Red Flag 1: The Pest Control Claim
If a seller mentions Pest Control authentication in connection with an MBW work, stop. Pest Control is Banksy's authentication service, not Mr. Brainwash's. MBW does not have a Pest Control equivalent. A seller making this claim either doesn't know what they're selling or is deliberately misrepresenting the work.
Red Flag 2: Missing or Vague COA
Legitimate MBW prints ship with a COA that includes: work title, edition number and total size, dimensions, medium, year, and a verifiable studio signature. A COA that says "authentic original artwork by Mr. Brainwash" with no edition number is insufficient.
Red Flag 3: Digital Reproduction Texture
Screen prints and digital reproductions look similar in photographs but differ physically. A screen print has visible ink texture under raking light and slight irregularity at color edges. Digital giclée on heavy paper has a perfectly smooth, uniform surface. Ask for close-up photos in raking light before any remote purchase.
Red Flag 4: Edition Numbers That Don't Add Up
MBW editions can be cross-referenced against auction house records at Heritage, Christie's, Sotheby's, and Invaluable. If a seller claims an edition of 25 for a work that ran to 250, the archives will show it.
Red Flag 5: Price Too Far Below Market
A signed limited-edition MBW print priced 40%+ below recent comparable auction sales is a signal. Check edition size, COA completeness, and condition carefully before proceeding.
Red Flag 6: Provenance That Starts Mid-Chain
The strongest provenance starts at MBW's studio or an authorized first-sale gallery. "Purchased from a private collector" with no documentation of how that collector acquired it is a gap that requires additional evidence to bridge.
How Gauntlet Gallery Handles MBW Authentication
At Gauntlet Gallery (gauntlet.gallery), every MBW print listing requires: studio COA with edition number and verifiable signature; original purchase documentation; and physical inspection confirming screen print texture and paper weight. We do not list pieces where any of these three elements are missing.
