[MOPO] Aw: Re: [MOPO] Linen backed posters at Auction houses

[Helmut Hamm]

John,

 

don't ask me why they are doing this, but this is one reason I hardly ever buy linenbacked posters online. I NEVER buy any linenbacked posters on ebay anymore. The few occasions I did, more often than not, what I received was nothing short of HORRYFING. 

 

These days, the dedicated auction houses usually list any serious defects. Fortunately, the days when both Christies and Sothebys would list anymore that 'looks ok if you don't look too close' as Condition A- are over.

Most auction houses offer a detailed description these days, but mistakes happen. Ages ago, I bought a poster from Heritage that was described as VF+ and 'best copy we've ever seen' or something. When the poster arrived, it had the entire white borders airbrushed. I'm sure there was no bad intention, somebody simply made a mistake. This was for a client, and he was happy, so I let it slide.

 

Re. Linen border: As long as there is still a linen margin left, say a quarter inch or so, I don't see that it makes a difference. That said, I do not like it either when there's no linen border left and I agree, it lowers the value.

 

Foxing on the linen border certainly is a defect and should be noted. I recently bought a linenbacked poster from a private seller that has a lot of foxing on the backside only. The front is perfectly fine. In my book, this does not lower the value of the poster, but when I put it on the website I will of course mention this in my description and also publish a photo of the backside.

 

Helmut

 

www.filmposter.net

 

Gesendet: Donnerstag, 31. Oktober 2024 um 03:28 Uhr
Von: "Moviemem Original Movie Posters" <johnr...@moviemem.com>
An: MoPo-L@LISTSERV.AMERICAN.EDU
Betreff: Re: [MOPO] Linen backed posters at Auction houses

Hi Alan

My preference has always been to have at least one inch of linen as a border. The linen often frays on the edges over time and that is not good if the linen has been trimmed to the border of the poster. The majority of linen backers will routinely leave a margin unless the customer specifically asks for it to be trimmed to the border so I think that speaks volumes.

 

Regards 

 

John 

 

 

From: Alan Heimann <alanheim...@gmail.com>
Sent: 31 October, 2024 11:48 AM
To: Moviemem Original Movie Posters <johnr...@moviemem.com>
Cc: MoPo-L@listserv.american.edu
Subject: Re: [MOPO] Linen backed posters at Auction houses

 

Just curious John..why do you think if the linen is trimmed to the poster border it’s worth less?..Alan

 

On Wed, Oct 30, 2024 at 6:40 PM Moviemem Original Movie Posters <johnr...@moviemem.com> wrote:

Hi to you all

I recently purchased a linen backed daybill from one of the big auction houses (doesn’t matter who it is). It was described as very fine on linen but the photo had been cropped to only show the actual poster and not the linen. When it arrived it was pretty badly frayed on the edges and the linen border had some foxing spots / stains and pinholes in the linen.

 

I think collectors need to know whether there are any issues with the linen and how much of the linen has been left around the poster. I’m sure you have all seen where some linen backed posters have been trimmed to the edge of the poster and this detracts from the value as far as I am concerned.

 

I looked through the auction history and was surprised to see hundreds of linen backed posters that have been sold where the photos have been cropped so that you cant see the linen borders. That makes it guesswork for the buyer.

 

Just curious as to what you all think about this. Should auction houses show the entire poster including the linen borders? Why would they crop the images so that you cant see the linen borders?

 

Regards 

 

John 

 

 

 

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