> So.... was all that backbiting necessary? Yes, you're right. I appologize. Arguing shades of grey is rather stupid, as both sides are arguably right, and you'll never get anywhere...
Cheers, Bob ----- Original Message ----- From: McDaniel Kirby To: [email protected] Sent: Friday, November 07, 2008 5:55 AM Subject: Re: [MOPO] E.T. BIKE POSTER - WORTH READING Good post, Phil. Thank you for that. So.... was all that backbiting necessary? Kirby On Nov 6, 2008, at 7:40 PM, Phil Edwards wrote: Hi all - Mark Lawd has asked me to post this to MOPO. I can take no responsiblity for its content, it's simply offered from someone who has supplied information/knowledge that might be useful in the discussions on this poster. Phil ******* I am unable to post directly on MOPO currently but need to address some of the matters raised on this thread. I bought Bob B’s ET “bike” poster years ago but had to have it re-backed in a more archival manner. Therefore the dimensions are likely to have been distorted. That goes for any backed poster. I still have this poster – a typed note originally attached to it says "This ET poster was specially created for Steven Spielberg and we are proud to present this limited edition poster to the children of our MCA/PAC members". There are 27 x 41 “bike” posters. Dan R has one. I have one. Dan bought his one around three years ago from an ebay seller with obvious but unmentioned studio connections, who had an incredible number of authentic rolled posters (usually found folded) in great condition from the late 1970’s/early 1980’s that she was selling individually. One of these was a rolled/unbacked 27 x 41 “bike” poster with a dedication/signature (NOT by Spielberg). I believe, but may be wrong, that this prompted Dan’s further and thorough research on the matter. Months later, his findings went up on his website and his view, which I share, was that there was a very limited first original printing (27 x 41) – maybe around 100 posters - and a limited second original printing (26 ¾ x 40 ½) – maybe around 1000 posters. I realised Bob’s poster was a second printing – although I couldn’t rely on the dimensions being accurate anymore my poster had the slight printing defect in the right hand margin that Dan associated with this printing. A few months later I saw a 27 x 41 “bike” poster with Spielberg’s dedication/signature - "To George, Always Fly High with E.T., best Steven Spielberg" on ebay. Of course, 99% of ebay signatures are fake but I had more than a hunch that this would be a genuine signature on a first printing, given the quality of the seller, Ken S and the circumstances in which he acquired it. I won the auction - the rolled/unbacked poster was exactly as described and the differences between this and Bob’s poster were obvious to see – the 27 x 41 has very noticeably deeper, darker colours and a right margin without the printing error. In September 2008 Bruce H. was selling a 26 ¾ x 40 ½ “bike” poster and he stated that “there are no 27 x 41 posters in existence”. He amended his description, which he is always professional enough to do, when I presented him with my knowledge on the poster although he erroneously added in his revised description that his poster was from the first theatrical release – the poster was of course never released in this way despite Christie’s continually referring to it as having been “withdrawn” in their auctions. I recall checking Dave L.’s site at the time to see how much he was selling these posters for and encountered a similar statement to the effect the poster was not printed 27 x 41. A thread then started on this subject on Movie Poster Forum and I believe Dave subsequently amended his website description as a direct result of that. In conclusion, my personal view is that there was indeed a very low initial print run of the 27 x 41 posters and that the majority of these were personally signed by Spielberg and his close associates and selectively given to a very privileged small circle of people. I imagine such a personalised gift would be cherished by the recipients - that is why they are so rarely seen on the market - my poster came from the deceased recipient’s estate. I believe the second printing was authorised later for distribution amongst cast/crew and studio employees – this is consistent with the note on Bob’s poster and someone’s recollection that these were freely available for staff to take home from the studio reception. Because of the iconic nature of this image and its importance to Spielberg I believe a premium should be attached to a first printing over a second printing although both should be considered original. marklawd Visit the MoPo Mailing List Web Site at www.filmfan.com ___________________________________________________________________ How to UNSUBSCRIBE from the MoPo Mailing List Send a message addressed to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] In the BODY of your message type: SIGNOFF MOPO-L The author of this message is solely responsible for its content. Visit the MoPo Mailing List Web Site at www.filmfan.com ___________________________________________________________________ How to UNSUBSCRIBE from the MoPo Mailing List Send a message addressed to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] In the BODY of your message type: SIGNOFF MOPO-L The author of this message is solely responsible for its content. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - http://www.avg.com Version: 8.0.175 / Virus Database: 270.8.6/1769 - Release Date: 11/5/2008 7:17 AM Visit the MoPo Mailing List Web Site at www.filmfan.com ___________________________________________________________________ How to UNSUBSCRIBE from the MoPo Mailing List Send a message addressed to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] In the BODY of your message type: SIGNOFF MOPO-L The author of this message is solely responsible for its content.
