Definition
Provenance is the documented record of where an item came from and who has owned it. Strong provenance can include letters, receipts, photographs, auction-house records, family documents, and original packaging or holders. It's especially important for unique items (game-used pieces, screen-used props, historical documents) where authentication alone cannot establish full value.
Why it matters
Provenance can swing realized value by 5–10x for unique items. For mass-produced items, it's a confidence multiplier rather than a foundation.
Example
A signed jersey accompanied by a team letter, a locker-room photograph of the player wearing it, and a sequential auction-house lot tag from a 2002 sale.