I tend to agree with Harry,but im curious as to how you would display or frame such a gem Harry?
Stew
Take a look at the following poster...
While even in this very crude example, I personally don't think the folds are all that bad. And keep in mind we aren't talking about a NM poster either like the BAT 6 banger either. That said, I think the most distracting part is the folds, not necessarily the seam, which especially if taped properly could be hidden much better.
Now take a look at this LOA 1-sheet that Bruce told us was pressed
without being backed.
I serious doubt the fold-line remnants on this poster would be any more distracting than fold line remnants on a linen backed poster. Also keep in mind that the reason the panels on 3-sheets, 6-sheets, and Italian 2-panels do not match up properly is *not* because they were printed that way. But once soaked in water and mounted to linen, the paper shrinks. By the time two or more individual pieces are put to linen, they have begun to dry at different times and the end result is usually a slight mismatch.
If each of the panels were pressed flat as the LOA above, then taped together from the back and further pressed over time between the backing and the plexi... I highly doubt the seams would be very visible and you would probably end up with a better aligned image. That is how I would go about framing a large, unbacked signature poster.
DISCLAIMER: I'm not saying everyone should do this by the way. God knows I have plenty of linen backed posters in my collection... including my new Fistful of Dollars 2-panel. I'm just trying to challenge the notion that one
has to linen back a large poster to frame it. Besides, try finding a big enough piece of plexiglas anyway... you will be up against that problem whether you linen back it or not!