I think that any collector or dealing who's looking to buy or bid on a
high-end poster or lobby card should be CAUTIOUSLY CONCERNED before proceeding
with his possible acquisition, but I can see the lever of PARANOIA and FEAR
reaching some kind of a fever pitch soon...and I this 99% of it is
UNWARRANTED.
This Universal Horror forgery situation was like the PERFECT STORM...you
bring together one collector fairly new to the hobby (since 2001, I think the
article said). who allegedly joins forces with one of the most brilliant
restorers in the hobby---the specter of GREED enters into the equation
and...PRESTO...a few months or a couple years later you have a two million
dollar forgery plan that ultimately FAILED. But in order for it to ever
happen, the linchpin in this whole scenario (or any scenario like it) is THE
RESTORER.
The fact of the matter is that there are VERY FEW restorers out there who
can do the INCREDIBLE things that our Alleged Universal Horror Forgery
Restorer can do.
Hey, these guys have been virtually PAINTING IN GREAT BIG MISSING PIECES
of movie posters for 15 years or more...this practice is NOTHING NEW. On
the other hand, creating an ENTIRE poster IS something new. But I don't
think there are THAT MANY RESORERS out there who are CAPABLE of pulling
something like this off.
Sure, I think we should have some entity in the hobby who examines high
end pieces and certifies that they're authentic. But with all this FEAR
and PARANOIA out there, if I had the funds available, I'd have my sights on
that CREATURE 1-Sheet that's presently only at $3300. Hell, the way I see
it this is the PERFECT TIME for some 50's Sci-Fi collector out there to get
an original Creature From The Black Lagoon
US 1-Sheet for, who knows...maybe UNDER $10,000!!
I think we as seasoned collectors and dealers have a RESPONSIBILITY
not to EMPTY A CAN OF GASOLINE on the gathering flames of FEAR and PARANOIA.
Otherwise, we ourselves will be an INTREGAL PART of turning Movie Poster
Collecting EVEN ON IT'S HIGHEST LEVEL into a BUYER's MARKET. If the day
comes when you can buy an authentic, original CASABLANCA US 1-Sheet for $7500
or an original FRANKENSTEIN US 1-Sheet for $75,000, our hobby will truly be
in desperate straits.
This kind of Buyer's Market, might be "good" for the Collector, but it's
definitely BAD FOR THE HOBBY and the HOBBY'S FUTURE. I think whether it's
GLENN BECK or a member poster on MoPo---spewing out utterances of FEAR and
PARANOIA are an effective way to make people TOTALLY SCARED SHITLESS
when maybe they should be CAUTIOUS + CONCERNED---wanting to EXAMINE ALL OF
THE FACTS instead of frantically clutching on to the terrifying SOUND
BITES. Hey, I thin we SHOULD be concerned about what's going on...VERY
CONCERNED. But I also think that if I had a few extra bucks, I'd email the
seller
who has the CREATURE 1Sheet up on eBay...ask some questions, perform as
thorough investigation as I could---and WIN THAT $20,000 one sheet for 1/2
WHAT IT'S WORTH!
The point I'm trying to make is that we need to be a part of the
SOLUTION, not a part of the PROBLEM.
If we all join in and take the TERROR LEVEL up to RED when maybe it should
be on YELLOW---we're consciously or unconsciously throwing fuel on the
fire that eventually could lead to "THE DESTRUCTION OF OUR HOBBY"....
Rick Ryan
Visit the MoPo Mailing List Web Site at www.filmfan.com
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