Collector Guides
Identification, dating, printing, paper, condition, authenticity, storage, provenance, buying, selling, and ethical context.
Vintage Advertising Field Identification Checklist
A step-by-step workflow for format, dimensions, maker, printer, product, place, date, condition, and provenance.
Open guide →Dating Advertising by Typography
Letterforms, layout, hand lettering, display type, phototypesetting, and why style alone is not proof.
Open guide →Advertising Printing Methods
Letterpress, lithography, chromolithography, rotogravure, offset, screen printing, and digital reproduction clues.
Open guide →Paper and Cardstock Evidence
Fiber, coating, thickness, pulp, clay coating, newsprint, cardboard, and aging patterns.
Open guide →Printer Marks and Manufacturer Codes
Union labels, lithographer imprints, printer slugs, copyright lines, form numbers, and production codes.
Open guide →Dimensions and Standard Formats
Why exact size, fold pattern, trim, binding, and display construction help identify an issue.
Open guide →Condition Guide for Advertising
Tears, folds, foxing, stains, trimming, mounting, fading, losses, writing, and structural damage.
Open guide →Original vs. Reproduction Advertising
Paper, printing, size, crop, backs, licensing, artificial aging, fantasy designs, and seller wording.
Open guide →Trimmed Ads and Removed Magazine Pages
How page removal, edge trimming, binding evidence, reverse content, and margins affect identity and value.
Open guide →Mounting and Framing
Dry mounting, tape, glue, mat burn, acidic boards, glazing, reversibility, and frame documentation.
Open guide →Fading and Color Change
Light exposure, fugitive inks, comparison under mats, uneven fading, and photography limitations.
Open guide →Cleaning Vintage Advertising
Why erasers, water, solvents, bleach, tape removal, flattening, and amateur repairs can cause permanent harm.
Open guide →Archival Storage for Advertising
Sleeves, folders, boards, boxes, rolled posters, humidity, pests, and safe handling.
Open guide →Photographing and Scanning Advertising
Color targets, scale, raking light, backs, folds, texture, glare control, and file naming.
Open guide →Provenance and Local History
Addresses, dealer stamps, ownership notes, receipts, building history, and community collections.
Open guide →Researching Period Sources
Catalogs, newspapers, trademark files, city directories, museum collections, trade journals, and dated packaging.
Open guide →Using Sold Comparables
Match format, issue, size, completeness, condition, originality, and sale venue before comparing prices.
Open guide →Buying Advertising Lots
How to preview mixed paper, recognize common filler, protect fragile items, and build a useful inventory.
Open guide →Selling an Advertising Collection
Sorting by brand, format, city, condition, provenance, auction channel, and shipping risk.
Open guide →Inherited Advertising Collections
Stabilize first, preserve groupings, identify local material, avoid cleaning, and create a triage inventory.
Open guide →Copyright and Trademark Context
Ownership of physical originals, reproduction rights, licensing, trademarks, and responsible image use.
Open guide →Handling Harmful or Outdated Advertising
Historical description, racist stereotypes, deceptive health claims, tobacco, war propaganda, and context without endorsement.
Open guide →Signed Advertising Art
Artist signatures, printed signatures, original art, agency records, campaign use, and attribution evidence.
Open guide →Shipping Paper and Store Displays
Flat support, corner protection, rolled materials, dimensional displays, moisture barriers, and insurance documentation.
Open guide →