Two weekends ago, on a Sunday evening, I had the idea of changing one of my framed posters out. I’d had my Alien half-sheet framed 5-years previously. UV protective plexiglass with acid free foamboard were requested, and along with a Blade Runner 1-sheet became my first framed posters to grace the walls of my house.
The Framing Company did a wonderful job, and over the last 3-years I’ve had 3 further items framed, 2 x Stanley Donwood signed prints, and my Kill Bill Desert B1, all sitting pretty on my walls.
Well, I pulled down the framed Alien half-sheet, un-taped the back, gently removed each tack, eagerly anticipating replacing this poster with my mint condition Jaws half-sheet. This seemed quite a breeze. Then I pulled the foamboard out, the poster moving with it as one.
My stomach dropped as I turned the foamboard to find the poster glued to the surface. My God, drybacking! I looked up at my Kill Bill Desert and nearly choked. Cold sweats, swearing, inconsolable, you name it, I was feeling it. It took me half an hour before I could look at the poster more closely, upon which I found the poster had not only been glued to the board but had been trimmed by ½ inch (1/4 inch each border), rendering the frame also useless for any other half sheet. Increase the blood boil!!
I couldn’t look at the other framed works, I just loosely framed the Alien back up, and retired to my bedroom, for one very sleepless Sunday night.
Roll on to Monday morning, I call the Framing Company and speak to the owner. I explain the whole sorry story, and confirm how inconsolable I was to think some of my prized pieces were possibly rendered worthless by their actions. Why would you glue a poster to the board without being instructed, especially when being paid extra for UV protection, etc? Why would you then trim the poster without the owners consent? And was this standard practice, were my Desert B1 and Donwood prints also glued?
No clear answers, just a whole lot of contradictory gibberish in reply! “HOW COULD THIS BE!!! I explained how valuable these items were; see the quality of the paper, what have you done!!!!”
I told him I’d drop all the framed items down to his workshop, he would open and inspect each, and report back the damage. I couldn’t bear to look. And if all had been ruined, he had better be prepare for a hefty claim, as the Desert B1 and Donwood prints would be incredibly difficult to replace. I was looking for a miracle.
The subsequent week followed with a number of excuses as to why the inspection was delayed, resignation sinking in with every day passing. Each day I rang, “any news”, “not yet”. On it went until Friday.
Finally, feedback. The Blade Runner 1-sheet and Alien ½ sheet (Framed at the same time) had been glued, but the Desert B1 and Donwood prints were as good as new. My relief was indescribable. We agreed to a meeting on the following Monday, so I could inspect all the posters, and agree a settlement a way forward. Relieved? I can’t tell you.
The meeting actually turned out far better than I expected. I was invited to tour their workshops, the owner clearly explained the chain of events, and we agreed a fair settlement. A former employee was responsible for the drybacking, and that certainly was not common practice.
All my posters were re-framed, the Blade Runner and Alien just representing pictures now, and my Dollars Trilogy Tatekan posters were to be framed as compensation for the ruined 2-posters. Having seen the workshops and the current archival quality materials and workmanship first hand, my confidence was restored.
So that’s my horror story. Lesson learnt, you can’t be too explicit when explaining your poster framing requirements, to the point of getting the details down in writing. But what a lesson! Trust me, to witness a poster glued to a piece of board is quite a shattering experience for a poster collector. Anyway, at least I can look at my Desert B1 without choking.
I’ll post photos of the framed Dollars trilogy when received.
