Reference
Italian Movie Poster Glossary: 57 Terms in English
This Italian movie poster glossary translates the words you meet in Italian dealer listings, auction catalogues and on the posters themselves — from locandina and fotobusta to telato, riedizione and bozzetto — into plain English, with what each one tells you about the poster.
On this page
Formats
| Italian | English | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Locandina (pl. locandine) | Small poster | ≈ 33 × 70 cm |
| Manifesto | Poster | Any large poster |
| Foglio (pl. fogli) | Sheet | Unit of ≈ 70 × 100 cm |
| 1 foglio / soggettone | One-sheet | ≈ 70 × 100 cm |
| 2 fogli | Two-sheet | ≈ 100 × 140 cm |
| 4 fogli | Four-sheet | ≈ 140 × 200 cm, two pieces |
| Fotobusta (pl. fotobuste) | Lobby card | ≈ 47 × 68 or 35 × 50 cm |
| Verticale / orizzontale | Portrait / landscape | Orientation |
| Cartolina | Postcard | Promotional card |
| Brochure / flano | Brochure / press ad | Press material |
Edition and origin
| Italian | English | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Prima edizione / prima uscita | First edition / first release | Printed for the premiere run |
| Riedizione | Re-release | Printed for a later run |
| Edizione originale | Original edition | Sometimes used loosely; ask which release |
| Ristampa | Reprint | Often a later or unofficial print |
| Riproduzione | Reproduction | Not a period poster |
| Distribuzione | Distribution | The releasing company |
| Stampa / tipografia / litografia | Print / printing works / lithograph | The printer's credit |
| Bozzetto | Original artwork (maquette) | The painter's unique painting |
| Firmato | Signed | Usually signed in the artwork |
| Illustratore / pittore | Illustrator / painter | The artist |
Condition and conservation
| Italian | English |
|---|---|
| Ottimo stato | Excellent condition |
| Buono stato | Good condition |
| Discreto | Fair |
| Piegato / pieghe | Folded / folds |
| Arrotolato | Rolled |
| Telato | Linen-backed |
| Restaurato | Restored |
| Strappi / strappetti | Tears / small tears |
| Mancanze | Paper losses |
| Fori di puntine | Pin holes |
| Macchie | Stains |
| Scolorito | Faded |
| Nastro adesivo | Adhesive tape |
| Timbro | Stamp (e.g. a cinema's) |
Words printed on the poster
| Italian | English |
|---|---|
| Regia di | Directed by |
| Con | Starring |
| Prossimamente | Coming soon |
| Oggi / Da oggi | Today / From today |
| Vietato ai minori di 14 / 18 anni | Forbidden to under-14s / under-18s (from 1962) |
| Vietato ai minori di 16 anni | Forbidden to under-16s (the age limit before 1962) |
| A colori | In colour |
| Un film di | A film by |
| Prodotto da | Produced by |
| Musiche di | Music by |
| Soggetto e sceneggiatura | Story and screenplay |
| Tratto dal romanzo di | Based on the novel by |
| Ritorna | Returns (often on a re-release) |
Buying and selling
| Italian | English | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Originale d'epoca | Period original | Printed at the time of a release |
| Asta | Auction | Also "casa d'aste", auction house |
| Lotto | Lot | One item or group sold together |
| Base d'asta | Starting price | The opening bid |
| Stima | Estimate | The auction house's expected price |
| Aggiudicato | Hammer price / sold | Before buyer's premium |
| Diritti d'asta | Buyer's premium | Added to the hammer price |
| Misure | Measurements | Usually in cm, width × height or the reverse |
| Spedizione in tubo | Shipped in a tube | For rolled or linen-backed posters |
| Piegato in origine | Folded as issued | Original folds, not later ones |
Frequently asked questions
What does telato mean?
Linen-backed: the poster has been mounted on canvas by a conservator.
What is a bozzetto?
The painter's original artwork for a poster, a unique painting rather than a print.
What does 'vietato ai minori di 18 anni' mean on a poster?
Forbidden to under-18s — the film's age restriction in Italy. Before 1962 the limit was 16, so a 14 or 18 banner on a poster of an older film suggests a later re-release.
What does 'originale d'epoca' mean?
A period original: a poster printed at the time of a release, as opposed to a reproduction. Ask which release, because a re-release poster is also a period original.
What is the difference between 'base d'asta' and 'stima'?
The base d'asta is the starting price of an auction lot; the stima is the auction house's estimate of what it will sell for. The final price adds the diritti d'asta, the buyer's premium.
Keep reading
- Italian Movie Poster Sizes: Every Format in cm and InchesItalian movie poster sizes in cm and inches: locandina 33 × 70, fotobusta, 1 foglio 70 × 100, 2 fogli 100 × 140, 4 fogli 140 × 200, and how to measure yours.
- Movie Poster Condition Grading: Mint to Poor ExplainedMovie poster condition grading explained: what mint, near mint, very fine, fine, very good, good, fair and poor mean, with Italian terms and defects to check.
- Riedizione: How to Recognise Italian Re-release PostersRiedizione means re-release. How to tell a first-release Italian movie poster from a riedizione, why re-releases are cheaper and when they are worth buying.
Locandine Best is an independent reference site. We do not sell posters, and we are not affiliated with any auction house, dealer, film distributor or previous owner of this domain.