I agree with Rick
we must act in haste and should act responsibly so that fear does not grab hold
Rick's post on that matter is spot on.
I also agree this the next year or two could be a great time to buy
original unrestored posters and like the comic book world, unrestored
items will sell for a premium because their authenticity will be easy to spot
Rich
At 05:17 AM 9/27/2009, rixpost...@aol.com wrote:
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
___________________________________________________________________
How to UNSUBSCRIBE from the MoPo Mailing List
Send a message addressed to: lists...@listserv.american.edu
In the BODY of your message type: SIGNOFF MOPO-L
The author of this message is solely responsible for its content.
Visit the MoPo Mailing List Web Site at www.filmfan.com
___________________________________________________________________
How to UNSUBSCRIBE from the MoPo Mailing List
Send a message addressed to: lists...@listserv.american.edu
In the BODY of your message type: SIGNOFF MOPO-L
The author of this message is solely responsible for its content.