By extension, Heritage Auctions could have provided scans of each
square inch at 30x, and someone would/could note that 60x scans at
each centimeter square should have been provided. If an additional
poster (with some restoration) may be provided for comparison, why not
2 additional depending on amount of restoration?
There was no hype, the description stated a previous owner and a
restoration expert, as well as the previous availability in the
market. It is the job of the buyer to distill any / all information
when making an informed decision.
Grey Smith / Heritage Auctions certainly need no assistance from me to
defend their business model, but to imply/suggest that the auctioneer
should be tasked with (apparent unending) disclosure could create
disinterest, devalue the poster, harm the consignor, and negate future
business (from consignors and buyers).
ad
--- On *Mon, 8/31/09, James Richard /<[email protected]>/* wrote:
From: James Richard <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: [MOPO] FRANKENSTEIN 1/2 sheet vs TC from Heritage
To: [email protected]
Date: Monday, August 31, 2009, 5:37 AM
Grey (and others commenting on this aspect),
I sympathize with you in this situation. I really do. I've
auctioned items worth many thousands before myself and agonized
over writing the descriptions. I did point out in my post that
virtually ALL auctioneers and sellers engage in this kind of thing
to one degree or another -- it's part of doing business. And I
think it's important to remember and acknowledge that you seem to
have been instrumental in uncovering the extent of this current
scandal.
Note I said that the half sheet description made it "sound" like a
silk purse, not that it "claimed" it was a silk purse.
Technically, there was nothing "wrong" with the description, it's
just that the overall effect did a lot to make it sound like it
was worth the estimated $25,000 to $35,000. OK, sure, that *is*
what a good auctioneer is supposed to do: hype the consignment.
But at some point that part of the job description can come into a
conflict of interest with other responsibilities of the job
description. My real point was that if a good picture of the title
card (which had the same art) had been shown with the auction,
then the bidders could have made a direct comparison themselves at
the time and so made a "more educated" evaluation. But, then,
there ain't no law saying auctioneers or dealers need to
accommodate their bidders to that extent.
But by the same measure of value you cite, doesn't the fact that
there were no other known examples mean that extraordinary
measures were called for prior to and during the auction of this
particular item? I do personally feel that the higher the hammer
price is likely to be, that a greater responsibility must
logically fall upon on the auctioneer/dealer to do more to insure
accuracy and authenticity. I also think there has to be some
consideration given to the fact that we are now in the 21st
century, with all this new technology, and so "let the buyer
beware" can't continue to be the Golden Rule (and ultimate
rationale) it once was.
As for the other questions you asked about how far one should go
and where it all ends -- I think those answers are something only
your own organization (and all the others) will have to decide
upon for themselves.
It's a challenge, no doubt. I wish you and everyone else all the
best in grappling with this issue.
-- JR
Smith, Grey - 1367 wrote:
JR
You mention "silk purse from a...", perhaps, but when it is the
only sow's ear on earth, it is assuredly, in many people's eyes,
a silk purse!
Concerning including an image of the title card next to the half
sheet, not a bad idea but where does that end? Should we end up
trying to offer comparisons on all we sell. This is exactly why
we continue to offer the service of high res images forever on
our site and are the only poster seller that does so. As Heritage
has always suggested, educate yourself on anything you purchase.
Thus the reason for the link to comparables on every page of our
auctions. This is also something that only Heritage offers to
their bidders.
*From:* MoPo List [mailto:[email protected]] *On
Behalf Of *James Richard
*Sent:* Sunday, August 30, 2009 2:40 PM
*To:* [email protected]
*Subject:* Re: [MOPO] FRANKENSTEIN 1/2 sheet vs TC from Heritage
I might be so audacious and impertinent as to suggest that a
responsible and highly-regarded auction house catering to the
very well-to-do and regularly selling tens of millions of dollars
of high-priced collectibles every year would have taken it upon
themselves to include a high resolution picture of the title card
along with the half sheet auction so that the bidders could have
made the comparison themselves at the time of the sale.
But I guess I'm just being naive... despite the cries of shock
and horror over the last few days, "let the buyer beware" is
still the Golden Rule in our society.
-- JR
Douglas Ball wrote:
Side by side, yes, but when the auction took place it looked damn
good!
Doug
----- Original Message -----
*From:* JOHN REID Vintage Movie Memorabilia
</mc/[email protected]>
*To:* [email protected]
</mc/[email protected]>
*Sent:* Saturday, August 29, 2009 7:04 PM
*Subject:* Re: [MOPO] FRANKENSTEIN 1/2 sheet vs TC from Heritage
There is indeed a very big difference between the two.
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