Nowhere is the issue of fakes and reproductions more problematic than in the world of antiques and collectibles. The issue is so prevalent within today's antiques and collectibles marketplace that there is even a monthly magazine focusing on the issue, "Antique & Collectors Reproduction News" (http://www.repronews.com/).

Non-genuine items are a fact of life in the world of antiques and collectibles. Note, though, that just because an item is not original does not mean it is without value. Copies have been made since the earliest times. Romans copied Greek bronzes. Chinese ceramicists and printmakers made copies of earlier works as a form of flattery of the great masters. The resulting copies, while not "genuine", are indeed extremely valuable.

Specific terminology has evolved so that we can differentiate between the various types of non-genuine items: Copies could refer to a single copy of an original work of art or to the manufacturing of a relatively large number of identical items such as books or limited edition prints. Quite often the original copyist had no intention to deceive, but, as time passes, subsequent owners may (knowingly or unknowingly) misrepresent the piece as having been made by the master. Such intentional mis representation is referred to as fraud. By definition, a fraud is the misrepresentation of facts in an effort to induce another to rely on the misrepresented facts - usually for the financial benefit of the person committing the fraud.

Fakes and counterfeits are items which were illegally produced with the initial intent to deceive. Fakes and forgeries may or may not attempt to exactly duplicate the original, as does a "copy." A supposedly 18th century "Chippendale" chest of drawers made up of old wood during the 20th century with artificial signs of aging applied is an example of a fake. Another example of this category is counterfeit money. In both cases, the initial intent is to fool someone into thinking the item is genuine when, in fact, it is not.

Forgeries generally relate to the presence of a false or unauthorized signature or maker's mark on an artwork or collectible. A forgery is also created with the initial intent to deceive. A baseball may have a forged "Babe Ruth" signature applied, or a common piece of glassware may have the word "Tiffany" forged on the bottom using an electric marking device.

Reproductions duplicate items already in existence. Reproductions make use of modern manufacturing techniques and are seldom exact duplicates. No fraudulent use is initially intended by the manufacturer of reproductions; however, subsequent sales by unscrupulous re-sellers could attempt to intentionally deceive and perpetrate frauds. Several legitimate wholesale businesses specialize in selling reproductions - everything from "Tiffany" lamps and "Art Nouveau" lamps to "Chippendale" furniture and "early" cast iron toys. There is nothing illicit with the initial sale, as during such sales the fact that the items are new is clearly known by both seller and buyer. However, dishonest buyers may add artificial signs of age to the items and then attempt to resell the items as being " old."

The term synthetics as used in gemology refers to man-made materials that exactly duplicate the chemical, physical and optical properties of their natural counterpart. (A related gemological term is simulant which refers to a material that has a similar appearance as the genuine gemstone but does not have the same chemical, physical or optical properties. An example is a Cubic Zerconia which simulates a diamond without having the exact chemical properties of a diamond.) Other categories of synthetics have less stringent parameters such as "synthetic" fur which is comprised of man-made fibers that don't duplicate the chemical composition of natural fur.

Fantasy items are items made to look like an old collectible but which never existed originally. The item is the result of the fanciful imagination of the maker. An example would be Hopalong Cassidy cast brass belt buckle. One might be for sale today, but it never existed originally when " Hoppy" was in his heyday.

CollectingChannel.com's online appraisal service, Ask the Appraiser™, uses specialists who are constantly on the lookout for items submitted for appraisal which are not genuine. If, in the appraiser's opinion, a submitted item is one originally made "with the intent to deceive," the appraiser declines to do the appraisal. The client is so notified of the appraiser's suspicions, is referred to specialist appraisers for a hands-on inspection, and is refunded the appraisal fee.