1998 Tour poster insight

Chief Broom · January 2012

So, I have been looking for a couple of the '98 tour posters... :?
I am aware that there are fakes out there in the market... :evil:
My question is, why are some '98's S/N and others are not?
I emailed Ames recently and this is the response I received...

The posters we sell on our site are almost all signed and numbered.
The show copies, for Pearl Jam, are usually not numbered.
Hope that helps.
-Ames Bros.

I responded with...

Hi again,
I am aware that is how most all of your current poster sales work. I was inquiring about the 1998 poster because there were so few printed. So are you saying that there were A/P's and show editions in 1998? I just don't wanna get screwed by anyone for a poster I love and missed out on. Thanks again

To which they replied...

I thought I answered your question which is most likely and probably not signed. We can tell you what we did on all of our copies, but can't tell you what the band and their merch folks decided to do 15 years ago with 100% accuracy. You have our best assumption.

I am still not sure my question was answered...If only 350 poster were printed (according to EBeans), how many were S/N? Why would they be S/N out of 350 if more than 350 were sold (AP's and show ed.'s).?

Just looking for a little more clarification I guess...
I look forward to any insight anybody may have. Thank you in advance.

Sidnum · January 2012

I think I know what you're asking. Ames could've elaborated a little better. I'm only guessing, but they probably did a run for the shows, like say, 500 for example. But then sold 350 AP's that were numbered and signed. So there would be 850 total posters. Is that what you were asking?

Chief Broom · January 2012

Sidnum wrote:

I think I know what you're asking. Ames could've elaborated a little better. I'm only guessing, but they probably did a run for the shows, like say, 500 for example. But then sold 350 AP's that were numbered and signed. So there would be 850 total posters. Is that what you were asking?

Yes...I guess that's what I'm asking... But why would EBeans only have 1st editions listed for all of the '98 posters?
Certainly I can't be the first one wondering this...
Let's take the Detroit poster for example...
One sold on ebay a little over a month ago that was marked XX/450.
Than another one came up that was unmarked.
So am I to assume there were 450 AP's? That doesn't seem right at all.
And how many unmarked are there?
This is the reason I asked Ames first. I thought they might have some kind of estimate...
Maybe I still wasn't getting the right question across to them... :(

Chief Broom · January 2012

Any thoughts?

Uncle Snuffy · January 2012

Chief Broom wrote:

Sidnum wrote:

I think I know what you're asking. Ames could've elaborated a little better. I'm only guessing, but they probably did a run for the shows, like say, 500 for example. But then sold 350 AP's that were numbered and signed. So there would be 850 total posters. Is that what you were asking?

Yes...I guess that's what I'm asking... But why would EBeans only have 1st editions listed for all of the '98 posters?
Certainly I can't be the first one wondering this...
Let's take the Detroit poster for example...
One sold on ebay a little over a month ago that was marked XX/450.
Than another one came up that was unmarked.
So am I to assume there were 450 AP's? That doesn't seem right at all.
And how many unmarked are there?
This is the reason I asked Ames first. I thought they might have some kind of estimate...
Maybe I still wasn't getting the right question across to them... :(

Back in the 90's there wasn't much consistency as far as the number of APs that were run. Sometimes Ames did a run of 400 AP's. Sometimes more...sometimes less. And when it comes to number of show edition posters your guess is as good as mine. Then you can look at the posters from the '00 tour. Take for example the band's 10-Year anniversary show in Vegas. Ames did a run of 1,150 limited edition s/n copies...they also did a smaller run of 350 s/n posters but in a different color.

If you're concerned about buying fake '98 posters I would stick with the s/n editions. Odds are they're legit...but they will cost you more than a show edition poster.

Hope this helps somewhat.

- Uncle Snuffy

PW49345 · January 2012

I think you are not ready to be buying 98s

Uncle Snuffy · January 2012

PW49345 wrote:

I think you are not ready to be buying 98s

I think anyone that is interested in buing the older PJ posters should do a lot of research before dropping any money. Also, this is a great place to ask questions and get honest reliable answers.

Keep asking away....we're all here to help.

- Uncle Snuffy

whofeelslikeadrank · January 2012

i could be wrong in my opinion on this matter... but it seems ebeans information on older posters is not as thorough/complete as the the info for newer posters. for example, i have both ames S/N editions from vegas 2000. i know they are legit, as i bought them directly from ames. ebeans, however, does not list a vegas 2000 S/N edition for either print. this is also the case with some of my european posters from 2000. suffice it to say that there is a chance that some of the older prints do not have full print run information.

Uncle Snuffy · January 2012

I'm lucky in the sense that I only collect posters from shows I attended...and I already have all the 95's, 97's, and 98's for those shows. It took time...and dollars...but I got it done.

I recommend anyone that is looking to get into the older posters take their time and do their research. It's easy to buy on impulse and overpay. That said...if a super rare poster you're looking for becomes available you definitely have to be ready to jump on it.

- Uncle Snuffy

More Cowbell · January 2012

How do you know if a 98 is fake? I bought a non-S/N 98 Alpine/Chicago a couple of years ago on eXxx and if it is fake it is a damn good one. I collect mostly only the shows I've been too (have a few others as well) and I can't tell any differences in print quality, size, art, etc. from the others I have. I do know that the same seller sold another 98 Alpine/Chicago during the same year as I bought which had me a little curious (seller had a good eXxx rating at the time). But, I haven't seen a 98 Alpine/Chicago show up in some time. Thanks.

JMo · January 2012

Colin,

I know, from being in the old Ames house on Greenlake and talking to them directly about the quantites, that if they have an edition of 450, that's all that were printed. Ames had about a third of them to number and sign. It was done differntly, than it is done now.

I went to shows in 95, 97 and 98 and they hardly sold posters, like they do now. I mean, people were buying the cheap $5 Yield poster over the more expensive show poster. Most left overs were sold via 10C and not shipped well. Many damaged or folded (I know from experience). Ames sold them, for more money, but were selling off their signed stack. If they had 100 posters, they would number them out of the entire run.

Same goes for the Vegas poster. First show I ever attended where the poster sold out! If I remember correctly, it sold out before they even let people into the MGM arena. It was a larger run and the reason behind the Special Edition.

From my experience, the signed posters are in much better condition than any of the non signed posters. They have been handled less and usually handled with more care. But that doesn't mean you can't find an unsigned poster is great condition. Good luck with your search!

Uncle Snuffy · January 2012

JMo wrote:

Colin,

I know, from being in the old Ames house on Greenlake and talking to them directly about the quantites, that if they have an edition of 450, that's all that were printed. Ames had about a third of them to number and sign. It was done differntly, than it is done now.

I went to shows in 95, 97 and 98 and they hardly sold posters, like they do now. I mean, people were buying the cheap $5 Yield poster over the more expensive show poster. Most left overs were sold via 10C and not shipped well. Many damaged or folded (I know from experience). Ames sold them, for more money, but were selling off their signed stack. If they had 100 posters, they would number them out of the entire run.

Same goes for the Vegas poster. First show I ever attended where the poster sold out! If I remember correctly, it sold out before they even let people into the MGM arena. It was a larger run and the reason behind the Special Edition.

From my experience, the signed posters are in much better condition than any of the non signed posters. They have been handled less and usually handled with more care. But that doesn't mean you can't find an unsigned poster is great condition. Good luck with your search!

Very good info... The very first poster I purchased was when I saw PJ open for the Rolling Stones back in 1997. I flew my younger brother and I out to Cali to see PJ as his birthday present. He and I were walking around before the show and stopped by a very small merch table...might have been just a folding table with one guy working it. Nobody was there buying anything... Anyway, they were selling the Ames elephant print for $20. I bought one for myself and one for my younger brother as a momento of his birthday trip. We immediately took them to our rental car for safety as it had been raining on & off all day. Little did we know that they would end up being worth something. That said, they have a lot more sentimental value to us as it reminds us of our trip.......

- Uncle Snuffy

Chief Broom · January 2012

JMo wrote:

Colin,

I know, from being in the old Ames house on Greenlake and talking to them directly about the quantites, that if they have an edition of 450, that's all that were printed. Ames had about a third of them to number and sign. It was done differntly, than it is done now.

I went to shows in 95, 97 and 98 and they hardly sold posters, like they do now. I mean, people were buying the cheap $5 Yield poster over the more expensive show poster. Most left overs were sold via 10C and not shipped well. Many damaged or folded (I know from experience). Ames sold them, for more money, but were selling off their signed stack. If they had 100 posters, they would number them out of the entire run.

Same goes for the Vegas poster. First show I ever attended where the poster sold out! If I remember correctly, it sold out before they even let people into the MGM arena. It was a larger run and the reason behind the Special Edition.

From my experience, the signed posters are in much better condition than any of the non signed posters. They have been handled less and usually handled with more care. But that doesn't mean you can't find an unsigned poster is great condition. Good luck with your search!

THAT is what I was looking for! Thanks so much Jason! I am kinda surprised this is not more common knowledge. Thanks for all your input too Uncle Snuffy... This has actually been bugging me for years. I hadn't really been looking to purchase anything though, so I didn't find it necessary to ask. That's pretty cool you visited Ames place man. I'm jealous. I would love to check out some screen printing in action...Thanks again guys, I appreciate it!
Except for you PW49345! You were no help at all.

The Evil Goat fits great Jason.

Appreciate it!

MNbetterman · January 2012

More Cowbell wrote:

How do you know if a 98 is fake? I bought a non-S/N 98 Alpine/Chicago a couple of years ago on eXxx and if it is fake it is a damn good one. I collect mostly only the shows I've been too (have a few others as well) and I can't tell any differences in print quality, size, art, etc. from the others I have. I do know that the same seller sold another 98 Alpine/Chicago during the same year as I bought which had me a little curious (seller had a good eXxx rating at the time). But, I haven't seen a 98 Alpine/Chicago show up in some time. Thanks.

Interested to know this as well...is it across the board or are there known fakes for certain shows???

Uncle Snuffy · January 2012

I believe there were some fakes of an Australia poster and of the one with the monkeys riding the tricycle. I know this subject was brought up in earlier threads. If you do a search I'm sure you can find them....they weren't too long ago. I'd do a search myself but I'm on my iPhone right now.

- Uncle Snuffy

MNbetterman · January 2012

Thanks Uncle Snuffy! Looks like San Antonio/Houston 03 had a run of fakes. Expressobeans does a good job of showing the fake versus real...pretty easy to tell whe you see the pics. Melbourne had one with the scuba guy as well.

LeatherMosquitoMan · January 2012

My first show was Brisbane 3/15/98 and i recently dropped $350 for 34/500 s/n.

Worth every penny. Just ordered a custom size frame for it b/c it's a weird 22 x 14.

pjungers · January 2012

DH62554 wrote:

Interested to know this as well...is it across the board or are there known fakes for certain shows???

I posted a question specifically about the 98 Hartford fakes a while back. Good info in there. Just be careful and do your research!

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1998 Tour poster insight

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