One interesting section of content on the eBay website is what they call the “Entertainment Memorabilia Buying Guide“.
Of the sections, of particular interest to original prop hobbyists is titled “Research Entertainment Memorabilia“:
Research Entertainment Memorabilia
Authenticating your entertainment memorabilia is an essential component of collecting. Proof of authenticity can take many forms, including:
- Tags: Studio tags or a costumer’s tag, or the name of an actor or actress written in the collar of a particular wardrobe piece.
- Studio markings: Studio markings on props.
- Photographs: Still photographs of individuals wearing a certain item or signing a certain item.
- Testimonials: The personal word of someone associated with the film, the television show, the band, etc.
- Certificates of authenticity: Certificate of authenticity (COA) from the studio or seller that was issued by an authenticator with industry credibility, or an entity that has a proven track record of experience and integrity.
Check the item listing for photos and other important details, such as the provenance of the item (which includes information such as how, when, and where the item was obtained).
For a professional opinion on your piece of entertainment memorabilia’s authenticity or condition, go to eBay’s Opinions, Authentication, and Grading site, where you’ll find links to a variety of authentication sites and resources.
Note: The opinions expressed by these evaluators are theirs alone. eBay does not examine items listed on its site and does not have the expertise to evaluate items. eBay cannot guarantee the findings of these evaluators—authentication and grading are difficult, often subjective matters where the experts themselves occasionally disagree. Each of the companies listed on the Opinions, Authentication, and Grading page that provides authentication and/or grading services is an independent company, and eBay is not responsible in any way for any action, inaction, opinion, or service in connection with these companies. You should review the credentials of each company and use your own judgment before using a company’s services.
Reviewing eBay’s “Opinions, Authentication, and Grading” page, while there are experts and professional authenticators listed for a variety of collectibles (Beanie Babies, Coins, Comics, Jewelry, Native American Artifacts, Political Memorabilia, Stamps, Trading Cards, Autographs), there are none for original props and wardrobe from film and television productions.
I have always found it interesting that there are so many COAs and letters of authenticity and what not floating around, but they are generally made by those with a vested interest in selling the piece in question.
Studio COAs obviously are regarded more highly, but even those are typically drafted for the purpose of selling the piece that is certified.
Dealer COAs are made for the purpose of selling the merchandise. There is an inherent conflict of interest in these documents, in that they are wholly self-serving. Perhaps that is why it is common that these documents do little more than attest to the origin of the piece, merely as from the production, and offer little to nothing more by way of chain of ownership, use in the production, or any other truly material information about the prop itself. Such details might simply be contrary to the goal of selling it for the most money possible. Instead it is a fine-looking document with maybe a logo, a stamp or seal, and perhaps a signature.
From the perspective of looking at these businesses as a customer, dealers introduce into or recycle into the marketplace pieces that are deemed “original” sans the details and material information which discerning collectors would find most valuable. I think there would be actual added value to such documents if they truly outlined the process by which they – the experts – arrived at a conclusion of “authentic”, with accompanying details. I know I, as a collector, would pay a premium for such information.
A dealer COA, standard and as expected, has much less value. Especially as I have noticed first hand, more and more, that dealers buy more frequently than I imagined from eBay and other collectors and other sources generally available to everyone, and I know I find very little in the marketplace that I feel has compelling provenance. So why pay the mark-up for a COA that doesn’t speak to provenance or outline the authentication process or reveal chain of history?
Getting back to studio COAs, I’m still shocked that Hollywood Vault has dumbed down their own COA to the point that it doesn’t even name the prop on the COA – every piece from the production gets the same piece of paper. What intrinsic value does that hold? As a studio reseller, they have an opportunity to draft a highly compelling, valuable document, and instead it is an opportunity squandered. To their credit though, unlike Premiere Props, at least they have professional customer service, but that is a topic for another day…
Of course, many original props and supposed original props trade hands every day that have no history, no outlined provenance, no paperwork, no COA. Some rely instead on what I called “The Red Flags of Authenticity“.
For more thoughts on COAs, please reference past article, “Challenging the Hobby: The COA & The Guarantee“.
In any event, new entrants to the hobby, perusing eBay, armed with nothing more than the above referenced Guides to help them navigate and distinguish between the authentic, the inconclusive, and the fake truly have their work cut out for them. My opinion is, the best place to start is joining the Movie Prop Forum and developing a network of trusted, knowledgeable collectors willing to share their experience and time to help with potential buying decisions.
I personally do not expect a legitimate and qualified, unbiased third-party original prop authenticator with expertise in all areas of props to arrive on the scene anytime soon.
Jason De Bord