----- Original Message -----
Sent: Monday, May 30, 2005 12:09 PM
Subject: Re: [MOPO] ok, its linen-backed
.... what about foam or cardboard?
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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