Our Authenticity Promise & Brand Story
Our Authenticity Promise
At Empire Signings & Memorabilia, every signed item we sell is backed by our comprehensive 2-part authentication system. We believe you should be able to verify exactly what you own — and our process makes that simple, transparent, and permanent.
Our 2-Part Authentication System
When you purchase from Empire, your item comes protected by two complementary layers of authentication that work together to prove its genuineness beyond doubt.
Part 1 — Numbered Holographic Sticker
A tamper-evident holographic sticker is applied directly to your signed item at the point of signing. Each sticker carries a unique serial number that is registered to that specific item and that specific signing. The holographic design makes it impossible to replicate or transfer without visible damage — so you can always be confident the sticker is original.
Part 2 — Certificate of Authenticity
Every item is accompanied by a separate Certificate of Authenticity (COA) bearing the same unique serial number as the holographic sticker on the item. Your certificate includes:
- The name of the signer
- The item description
- The unique serial number matching the holographic sticker
- Details of the signing event or session
The matching numbers on the sticker and the certificate are your proof of authenticity. Together, they create an unbreakable chain of verification that travels with your item forever.
Our Signing Process
Private Signing Sessions
We organise exclusive private signing sessions with celebrities, athletes, and cultural icons. Every session is carefully managed by our team, and authentication stickers are applied and logged at the moment of signing — not after the fact. There is no gap in the chain of custody.
What We Never Sell
We do not deal in items with unknown provenance, secretarial signatures, autopens, or pre-prints. Our reputation is built on trust, and we protect it absolutely.
Understanding Autopen & Why It Matters
One of the most common questions from discerning collectors concerns autopen reproductions — and for good reason. An autopen is a mechanical or digital signing device that replicates a person's signature automatically, often used by public figures to handle large volumes of correspondence. The machine traces a pre-programmed signature path, producing results that can appear superficially similar to a genuine hand-signed item.
Experienced authenticators look for several tell-tale characteristics that distinguish autopen output from a true hand-signed signature:
- Uniform line weight — an autopen applies consistent, mechanical pressure throughout the stroke; genuine hand signatures typically show variation in pen pressure, speed, and ink flow.
- Identical repetition — if multiple copies of a signature are pixel-perfect matches when overlaid, this is a strong indicator of mechanical reproduction. No two genuine hand-signed signatures are ever precisely identical.
- Absence of natural tremor or spontaneity — a real hand signature carries micro-imperfections that reflect the natural movement of the human hand. Autopen strokes are often unnaturally smooth.
- No corroborating provenance — autopen items are rarely accompanied by credible witnessed documentation or third-party certification, because there was no authentic signing event to witness.
We never source, stock, or sell autopen items. Every signature offered by Empire Signings & Memorabilia originates from a verified, in-person signing event — and that provenance is documented from the moment pen meets item.
Witnessed vs Authenticated Signatures
These two terms are often used interchangeably in the marketplace, but they describe meaningfully different standards of provenance.
Witnessed Signatures
A witnessed signature is one where a representative — from the organising company, a trusted intermediary, or the authentication provider — was physically present at the moment of signing. The witness can confirm that the signature was applied in their presence by the named individual. This is the strongest possible form of provenance, because the chain of custody is unbroken from the moment the pen touched the item.
All items signed at Empire's own private signing sessions are fully witnessed by our team.
Authenticated Signatures
An authenticated signature has been examined after the fact by a qualified expert or certification body, who has compared it against reference exemplars — known, verified signatures by the same individual — and concluded, on the balance of evidence, that it is genuine. Authentication relies on expert analysis of letter formation, pen pressure, ink characteristics, and provenance documentation where available.
Third-party authenticated items can carry strong collector value, provided the certifying body has a credible track record and a verifiable, searchable certification database. Where items in our catalogue carry third-party authentication, the certifying provider is identified in the product listing.
In short: witnessed means someone saw it happen; authenticated means an expert has examined it and judged it genuine. Both have a legitimate place in a well-curated collection — the key is knowing which standard applies to your specific item.
What a Letter of Authenticity (LOA) or Certificate of Authenticity (COA) Actually Means
A Letter of Authenticity (LOA) or Certificate of Authenticity (COA) is a formal document issued by a signing organiser, authentication company, or recognised expert, attesting that a specific item bears a genuine signature.
Not all certificates carry equal weight. The value of any COA or LOA is determined by:
- The issuing party's credibility — is the issuer a recognised industry body or established authentication company with a verifiable track record?
- Specificity — does the document precisely identify the item (with serial or certificate numbers, item description, and signer name)?
- Verifiability — can the certificate number be checked against an independent database held by the issuer?
- Provenance narrative — does the document explain how and where the signature was obtained?
Empire's own COAs meet all four criteria: each carries a unique serial number that matches the tamper-evident holographic sticker on the item, and our internal records link every certificate to a specific signing event.
How to Check Certification Records
For items certified by third-party authentication providers, you can independently verify a certificate using the provider's own lookup tools. The process typically involves:
- Locating the certificate or label number on the COA document or hologram sticker attached to the item.
- Visiting the authentication provider's official website and navigating to their verification or lookup portal (links to each provider's portal are noted in the table below).
- Entering the certificate number to retrieve the record associated with that specific item, including the signer's name, item description, and certification date.
- Confirming that the details in the online record match the physical item and its accompanying documentation.
If a certification number returns no result, or if the details do not match, we recommend contacting the authentication provider directly before completing any secondary-market purchase. For items purchased from Empire, our team is always available to assist with verification queries.
Authentication Provider Reference
A range of third-party authentication providers are represented across our catalogue, reflecting the diverse provenance of items we source. The table below provides a plain-language summary of each provider's core model. It is not intended as a ranking — each provider serves different segments of the market and different authentication scenarios.
| Provider | Model | Certificate Type | Online Verification | Notes for Collectors |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beckett Authentication Services (BAS) | Post-signing expert examination; signatures compared against reference exemplars by in-house graders | Tamper-evident label with unique BAS number; optional graded encapsulation (slabs) for cards and flat items | Yes — certificate numbers are searchable via the Beckett Authentication website | Well-established in the US sports memorabilia market; widely recognised by auction houses and resale platforms. Graded slabs provide additional protection for flat items. |
| SWAU (Signing Witness Authentication & Unboxing) | Witnessed model — SWAU representatives are present at the signing event; items are authenticated at the moment of signing, not retrospectively | Holographic label with unique SWAU number; digital certificate accessible online | Yes — each label number can be verified through the SWAU website, with photos of the signing event often included | Particularly strong provenance narrative due to the witnessed model; photographic evidence of the signing is frequently available in the online record. Popular in the entertainment and pop-culture collectibles space. |
| Pix Premium | In-person witnessed signings organised directly by Pix; items signed at managed events with Pix staff present | Pix-issued COA with event reference; holographic sticker on item | Verification available through Pix Premium directly; collectors should contact Pix or the seller to confirm current lookup procedures | Pix organises a broad roster of entertainment and sports signings in the UK market; provenance is event-based and witnessed. Items are often accompanied by event photography. |
Where a product in our catalogue carries third-party certification, the provider is clearly identified in the product title and listing details. If you have questions about a specific item's provenance or certification, please contact our team.
The Empire Story
Empire Signings & Memorabilia was founded by collectors, for collectors. We know the thrill of owning a genuine piece of history — and we know the frustration of a market where fakes are rife and provenance is murky.
We built Empire to be the store we always wished existed: one where every item is exactly what it claims to be, where the authentication process is clear and verifiable, and where you can buy with complete confidence — whether you're spending £30 or £3,000.
Today, we're proud to offer one of the UK's most carefully curated collections of signed memorabilia, from screen-used props to limited edition signed collectibles, all backed by our 2-part authentication guarantee.
Buy With Confidence
We stand behind every item we sell. Your holographic sticker and matching certificate are your permanent proof of authenticity — keep them safe, and your item's provenance is protected for life.
Have a question about an item or our authentication process? Contact our team — we're always happy to help.