Every piece we sell at Booth 3E-A05 is hand-selected and authenticated. For purchases over $1,500 HKD, we issue a formal Certificate of Authenticity (COA) — your guarantee that what you're taking home is the real thing.
Our Authentication Process
Authentication isn't an afterthought — it's built into how we source. Every item passes through a multi-point check before it reaches the booth floor:
- Provenance tracing — We document the chain of ownership, from original purchase receipts to auction house records to the dealer we sourced from.
- Material & construction analysis — Print quality, fabric weave, stitching, tags, and labels are cross-referenced against known authentic production runs. Counterfeit items nearly always fail on construction details.
- Age verification — We test materials, hardware, and manufacturing techniques against the claimed era. A 1990s band tee should feel, fade, and fit like one.
- Cross-reference with databases — Serial numbers, edition counts, and catalogue entries are verified against collector databases, published references, and expert networks.
- Expert consultation — For high-value grails ($1,500+), we consult with category specialists — whether that's a vintage band tee expert in Osaka or a comic grader in New York.
What's on the Certificate
Each COA includes:
- Item description — Brand, era, model/graphic name, size, condition grade
- Authentication notes — Specific details that confirm authenticity (tag style, print characteristics, manufacturing marks)
- Provenance summary — Where and when the item was sourced
- Estimated market value — Based on recent comparable sales and current market data
- Unique certificate number — Registered to the buyer for future verification
- Date of issue and authorized signature
No COA? No Problem.
Items under $1,500 HKD are still fully authenticated — we just don't issue a formal certificate for every lower-priced piece. Every item at our booth has been verified by our team. If you have any questions about a specific piece, just ask at the counter and we'll walk you through what we found.
After the Con
Your COA stays valid. If you ever need a replacement, want to verify a certificate number, or have questions about an item you purchased from us, reach out on Instagram at @common.interest.vtg.n.hobbies with your certificate number and we'll respond within 48 hours.
Booth 3E-A05 · Hall 3 · HKCEC · May 29–31
Every piece authenticated. Every collector respected.