Technology has made it easy to produce these bogus items, but we'll show you what to look for before placing that bid. Some of these items are not made in great quantities. A desktop printer & a scanner is all it takes to take an old magazine ad and turn it into a fake face for a character watch or clock, or a fake label for a bag of marbles. Add a badge making machine and anyone can turn out faked pinbacks.
The fields of collectibles that I'm most familiar with are radio & early TV premiums, comic and western character pinbacks and badges and other comic character items. I've seen faked pinbacks with vintage back papers added (often from the wrong manufacturer) to give them a look of authenticity.
Just to be clear- if you don't care whether an item is real or fake, that's fine. After all, the price for a collectible that's not authentic is, or should be, a lot less. But this website is aimed at exposing those that try and pass off these bogus pieces as authentic. When a seller lists the same fake item over & over again & uses wording like "...given away by Post Cereals in the 1930's and promoted in Sunday comic sections", that's an obvious attempt to deceive. Here's a part of a description by one dealer for a fake Lone Ranger Chief Scout Badge: "Signed and dated 1941 T.L.R. Inc.... In near mint condition .. slight paint loss with minor surface wear", "A premium freebee from Silvercup Bread". Now nowhere in the description does it mention that it's a recent item.
The best method of protecting yourself from being ripped off is to simply get smarter about what you collect. Invest in some of the better identification guides. Know who the recognized experts are in your field- Gene and Cathy Florence, Ted Hake, the Kovels, Mark Moran, Bob and Sharon Huxford, etc. & learn from them. Collectible prices may fluctuate from year to year but identification is, by far, the most important factor. When you go to shows, get in the habit of carrying a jewelers loupe with you & take a closer look before you buy. Many telltales can be spotted under black light. There are several small pocket UV lights now available that can be carried with you to shows. Learn exactly what to look for to tell the difference.
All information found on this site is correct to the best of my knowledge. But I'm far from perfect. If you find errors, please let me know. It is not my intent to mislead anyone. You'll notice a few holes in the bits of information on fake versions vs. authentic versions such as sizes, colors, identifying marks, etc. If you can fill in any of the blanks, it would be most appreciated by all. Clear pictures are always needed- of both fake & authentic versions. One more thing I should mention, dealers often do not know that the item they're selling isn't authentic. Take the time to check the other items they're selling, & check their completed auctions. Are the same or similar items listed over & over?
Caveat Emptor- let the buyer beware.
