Rich,
Your example has undoubtedly been repeated thousands of times over the
past 20 years. It results from too much Big Money moving into the hobby,
as others have already discussed. What happens then is that people look
at their items, things they previously would have been perfectly content
to leave in "unrestored condition" and found themselves thinking, "But
it would be worth so much more if I had it restored..."
This inevitably lead to a whole lot of posters being fiddled with that
otherwise would have been left alone. So when I hear people talking
about how ever-increasing prices in the higher tiers are "good for the
hobby" I just have to shake my head. There is a trickle down effect.
-- JR
Richard Evans wrote:
Some personal experience of this.
I bought a Maltese Falcon Window Card at Sotheby's London in 97,
which I enjoyed for ten years before selling through Heritage.
Subsequent to the Sotheby's auction where it was described as
condition A, I realized the front had been stripped off and the the
back layer of card replaced.
I also spotted that illustrated on the back cover of Film Posters of
the 40s, was my same card, but prior to the work.
Same "The Rowena Fenton" at the top, though it was now barely discernible.
Same heavy crease running down the left hand edge now appearing like a
crack.
Some discolouration, but to me, not distracting, just genuine
character, which the card now lacked.
I don't think the condition justified the work, it was cosmetic.
To me it looked far better in it's original state.
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.