MY newest Gehrig pick up and a question for the photo guys.

[Scott Garner]

Originally Posted by Lordstan

First a huge shout out and thank you to Joey F for not only making this available to me, but working with me on the deal allowing it to happen. This immediately becomes one of the best Gehrig photos I own and, IMHO, is one of those "cream" pictures Ben was speaking about. I am about as giddy as a grown man can be about owning a photograph of a dead baseball player.





Ok, now that I am finished being emotional, here is the question. Should I send it to a conservation place to have it restored/preserved or not? I am torn about it. On one hand the condition of the picture is part of it's history and I wouldn't want to ruin it in any way. On the other hand, restoration can do incredible things for an item's beauty. While "value" is not the reason I collect, it is not lost on me the fact that the condition of the photo is part of the reason Joey could purchase it for the price he did and I could purchase it from him for the price I did. As with many posters and prints in other auctions, I think that a well done restoration would definitely enhance the value of the photo as well.
So what do you think? If I decide to send it for restoration, can anyone recommend a restoration place they have experience with?

Thanks everyone for your opinions.
Best,
Mark

Mark,
I would leave it as is, FWIW. Terrific pickup.
Joey, way to help out another avid collector!

[mr2686]

Oh Mark...that is one heck of a pickup. Nicely done my friend. I agree that it should be left alone and not restored in any way.

[batsballsbases]

Great Photo Mark. I have had that photo in my collection for years! One of the truely best gehrig shots ! In my opinion. Here is what it would look like . Might be worth the time and money. My photo has Jimmys name on it but as of lately Im not so sure now! Looks like the Beatles have consumed his life! Funny to that I always thought that there was some (loss) on my photo around his arm, you can see it ,but looking at yours the loss is the same so it was in the photo to beguin with!

[thecatspajamas]

Originally Posted by batsballsbases

Great Photo Mark. I have had that photo in my collection for years! One of the truely best gehrig shots ! In my opinion. Here is what it would look like . Might be worth the time and money. My photo has Jimmys name on it but as of lately Im not so sure now! Looks like the Beatles have consumed his life! Funny to that I always thought that there was some (loss) on my photo around his arm, you can see it ,but looking at yours the loss is the same so it was in the photo to beguin with!

Well now, that is odd. Especially since the original negative that sold in Legendary's auction last year (shown below) did not have the blemish that would have produced those white areas. You're right though, the apparent "loss" on his arms matches up exactly in both (side by side images not to scale with each other). Perhaps they came from the same run of prints back in the day and the white areas are a result of dirt or some other opaque residue or soiling on the negative that has since been removed? Curious indeed.

[JoeyF1981]

Originally Posted by Scott Garner

Mark,
I would leave it as is, FWIW. Terrific pickup.
Joey, way to help out another avid collector!

Scott- it was my pleasure. I love the photo but I could see how interested mark was and knew it belonged in his collection and that he'd appreciate it more.