I have seen so many reproduction items being sold as originals or the seller would profess to just not know, that it is sickening. Today I was looking at a supposed slave collar with the owners name on it and I know that it is simply a collar for a hunting dog. Deer hunters who use dogs in the south are still using a similar collar to this day. Yet this buyer paid over $200 for an absolute fake worth maby $5. I was also looking at a pair of Colored Men, Colored Women bathroom door signs. These signs are repos and are still avaliable from the wholesale houses. (Try Dot and Freds in Pa.) Most of what I am seeing in the Black Americana section is repro or outright fake.  If you are not sure of what you are buying you probably are not getting what you think. For instance the seller of the slave collar never stated that it was a slave collar. He simply said it was what others had told him, ect, ect. Same for the repro signs. If a dealer says it is vintage, or similar to or like something, you need to buy with care. If they profess to just not know for sure or if they are not prepared to stand behind the product as genuine you would be well advised to leave it alone. If you will go through the listings you will see many rare and hard to find items offered on a weekly basis. Just look at how many black boy thermometors are being offered. Many of the paper items(fans, posters,photos, ect) are manufactured in Atlanta, Ga. Many other items come from Dot and Freds in Pa. Especially the cast iron products. There are several places in NC selling like items. You just have to use some common sense and protect yourself. If it seems too good to be true it probaly isn't true. I expect to get a few black marks from the dealers, but I truly hope this will help the unwary or unsuspecting buyer :o)

If this guide is helpful please check the box below.