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I think there is virtually universal agreement on cardboard and
foam-backing of posters: Such backing seriously degrades the value of a poster.
In all but the most highly-desirable posters, it pretty much destroys the value
of the poster.
As for the value-added by linen backing, that's a question which
has been kicked around a lot, and to a large extent it depends of the
attitude of the individual collector. If we want to try for generalizations,
from what I've seen, most collectors only consider linen backing itself to add
maybe $70 to $100 to the value of a poster (i.e., the cost of the linen backing)
Now, whatever else may have been done besides linen-backing (touch up of fold
lines, repair of small paper loss, repair of tears and creases, and the fact
that the fold lines can pretty much be made to disappear with a good linen
backing job) may also add value to what that same poster would have been
worth before it was linen backed and "restored". But a
non-backed, fine condition poster which needs no restoration will always be
worth the same as a similar linen backed poster and probably quite a bit more
(because many collectors are leery of not really knowing exactly how much
restoration has been done to the linen backed poster or if the backing was
done correctly with the proper materials).
But some collectors really like to buy posters that are already linen
backed , even those which are already in fine condition and need no restoration,
because they consider such posters to be already "preserved", and
easier to handle, and far less likely to be damaged in handling or display. But
most won't pay too much more than the poster is worth beyond the cost of
the linen backing itself, if we're just talking backing and no
restoration.
A far greater number of collectors seem to prefer to have a fine
or really very good condition, non-backed poster. That way they can either put
it in an archival frame and preserve it that way -- and there is no question
about "what might have been done to it" -- or they can take it to their own
favorite professional and have it backed themselves and know the job will be
done right. An true archival frame such as those Sue Heim sells costs about the
same as a basic linen-backing job and will really do a great job of
protecting and preserving the poster. On the other hand, when a poster is
correctly linen-backed it is also de-acidified, which can be an important
preservation step, particularly with older posters -- and the fold lines either
disappear or are minimized.
One of the problems with buying a poster that is already linen backed
is that, if it has not been signed in ink on the back by the person who did the
work, then you have no way of knowing if the linen backing was done correctly
and with the proper materials. It's a big problem, as more and more people have
been reporting having problems with "crappy" linen backed posters they have
purchased. This is why myself and others have been advocating all professional
backers sign their work on the back of the linen, in ink, indicating the date
the work was done, and who did it and some kind of ID number that could be kept
on file by the backer which could be referenced and confirmed in the future by a
potential buyer. I believe such certification will become more important to
collectors as time goes on and a "certified" linen backed poster will be worth
more than an identical linen backed poster without certification.
The real gray area is in restoration combined with linen backing. There you
can have all kinds of variations on appearances and perceived value. Depending
on how good the restoration is, most people may not be able to tell that a whole
lot of work was done on a poster, perhaps even very large amounts of paper loss
repaired and repainted. But subsequent examination by professionals may reveal
much more work than they imagined and subsequently lower the real value of the
poster. This is another area where certification and an ID number, which could
be referenced with the person who did the work to get a report on how much
restoration was done could prove very beneficial.
Bottom line: I personally will pay more for a non-backed poster in X
condition than I would for a linen backed poster in the same condition -- unless
I knew for certain the backing was done by a recognized professional in the
field, in which case I might pay a bit more (i.e., the cost of the
backing).
Paper-backing of inserts and half-sheets is another gray area. It used to
be a common practice, but more and more people are opting to linen back inserts
and half-sheets. Paper backing seems to be fading away and I think there
has been some deterioration in value of paper-backed inserts and half-sheets in
the collecting community. Lobby cards are different. Paper-backing of lobby
cards is still the accepted method, and really the only practical method, of
backing a lobby card. But most lobby cards never need to be backed.
The above has been excepted without permission by the Poster Curmudgeon
from the upcoming book "Oh, my Aching Back! or... why didn't they ever certify
these things?"
-- JR
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- Re: [MOPO] ok, its linen-backed .... what about foam or card... JRS
