CEL
Collectible Eternity Labs

Authentication Guarantee

The CEL Authentication Standard

Original art and production-used materials are historical and collectible objects. Many of the items evaluated by Collectible Eternity Labs (“CEL”) were created decades ago, and complete records, documentation, chain of custody, or other definitive evidence may no longer exist—or may never have existed.

For that reason, authentication of original art and production-used materials is inherently a professional opinion based upon the totality of the evidence available.

CEL does not represent that an authentication determination establishes authenticity with 100% historical, scientific, or factual certainty.

Instead, when CEL authenticates an item, CEL is expressing its reasonable professional opinion that the item is authentic and meets CEL's authentication standards based upon the evidence, information, research, comparative analysis, and expert knowledge reasonably available at the time of examination.

How CEL Forms an Authentication Opinion

CEL evaluates each item individually and considers the totality of the available evidence.

Depending upon the item, CEL's authentication process may consider, among other factors:

  • physical characteristics of the artwork or material;
  • paper, substrate, media, materials, construction, and production techniques;
  • linework, markings, annotations, registration information, stamps, numbering, and other relevant characteristics;
  • printing, copying, reproduction, transfer, or duplication characteristics;
  • documented provenance and ownership history;
  • production, studio, publisher, artist, or creator records, where available;
  • historical auction records and documented sales;
  • records, descriptions, and images from established auction houses and recognized industry sources;
  • comparison with known or previously authenticated examples;
  • archival references, published materials, historical imagery, and other documentation;
  • the knowledge and professional judgment of CEL's authenticators and other qualified experts; and
  • any other evidence, information, technology, or research CEL determines relevant to the authentication.

No single factor necessarily establishes authenticity.

CEL considers the available evidence as a whole and reaches an authentication determination based upon its professional judgment.

What “Authentic” Means at CEL

When CEL designates an item as Authentic, that designation means that, in CEL's professional opinion and based upon the totality of the evidence reasonably available at the time of examination, the item is consistent with and meets CEL's standards for an authentic example of the original art or production-used material represented.

An Authentic designation does not mean CEL is representing that an item's complete history, origin, use, creation, or chain of custody can be proven with absolute certainty.

Historical records may be incomplete. Creation and production practices may have varied. Materials may have passed through numerous owners over decades. Undocumented practices may have occurred. New information may also become available after CEL has examined an item.

Reasonable experts may therefore occasionally reach different conclusions regarding the same material.

An opinion or determination by another collector, dealer, auction house, authenticator, expert, grading service, or other third party that differs from CEL's determination does not, by itself, establish that CEL's authentication determination was erroneous.

What CEL Stands Behind

Although authentication of original art and production-used materials cannot always provide absolute historical certainty, CEL stands behind the professional authentication determinations it makes.

That principle is the foundation of the CEL Authentication Guarantee.

The Guarantee applies to CEL's authentication determination as defined by the CEL Authentication Standard. It does not constitute a representation that an item's complete history can be proven with absolute certainty.

If CEL later physically re-examines an authenticated item and determines through its Guarantee Review process that the item does not meet CEL's authentication standards and that CEL's original authentication determination was materially erroneous, the item may qualify for a remedy under this Guarantee, subject to the terms, limitations, and exclusions below.

The CEL Authentication Guarantee

1. Scope of the Guarantee

Subject to the terms, conditions, limitations, and exclusions contained in this document, CEL stands behind its authentication determinations.

The CEL Authentication Guarantee applies specifically to CEL's determination that an item meets the CEL Authentication Standard.

The Guarantee does not convert CEL's professional authentication opinion into a representation of absolute historical or scientific certainty.

A claim under the Guarantee requires CEL to determine, following physical re-examination and Guarantee Review, that its original authentication determination was materially erroneous.

CEL must be provided an opportunity to physically examine the item and conduct its own Guarantee Review before any remedy may become available.

2. Authentication and Attribution Are Different

CEL distinguishes between an item's authentication determination and information describing or attributing the item.

Authentication addresses whether the item meets CEL's standards for the original art or production-used material represented.

Additional descriptive information may include, without limitation:

  • production, publication, project, or title;
  • studio, publisher, creator, or artist;
  • episode, sequence, scene, page, or panel;
  • character or subject;
  • date or period;
  • department or production stage;
  • provenance;
  • pedigree; or
  • other historical or descriptive information.

Unless CEL expressly states otherwise, this additional attribution or descriptive information does not carry the same Guarantee as CEL's underlying authentication determination.

Information used by CEL may originate from submitters, previous owners, artists, creators, studios, publishers, auction houses, archival sources, third-party databases, certificates, production records, published references, or other sources.

CEL may consider such information when researching an item, but CEL does not independently guarantee third-party information merely because that information appears in CEL's research, records, certification, or item description.

A correction or change to attribution or descriptive information does not, by itself, mean that CEL's underlying authentication determination was erroneous.

3. Condition Assessment Is Not Part of the Authentication Guarantee

CEL may assign a condition grade and/or provide a condition report describing the observable physical condition of an item at the time of examination.

The condition assessment is provided for documentation and descriptive purposes. It is not part of the CEL Authentication Guarantee.

A CEL condition grade is not an appraisal, determination of monetary value, investment opinion, prediction of future value, or representation that the condition grade increases or decreases an item's market value.

Original art and production-used materials differ fundamentally from standardized mass-produced collectibles. An item's market value may be influenced by numerous factors unrelated to its physical condition, including rarity, historical or production significance, subject matter, artist or creator, provenance, desirability, and collector demand.

CEL condition grades document condition. They do not determine value.

The condition assessment reflects CEL's professional observation of the item's physical condition at the time of examination.

Condition assessment necessarily involves professional judgment, and reasonable differences of opinion may exist among collectors, dealers, auction houses, conservators, authenticators, and other qualified individuals.

CEL does not guarantee that another person or organization will assign the same condition grade or describe the item's condition in the same manner.

A difference of opinion regarding condition does not constitute an authentication error and does not create a claim under the CEL Authentication Guarantee.

4. Declared Value and Maximum Guarantee

At the time an item is submitted to CEL, the submitter is required to provide an insurance value for the item (“Declared Value”).

The Declared Value provided by the submitter at the time of original submission establishes the maximum amount of financial protection available for that item under the CEL Authentication Guarantee.

The submitter is solely responsible for determining and declaring an appropriate Declared Value.

CEL's acceptance of a Declared Value does not constitute an appraisal, valuation, representation of market value, or agreement by CEL that the item is worth the amount declared.

The Declared Value may be used for purposes including insurance, shipping, handling, service-level determination, and establishing the maximum financial protection available under this Guarantee.

CEL's financial responsibility under the Authentication Guarantee shall not exceed the Declared Value recorded for the item at the time of its original submission to CEL, except where otherwise required by applicable law.

For example, if an item is originally submitted with a Declared Value of $2,000, the maximum financial protection available under the CEL Authentication Guarantee for that certification is $2,000.

A subsequent sale, auction result, appraisal, insurance valuation, market increase, or other change in claimed value does not automatically increase the Declared Value or maximum protection available under this Guarantee.

The Declared Value represents a maximum, not an automatic payment amount.

5. Guarantee Period

CEL certification does not automatically expire. An item's CEL certification will remain active unless it is corrected, updated, suspended, deactivated, or otherwise modified by CEL in accordance with CEL's policies.

However, the financial protection provided by the CEL Authentication Guarantee is limited to ten (10) years from the date of the item's original CEL certification.

Any claim seeking financial compensation under the CEL Authentication Guarantee must be submitted to CEL no later than the ten-year anniversary of the item's original certification date.

Expiration of the ten-year Guarantee period does not mean that CEL has withdrawn, changed, or reversed its authentication determination. It means only that the item is no longer eligible for financial compensation under the CEL Authentication Guarantee based upon that certification.

Renewal Through Re-Examination

CEL may permit an owner to submit an eligible item for re-examination and recertification before or after expiration of the original ten-year Guarantee period.

If CEL re-examines the item, determines that it continues to meet the then-current CEL Authentication Standard, and issues a new certification or expressly renews the Guarantee, a new ten-year Guarantee period may begin as specified by CEL at the time of recertification.

As part of recertification, the owner may be required to establish a new Declared Value for the item. The new Declared Value will establish the maximum financial protection available during the renewed Guarantee period and may be subject to CEL's then-current service levels, fees, insurance requirements, and Declared Value policies.

CEL's acceptance of a new Declared Value does not constitute an appraisal, valuation, representation of market value, or agreement by CEL that the item is worth the amount declared.

Any renewed Guarantee will be subject to CEL's then-current Authentication Standard, Guarantee terms, preservation and encapsulation standards, Declared Value requirements, service fees, and other applicable policies.

Re-examination, recertification, or renewal of the CEL Authentication Guarantee is not automatic, and CEL reserves the right to determine whether an item is eligible for renewal.

How the Guarantee Works

  • CEL Certification: Does not automatically expire.
  • CEL Authentication Guarantee: Provides financial protection for ten (10) years from certification.
  • Declared Value: Establishes the maximum financial protection available during that Guarantee period.
  • Condition Assessment: Documents the item's observable condition and does not determine value or carry a financial guarantee.
  • Recertification: An eligible item may be re-examined under CEL's then-current standards and, if approved, may receive a new Guarantee period and new Declared Value.

The expiration of financial protection does not, by itself, affect the authenticity status of a CEL-certified item.

6. Guarantee Review

An owner who believes a CEL-authenticated item does not meet the CEL Authentication Standard must contact CEL and submit the item for Guarantee Review.

CEL must be permitted to physically re-examine the item.

CEL may require information and documentation reasonably necessary to evaluate the claim, including proof of ownership, proof of purchase, purchase price, transaction records, provenance information, photographs, auction or dealer records, prior certifications, evidence supporting the claimed authentication issue, and any other information CEL reasonably determines relevant.

CEL may consult its authenticators, outside experts, scientific or technical specialists, archival materials, databases, historical auction records, comparative examples, known authentic material, or other resources during its review.

CEL may also consider evidence, research, technology, or information that became available after the original authentication.

The owner must reasonably cooperate with CEL throughout the Guarantee Review process.

A contrary opinion from another party does not automatically trigger compensation under this Guarantee.

CEL will make its own determination following its review of the item and relevant evidence.

7. Remedy for an Authentication Error

If CEL determines through Guarantee Review that:

  1. the item does not meet the CEL Authentication Standard;
  2. CEL's original authentication determination was materially erroneous; and
  3. the claim otherwise qualifies under this Guarantee,

CEL may, at its discretion and subject to applicable law:
(a) purchase the item from the eligible owner; or
(b) provide another remedy agreed upon between CEL and the eligible owner.

CEL may consider the owner's documented actual financial loss, purchase price, circumstances of the transaction, fair market value, and other relevant information when determining an appropriate remedy.

However, CEL's total financial responsibility shall not exceed the Declared Value assigned by the submitter when the item was originally submitted to CEL, except where otherwise required by applicable law.

If CEL purchases an item under the Guarantee, ownership and possession of the item shall transfer to CEL upon payment of the agreed compensation.

CEL does not guarantee an item's current or future market value, appreciation, rarity, collectibility, desirability, or investment performance.

The Guarantee does not include lost profits, anticipated or foregone appreciation, loss of opportunity, auction commissions, buyer's or seller's premiums, financing costs, consequential damages, incidental damages, special damages, or other speculative or indirect losses, except where such limitations are prohibited by applicable law.

8. New Information and Evolving Historical Knowledge

Authentication of original art and production-used materials is an evolving field.

Previously unknown records may surface. New examples may become available. Production or creation practices may become better understood. New provenance may be established. Research, technology, scientific analysis, or historical discoveries may alter the understanding of an item or category of material.

New information may affect an item's attribution, production or publication, date, artist or creator, production stage, classification, provenance, historical description, or authentication.

A later change in generally accepted knowledge, attribution, classification, or CEL's understanding of an item does not, by itself, establish that CEL acted improperly or that its original authentication determination was unreasonable based upon the information available when the item was examined.

CEL reserves the right to update its research, records, classifications, descriptions, authentication methodologies, databases, and conclusions as new information becomes available.

Where CEL determines that new evidence materially affects a prior certification, CEL may require physical re-examination and may update, correct, qualify, suspend, or deactivate the certification as appropriate.

If, after such review, CEL determines that its original authentication determination was materially erroneous under the CEL Authentication Standard, the item may be considered under the Guarantee Review process.

9. Holder and Certification Integrity

The CEL Authentication Guarantee applies only while the authenticated item remains in its original CEL holder with its certification, label, and applicable security features intact.

The Guarantee does not apply if:

  • the item has been removed from the CEL holder;
  • the holder has been opened;
  • the holder has been materially damaged, altered, compromised, or tampered with;
  • the CEL label has been altered, replaced, reproduced, or tampered with;
  • the certification number has been fraudulently reproduced or used;
  • the authenticated item has been substituted; or
  • CEL reasonably determines that the integrity of the item, holder, label, or certification has otherwise been compromised.

Removal of an item from its CEL holder terminates the Guarantee associated with that certification.

10. Improper Storage, Handling and Environmental Exposure

The CEL Authentication Guarantee does not provide protection for changes in an item's physical condition following certification.

CEL's condition assessment documents the item's condition at the time CEL examines it.

CEL is not responsible under the Authentication Guarantee for subsequent changes in physical condition resulting from abuse, mishandling, alteration, improper storage, or exposure of the item or CEL holder to adverse environmental or physical conditions.

Such conditions may include, without limitation, extreme or fluctuating temperatures, excessive heat or cold, moisture or water exposure, excessive humidity or dryness, damaging environmental conditions, excessive or prolonged light exposure, ultraviolet exposure, impact, pressure, excessive motion, shaking, vibration, improper positioning or storage, or other conditions capable of affecting the item or its holder.

If CEL determines that storage, handling, environmental exposure, or other external conditions caused or materially contributed to a change in an item's condition, that change does not establish that CEL's original condition assessment or authentication determination was erroneous.

11. Preservation, Archival Protection and Natural Aging

Preservation is a fundamental part of CEL's approach to encapsulation.

Original art and production-used materials may be decades old and may be composed of paper, inks, paints, plastics, adhesives, photographic materials, and other media that can naturally change or deteriorate over time.

CEL takes preservation into consideration when evaluating, handling, documenting, and encapsulating these materials.

CEL's encapsulation methods, holder materials, internal components, and handling procedures are developed with the goal of providing a stable and protective environment for the encapsulated item and reducing unnecessary exposure to conditions known to contribute to deterioration.

Where appropriate to the material being encapsulated, CEL may employ archival and preservation-focused materials, techniques, separation methods, supports, barriers, or other protective measures intended to reduce unnecessary physical contact, movement, environmental exposure, or interaction between the item and the holder.

CEL also continues to evaluate materials, preservation research, testing, and technologies as part of the ongoing development of its encapsulation systems.

The purpose of CEL encapsulation is not merely presentation. Preservation and responsible long-term protection of the original material are core considerations in the design and use of the CEL holder.

However, no holder or archival system can completely stop the natural aging of historical materials.

CEL's preservation and archival measures are intended to reduce risk and support long-term preservation, not to represent that deterioration can be permanently eliminated.

Historical materials may continue to change due to age, prior storage, prior environmental exposure, inherent material instability, interactions among original materials, or the natural properties of the materials from which the item was created.

Such changes may include, without limitation, fading, discoloration, yellowing, foxing, spotting, brittleness, warping, shrinkage, expansion, adhesion, separation, oxidation, chemical reactions, off-gassing, migration of original materials, mold, or other age-related or material-related changes.

CEL does not warrant that an encapsulated item will indefinitely remain in precisely the same physical condition or retain the same condition assessment.

A subsequent change or deterioration in an item's physical condition does not, by itself, establish that CEL's original authentication determination or condition assessment was erroneous.

If CEL becomes aware of a material issue involving a CEL holder, encapsulation material, or preservation method that CEL reasonably determines may adversely affect an encapsulated item, CEL may take appropriate corrective action, which may include requesting that the item be returned for inspection, reholdering, or other appropriate preservation measures.

CEL's holders, materials, technologies, and preservation methods are designed to support responsible archival protection and long-term preservation while recognizing the inherent limitations associated with aging original materials.

12. Clerical, Database and Label Errors

A clerical, typographical, database, mechanical, or labeling error does not, by itself, constitute an authentication failure.

Examples may include an incorrect date, episode, sequence, character or subject, spelling, production or publication title, descriptive field, certification data, or other information that does not materially alter CEL's underlying authentication determination.

CEL reserves the right to correct its records, database, certification information and, where appropriate, replace or correct an item's label or holder.

The owner may be required to return the item to CEL so that the certification, holder, or records can be corrected.

A correction to descriptive or attribution information does not automatically create a claim under the CEL Authentication Guarantee.

13. Fraud, Misrepresentation and Alteration

The Guarantee does not apply where CEL reasonably determines that a claim involves fraud, material misrepresentation, concealed material information, falsified provenance, falsified documentation, item substitution, alteration after certification, holder or label tampering, or other conduct intended to mislead CEL, a purchaser, or another party.

CEL reserves the right to suspend or deactivate certifications and take appropriate action where CEL believes a certification, holder, label, or Guarantee is being used fraudulently or misleadingly.

14. Duty to Mitigate

An owner who becomes aware of a material question concerning the authenticity of a CEL-certified item must take reasonable steps to avoid increasing any potential loss.

An owner may not knowingly sell, transfer, consign, or otherwise represent an item as actively CEL-authenticated after being notified by CEL that its certification has been suspended, deactivated, or determined to be materially erroneous.

CEL may require reasonable cooperation in attempting to stop, reverse, or otherwise resolve a transaction before compensation becomes available under the Guarantee.

Failure to reasonably mitigate damages or cooperate with CEL may affect eligibility for compensation to the extent permitted by applicable law.

15. Certification Correction, Suspension or Deactivation

CEL reserves the right to correct, update, suspend, or deactivate a certification when CEL determines that:

  • an authentication error occurred;
  • a material labeling or clerical error occurred;
  • new evidence materially affects the certification;
  • the holder or certification has been compromised;
  • fraud or misrepresentation is suspected; or
  • maintaining the certification would otherwise be inaccurate or misleading.

An item CEL determines does not meet the CEL Authentication Standard will not knowingly remain represented through an active CEL certification as authentic.

CEL may update its certification database and online records to reflect corrections, qualifications, suspensions, or deactivations.

16. What the CEL Authentication Guarantee Does Not Guarantee

Except as expressly provided under this Guarantee, CEL does not guarantee:

  • absolute or 100% historical certainty regarding an item's authenticity;
  • that every aspect of an item's history or chain of custody can be established;
  • an item's condition grade or condition assessment;
  • that another party will assign the same condition assessment;
  • that condition corresponds to monetary value;
  • that another authenticator or authentication service will reach the same conclusion as CEL;
  • third-party opinions or conclusions;
  • current or future market value;
  • future appreciation;
  • future demand, rarity, desirability, or collectibility;
  • investment performance;
  • continued acceptance of a particular attribution or classification by the collecting community;
  • the accuracy of third-party provenance or information;
  • that an item's physical condition will remain unchanged indefinitely;
  • that natural aging or inherent material deterioration can be completely prevented;
  • that new historical information will not emerge;
  • that an attribution, production, publication, date, artist, creator, production stage, pedigree, or other descriptive determination will never change; or
  • any matter not expressly included within the CEL Authentication Guarantee.

17. Changes to CEL Standards

Authentication, historical research, condition assessment, conservation science, and preservation are evolving disciplines.

CEL may revise its authentication standards, condition assessment standards, terminology, classifications, research methodologies, preservation methods, holder designs, materials, technologies, or policies as CEL's knowledge and the broader understanding of original art and production-used materials evolve.

The fact that CEL later changes a standard, methodology, classification, preservation technique, material, holder design, or policy does not, by itself, establish that a prior authentication determination or preservation method was erroneous when used.

Our Commitment

CEL exists to bring greater research, documentation, consistency, accountability, and preservation to the authentication of original art and production-used materials.

We recognize the reality of the material we authenticate: these are often historical objects created decades ago, and absolute documentation may not always exist.

That is why CEL's authentication process is based upon the totality of the available evidence—physical examination, material and production characteristics, provenance, historical sales and auction records, archival references, comparative examples, research, and the experience of qualified experts.

CEL does not claim absolute historical certainty. CEL provides a professional authentication opinion based upon the totality of the evidence reasonably available at the time of examination—and CEL stands behind that determination.

CEL also recognizes that authentication is only one part of responsible stewardship of original material. Preservation and archival protection are fundamental considerations in how CEL handles and encapsulates the items entrusted to us.

The CEL Authentication Guarantee applies to CEL's authentication determination, subject to the terms, conditions, limitations, and exclusions described above.

The Declared Value selected by the submitter at the time of original submission establishes the maximum financial protection available for that item under the CEL Authentication Guarantee.