Thanks for the offer to repair it, Charlie. When I first got it, I would have agreed that some of the damage, combined with the snipe that I've never seen (with the angular cut) add character, but the water damage is severe. On a version like this, there are many others that can be bought for less than the cost of linen backing this one, so it's probably a wise decision to pick up one of those. Good luck with your linen backing venture.
I hear ya, Schan. It was returned yesterday.