FAQ’S

Below is a list of frequently asked questions and their answers: 

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

Who are you?

Miscellaneous Man has been offering absolutely original old posters and advertising since 1970. Details about where we came from may be found in the About Misc. Man section. We are new to the Internet and have only recently begun to chase search engines. However, you might google me personally under ‘George Theofiles’.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

Do you have a showroom? Do you do shows?

No, and no. We are pretty much mail order only. The last show we did was in 1985.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

How may I be assured I’m getting the real thing?

I have been involved with this field since age eight, in 1955. We retain one of the bigger poster research libraries in the world with over 3000 books and catalogs as well as runs of rare periodicals, and thousands of related items. In addition, we will gladly provide a certificate of authenticity for any item we sell, on request. These are, of course lifetime certificates.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

How do I get these items?

We ship internationally by US mail, usually by registered or priority means. We ship insured and we use heavy duty gorilla proof tubes made by the best in the business, Yazoo Mills. We also recycle heavy duty used tubes. (We pretty much in one way or another recycle everything we can.) Flats are shipped using layers of cardboard.

Since 1970 we have have shipped, conservatively at least seventy thousand items. We’ll get everything to you well packaged. See contact & ordering for additional details.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

What are your payment terms? Can I layaway items?


We accept checks, money orders, VISA, and MasterCard. Layaways are never a problem and we can individually tailor a payment plan. We are only able to receive payments in US dollars. Wire transfers work as well.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

Confidentiality

Any information you share with us about you is kept strictly confidential. Any unnecessary or redundant paperwork is shredded. We are absolute fanatics about this.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

Is your entire inventory shown on your website?


What you see here represents a very small sampling of our stocks.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

What if I want to return an item?

Never a problem! We ask that you return any item (meaning having it on its way to us) within 3 (three) days of receipt, and that it be returned here in the exact same condition it left. Our rate of returns has traditionally been a fraction of one percent.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

So, what’s my automatic discount?

Anyone who knows anything about original posters will quickly realize that our prices are usually twenty to fifty percent cheaper than our competitors. The prices noted in each description are net.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

What about Condition?

The posters we offer are generally in very fine condition or better. None of these items were meant to have a long useful life – and that any of them have survived at all is miraculous. This is not a field where knowledgeable buyers expect mint condition. Occasionally people come into this field bellowing “Mint, Mint, Mint!” but, after annoying everybody for a short spell, they soon wander off. Specifics about condition ratings are noted at the end of this section.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

Why do you deal in War Posters?

I’m surprised how often I’m asked this question. We deal in all types of posters. I have a greater than average interest in war propaganda because the subject is significant. All advertising can be interpreted as propaganda to some extent. All propaganda, however is not advertising. Most advertising tries to convince individuals to do or buy something for themselves. Most good war propaganda exists to convince individuals to make serious sacrifices for someone else, which is far more important and certainly far more difficult. The best of wartime propaganda is also much more visceral.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

If I take the trouble to give you a want list, will it do any good?

Certainly! Be as specific as possible.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

Do you do appraisals?

Sorry. We no longer do appraisals due to time limitations. We do recommend Louis Bixenman at www.poster-appraisal.com. Professional appraisals are not inexpensive.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

Do you buy? Trade?

Sure. We are buying all the time. We usually do not make offers. As opposed to others in the collectibles field, we show the price of everything we offer for sale, and request the same from you.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

How did you come up with the name Miscellaneous Man?

A squillion years ago, when I started this business, the kinds of things I offered were considered peripheral and not easy to classify. The man part was meant to signify mankind, but continually re-explaining this made me sound pompous, so I resigned myself to be the guy instead of the idea.

I’ve spent substantial funds registering my trade name all over the place, as well as occasionally being forced to bring legal action against people who have swiped my name.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

Conditions Ratings:

MINT (M) Virtually as printed; fresh and essentially flawless. Older posters are rarely seen in this condition.

NEAR MINT (NM)

Fresh overall, bright and clean. May have some minor flaws such as edge tears or professional edge mending’s or perhaps a light fold or two. Defects are specifically described in our listings.

VERY FINE (VF) May have some expert professional restoration to past folds or paper losses. Light paper toning may be evident. Any specific defects or repairs are noted in our descriptions.

FINE (F) We usually offer “Fine” posters only if they are scarce, interesting, and relatively inexpensive. These posters may have a good a great deal of professional restoration, toning or light stains. Again, descriptions include details of any specific flaws.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

Linen Mounting:

Linen mounting was a term first used in the 19th century to describe a mounting process of wet gluing against linen, mostly used on large maps.

The modern procedure utilizes bleached muslin with a sheet of very long lasting Japanese rice paper glued to it. The poster is then mounted on to the rice paper with equally long lasting rice or bleached wheat paste. All of these processes are reversible. The procedure also washes dirt and impurities out of the poster.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

© 2004-2022 Miscellaneous Man/Miscman.com : Rare original Posters and vintage Graphics
P.O. Box 191 : New Freedom, PA 17349
Phone: 717.235.4766 – Email: miscman1@comcast.net

Keywords: Vintage posters, rare posters, original posters, old posters, antique posters, WW1 posters, WWI posters, WW2 posters, WWII posters, war posters, underground posters, vintage graphics, entertainment posters, old illustrations, old propaganda, vintage propaganda, vintage ephemera, advertising ephemera, patriotic posters, old sheet music, books on posters, books about posters, old labels, poster stamps, Cinderellas, and miscellaneous posters since 1970.