Certificates of authenticity

Certificates of authenticity (COA) are routinely offered by photographers and artists who are selling their work. What should you look for?

Here is the fact: Most legitimate fine art professionals create their own COAs. This may not seem as safe as some other types of COAs, but don't be fooled.

Look on your favorite search engine and you will find a host of suppliers of so-called COAs. Some of them sell COA templates for around $30. Anyone can use them. More complex offerings get you a fancy sticker at about $30 each to put on work to be sold.

Then there are companies who pay people to witness the signing of a COA to confirm its authenticity. These are pretty safe, but they add a great deal to the cost of a print. And remember this, they are paying a witness. Anyone can do that.

New artists have the most trouble proofing their legitimacy. They often join fine art associations or organizations to help boost their sales. This can be good for everyone, but it still limits your proof of security.

In most cases, you have to trust your artist. Since most people can't find a reliable plumber, how are you to find a reputable artist who's work has collectible value?

Do an Internet search of any author you are considering. New artist may not be easily found, and that is a problem for them. There are some good bargains to be made for collectors and investors who choose to gamble on unknown names.

Established professionals will show up in various search categories. Don't settle for finding them listed only for the site you are considering buying from. If they are good, they will have other listings that they do not control that you can check. Allow me to use myself as an example.

If you run a search on me, R. Dodge Woodson, you will spend a lot of time reading all the entries you find. I am listed as a best-selling author. You can find me listed as an internationally-known photographer. You can look me up at online book stores and find books I have written. You can find interviews I have given to others. Basically, I can't hide from you, nor do I need to.

My listings are extensive and most photographers will not have the diversity or number of listings show up that I do. This is okay. Just make sure they have an established track record. Read their bio on their web page and confirm it. Do your due diligence to protect yourself. The COA that you get is only as good as the paper it is printed on. An artist you choose is only as good as the artist's reputation. No legitimate public figure, such as myself, is going to ruin an outstanding reputation selling counterfeit photo prints.

I assume some people will have other advice for you, but this is the best I can find to give you based on my research and my experience.

R. Dodge Woodson