Linen Backing Services
What Is Linen Backing?
Linen backing is the industry-standard process of mounting an original poster onto a layer of acid-free Japanese tissue, which is then adhered to fine cotton or linen canvas using reversible, water-based wheat starch paste — the same archival standards used by professional paper conservators and museums.
- Flattens fold lines and creases, often to the point of near invisibility.
- Cleans and de-acidifies the paper, halting the deterioration that continues in folded, untreated posters.
- Repairs tears, minor losses, and surface damage as part of the same process.
- Renders the poster stable enough to roll, unroll, handle, and frame — conditions a fragile, folded original often cannot tolerate.
- Fully archival and reversible — when properly executed, a linen-backed poster can be removed and re-backed by a future conservator if ever required.
Is Your Poster a Good Candidate?
Linen backing is well suited to most single-sided paper posters, though not every piece is a suitable candidate. We do not recommend linen backing for double-sided posters: double-sided printing is designed specifically for light box display, and backing one side compromises the presentation of the other. If you are uncertain whether your poster is a suitable candidate, please send photographs prior to ordering and we will advise accordingly.
Why Collectors Choose to Linen Back
Vintage poster collectors generally fall into two categories: those who preserve pieces in storage, and those who intend to display them. Linen backing serves the latter, and consistently enhances a poster's value in the process. Auction data across the industry shows linen-backed posters routinely achieve higher prices than the same title in unbacked, folded condition. A poster too fragile to handle safely is, in practical terms, simply a piece of aging paper — conservation restores it to a display-ready asset.
Pricing
US One Sheet
From $180 USD (includes 1 hour of restoration).
Additional Time
$75 USD/hour, determined by the extent of damage and condition issues requiring attention.
Other Sizes & Formats
Pricing varies by size — please send photographs for a complimentary estimate
Base pricing is determined by size. The US One Sheet price above reflects our most common commission and serves as a useful reference point; posters vary considerably in size and format — inserts, half-sheets, quads, three-sheets, six-sheets, and international formats are each priced individually. Please send photographs of your piece for an accurate estimate. Any restoration time beyond the first hour is determined by the specific condition of your poster — tears, staining, and paper loss are all considered — and will always be confirmed with you in advance of any additional work.
Turnaround Time
Linen backing typically requires 6 to 12 weeks, depending on current volume and the extent of restoration required. A more precise estimate will be provided once we have reviewed photographs of your piece.
Our Approach
Over 50 years of combined team experience specifically in linen backing and restoring vintage movie posters.
A conservation-first philosophy: minimal, sympathetic retouching that preserves the poster's authentic character, avoiding the over-restoration that can diminish originality and value.
Archival materials exclusively: acid-free tissue, cotton and linen canvas, and reversible, water-based adhesives.
Every poster is inspected prior to treatment — fold damage, tears, staining, and any prior repairs are fully assessed before work begins.
