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LMG ~ Gallery L'Automobile 

• The piece retains its original size, there is no cropping, no tears and (amazingly) no edge damage.  It would appear that it has been framed and displayed for many years and as a result the paper is toned to the normal pale manila and there is an old mat burn 3/4" from either edge, 1/2" from the top & 1/4" from the bottom. This will be easily covered in the reframing process and still leave plenty of margin around the image. The title and subtitle are a little faded (they are always the first to go!) but they are still easily legible. The image is very slightly faded but still retains a great contrast. There is a little bleed through from a previous acidic backing  (which most likely contributed to the toning of the paper) but nothing objectionable and hardly noticeable. Overall, we would give this piece a strong very good or better rating for condition, price is $800.00 plus S&H.

THIS COPY IS SOLD... CONTACT US FOR ADDITIONAL AVAILABILITY

• This piece retains its original size of 17 3/4" x 35 1/2" and is in exceptional condition. The background is bright with just a hint of foxing to the extreme edges and there are a few tiny closed tears to those edges. There is no staining  or acid burns, and there is no evidence of previous framing. It is becoming increasingly difficult to find a Montaut in such fine condition and the price is reflective of the superior condition of this item. In addition, of all the images produced by Montaut this is arguably the best known and most desirable. No Montaut collection is complete without a copy and almost every article written about him features this piece.  One of the ultimate images, with vivid colors and a spectacular image. Copyright 1906 this is a truly beautiful piece in wonderful condition, $1,250.00 plus S&H. 

THIS COPY IS SOLD... CONTACT US FOR ADDITIONAL AVAILABILITY

CONDITION AND PRICE RANGES

The normal condition that these pieces are found in will almost always include a brownish toning to the paper, the colors will likely be muted, they may have been cropped and there may be mat burns, toning and staining from previous acidic framing materials. Approximate pricing in this condition will be in the $300.00 to $800.00 range depending upon desirability of the image and the rarity of the piece.

Occasionally, pieces will be found in excellent condition having been stored unframed and unexposed to damaging light sources. In this condition they will have almost white backgrounds with vivid image colors and they always command top prices. This is particularly true for the more desirable and rare images, which in pristine condition can fetch thousands of dollars. Therefore, it is not practical to provide a meaningful price range for pieces in outstanding condition, as the image becomes the determining factor.

CAUSE AND EXPLANATION OF ( NORMAL ) CONDITION

Consideration must be given to the fact that these pieces were produced at the turn of the century and that their predominant use was a decorative poster. The paper is of a type that is similar to newsprint and it will ultimately take on a brownish tint even if kept in a drawer! In addition many were originally framed using acidic matting and backer boards, causing staining and premature darkening of the paper.

The majority of these pieces were displayed without regard to their longevity. They were hung in locations that subjected them to direct sunlight and in later years they were exposed to fluorescent lighting. After almost 100 years in these harsh environments the colors have faded and in some extreme cases they have been totally bleached out.

In addition, it is not unusual to find pieces that have been cropped to remove edge damage or to fit into an inexpensive “off-the-shelf” frame. Also, many of them have suffered insect or damp damage and even “self-inflicted” damage due to the high level of acidity in the original paper.