How Max Jacob Prints Travel on International Orders

Flat or rolled is not a matter of preference. It follows the format, the size, and what happens to the print between the tube and the wall.

Auvrique Editorial · Fine Art Editions

The short answer

It depends on the format. Framed prints ship flat, in rigid protective packaging, because a frame cannot be rolled. Unframed prints and canvases ship rolled in a cylindrical tube, which is the standard method for international orders. Rolled shipping protects the print surface and keeps courier costs lower on long routes.

The Short Answer on Shipping Method

Framed prints travel flat. A frame is a rigid object with glass or an acrylic glazing sheet, and rolling it is not an option. Flat shipping means a stiff board sandwich, corner protectors, and a box with little room for the contents to shift. The tradeoff is cost. A flat parcel occupies more dimensional weight, so international courier pricing runs higher than a tube.

Unframed prints and canvas editions travel rolled. The print is wound around a core, interleaved with acid free paper, and capped at both ends. A tube absorbs impact far better than a flat box because force is distributed around its circumference. This is why galleries have shipped works on paper this way for decades. Anyone comparing formats for a hallway can weigh this against the framing question in choose between canvas and a framed poster.

Why Rolled Shipping Is Safer Than It Sounds

An anxious buyer hears the word rolled and pictures a crease. In practice the opposite is true. A print rolled face out around a wide core cannot fold, and the curve keeps the printed surface away from anything that might press against it. Damage in transit almost always comes from compression, and a tube resists compression better than any flat parcel of the same weight.

The real risk point is not the journey. It is the first ten minutes after opening. A print that has been rolled for weeks needs time to relax before framing, and forcing it flat while cold can crack a coated surface. Let it rest unrolled in a dry room for a day. That single habit prevents most of the damage people blame on shipping. For a canvas edition such as Evening clouds on canvas, the stretcher bars are packed separately and the canvas relaxes once mounted.

It is worth stating plainly that Auvrique does not currently carry editions by Max Jacob, so no order placed today would ship at all. The methods described here apply to the framed and canvas editions the house does produce, and the same logic holds for any print bought from a comparable publisher.

How a tube is packed

The print is rolled print side out around a rigid core so the surface never touches itself.
Acid free interleaving paper sits between each layer to prevent ink transfer and abrasion.
Both ends of the tube are capped and taped, so the print cannot slide out in transit.
The tube itself is corrugated and thick walled, which absorbs the knocks flat boxes do not.

What to Check Before Ordering From Anywhere

Ask three questions of any seller before paying for international delivery. Is the format flat or rolled, and does that match what the format requires. Is tracking included, because a print crossing borders without tracking is uninsured in every practical sense. And who pays duty on arrival, since a courier invoice three weeks later can add a real percentage to the price.

Customs is the part buyers forget. A print entering from outside the destination country may attract import duty and a brokerage fee, and the courier collects these before delivery. Reputable sellers state this in advance. If a listing is silent on duties, treat that as a cost to budget for rather than a surprise to absorb. Delivery timelines for a comparable order are covered separately in how long delivery takes.

A tube resists compression better than a flat box ever will. The crease people fear is almost always self inflicted.

Format	Ships	Why
Framed print	Flat, in a rigid box	The frame cannot bend and the glazing needs corner protection
Unframed print	Rolled in a tube	Rolling prevents folds and cuts dimensional weight on long routes
Canvas print	Rolled, bars separate	The canvas relaxes once mounted on its stretcher frame

Shipping format by print type

Key takeaways

Framed prints ship flat because a frame is rigid and cannot be rolled.
Unframed prints and canvases ship rolled in a tube, which is the safer method for international routes.
Let a rolled print rest flat in a dry room for a day before framing it.
Check who pays import duty before ordering, since courier fees arrive after the sale.

Related questions

Will a rolled print arrive creased?

No, not if it is packed properly. A print rolled face out around a wide core cannot fold, and the interleaving paper stops the surface rubbing against itself. Creases almost always come from forcing a print flat too quickly after unboxing, not from the journey itself.

How do I flatten a print that arrived rolled?

Unroll it gently on a clean, dry surface and weigh the corners with books for a day or two. Keep it away from direct heat and humidity. The paper will relax on its own. Never iron a print or force it into a frame while it still wants to curl.

Does flat shipping cost more than rolled?

Usually yes. A flat parcel carries more dimensional weight, so couriers price it higher, particularly on international routes. Rolled shipping in a tube is cheaper and, for unframed works on paper, generally the better protected option. The format you choose determines the method, not the other way round.

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