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Posted By: davidcycleback

For fine art print and autograph dealers, there are respected organizations that dealers can belong to. Part of the belonging includes authenticity and ethical requirements and guarantees. For example, an autograph dealer will be required to guarantee the authenticity for life. For example, a Picasso dealer would be required to disclose any and all known restoration. Groups usually also require that members demostrate their comptance in authentication, identification, general knowledge.

Dealers must quality and can be removed from the group for not following guidelines. For reputable dealers, it is considered a good thing to say you belong to one or more of the recognized groups. And collectors will often prefer to buy from dealers who belong to the groups, in part because they know the dealer had to show knowledge in the field and in part because they know members are required to follow stated ethical rules.

Many of these groups also have siminars, shows and publications-- general education for members and public.

Something on this order could be devised for card dealers, or sports memorabilia dealers in general.