Creases are embedded lines that are created
by pressing, misfolding or crinkling paper or card stock materials. THIS
DOES NOT INCLUDE FOLD LINES THAT ARE FOUND ON PRE-1980’S
MATERIALS!
Some collectors misclassify wrinkles
with creases; wrinkles are not as deep or as damaging as creases. Creases
go deeper into the paper and can actually take away the color leaving
a white space. Wrinkles are more surface defects and normally do not take
away the color or leave white marks.
This is particularly obvious with post-1970's
materials which are clay-coated. Creases will actually break through the
clay coating and into the color, whereas wrinkles do not. BUT, unfortunately,
because of the mishandling, creases and combined with wrinkles so both
are present on the poster.
CAUSES
Creases are most commonly the result of
mishandling, improper folding, improper storage, and lack of care in moving
the poster.
IMPACT ON POSTER VALUE
Creases impact a poster's overall value,
depending on how many there are and where they are located. Creases in
the border would have little or no affect; creases
on the artwork would have limited impact, depending on the number and
severity.
For more information, see GRADING
REPAIRS
The paper can usually be straigtened out
either utilizing a heavy duty clothes steamer or a heat press. Even though
it is a simple process, care should be taken anytime one is handling a
poster. Most frame shops have a heat press for straightening out the wrinkles
that occur in storing posters. This will help but will not eliminate the
crease mark.
The actual crease mark will leave a white
mark (which is the paper below) where the color has cracked or is missing.
Most collectors do not have the expertise to fill in these white spots,
so this should normally be done by a professional restorer.
