Re: [MOPO] I'm growing tired of this hobby

[Todd Spoor]

Rare is a relative term when it comes to posters. Since I've been researching many of these posters for my upcoming book, I can tell you Breakfast at Tiffany's is far from rare. It has come up to auction over 65 times since 1992 (not including all the ebay sales). That's almost 4 times per year.  Even if as much as 20% of these posters are 'repeats' meaning the same poster coming up for auction multiple years, that's still a heck of a lot of posters out there for the same title. But as people stated, it's still highly desirable. I purchased the 'How to marry a Millionaire' 30x40 at Heritage this last auction which is absolutely the only one out there 'so far' and I got it for what I consider an exceptional bargain at $836. I would have easily payed triple for this title knowing that I've never seen one in 12 years of collecting and it has never come for auction anywhere since 1989. If you want something and you know you might not see one for a long time to come, buy it! -----Original Message----- From: Dave Rosen Sent: Jul 30, 2009 6:19 AM To: MoPo-L@LISTSERV.AMERICAN.EDU Subject: Re: [MOPO] I'm growing tired of this hobby I guess it all depends what you're shopping for, which is why generalizations are not very useful when talking about the current market. If you collect in one area, then maybe you've been frustrated by what you feel are artificially high prices (dealers who put Heritage-type prices on everything they try to sell).   On the other hand, if you collect in other areas, I have seen some great bargains recently. Sought-after posters and lobbies (NOT dreck) going for as little as one-third or one-quarter of what they commonly bring. I know because I've either purchased them or been the underbidder on quite a few.   But, as I say, it all depends on what you're looking for.   One other thing: My sense is there are some buyers who haven't educated themselves in how to FIND the bargains in the first place. They're out there and, yes, sometimes you have to work to find them but isn't that part of the fun? It used to be, at any rate, and it still is for me.   When I found a near mint Third Man lobby set (56 re-release, but still) in a lot of seven lobby sets a while back on eBay I was thrilled.   How did I find it? The seller (obviously someone not specializing in movie paper) had listed the lot without giving the film titles and with photos that showed all the cards strewn over a table top. Looking closely at the pics, I recognized our old friend Harry Lime peeking out over the edge of another card for another film. I could also see enough of two other cards that I knew what it was. I bid...held my breath and ended up the winning bidder. The cards arrived and were in immaculate shape! The price? $150 for all seven lobby card sets! Obviously, the Third Man set was the prize but the other sets (all 1950s noir titles, all NM) were easily worth twice that by themselves.   And I have had many other similar experiences. Like most dealers, I started out as, and remain, a collector. The same skills I used starting as a collector are the skills I use now as a dealer. As I said, you have to work to find the bargains. Fortunately, I still enjoy that. I don't expect anyone to hand me deals. I much prefer the thrill of the hunt.   Dave     ----- Original Message ----- From: Walton, Jeffrey To: MoPo-L@LISTSERV.AMERICAN.EDU Sent: Thursday, July 30, 2009 8:02 AM Subject: [MOPO] I'm growing tired of this hobby It used to be fun hunting for the next poster, even hunting on the internet used to be fun .not anymore it seems a lot of dealers are afraid of fair market value .again I use the same scenario as I have done before if you go to movie posters on ebay list by the highest posters first, auctions only, you’ll see what I mean.  You have to scroll pretty long for anyone selling something without an extremely high reserve, you’ll have to scroll pretty long to find someone actually bidding on a poster .the only one that seems to be generating some interest is a saul bass window card.  Don’t even get me started on the buy it nows 3 breakfast at tiffany’s one sheet the cheapest starting at $7500 most say rare rare? Really I just saw three in three seconds show me a British quad for war of the worlds and I’ll show you rare .an insert for 50ft woman for 10 g’s .didn’t a one sheet sell for a lot less just less than one week ago.   Go ahead nail me to a cross  but I’ve become so disenchanted lately with the dealer mentality (and it’s not just movie posters).  Hey I understand about profit, cost analysis, and all that jazz I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again profit is one thing blood from a stone is another .now everyone seems to wait for their piece to bring in the next big coinage .years gone bye, one would buy a poster for $25, sell if for $75 a tidy profit now if one buys a poster for $25 and hears one just for $500 .guess what the new price of the poster they have in stock $500 .or even $450 to make it seem like a bargain.    I used to add probably a poster once a month to my collection not anymore it’s not that I have it all, I see a ton of material out there that warrants a bid,  it’s just everyone wants a kings ransom for it now so guess what they can keep in their stock rooms and I’ll find something else to keep the economy rolling.   Bruce aside, why can’t we bring back fair market value, why be afraid of the knowledge of the collector .if you want to sell a poster let the people decide on the price it should sell dealers should deal..not be in retail.     _____________ The information contained in this message is proprietary and/or confidential. 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