Brothel inspector badges and brothel inspector tokens appeared on the collector scene in the 1960s, and were distributed by the same folks that sold the fantasy brass belt buckles.

Were there ever any real brothel inspector badges?  Not likely.

I've been collecting since 1950 and have bought, sold and traded literally thousands of badges, and have never seen anything that remotely resembled an authentic brothel inspector badge.

In Nevada, where prostitution is legal, each county has regulations governing brothels. The stuctures will come under the building and safety department just like any other building and the prostitutes will be examined by medical doctors.

If you are looking for something fun to get a few laughs from your friends, the brothel badges are a great item.

The sellers that purport these to be replicas of the "real thing" may be right, but one would think that with the millions of items that have been offered on ebay that a real brothel inspector badge would turn up. Have you seen one?

As with all transactions, "buyer beware"