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Author
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Topic: Cutting an Armstrong letter: wrong thing to do?
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Keith Barber
Member Posts: 326
From: Warwickshire
Registered: Mar 2001
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posted 11-17-2015 01:20 PM
   
I have the complete Apollo 11 crew autographs, which has been sitting in my drawer for years. I want to get it framed now, only problem I have is the Armstrong autograph is on a letter. The letter has no real meaning, just turning down a invitation. I want to cut out the signature so it matches in size with the others. I have a limited space for it to hang and wish to make a cool display. The Armstrong letter would eat up the display in its present size. Question is am I mad to do it? Would it drop the value by much? |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 11-17-2015 01:32 PM
Can you avoid cutting the letter and use a matte instead? A matte with windows for each signature would produce a uniform appearance without having to trim, resize or cut any of the source documents. |
Keith Barber
Member Posts: 326
From: Warwickshire
Registered: Mar 2001
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posted 11-17-2015 02:06 PM
Yes, I had thought of that as the whole display with be matted. I was going to attach the autograph by the sides to a card so it would cut out the paper ruffle, just felt the letter would have a bounce in it if left in it's present form. What I mean is it would move away from the mount as it would not be anchored well. I think I will go ask the frame shop for advice. |
rgarner
Member Posts: 1193
From: Shepperton, United Kingdom
Registered: Mar 2012
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posted 11-17-2015 02:10 PM
I have to agree with Robert, this could be done with no effect to the overall look using 3 layers of matting. Any half-decent framer could do this with their eyes closed.It would spare you the loss in value and keep the piece in tact. |
Keith Barber
Member Posts: 326
From: Warwickshire
Registered: Mar 2001
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posted 11-17-2015 02:38 PM
Yes, will leave it in full and have a multi mount to secure it. Thanks for the advice.. |
Jonnyed
Member Posts: 396
From: Dumfries, VA, USA
Registered: Aug 2014
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posted 11-17-2015 03:54 PM
Keith, if you're willing to post a photo, I'd love to see a photo of the final product when completed, posted in this thread. |
p51
Member Posts: 1642
From: Olympia, WA
Registered: Sep 2011
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posted 11-17-2015 04:01 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Keith Barber:
The letter has no real meaning, just turning down a invitation.
Actually, that does have meaning. It shows all the stuff Armstrong was invited to attend but couldn't.I have a similar letter from WW2 war correspondent Ernie Pyle's office, and I love that it shows the same concept. It's history, to show the kind of things these people were asked for. |
mode1charlie
Member Posts: 1169
From: Honolulu, HI
Registered: Sep 2010
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posted 11-17-2015 09:24 PM
The full letter is a mark of the signature's authenticity. I urge you not to cut it, and instead use the multi-matte format others recommend. |
Jurg Bolli
Member Posts: 977
From: Albuquerque, NM
Registered: Nov 2000
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posted 11-17-2015 10:04 PM
Or you could make a high resolution copy of the autograph and cut and mount that, and keep the letter intact. |
Mike Dixon
Member Posts: 1397
From: Kew, Victoria, Australia
Registered: May 2003
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posted 11-18-2015 01:31 AM
Leave it the way it is. No way would I cut it. |
JasonIUP
Member Posts: 282
From: PA
Registered: Apr 2004
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posted 11-18-2015 01:34 AM
The letter Is probably worth the same as the three cuts combined. Why cut it? |
datkatz
Member Posts: 176
From: New York, NY
Registered: Mar 2009
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posted 11-18-2015 11:57 AM
Value is irrelevant. The letter is an historical artifact. We are the caretakers of such artifacts. "First, do no harm." |
spaceman1953
Member Posts: 953
From: South Bend, IN
Registered: Apr 2002
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posted 11-19-2015 09:03 PM
Ditto all of the above. We are only the caretakers of all this stuff, just like the Earth.I would worry as much about putting up the final product on a wall or other display. The Dr. Otis Bowen "museum" at Bethel College in Mishawaka put up signed photographs of some astronauts that have totally faded in the sun, when their archivists clearly should have known better. I do not know how effective "anti-glare" or archival glass is; Kim Poor could probably be a lot of help with that point. He is Astronaut Central and put on the Spacefests in years past in Arizona, but you probably know that. Good luck! |
Keith Barber
Member Posts: 326
From: Warwickshire
Registered: Mar 2001
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posted 11-20-2015 04:00 AM
Very true, will matte it out and maybe post a photo of it when done.. |
328KF
Member Posts: 1234
From:
Registered: Apr 2008
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posted 11-20-2015 08:14 AM
Why not cut the signature itself into several pieces? You could embed the scraps in lucite and be able to share segments of an Armstrong signature with the rest of us...Joking folks...  |
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