Addendum... OK, before anyone jumps all over me and says "Hey, JR, you
big dummy... the PMS system didn't come into existence until 1962 and
VERTIGO was released in 1958" let me correct myself: The color matching
system "PMS" grew out of and earlier system and was formally
re-introduced as the "PMS" system in 1962 by Pantone -- but there was an
earlier color-matching system in place before that. It just wasn't
called "PMS", but it was an industry standard ink color matching system
used by printers to insure accurate and consistent reproduction of color
among different print batches and print jobs at multiple locations --
like the kind of operation the NSS ran.
-- JR
James Richard wrote:
Rich,
I'm just guessing here, based on long-term observation:
I think there was only 1 color that VERTIGO was printed in for the
original theatrical release. The NSS printing and distribution service
was in its prime back then and their print shops were *very*
consistent in producing the same color from one location to the next.
There would have been no reason for the studio to "experiment" with
different shades of red-orange. The variations we've seen over the
years are too subtle to be "experiments to see which color the public
responded to best."
As for accidental printer variations in the color, that's highly
unlikely because in those days printers used a standard industry-wide
ink-mixing formula called, of all things "PMS" (for Pantone Matching
System). This was a system designed a long time ago to insure accurate
mixing and printing of ink colors to a color-card reference. That thin
bar of color squares you sometimes see running along the border of an
untrimmed poster is actually a specific series of Pantone-numbered
colors. So, a printer was told, use "PMS #XXX for the background and
PMS #YYY for the title lettering", etc. While you might get a tiny
ink-mixing error from one print shop or print run to another, you
wouldn't see the kind of variations we have seen in the VERTIGO poster
over the years coming straight out of the print shops.
Here's what I think happened: That particular shade of red-orange was
*very* susceptible to changing hue/fading/turning yellowish from its
original color over time and light exposure -- more so than any other
color. We all know that the vibrant reds and oranges are the first to
go in any light-fading situation on any poster. Even a brief period in
bright sunlight... a few days... can change the hue of red/orange ink
dramatically. I think the specific original color the VERTIGO was
printed in is an extreme example of an unstable color when exposed to
light. Note that particular color has rarely been used on other
posters, particularly to cover large areas of the paper. I think its
inherent hue instability is the reason for that.
This would account for all the many different, sometimes subtle and
sometimes great variations in color which we see on this poster. Each
one could easily be a slightly different hue from another depending on
how much light it has been exposed to over the decades.
Here's one way to figure what the original color was: Lobby cards are
were not displayed outdoors during the release and less likely to be
exposed to light in someone's collection -- often lobby cards are kept
in a file, rather than hung on a wall. Chances are the background
color has not changed much with the lobby cards. Looking through the
image databases at Heritage and emovieposter that seems to be the
case: There is almost no variation in the red-orange color on the
lobby cards from one sale to the next, going back many years. I
propose that the color of the lobby cards is probably what the color
of the original 1-sheet was and that all the variations we are seeing
are simply different levels of hue-change/fading from light exposure.
The other possibility is that this poster would be incredibly easy for
someone to reproduce and pass off as original, since the whole poster
is a simple, two-color print job (red-orange and black on white paper)
and the image is a stylized and simple graphic design with no
photorealistic or "painterly" elements to it. If I were going to pick
a valuable vintage poster which would be fairly easy to fake, the
VERTIGO would be near the top of my list (the GODFATHER would be even
easier, but doesn't sell for anywhere near as much).
So, my guess is either variations in the effect of light on the
background color of VERTIGO 1-sheets over the years... with
fakes/repros running a distant second.
-- JR
Richard Evans wrote:
I've been wittering on for ages about there being colour variations
with Vertigo.
Other than the standard strong red/orange, orange/red, however you
see it.
And other than obvious fading, or possible lighter, weaker printings
towards the end of the run.
I have believed there are some printed more scarlet in colour, (ink
variation, different printers?) because, well, that's what I was told.
But now, given how things are lately, I wouldn't be surprised if
there's some unusually scarlet ones out there, which are faded ones
that have been boosted by translucent inks.
Anyone know?
Rich
On 8 Sep 2009, at 22:42, Michael B wrote:
Hey, Dave,
I have no qualms with you selling your posters at any price you
want----no qualms whatsoever. But in terms of the VERTIGO one sheet,
you are knowingly misleading the prospective buyer ( who has put his
trust in your hands) by stating in your description it "MAY be
faded". Give me a break! You know as well as I know that US
Vertigo one sheets are BRIGHT ORANGE. You're obviously playing dumb
so you can make your $2995. You owe it to your customers, being one
of the Premiere Movie Poster dealers in the hobby, to TELL THEM THE
TRUTH. You told me about a year ago that "Greed is good",
remember? Apparently, you're incorporating that premise into your
business where that ULTRA FADED Vertigo one sheet is concerned.
Rick Ryan
GOOD POST, RYAN!!!!
i agree. the phrase "MAY be faded" is grossly UNTRUE &
DISINGENUOUS. i dare any serious collector to agree with the ebay
description that it "MAY be faded". you also suggested that
different printings may have different colors. THAT IS BULL IN THIS
CASE.
CLOSE UPS of the restoration should substantial repairs---and the
colors dont even match.....UNLESS IT FADED MORE after the restoration.
it speaks volumes that no one has made an offer!!!!! you didnt fool
anyone. a good condition poster of this poster sells in a heartbeat
by heritage--at thousands and thousands more than what you'd
probably accept as an offer. i wouldnt offer even 500.
michael
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