"What did Rudy say after I assume you contacted him for clarification?"
He replied as follows:
"My relationship to Heritage is stated clearly in the sig attached to every email I send out. If I recommend Heritage when contacted by phone, I always mention my relationship to Heritage both as a consultant and as their representative on Antiques Roadshow,. But that's a big "if." The majority of the queries I get through my website are for values of non movie posters (travel, war, advertising, etc.). I refer a handful of these to Heritage, but the bulk are referred to such outlets as Swann Galleries in New York, Phill Weiss Auctions (also N.Y.), Christie's London (vintage poster dept.) and individual dealers. As for movie posters, all sci-fi and horror get recommended to Heritage because they consistently get the best prices for this material. But if an individual poster or a collection of movie posters is a better fit for a different vendor, that's who I recommend. I've referred potential sellers to Christie's London (cinema poster dept.), John Kisch, Sam Sarowitz, Joe Burtis, Bonhams in L.A., Tony Nourmand, and in the not too distant past I've recommended several people who contacted me with large collections to Bruce, though I never received a reply from him --- but perhaps the owners of the collections did. I hardly ever follow up with individuals who contact me after I have made a suggestion as to how they can dispose of their posters. Over half the people who use my site, have no desire to sell. They just want to know something about what they own and what's it's worth. I also inform everyone who contacts me and wants to sell that in some cases I will receive a percentage of the hammer price at certain auction houses. This finder's fee is called an introductory commission and it has no effect on the amount of the money the seller receives. I take great pride in my site and spend a lot of time each day answering emails. In the spirit of disclosure, aside from the occasional commission, because of the site I've also secured several major appraisals from institutions and individual collectors plus I've been hired as an expert witness in several legal cases involving movie and travel posters. Like the Hawaiian missionaries, I came to do good and ended up doing very well. Regards, rudy franchi"
I then re-replied:
"I have made my point, and Rudy has made his, and I I have no need to pursue this further. I think the truth of this matter is plainly "out there" for all to see (and everyone can make up their own minds based on what has been said).
For some reason, I am reminded of an recent incident with my son Luke. I told him he could take any cookies from the cookie jar in our kitchen without permission. I was surprised the other day to come into the kitchen and to see Luke with his hand deep in the cookie jar. Before I could say anything, he launched into a long rambling explanation of how he realized it could LOOK like he was taking cookies, but that actually he was merely counting the cookies, to make certain none of the OTHER kids had taken any!
Kids will be kids, but one hopes that when they grow up they learn to distinguish right from wrong, and more importantly, to take responsibility for their actions when they are caught "with their hands in the cookie jar", but some people apparently never do, and I feel that is their loss. "What shall it profit a man, if he gain the whole world and lose his own soul?" seems to apply here."
To which Rudy re-replied:
"Gee, Bruce. I'm going to burn in the fires of hell over some movie posters? I think the incest, two murders and the goat I raped will take precedence over recommending a one sheet for Joe's Apartment to Heritage. Regards, rudy"
Bruce