Phony Memorabilia Finds a Home on eBay

For the past 7-9 months, thousands of pieces of supposed entertainment and historical memorabilia passed into the hands of unsuspecting buyers. With a winning bid on eBay, a hopeful collector had their chance to own a piece of Hollywood history or a personal effect from their favorite historical figure – but was it too good to be true?

Many of the items for sale included alleged production props from the most beloved films and television shows of all time, “Gone With the Wind”, “Wizard of Oz”, “Lord of the Rings”, “Casablanca”, “I Love Lucy” and possessions purportedly owned by notable figures, Marilyn Monroe, John Wayne, Lucille Ball, Al Capone, Albert Einstein, Sigmund Freud and others.

Photos courtesy of Original Prop Blog

Concerned memorabilia collectors began to take note of the large volume of items being offered and upon further research made the shocking discovery that many of the items marketed as “original” and “authentic” were manufactured years after the alleged film/television show was produced or the iconic figure had passed away. In fact, some of these items were even found on the shelves at retail stores, Big Lots and T.J. Maxx. After countless complaints, eBay eventually suspended these sellers, however, this was not before buyers sustained an estimated loss of $300,000-500,000.

These pieces are easily distinguishable by a Certificate of Authenticity (C.O.A.) from Global Antiques in Los Angeles. Collectors who come across these items should certainly be wary. To find out more, please visit the Original Prop Blog website and click on Market Watch, followed by Global Antiques. This story is also featured in the July 23, 2008 edition of the Los Angeles Times and the July 26, 2008 edition of the San Jose Mercury News.

Memorabilia collecting is undoubtedly an enjoyable hobby, but it is a buyer beware endeavor. All too often, collectors find comfort in C.O.A’s, but remember they are only as good as the dealer that issued them. By doing some homework and fact checking you can better protect yourself from falling victim to fraud.

Jennifer & Bryce Henderson