How to Authenticate a Banksy Print: The Definitive Pest Control Guide
Quick Facts — Banksy Authentication
• Banksy's official authentication body: Pest Control Office Ltd (UK-registered)
• PCOA: the only accepted proof in the secondary market
• Verification method: unique ID on PCOA cross-referenced against Pest Control database
• Works NOT authenticated by Pest Control: worth zero in the formal secondary market
• Auction houses that require PCOA: Sotheby's, Christie's, Phillips, Bonhams
• Notable counterfeits: multiple PCOA forgeries documented 2018–2024
Who Is Pest Control?
Pest Control Office Ltd is the official body established by Banksy to authenticate his work. It is the sole entity authorized to certify a work as genuine Banksy. No other individual, gallery, or organization — regardless of their relationship with Banksy, claim of proximity, or documentation they present — can authenticate a Banksy work. This is absolute, non-negotiable, and universally recognized by every major auction house.
What a Genuine PCOA Contains
- Pest Control letterhead — official design, not reproducible by casual forgery
- Unique reference number — cross-referenceable against Pest Control's records
- Description of the work — title, medium, dimensions, year
- Butterfly card — a tear-away half-card that physically matches the PCOA document
- Pest Control stamp or seal
How to Verify a PCOA
- Locate the unique reference number on the PCOA
- Contact Pest Control directly via their official website to verify the reference number
- Confirm that the description matches the actual work (dimensions, title, year)
- Verify the butterfly card is present and physically matches the PCOA document
- Examine the physical work against Pest Control's description
What Happens Without Pest Control
- No major auction house will accept the work
- No reputable gallery will represent the work
- The work has no formal secondary market value
| Claim | Is It Enough? |
|---|---|
| Pest Control Certificate (PCOA) with verified reference number | Yes — the only accepted standard |
| Gallery-issued COA claiming Banksy | No — only Pest Control can authenticate Banksy |
| "Directly from Banksy's studio" | No — Banksy's studio is not Pest Control |
| Photograph with Banksy (unverified person) | No — Banksy's identity is anonymous |
| Written statement from a "close contact" | No — secondary claims carry zero weight |
Gauntlet Gallery's Banksy Policy
Gauntlet Gallery does not list Banksy works without accompanying Pest Control authentication. Any Banksy work listed in our gallery includes the PCOA, and we verify the reference number before purchase.
- What is Pest Control for Banksy?
- Pest Control Office Ltd is Banksy's official authentication body, the sole organization authorized to certify a work as genuine Banksy. They issue PCOAs for confirmed genuine works. Without a PCOA, a Banksy-attributed work has no value in the formal secondary market.
- How do I verify a Pest Control COA?
- Locate the unique reference number on the PCOA. Contact Pest Control directly through their official website to cross-reference the number against their database. Verify that the work's description matches what is recorded. The butterfly card should be present and physically match.
- Can a Banksy print be authentic without a Pest Control certificate?
- The formal secondary market does not recognize works without a PCOA as authenticated. Without a PCOA, no major auction house will accept the work, and its market value is effectively zero regardless of any other documentation.
- Where can I buy an authenticated Banksy print?
- Gauntlet Gallery maintains a Banksy collection with Pest Control authentication on all listed works. View available works at gauntlet.gallery/collections/banksy.
See our current authenticated Banksy inventory at Gauntlet Gallery's Banksy collection.
