The rule is simple and almost always broken: post it in the state it is already in.
If it is rolled
- Roll it loosely around a wide core rather than tightly on itself
- Interleave with acid-free tissue if you have it, plain clean paper if you do not
- Into a rigid tube with a diameter wide enough that the roll is not squeezed
- Caps taped, both ends
- Tube inside an outer wrap, because tube ends get crushed in sorting
A narrow tube is worse than no tube. A tight roll cracks ink.
If it is folded
Leave it folded. Flattening is restoration and it is the buyer's decision. Post it flat, between two stiff boards, in a plastic sleeve, in a rigid flat box.
Never
- Never fold a poster that is not already folded
- Never laminate anything
- Never use tape on the piece itself, for any reason, including "just to hold the roll"
- Never post paper without a moisture barrier in the monsoon
Framed items
Do not post glass. Take the piece out of the frame and post the two separately, or offer collection. Glass that breaks in transit does not just break — it cuts the thing it was protecting.
Lobby cards and photographs
Rigid board both sides, in a sleeve, in a flat box. Small paper is lost in a large box.
Questions people ask
Can I post a poster in a soft mailing tube?
No. It needs a rigid tube and taped caps, or it arrives bent at one end.
Should I flatten a folded poster to ship it flat?
No. Ship it folded between boards. The fold is already part of the piece.
What about collection for large pieces?
For anything large, fragile or framed, collection is often the honest answer rather than a fallback. How pickup works.