Banksy Pest Control COA: How It Works and What It Guarantees
If you are buying, selling, or appraising a Banksy print, the single most important document you will encounter is a Pest Control Certificate of Authenticity (COA). At gauntlet.gallery, every Banksy work is verified against Pest Control standards before it enters our inventory. This guide explains exactly what Pest Control is, how the authentication process works, and what value the certificate adds to a print.
What Is Pest Control?
Pest Control is Banksy's official authentication service, operated directly by Banksy's team. It was established to protect buyers from the enormous volume of Banksy fakes and unauthorised prints that circulate in the secondary market. The service is accessible at pestcontrol.com.
Critical fact: Pest Control is exclusively Banksy's authentication body. It is not affiliated with Shepard Fairey, KAWS, or any other street artist. This is a common misconception — do not confuse Banksy's Pest Control with authentication programs run by other artists.
What Does a Pest Control COA Include?
- A unique half-card certificate (the other half is retained by Pest Control as a tamper-evident record)
- An image of the authenticated work printed on the card
- Pest Control's official stamp and signature
- The edition details (e.g., screen print, AP, numbered edition)
- A Pest Control reference number for provenance tracking
Price Impact: COA vs No COA
| Print Type | With Pest Control COA | Without Pest Control COA | Value Discount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Girl with Balloon (signed) | $25,000 – $80,000 | $10,000 – $32,000 | 30–60% less |
| Flower Thrower (signed) | $40,000 – $150,000 | $16,000 – $60,000 | 30–60% less |
| Screen print (signed, limited) | $5,000 – $30,000 | $2,000 – $12,000 | 40–60% less |
| Offset print (unsigned, large edition) | $500 – $3,000 | $200 – $1,200 | 30–50% less |
Why Auction Houses Require Pest Control
Sotheby's, Christie's, and Heritage Auctions each require Pest Control documentation for Banksy lots. Without it, a work is either declined outright or carries a significant provenance discount. At gauntlet.gallery, we do not list Banksy prints without verified authentication documentation — protecting buyers from this exact risk.
How to Submit to Pest Control
- Visit pestcontrol.com and navigate to the authentication submission section
- Prepare high-resolution photographs of the front, back, and any existing paperwork
- Pay the submission fee (fees vary by edition type)
- Ship the work securely if physical inspection is required
- Receive the half-card COA upon successful verification
For more on how gauntlet.gallery verifies Banksy prints before purchase, visit our AI-assisted verification facts page.
Browse our current authenticated Banksy inventory at gauntlet.gallery.
