Didn't mean to sound like I was harshing on you in particular (since obviously you have just obtained an original film print)... looking back I noticed that it looked a bit that way. My ire is directed more specifically towards winners of recent auctions I've lost out on where the winning bidder obviously just wanted the material possession, while I just wanted the information (which was nearly priceless to me, but not apparently as priceless as bragging rights were to them), but they refused to share anything at all. In fact, in most cases they refused to even contact me back. I hope they enjoy their little treasure hoards.
I understand your point about someone putting down a lot of money for, say, an original film print, then putting lots of time, legwork and money into getting it telecine transferred, and then not feeling like everyone else should be able to get it for free. But I don't look at it that way. In fact, I feel like that person ought to feel compelled to share it with the rest of the true fans who weren't so fortunate (or wealthy enough) to have been able to own the item themselves. Maybe that makes me a pinko or something.
And just to show I'm putting my money where my mouth is, I myself have just paid a large amount of cash for another Star Wars-related film print, also incidentally on 16mm. But I am already making plans to share it with the world: I have located a professional transfer place that will do a very nice digital master for me (additional expense, of course), and I will then put more of my time into placing onto a DVD which I will torrent for anyone to be able to see for free. Of course, I'll still have the bragging rights of having the original item in my possession (and this even happens to be an extremely rare one-of-a-kind item)... but really that's nothing compared to the warm fuzzy I get from being able to make it possible for others to see it. More on this project later...
I'm really eager to hear more about your particular find, though. What version is the print? Could it benefit the ongoing preservation projects?
--SKot