There is no other organisation representing Banksy in any legitimate capacity, so if you need your Banksy print authenticated, Pest Control should be your first – and only – port-of-call. If you recently bought your Banksy print, for example, it should come with a Certificate of Authenticity (CoA) from Pest Control, the handling service who has acted on behalf of the artist since 2009.
Many high-profile artists have dedicated authentication bodies who are able to establish whether your print is genuine. Third party involvement is always important when authenticating a work. Most auction houses, dealers, and galleries are not likely to accept it for sale. Without the necessary authentication documents, a work’s selling price will decrease dramatically. If you have bought the artwork you wish to sell recently, be sure to keep any paperwork that may have accompanied its purchase. Sellers should be concerned with the authenticity and provenance of any artwork they are trying to sell: selling a fake could land you in trouble.
