OF all the major contemporary areas of collecting, the gathering of movie memorabilia is perhaps the most prevalent.

As the 20th century's first and leading manifestation of popular culture, the flickering images projected on cinema screens around the world not only created a mythology of larger-than-life movie stars, they also spawned an industry devoted to the acquisition of ephemera and artifacts associated with every aspect of the film industry.

Movie Collectibles by Rudy and Barbara Franchi explains the value of these items, the jargon used by dealers, the trends in the market, and the pitfalls that can befall a novice collector. The main focus is on posters, divided into genres such as Film Noir, Movie Stars, James Bond, and Star Wars. There is also a section on other memorabilia, including press kits, film books, props and programs. Useful addresses and further reading suggestions are provided. A reminder that movies always were and continue to be sheer magic for most of us. (Published by Miller's at £15.99).