Hello to all fellow Xena fans! I have been on ebay since 1998 and have had a blast buying and selling all kinds of items, particularly Xena-related collectibles. When you buy a collectible piece of any kind, you want to be assured that what you are getting is the real deal. I have found this to be especially true in the vast market of autographed Xena-related photos that are available. Over the years, I have had many conversations with fellow fans who were frustrated and disappointed to give their hard-earned dollars for what they thought was a geniune, hand-signed autograph from Renee or Lucy and found out later that they had paid for a fake. Unfortunately, there are people out there who make a profit selling fake autographs. So, how can you tell?

Most Xena fans are well aware of what a genuine Lucy or Renee auto looks like, but just like other types of counterfeiting, there are some very convincing fakes available. The best way that I know to ensure that what you are getting is real is to buy an autograph from Creation Entertainment, the only current official photo licensee for the Xena series. Creation is also the company that hosts the Xena conventions and is the headquarters for the official Xena fan club. You can be assured that you are getting a genuine signature when you buy from them. Renee also sells her artwork and autographed photos on ebay under the ID of "rocproductions." And, her fan club site which is run by her, has a link to some very special autographed photos available for sale directly from Renee. You can get to Renee or Lucy's fan club site through Creation's site, too.

Does this mean that all other Xena autos are fake? Of course not. But as a fan in search of genuine memoribilia, you just want to be careful and be aware of what you are buying. Lucy and Renee do occasionally sign for other companies or events, such as Starship Hospital and Lightspeed Fine Art, others that I know to be genuine. Here are a few tips for those of you buying autographed Xena photos from other sources:

1. Scrutinize the autograph. Compare it to the autographs on Creation's site or auctions. Some fakes are obvious, others are more subtle. I've seen several "genuine hand-signed autographs" listed for Renee that actually spelled her name wrong!! Okay, maybe it is actually hand-signed. But not by Renee!

2. Read the listing carefully. "Officially licensed photo" does not necessarily mean that the autograph is official, just the photo.

3. Some sellers sell reprinted (also called pre-printed) autographs. These are usually the star's genuine autograph, but the original has been copied and therefore what you are buying is the copy. Most sellers will disclose this information. This is a good, inexpensive alternative for someone who doesn't care if they get a "pre-print" or if they just happen to like the photograph itself. But if you are expecting (and paying the price for) an original, a pre-print is not what you want to bid on.

4. Beware the COA.  A COA means "Certificate of Authenticity" and at one time, it was considered somewhat reliable. But let's face it, anyone can create a COA, and no amount of fancy paper, wax seals, or flashy graphics will change a fake auto into the real thing. A COA is no guarantee that the signature is real. Anyone can create a COA. And if their business is fake autographs, then they probably have gotten pretty good at faking the COA as well. Ask yourself who is issuing the COA? Is it a reputable dealer? Are they a member of the UACC? Did you buy the auto at an official convention? Creation Entertainment used to issue paper COAs, but now they use a special holographic COA "Sticker" to help combat forgeries.

5. Check the seller's feedback and ask questions. See what kind of experience other customers have had. Beware anyone who makes their feedback or auctions "private" or anyone who seems to have unlimited stock. Celebrities only sign a limited number of autographs every year, so nobody should have an endless supply. Even Creation doesn't! Ebay should remove the ability to make feedback private-it doesnt in ANY way help the bidder. It only protects the seller-beware of comments you can't view, and beware of private listings where you can't see who else is bidding. Sellers are not protecting the bidder's "privacy"-they are taking away the potential for other, wiser, and perhaps already swindled bidders from warning potential buyers so the same thing can't happen to them.

Exceptions to the Rule:

I've seen Lucy and Renee sign photos for fans at public appearances, and when they do this, the autographs are sometimes hurried and may not look exactly like a signature of theirs that you have seen before. Sellers offering these types of autos may not have a COA or other "proof." However, this does not mean that the auto is a fake. Ask the seller where they got the autograph. A good seller will happily tell you. If a seller is rude, won't answer your questions, or you don't get a good feeling about the answers, shop elsewhere. It's your money and your right.

Contests and Promotions-sometimes stars will sign photos for tv stations, radio stations, etc. as a contest prize or promotion and fans can win these items. These can be cool because they are one of a kind. In this situation, ask the seller if they have any type of paperwork, COA, contest promotion brochure, the envelope the picture arrived in, etc-often you can get something other than an "official" COA to help authenticate your purchase.

This guide was written to help fellow fans, and is based on my personal experiences with Xena autographs. If anyone has any suggestions or ideas that will also help fans get what they pay for, let me know and I'll add it to this guide. Please rate below, if this guide was helpful or not. Thanks for reading and battle on, fellow fans!