How We Pack and Ship Original Vintage Posters Safely

Shipping an original poster is not the glamorous part of collecting, but it is one of the places where good handling matters most. Paper that has survived for decades deserves more than being dropped loosely into a thin tube.

First: not every poster should be rolled

Whether rolling is appropriate depends on the poster's paper, age, condition, previous folds and any backing. Brittle or fragile sheets can be damaged by forcing them into a tight curve.

We assess the physical poster before deciding how it should travel.

Use a wide, strong tube

When rolling is appropriate, a generous diameter reduces stress on the paper. The poster should never be crushed into a tube that is too narrow simply to save space.

Protect the printed surface

Clean archival or appropriate protective material should separate the poster from anything that could abrade, transfer or mark the surface. The sheet should be rolled evenly rather than twisted.

Stop movement inside the package

The poster should not be able to slide freely from end to end or strike the tube caps. Exterior packaging also needs enough strength to resist bending and crushing in a courier network.

What about folded posters?

If a poster was originally issued folded, those folds are part of its history. That does not mean repeatedly folding and unfolding it is harmless. Depending on the object, we may still ship it in a way that minimises additional stress.

Framed posters are a different job

Glazing, frame corners and the poster itself all need protection. A framed original requires substantially different packaging from an unframed sheet.

When your poster arrives

Open the package on a clean, dry surface with enough space to support the whole poster. Avoid dragging paper from a tube or placing weights directly onto the printed surface.

If the poster will be framed, our framing guide explains what to look for. For longer-term care, see conservation and restoration.

Why we take it seriously

The packaging is temporary; the poster is not. The aim is simple: the object should reach you in the same condition in which it left us.

Explore the posters featured above: TWA London · Roland-Garros 1996. You can also explore our collecting guide, authenticity guide, condition guide and framing guide.