Types of provenance, ranked
Not all evidence is equal. In descending order of strength: a dated photograph of the signing showing the item; a signed statement from the person who obtained it; an auction or dealer invoice naming the item; a general letter of provenance with no specifics.
In-person signings versus mail requests
In-person signings produce the strongest paper trail because a witness exists. Mail requests are common with older material and can be perfectly genuine, but they leave little evidence, which is where dealer expertise and comparison against exemplars becomes essential.
Recording your own provenance
Keep the invoice, the certificate and any correspondence together in a folder, and add a short note of when and where you acquired the piece. A ten-line record written today can be worth several hundred pounds to your family in twenty years.
Need a straight answer on a specific piece?
Send photographs and we'll give you an honest opinion — whether you're buying, selling or simply curious. You can also visit us at 87 Princes Street, Southend-on-Sea, Tuesday to Saturday, 10am–4pm.