Christies recommend Linen Backing everything so they can display it for exhibition only for when punters view the auction.
If a poster is in general good condition most collectors like to see the history of it - linen backing and restoration can hide a multitude of sins - you will see this when you go to a Christies auction. This Never Happened to the Other Fella.... Adrian Cowdry [email protected] -----Original Message----- From: Tommy Barr <[email protected]> To: MoPo-L <[email protected]> Sent: Fri, 21 Mar 2014 19:06 Subject: [MOPO] Fwd: [MOPO] Linen backing ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Tommy Barr <[email protected]> Date: Fri, Mar 21, 2014 at 6:42 PM Subject: Re: [MOPO] Linen backing To: Jeff Potokar <[email protected]> I think Christies do not regard anything less than £1000 as worthy of their notice, so while they did not specify I have to think they were referring to posters of higher value, and they felt it was best for conservation reasons. But it is interesting that Rich considers even those of higher value are better left in original condition unless in need of (a lot of?) restoration. Tommy On Fri, Mar 21, 2014 at 6:34 PM, Jeff Potokar <[email protected]> wrote: Tommy, Did they suggest doing this to ANY poster, regardless of condition or age? If so, what reason did they give? Jeff On Mar 21, 2014, at 11:27 AM, Tommy Barr wrote: Interesting, Rich. Christies in London recommended to me some time ago that I should linenback my posters. On Fri, Mar 21, 2014 at 6:16 PM, Richard Halegua Posters + Comic Art <[email protected]> wrote: Tommy people do have a belief in many cases that linenbacking a poster is what you're supposed to do while myself and other believe linenbacking is only done for restorative purposes yet other people believe that linenbacking adds value to a poster regardless of condition (I don't) I've actually been replacing all my linenbacked material as I can find the items why anyone would back a Striptease poster is beyond me Rich At 09:55 AM 3/21/2014, Tommy Barr wrote: I just had a look at Bruce's preview and I have to say it is pretty amazing. What surprises me, though, is some of the posters which people have gone to the expense of having linenbacked, and I wonder at what point does that become a viable option. I am using EMP sales as an example here, but I imagine it is the same across the board. 'The Big Hangover' (1950) is listed as 'good to very good' in linen, but that is a poster which normally sells for around $20-25 in that condition, folded. As having a poster backed and foldlines retouched by a reputable restorer would cost at least $120, that means the poster should fetch around $150 at least, but that is unlikely to be the case. 'Striptease' (1996), again in very good condition maybe $25, but how much more would you pay for one linenbacked? Taking just one example from EMP (though it is not hard to find others) - 'Bite The Bullet' (1985), very good, folded, sold for $4 last year, and one in similar condition, linenbacked, sold for $28, also last year. That means the added value for restoration and backing was only $24, probably at least one fifth of the actual cost. So at what point does the expense become worthwhile? I appreciate that, as a matter of personal taste, someone may wish to have a poster framed and displayed to best advantage, and so has it backed, regardless of actual value, but do they expect that the cost will be recouped on resale? Really, I am just curious here, as I would only ever have higher value posters backed. Anyway, even the prices realised for higher value ones do not necessarily always reflect the cost of restoration, something which I have gratefully taken advantage of in the past, and hope I may do so again! Which, I have to say, make EMP's Signature Auctions quite exciting events (no remuneration was made by Bruce to have me highlight his listings, but hey, I'm open to offers!) Tommy To unsubscribe from the MoPo-L list, click the following link: https://listserv.american.edu/scripts/wa-american.exe?SUBED1=MoPo-L&A=1 To unsubscribe from the MoPo-L list, click the following link: https://listserv.american.edu/scripts/wa-american.exe?SUBED1=MoPo-L&A=1 To unsubscribe from the MoPo-L list, click the following link: https://listserv.american.edu/scripts/wa-american.exe?SUBED1=MoPo-L&A=1 To unsubscribe from the MoPo-L list, click the following link: https://listserv.american.edu/scripts/wa-american.exe?SUBED1=MoPo-L&A=1 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.
