posterissim.com
New : "mint". The poster has been handled but never used and has been carefully stored. This condition generally applies to the most recent posters.
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Excellent condition : also called "condition A" or "near mint". The condition of the poster is above average even if it shows slight traces of use. The poster has no major flaws and is not missing anything. Only minor defects are accepted, such as pinholes or slight discoloration on older objects. www.posterissim mainly sells posters in this condition.
Very good condition : or "very fine". The condition of the poster is close to "excellent condition" but with some additional defects such as slight tears or more pronounced folds.
Good condition : also known as "condition B". The visual is clean but has more pronounced defects than those of the previous conditions, sometimes with traces of moisture or yellowing of the paper. These defects have been often corrected during the restoration process, followed by washing and mounting.
Fair condition : "C" (suitable condition). The condition of the poster is below average, with a multiplication of defects (missing, discoloured, scotch, damaged edges), but remains very presentable.
Poor condition : or "condition D". Poster torn into several pieces, often with significant gaps and severe discoloration. Except for exceptional documents (historical or cultural) requiring extensive restoration, www.posterissim.com does not sell posters in this condition.
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LINENBACKING OF YOUR POSTERS
1. Why put a poster on linen?
An old poster is originally rolled up or held flat. An original old poster should be preserved as well as possible in time and be easily framed.
www.posterissim.com brings to each poster a long, delicate and expensive paper conservation treatment called "linenbacking". The linenbacking protects the poster from possible damage and gives the paper a structure that gives it an optimal hold in its frame.
www.posterissim.com calls on the best specialists in this particular technique, whose know-how and experience is recognised by amateurs and collectors all over the world.
2. The technique of linenbacking
The posters are first dry-dusted with gum powder and a brush. Then they are washed with clear water in large basins to refresh the colours and remove paper tension.
The still wet poster is applied to a linen or cotton canvas (Canvas) using a starch solution. A sheet of acid-free paper (Canson) is placed in between. The poster is thus kept at a neutral ph and acid-free to stabilize its colours and protect it from oxidation (yellowing of the paper). A drying time in a dust-free environment of 1 to 2 weeks is necessary depending on the size and type of paper.
A canvas margin of 3 to 5 cm is kept to protect the perimeter of the poster.
All our linenbackings are made with neutral materials that stabilize the acidity of the poster. We use noble techniques that are totally reversible.
Without the application of this technique, the poster, even if it is not damaged, may curl within its frame, thus undermining its artistic qualities and altering its appreciation.
For all these reasons, www.posterissim.com sells mostly, unless otherwise specified, linenbacked original posters.
The folded or rolled posters, purchased on the site www.posterissim.com, can be linenbacked by us (and restored if necessary) on request and after estimate.
www.posterissim.com does not offer a canvas mounting and/or restoration service for posters that do not come from the www.posterissim.com website.
At www.posterissim.com you are thus acquiring a beautiful collector's item that will follow you over time and that you will be proud to exhibit.
THE DIFFERENT PRINTING PROCESSES AT WWW.POSTERISSIM.COM
Below you will find the different printing processes for the posters that you can find on www.posterissim.com
Lithography was invented by the German playwright Aloys Senefelder in 1796 and had its heyday in the 19th century. It is a printing technique that allows the creation and reproduction in several copies of a drawing executed with ink or pencil on a limestone and is based on the principle of repulsion of water and fat. This process makes it possible to execute high quality works in quantity. Faster and cheaper than engraving, lithography has been used very often for the reproduction of commercial documents.
Screen printing is a printing technique that uses stencils (originally silk screens) interposed between the ink and the support (paper, cardboard, textile, metal, glass...). It allows the representation of very detailed independent graphics and was popularized by Andy Warhol.
Offset is a printing process that can be considered an improvement on its ancestor, lithography: the lithographic stone is replaced by a layer (or cylinder). Currently the major process of professional printing, offset printing, makes it possible to cover a relatively wide range of print runs (beyond a few hundred thousand copies, rotogravure is preferred). This printing process provides quality products at a relatively low cost. It has many other advantages such as quick start-up, stable inking, fast drying, etc... Offset in video HERE.
Rotogravure is a technique born in the 1820s from the research of Joseph Nicéphore Niépce, particularly adapted to very long print runs where a high quality of reproduction is required. A process of intaglio printing, rotogravure allows the transfer of an image on a copper plate thanks to a photosensitive gelatine. The screen is not visible, unlike halftone printing. The blacks are very deep where the ink layer is thick, while it is very thin in the lighter areas.
Digigraphy is a process for reproducing works of art created digitally on large-format inkjet printers. Label created by Epson in 2003, it concerns the reproduction of any type of artistic creation: photography, painting, collage, drawing, watercolour, digital creation... A Digigraphie is necessarily a limited edition print: it must bear a number indicating the total number of the series and the number of the print, as well as the handwritten signature of the artist and an official stamp.
The giclée is a very faithful reproduction process on inkjet printers on paper or canvas that allows a reproduction of the image in very high definition on large format digital printers. Unlike lithography, where all proofs could be considered as originals, with giclees, all proofs become reproductions.
The difference between lithography and screen printing: Lithographs and serigraphs are both flat prints. Lithography reproduces a line executed on a limestone, whereas silkscreen printing is a technique that uses silk screens between the ink and the support.
The difference between lithography and offset: Offset is one of the printing processes known as "direct", which consists of transferring the entire print directly onto the substrate. Lithography involves spreading ink on a surface, with dry and wet areas, and only the ink spread on the dry area is transferred to the substrate.
MAIN FORMATS OF MOVIE POSTERS
The formats of the original movie posters have many variations depending on the country. For the sake of clarity, only the most commonly used formats will be discussed here.
They are represented at www.posterissim.com by a pictogram (), to easily compare the size of a poster to the size of a man.
French movie posters
Very large formats : these formats are discontinued today.
a) Giant: 158 X 118 inches ('') or 400 X 300 centimeters ("cm"), intended for the subway.
b) 4 panels: 94 X 125'' (240 X 320 cm).
c) 2 panels: 94 X 63'' (240 X 160 cm).
Large format (the reference format for French movie posters) : 47 X 63'' (120 X 160 cm).
Small current format: 23 X 32'' (60 X 80 cm) until the 80's then 15 X 21'' (40 X 60 cm) thereafter.
Pant size (for cinema doors and Morris columns): 23 X 63'' (60 X 160 cm).
American movie posters
US One Sheet (most common format): 27 X 41'' (69 X 104 cm). Single or Double-sided ("DS").
US Half sheet: 22 X 28'' (55 X 71 cm).
US 3 sheets: 41 X 81'' (104 X 205 cm).
Italian movie posters
2 fogli (most common format): 39 X 55'' (100 X 140 cm).
4 fogli: 55 X 78'' (140 X 200 cm).
Locandina: 13 X 27'' (33 X 69 cm).
Japanese movie posters
B2 (most common format): 20 X 29'' (51 X 74 cm).
B3 (Nakazuri): 14 X 20'' (35 X 50 cm). Double-sided.
Belgian movie posters
14 X 22" (35 X 55 cm). The most common format in Belgium.
Movie posters from other countries
Daybill (Australia): 13 X 30" (33 X 76 cm). Most common format.
One sheet (Poland): 27 X 40" (69 X 101 cm).
British Quad (UK): 30 X 40" (76 X 101 cm). The most common format, with the particularity of being horizontal.
Double Crown (UK): 20 X 30" (50 X 76 cm).
Czech Republic and Germany: 23 X 33'' (58 X 83 cm). Standard size.
Alternative movie posters
Small: 18 X 24" (46 X 61 cm).
Normal: 24 X 36" (61 X 91 cm). Most common format.
THE DIFFERENT VERSIONS OF A POSTER ON WWW.POSTERISSIM.COM
There are sometimes different versions of the same original poster. These different versions were displayed at the same time. Depending on the version, this is referred to as model A, B... A “Regular” or “Variant” version in the more recent world of alternative posters. This is mainly the case when promoting a film. In the case of advertising or tourism posters, it's usually the language used that differs.
The artist may be different, but so may the visual, the colors or the message to be conveyed. The printer, in principle, remains the same.
The number of posters printed may also differ, making one model rarer and therefore more sought-after than the other. Model A of Les Tontons flingueurs, designed by Siry, is well remembered, while model B, designed by Jouineau-Bourduge, is much less so.
Below are just a few examples :
A re-released poster may also be different, but it's not an original poster because it doesn't correspond to the first official release promoting the work, event, location or product. It is nonetheless of real interest, as it can sometimes be more successful than an original poster.
When www.posterissim.com offers a re-released poster, this is indicated in the product sheet on our site.
You will regularly find posters in different versions on www.posterissim.com. There may also be more subtle nuances. If you have any questions, we'll be happy to help.
Available
Cie Gle Transatlantique – Le Havre · Southampton · New York
Step aboard the golden age of ocean liners with this iconic poster by Paul Colin, one of France’s greatest Art Deco masters. A rare and striking piece, this original lithograph celebrates the prestige of the Compagnie Générale Transatlantique and the transatlantic dream linking Le Havre, Southampton, and New York. This is the Normandie, the most sumptuous liner of its time, and a symbol of 1930s France.
In a powerful and streamlined composition, the ship's monumental bow cuts through stylized waves beneath the towering red-and-black funnels. The French color palette, modernist architecture, and simplified crowd silhouettes evoke luxury, national pride, and cutting-edge design. This artwork captures the spirit of post-war modernity and travel at its most elegant.
Printed around 1949 by the Courbet studios in Paris, this vintage lithograph stands as a testament to an era when boarding a transatlantic liner meant glamour, promise, and adventure. With its timeless aesthetic, it appeals to graphic design lovers, maritime enthusiasts, and collectors alike.
- An original work by Paul Colin, legendary French poster artist
- Authentic vintage lithograph, issued in the late 1940s
- Striking large format (≈100 × 61 cm) ideal for statement walls
- Highly collectible, rare in today’s market
- A decorative and cultural investment, blending history and graphic elegance
circa 1930 - Albert Sébille
1950 - Edouard Collin
1922 - Albert Sébille
1979 - Laura Smith
