In collecting antiques, the proverbs says among the blind, the one with one eye is the king. The rules are :-

1) There are items that I have, the museum doesn't have.

2) There are items that the museum have, that I don't.

3) There are items that I have, the museum also have.

4) There are item that I don't have, the museum don't have but another person have.

5) There are items that museum have, another person have and I don't have.

6)There are items that museum have, another person have and I have.

There is a need to know how to conclude that the items in the collection is genuine unless experts declare that imitations can be made exactly the same as originals, then museum pieces and items in private collections can be easily ordered from factories making the genuine items causing "No genuine and no fakes". There are no good collectible item of high value anymore in this case because genuine items can be easily produced. It is the item that tells the genuineness and not the stories because stories can be made wherever and whenever necessary.

The ball is now in the collectors court and vendors has to prove the items in the trade are genuine.There are many dishonest collectors who cheats themselves and blame it on others. They usually claim that their collections are good but without knowledge of the fact to support what they claim.They may even go to jail when the facts of genuineness are not laid for the next generation or buyers. Even a million dollar piece is put in front of them will be useless because they don't know how to tell the value involving the piece. It turn out to be their problem when they claim copies and ended up that their collection are copies as well caused by illteracy.

03 August 2010.