Well - they are crap.
I was interested in the French Dr No petite which had a starting price of $1800. It was based in the UK. It is linked below. Their 'business model' operates by leaving the items based at the sellers' sites and only the photos and a bit of blurb are posted up on Paddle's site about the item.
https://paddle8.com/work/boris-grinsson/88863-dr-no/After I decided not to bother about the poster, there was an ensuing conversation asking after the details that were just NOT forthcoming during the auction, and only really available after much pressing for information.
In their advert, they said, tape marks to all four corners, surface paper loss in the bottom right corner, linen backed with no restoration.
My questions, and their answers today, are below.
- Has it been de-acidified and bleached prior to linen-backing?
We purchased it in this state from a person who had bought it as is himself from Christies a while ago. So we cannot confirm its treatment prior to linen-backing. However the paper looks stable, with no foxing, etc and the colours are strong.
- Is it definitely backed on linen rather than paper?
It is backed on paper and then linen (as is standard).
- Is there a linen border around the poster, and if so, what size?No - the linen has been trimmed to the poster
- Is there any actual tape residue remaining on the poster or only staining?No, we cannot see any tape residue, just staining
- Please confirm location and dimensions of paper lossThere is paper-loss in the following margin areas:
Top left approx. 1 x 1/2 an inch
Top right approx. 1 1/2 x 1/2 an inch
Middle left approx. 2 x 1/3 inch
Middle right approx. 2 x 1/3 inch
Bottom right approx. 3 x 1/2 inch
None of this was in their blurb during the auction which in my world, lays claim for misrepresentation. And none of it was forthcoming prior to auction, even subsequent to questioning.
I am quite frankly disgusted. Thank God there is a Bruce in the world...
Question, is paper backing and then linen backing 'standard'? For my part, I have never heard of this.
Really really unimpressed. And my thoughts have been passed on to this effect. Buyer, beware.