Hello MOPO,
I wanted to introduce a new Authentication and Grading Service to all of MOPO
since you will be seeing it in some of the Heritage listings. You can view the
website at www.mpgrading.com
I have been working on this technology for the last year and half with the help
of Rob Borst, Todd Feiertag and most recently Dan Strebin.
There are 4 things we are doing that are truly unique, 3 of which are Patent
Pending. I believe all of them will help the movie poster collecting hobby
tremendously. Please read on or go to the website.
1. One of my initial reasons for creating this service (before the Universal
Horror scandal hit) was the frustration of not knowing how many posters there
are for any given title. I know this is impossible to accurately gage since
there will always be new finds of posters and posters hidden in the archives of
some collectors, but it would be nice to have as accurate a number as possible.
Until now, there has been no way to fingerprint a poster. We have created a 9
digit DNA invisible ink stain that is placed on the bottom corner of the
poster. The DNA is registered to our company and the chances of it being
reproduced is 1 in 33 trillion. The DNA is so secure it is also admissible in
court. Now, EACH poster has a fingerprint and can be tracked as it moves from
auction to collector and back to auction. (Isn't everyone curious to really
know how many posters of their favorite title are really out there... I am!!!)
2. Encrypted Patented Microchip: All of the poster's information is housed in a
tiny encrypted microchip that is recorded in a 1"x 3" ACID FREE tag. This tag
is attached to the BACK of card stock posters, i.e. lobby cards, inserts, half
sheets, 30x40's 40x60's, etc. without having to SLAB them. This tag CANNOT be
removed from the poster with out it going blank, therefore it CANNOT be placed
on a fake. The tag is also laced with our DNA 9 digit number which MUST MATCH
the DNA stain on the front of the poster. For paper stock posters, i.e. 1
sheets, 3 sheets, 6 sheets, we are only putting the DNA ink stain on the front
of the poster. The Encrypted microchip tag is placed on a Certificate of
Authenticity that accompanies the poster with a MATCHING DNA ink stain that
corresponds to the poster.
3. Patented Grading System: I think everyone would agree that if we sent a
poster to 10 different dealers or auction houses we would probably get 5 to 6
DIFFERENT grades! I have heard almost everyone complain that if you send an
item to a "Grading Company" then send the SAME item back 6 months later, you
will probably get a different grade. This will never happen again with this
system. I worked very closely with a Computer Programming Development team to
devise a computer generated grading program, called MP GradePRO. Over 1000
hours went into the testing of this program to insure that no matter WHO grades
a poster, it will be done without bias. The program assigns weights to every
flaw therefore reducing the grade of the poster as more flaws are recorded. For
example, all the grader has to do is measure each tear, whether it is in the
border or into the image, count how many of each size tear there are and then
enter that info into the grading system. The program then calc!
ulates the grade. It's that simple, in other words, NO MORE SUBJECTIVITY!!! To
show you how accurate this is, Ron Borst, Todd Feieretag and myself all graded
a poster independently of each other. We then had a complete novice who had
never handled an original movie poster before in her life grade the same poster
that we did. The grade came out the same!!! Wouldn't it be great to know that
your poster's grade didn't go up or down based on if the grader is having a bad
day???
4. 21 megapixel image complete with color index chart: Our 4th level of
security is to take the highest resolution image available that is uncorrected
color-wise. The color chart is kept next to the image so that if the poster
comes back to us, it can be compared for reference to make sure that fading has
not occurred. The picture is also a road map to show every detail and flaw so
that if the poster is ever re-graded, it can be matched to the original image
to insure authenticity and record any new flaws.
It is my hope that most of you will see this is NOT an attempt to bring another
money making grading system to the hobby. What we are trying to do is BRING NEW
PEOPLE into a hobby that we all love and want to see prosper. What we are
giving people is a way to feel secure by:
A. Knowing what they are buying is real.
B. That it is graded in an unbiased and accurate manner.
C. Can be tracked and will eventually know how many of a particular title are
out there.
D. Poster or lobby Card can still be displayed without encapsulating or
slabbing the item.
I welcome comments, as I know there will be many!!!
Regards,
Todd Spoor and the MPgrading Team.
Visit the MoPo Mailing List Web Site at www.filmfan.com
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