Authentication & Certificates of Authenticity
Empire Signings & Memorabilia Offers Three Authentication Options For Eligible Signed Memorabilia:
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Empire Basic Authentication: Free Of Charge.
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Empire Premium Authentication: £5 Per Eligible Item.
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Independent Third-Party Authentication Through SWAU: £15 Per Eligible Item.
Each Option Is Separate And Provides A Different Form Of Identification, Documentation Or Authentication.
Empire Basic Authentication
(Free Of Charge)
Empire Offers Its Own Basic In-House Authentication Option For Eligible Signed Memorabilia.
Where Basic Authentication Is Included With An Item, One Official Empire-Branded Holographic Sticker Is Applied To The Reverse Of The Signed Item. The Sticker Features The Empire Signings & Memorabilia Company Logo And Acts As An Identifying Mark Indicating That The Item Has Been Supplied Or Processed With Empire Basic Authentication.
Basic Authentication Does Not Include A Separate Physical Certificate Of Authenticity, An Additional Matching Holographic Sticker Or A Unique Serial-Number Database Record.
Customers Are Advised Not To Remove, Transfer, Damage Or Tamper With The Holographic Sticker.
Empire Basic Authentication Is An In-House Authentication Designation, Not Independent Third-Party Authentication.
Empire Premium Authentication
(£5 Per Item)
Empire Premium Authentication Is An Enhanced In-House Authentication Service Available For An Additional Charge Of £5 Per Eligible Item.
Premium Authentication Includes:
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One Official Empire Holographic Authentication Sticker Applied To The Reverse Of The Signed Item.
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One Additional Official Empire Holographic Authentication Sticker Applied To A Separate Physical Certificate Of Authenticity (COA).
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Matching Unique Serial Numbers On Both Holographic Stickers.
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A Record Of The Unique Serial Number And Information Relating To The Signed Item In Empire’s Internal Authentication Database.
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A Physical Certificate Of Authenticity Supplied Alongside The Signed Item.
Unique Serial-Number System
Each Premium Authentication Serial Number Is Intended To Provide A Unique Reference Connecting The Signed Item, Its Holographic Sticker, The Matching Sticker On The Physical Certificate Of Authenticity And The Corresponding Record In Empire’s Internal Authentication Database.
The Database Record Allows Empire To Identify And Cross-Reference The Item Against Its Corresponding Certificate Of Authenticity.
Customers Should Check That Both Holographic Stickers Display Matching Serial Numbers And Retain The Physical Certificate Of Authenticity In A Safe Place.
Removal, Alteration, Transfer Or Damage To Either Holographic Sticker May Affect Empire’s Ability To Verify The Original Authentication Status.
Database Verification
Empire Maintains An Internal Database Containing Information Relating To Items Issued With Premium Authentication. The Database May Be Used To:
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Confirm Whether A Serial Number Corresponds With An Empire-Issued Authentication Record.
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Identify The Item Associated With A Particular Serial Number.
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Cross-Reference The Signed Item And Corresponding Certificate Of Authenticity.
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Investigate Suspected Duplicate, Altered Or Counterfeit Holographic Stickers.
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Assist Customers With Reasonable Authentication Enquiries.
Database Verification Confirms The Existence And Recorded Details Of An Empire Authentication Record. It Should Not Be Represented As An Independent Third-Party Examination.
Third-Party Authentication Through SWAU (£15 Per Item)
Empire May Offer Customers The Option Of Submitting Eligible Signed Memorabilia For Independent Third-Party Authentication Through SWAU Authentication.
Where This Option Is Selected, The Item Will Be Submitted To SWAU For Examination And Authentication, Subject To SWAU’s Eligibility Requirements And Applicable Service Conditions.
The Following Conditions Apply:
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Authentication Is Carried Out By SWAU, Not Empire.
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SWAU Independently Determines Whether An Item Meets Its Authentication Requirements.
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Empire Cannot Guarantee That Every Submitted Item Will Be Successfully Authenticated.
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Where An Item Is Successfully Authenticated, SWAU Will Provide Its Applicable Authentication Identification, Hologram And Certification Or Verification Information.
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SWAU Authentication Identifiers And Records Are Controlled By SWAU And Remain Separate From Empire’s Own Authentication Database.
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Additional Charges, Processing Times And Shipping Costs May Apply.
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SWAU’s Own Terms, Conditions And Authentication Policies Apply To Its Service.
Unsuccessful Authentication
If SWAU Declines To Authenticate An Item, Empire Will Communicate The Outcome To The Customer And Explain The Available Arrangements For The Item’s Return.
Any Charges Or Refunds Will Be Handled In Accordance With The Service Purchased, The Terms Communicated At Checkout And Applicable Consumer Law.
Third-Party Responsibility
SWAU Operates Independently Of Empire. Any Authentication Guarantee Or Certification Offered By SWAU Is Subject To SWAU’s Own Published Terms And Conditions.
Empire Does Not Control SWAU’s Authentication Decisions, Processing Times Or Independent Certification Records.
Customers Can Find Further Information Through The Official SWAU Authentication Website.
Important Authentication Limitations
Empire Basic Authentication And Empire Premium Authentication Are In-House Authentication Services Operated By Empire Signings & Memorabilia. They Are Not Independent Third-Party Authentication Or Grading Services.
Premium Authentication Provides Additional Documentation, Matching Serial-Number Identification And Internal Database Traceability. It Does Not Constitute A Higher Level Of Independent Examination Than Basic Authentication.
SWAU Authentication Is A Separate Independent Third-Party Service. Customers Must Not Represent An Item As Independently SWAU Authenticated Unless It Has Actually Been Examined And Certified By SWAU.
Empire Will Take Reasonable Steps To Maintain Accurate Authentication Records And Ensure That Authentication Descriptions Supplied With Products Are Not Misleading.