Warning, by stuey09 on Dec 2, 2007 0:09:01 GMT 1, A good pointer from photo-bank, posted next door and worth repeating on here. Cheers P-B

Heads up regarding a Banksy unsigned 'I Fought The Law' print:

cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=250192765884&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=015


1. I sent the seller, rock-collectibles, a message yesterday afternoon saying the unsigned edition size for this print is 500 (not 300), and that either his/her print is fake or there was human error with the numbering at POW. In the case of human error, I suggested that this be corrected by POW before rock-collectibles sells the print on eBay.


2. The quick response from rock-collectibles:

"Hi,

Thank you for your email.

The print is as we received it from POW. It has become clear to us that there has certainly been a numbering error with the edition size, but this is not a major issue since the edition size is known. To renumber the print as you suggest goes against the accepted conventions of edition limitation and would possibly cause damage. Since there have been no other owners of the print we are satisfied that the auction can run.

Best wishes,
rock-collectibles.com"


3. My immediate follow-up:

"Hello rock-collectibles,

From personal experience regarding similar cases of human error, POW has been particularly helpful at resolving such problems. If it is possible to erase the original number and correct it without damage to the print and without trace or indentation of the original numbering, they will do this in front of you. Where this is not possible, they will replace the print by destroying the incorrectly numbered print and reissuing a correctly numbered one.

If you do not wish to have the numbering corrected, then it is critical that the incorrect edition number be stressed in your auction listing. This is a big deal for any purchaser of limited edition prints. By not highlighting the problem, you are giving the false impression to potential bidders that the edition size is significantly smaller than it is in reality (and that your print is therefore rarer). In addition, given that the knowledge of the full facts about the incorrect numbering would deter a not insignificant number of bidders, making no reference to the issue becomes misleading through omission and dishonest.

All the best,

PB"


4. No reply back from rock-collectibles, and no revision to his or her auction listing.

Bad faith on their part? Unwilling to highlight a problem which may have an adverse effect on their winning bid amount? You decide.