Article Summary: The rationale for and development of an “Original Prop Purchase Checklist & Questionnaire” for discerning prop collectors to use in contemplating the purchase of a prop or costume. [Read more…]
Challenging The Hobby: The COA & The Guarantee
Article Summary: An opinion piece about original prop Certificates of Authenticity and dealer/retailer “guarantees”, including the Origins of the COA, The “Guarantee” (Money Back, Lifetime), The Studio Reseller COA & Guarantee, The Professional Dealer COA – Issues of Lost Provenance, Professional Dealer COA Questions, Individual & Private Seller COAs & LOAs, and the Auction House COA & Guarantee. [Read more…]
The Red Flags of Authenticity
Article Summary: A discussion and analysis of various seller tactics I’ve witnessed over the years, and my names for them and reactions. These are all potentially problematic marketing techniques that should not be dismissed by the discerning original prop collector. [Read more…]
Trend: “I Want To Believe”
Article Summary: This opinion piece explores a phenomenon within the hobby of collectors coming from a perspective of wanting to believe a piece is authentic, rather than being discerning and skeptical to properly vet a piece to ensure its marketing matching up with material facts. [Read more…]
Original Prop Provenance & Authenticity, Part I
Article Summary: This is an opinion piece discussing the basics of provenance and authenticity of original props. Topics include the definition of provenance, types of COAs (Studio, Dealer), auction house catalogs, “screen-matching”, firearm-specific information, and other considerations and issues. [Read more…]