Memorabilia Glossary
The vocabulary serious collectors use — explained plainly, with examples and the related guides where each term matters most.
A
Appraisal
A written, signed value opinion of an item by a credentialed appraiser.
Auction Premium
The fee an auction house charges on top of the hammer price, paid by the buyer, the seller, or both.
Authentication
A third party verifying that an item is what the seller claims it is.
Autograph Authentication
A specialized form of authentication focused on the legitimacy of a signature.
C
Certificate of Authenticity
A document asserting that an item is authentic — credibility depends entirely on the issuer.
Chain of Custody
The documented sequence of ownership and possession of an item from origin to present.
Condition
The physical state of an item, evaluated against category-specific criteria.
Consignment
A selling arrangement where a dealer or auction house sells your item and takes a commission.
D
E
G
Game-Issued
A jersey or piece of equipment prepared for a specific player but not photo-matched to actual gameplay.
Game-Used
Equipment used in actual gameplay — bats, balls, pucks, helmets, gloves.
Game-Worn
A jersey or apparel item worn during a documented, photo-matched game.
Grading
A third-party numeric score of an item's condition, typically encapsulated in a tamper-evident slab.