Program

A mobilization of the antiques & collectibles industry in support of the permanent marking and dating of reproductions and fantasy items in antiques and collecting areas.

Most everyone associated with the antiques & collectibles industry sooner or later are directly confronted with a situation involving reproduction or imitation. A knowledgeable collector, educated and up-to-date on reproductions and fantasy items in their respective collecting area, can usually identify these items. Unfortunately, many collectors, and the general public, cannot.

It is a continuing educational process. Manufacturers of reproductions are producing `better products' - harder to identify as reproductions and easier to mistake for the genuine item.

The National Association of Collectors (NAC) and the Association of Collecting Clubs (ACC) have jointly picked up the mantle for the Project on Reproductions of Antiques & Collectibles.

While reproductions are major problems in many collecting areas, The Project is not in opposition to reproductions and fantasy items, but supports legislation and other measures making it mandatory that reproductions and imitations be permanently marked and dated.

Further, it is not The Project's purpose to identify reproductions - other resources already in place are providing this important information. but, The Project will provide education and awareness of these resources in a partnering atmosphere.

The Project's primary objective: That all antique & collectible reproductions and fantasy items be permanently marked and dated.

Project Goals:

Through a partnering coalition with collecting clubs & societies, particularly those with members who are experiencing major problems with reproductions and imitations, and with professional associations and all other segments of the antiques & collectibles industry - and particularly collectors, themselves - the following goals of The Project can be achieved:

Support the current Hobby Protection Act. Ensure collectors are aware of its purpose. Identify and report violators and push for enforcement, i.e. exposure and prosecution. The antiques & collectibles industry must show that the current Hobby Protection Act is relevant if it wants to advocate the need for expansion.
Identify collecting areas where reproductions and fantasy items exist and are a problem. Fully document and analyze the current impact of reproductions, fakes and fantasy items on the industry with results to be used in showing the need for broadening the Hobby Protection Act, advocating similar legislation, and for other related purposes. Collecting clubs and specialty collecting publications can and should take the leadership in this stage of The Project.
The Program Advisory Group for The Project on Reproductions must determine the next appropriate steps relating to Project objectives and goals and devise strategies for achieving them. Based on work in this area to date, some of these areas might include some of the following:
Industry self-regulation. If the antiques & collectibles industry is truly serious about a need to reverse the growing problems of reproductions, fakes and fantasy items in dozens, maybe hundreds of collecting areas, it needs to rise up as an industry and develop some `get tough' policies its willing to push and support. If specific dealers or auctioneers or others in the industry are knowingly selling and misrepresenting items for something other than what they are, they need to be exposed. Show promoters, antique mall managers, collecting clubs and the antiques & collectibles publications and media should be enlisted to be an integral part of the effort.
Government regulation. Develop plans for clearly articulating the reproduction problem for use with U.S. Customs, Federal Trade Commission and other governing agencies.
Explore the feasibility of new, broadening legislation for permanently marking and dating reproductions and fantasy items. This may require a paid lobbyist and other costs that would require a sizeable budget.
Identify, work with, and support legislators who will endorse the need for legislation if this area.
Identify major VIP collectors who can perhaps assist in articulating our objectives with major decision-makers in government, business and commerce and the media.
Identify and work with the manufacturing industry and with commerce in support of The Project's objective.
Educating the public in general, and specifically collectors, about The Project - the need to have reproductions and imitation collectibles permanently marked and dated.