JULY 2008>>>  THANKS TO OVER 18,000 OF YOU FOR READING THIS, AND TO THE VERY MANY OF YOU WHO HAVE CONTACTED ME, I APPRECIATE YOU! THE FAKES ARE EVEN WORSE NOW THAN WHEN I WROTE THIS REVIEW. FOR EXAMPLE, A NEW WAY TO FOOL YOU IS TO HAVE THE WORD "McCoy" or "Shawnee" or "Roseville" IN THE LISTING, BUT NEVER HAVE THE WORDS "vintage" or "old" or "American Pottery" IN THE LISTING AT ALL! Remember, just because the frauds have the bottoms marked, doesn't mean the pieces are real.  A major Roseville and Weller museum show collection was recently stolen (film of the thief's vehicle can be seen on YouTube as of 3/18/08) so there are bound to be thousands more fakes on eBay very soon.... PLEASE BE MORE CAREFUL THAN EVER! I STAND BY MY ORIGINAL REVIEW, THANKS AGAIN.  Sincerely, sanjaccats

In all my pottery listings as a seller, I tell readers to beware of American Pottery fakes. Fake "Weller" and fake "McCoy" pottery is rampant on eBay and is a whole new business for a handful of very dishonest sellers. There are so many fake pieces listed lately-- it's a shame for the new collector, and it is ruining the history of American pottery. I would like to make a few suggestions based on a question sent to me through eBay mail. The question was, "How do I tell a fake from the real thing? They all look alike to me." Here was my answer:

Good question! I guess reading, browsing flea markets & antique stores, comparing, researching... these things help. If you are just starting out a collection, find books or look at websites on your subject (such as McCoy) that have photos and descriptions of pottery pieces with the DATES and COLORS of manufacture. These books also have photos of the exact markings on pieces. I have about 5 books on McCoy pottery alone.

When buying on eBay and other sites, before getting caught up in the thrill of the purchase, READ THE FEEDBACK of the seller, not just the percentage number next to the username. Check the seller's OTHER ITEMS FOR SALE. If the person is selling 5 or 10 of the same so-called "vintage" piece in all different colors, you can be pretty sure they are fakes. If there are 5 or 10 "MINT CONDITION MCCOY 1940s Mammy Cookie Jars" in all different colors, you can be pretty sure they are fakes. If the piece is photographed blurry in EVERY PICTURE, beware. If the seller has ALL SALES FINAL, beware. Just because something says "McCoy" or "Shawnee" or "Weller" on the bottom, it may NOT be an old piece, and these days the frauds are getting very smart.

Any smart potter today can make a fake. Ask questions of the seller-- if they DO NOT REPLY, DO NOT BUY. If a seller of pottery has all blocked or private information, such as other bidders' names, or private feedback, beware. As a seller, I am proud to share my feedback. Reading feedback can save you a lot of heartache as burned buyers will let you know exactly how unhappy they were with the fakes they mistakenly bought.

There are many scam artists on eBay, and MANY MORE honest, wonderful folks. I think educating each other, and yourself with library books, browsing shops, and websites, is the best way to begin seeing the differences in colors of glaze, shapes, etc. Also, browse many eBay sellers before settling on an auction or Buy It Now pottery item. You will begin to notice the differences in the frauds and the real things.

I made a horrible mistake myself once, boy did I feel awful. It was very late at night, and I thought I found the best deal on eBay, a supposed McCoy vase with no bids! It was a dusty rose pink lady vase-- well, I won it and paid $9.99, but if I'd just taken a moment to look at the other things the person was selling, I would've seen 15 other of the EXACT vases in all different colors! I realized that the seller's feedback was awful! ALL the photos of the pottery were blurry in the same exact way, including the McCoy "mark" on the bottom. If I had looked in my books, I would've realized McCoy never even made a vase in that shape. I got so caught up in the moment, I forgot to check the information thoroughly.

I hope this will help someone out there. Be careful, and thanks for reading my opinions. All the best, sanjaccats

7/4/06-- I HAVE WRITTEN A FOLLOW-UP GUIDE CALLED-- Crazing and Cracks on McCoy and American Pottery. Enjoy!