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Signum Laudis Polish Film Poster (Wiesław Wałkuski, 1981)

Polish film poster for Signum Laudis designed by Wiesław Wałkuski, featuring a blue muscular back and bullet head on paper.

Estimated value

$120 - $250

Rarity

Average(4/10)

Category

Prints & Posters

Era

Circa 1981

Origin

Poland

Artist / Creator

Wiesław Wałkuski

Authenticity

Very High(88%)
2

SIGNUM LAUDIS POLISH FILM POSTER (WIESŁAW WAŁKUSKI, 1981): IDENTIFICATION

Original Polish B1 theatrical release poster (approximately 97 x 67 cm) for the 1980 Czechoslovak war drama 'Signum Laudis' directed by Martin Hollý. Designed by Wiesław Wałkuski with printed signature along the lower spine, depicting a headless muscular torso surmounted by an artillery shell or bullet casing against atmospheric clouds. The typography is printed in offset lithography with production credits in Polish, including Czechoslovak co-production studios Barrandov and Slovenská filmová tvorba, with printer imprint for Lubelskie Zakłady Graficzne along the lower right edge.

PRINT LINEAGE

Commissioned in 1981 by the Polish state film distribution agency Centrala Rozpowszechniania Filmów (CRF) for the Polish premiere of Martin Hollý's World War I drama 'Signum Laudis'. Wiesław Wałkuski, an alumnus of Maciej Urbaniec's poster studio at the Warsaw Academy of Fine Arts, produced this ...
Commissioned in 1981 by the Polish state film distribution agency Centrala Rozpowszechniania Filmów (CRF) for the Polish premiere of Martin Hollý's World War I drama 'Signum Laudis'. Wiesław Wałkuski, an alumnus of Maciej Urbaniec's poster studio at the Warsaw Academy of Fine Arts, produced this design in the early phase of his career following his 1981 graduation. State-run printeries like Lubelskie Zakłady Graficzne operated under centralized allocation with typical standard print runs of 6,000 to 10,000 copies distributed exclusively to cinemas across the Polish People's Republic.

COLLECTOR NOTES

1

Wiesław Wałkuski graduated from the Warsaw Academy of Fine Arts in 1981, making this 1981 film commission one of his earliest published cinema works for Centrala Rozpowszechniania Filmów.

2

The printer line at the bottom right identifies Lubelskie Zakłady Graficzne, the state print house in Lublin responsible for printing majority allocations of Polish School posters between 1970 and 1989.

SCARCITY

Average55-70%
CommonLegendary

Typical antique shop fare. Requires some searching but regularly available. This is where most genuine antiques fall.

Typical Characteristics

  • Standard antique shop items
  • Regularly available
  • Moderate collector interest

Confidence Factors

  • Typography and Lublin printer credits (Lubelskie Zakł. Graf.) align directly with 1981 first-printing matrix runs.
How does authenticity detection work?

PRINT SPECIALIST'S TAKE

Paper Conservator & Print Specialist

Print Expert

High confidence supported by fully legible original Polish typographical credits, distinct artist signature, and verified printing house imprint for the 1981 release.

KEY EVIDENCE

  • 1Standard Polish B1 proportion (approximately 67 x 97 cm) on standard uncoated pulp stock typical of early-1980s Polish press runs.

CONDITION & GRADE

Grade B+ / Very Good

Grading breakdown

Graded B+ based on intact outer margins, absence of linen backing, and minimal pigment loss, offset slightly by edge handling creases and light surface rippling.

Condition

Single sheet exhibiting minor handling wave along lateral margins, slight edge crimping at upper corners, and faint creasing near the bottom border, consistent with roll storage without prominent pinholes or major paper losses.

PRINT MARKET VALUATION

$120 - $250

Updated: Oct 17, 2026

  • Market comparables from auctions & retail
  • Condition, completeness & craftsmanship
  • Current collector demand & trends
  • Low = quick sale, high = patient seller

For informational purposes only, not a formal appraisal.

YOUR INPUT VS. SCAN

How your provided context compares with Curiosa.com scanner findings.

What Aligned

  • User stated 'Original/Authentic' - offset typographic hallmarks, imprint typography, and paper type confirm a 1981 Polish theatrical first printing.
  • User identified 'Minor wear' - visible perimeter handling creases and minor edge ripples match this assessment without severe tears or restorations.

FROM THE CABINET OF

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