Stone lithography stopped altogether in the early 1950s, as photo offset printing, being cheaper and faster, dominated. But stone lithographic one sheets (as well as three and six and even twenty four sheets) have become the rosetta stones of many collections. Ask a collector or dealer to show you the difference between these two kinds of printing methods and you will understand why collectors ooh and aah over stone lithos. The one sheet is, for the most part, the smallest poster which can be a stone lithograph. This, as much as anything else, has accounted for it's popularity. But it also must be said this has been historically the poster which, through the decades, has been used by the exhibitors more than any other poster. It is virtually the only size used today by all exhibitors in all parts of the country. It's importance in recent times in the minds of collectors has been shaped by it's preeminence as the favored size for inclusion in auctions. Great posters are not defined by their dimensions alone but rather by their design overall. There are wonderful designs in every size.
30 X 40 and 40 X 60 inch posters. These posters are printed
on card stock, generally, and are somewhat scarcer to find than the smaller posters. I have seen them folded, but mostly they have been stored flat or rolled. Because they are bulky, and because they were not used for every film, fewer of them are seen. Both sizes are oriented vertically, so that the longer dimension is the height of the poster. Sometimes multiple styles may exist in these sizes. Most of these posters that I have seen have been offset photolithography, but I have also seen silkscreened examples and they can be very interesting. Like all larger posters, framing is more
expensive because of the oversized glass or plexiglass that is required, more running feet of frame, etc. Homemade frames begin to look very cost effective for larger posters.
Three sheet. The three sheet poster is printed on paper stock and is three times larger, in square inches, than a one sheet. Its dimensions are 41 inches wide by 81 inches high. So, like an insert poster, it has a long, vertical orientation. It may be printed by offset photolithography or by stone lithography. Three sheets are generally scarcer than smaller posters on the same title. Because it is large, preparation of the poster for display is more expensive than for a smaller poster. But if you have the space to display one, or even if you are simply in love with larger posters, three sheets are wonderful. They may simply show a larger image of the same art as is found on one or more of the smaller posters on a title, or they may offer an image that is different altogether from any other poster. The most successful three sheets are ones which are designed to best utilize the vertical scheme.
Six sheet. The six sheet poster is six times larger, in square inches, than a one sheet and twice as large as a three sheet. Normally a six sheet measures 81 inches wide by 81 inches high: the only movie poster that is a perfect square. I have seen six sheets that were slightly larger and slightly smaller than these dimensions but these are unusual. By any definition this poster is BIG. Three and six sheets were usually used in the big, downtown movie palaces, and, to me, they are especially evocative of the golden era of movie exhibition.
30 X 40 and 40 X 60 inch posters. These posters are printed
on card stock, generally, and are somewhat scarcer to find than the smaller posters. I have seen them folded, but mostly they have been stored flat or rolled. Because they are bulky, and because they were not used for every film, fewer of them are seen. Both sizes are oriented vertically, so that the longer dimension is the height of the poster. Sometimes multiple styles may exist in these sizes. Most of these posters that I have seen have been offset photolithography, but I have also seen silkscreened examples and they can be very interesting. Like all larger posters, framing is more
expensive because of the oversized glass or plexiglass that is required, more running feet of frame, etc. Homemade frames begin to look very cost effective for larger posters.
Three sheet. The three sheet poster is printed on paper stock and is three times larger, in square inches, than a one sheet. Its dimensions are 41 inches wide by 81 inches high. So, like an insert poster, it has a long, vertical orientation. It may be printed by offset photolithography or by stone lithography. Three sheets are generally scarcer than smaller posters on the same title. Because it is large, preparation of the poster for display is more expensive than for a smaller poster. But if you have the space to display one, or even if you are simply in love with larger posters, three sheets are wonderful. They may simply show a larger image of the same art as is found on one or more of the smaller posters on a title, or they may offer an image that is different altogether from any other poster. The most successful three sheets are ones which are designed to best utilize the vertical scheme.
Six sheet. The six sheet poster is six times larger, in square inches, than a one sheet and twice as large as a three sheet. Normally a six sheet measures 81 inches wide by 81 inches high: the only movie poster that is a perfect square. I have seen six sheets that were slightly larger and slightly smaller than these dimensions but these are unusual. By any definition this poster is BIG. Three and six sheets were usually used in the big, downtown movie palaces, and, to me, they are especially evocative of the golden era of movie exhibition.