Well, this was bound to happen. After all, Ebay is rampant with fake autographs. Some estimates are that 80% or more of all autographs on Ebay are fake.

So it doesn't take much of a leap of imagination to the next level.

A seller on Ebay is promoting "authentic" Lord of the Rings prop auctions, and I fear he is cleaning up,while a dozens of folks thus far have been taken to the cleaners.

Very few props from the movie production got out. Hasbro had a few Fellowship swords and Legolas' bow that they gave away in a contest,  but that was due to an early contract that they had, before Peter Jackson and clan decided to keep all the props. And I know for a fact that most of those weapons are in the hands of one collector (not me, sorry to say).

A few additional props were auctioned off by New Line itself, via their New Line Shop website, with proceeds going to charity. These auctions included three halfway vests, a Prancing Pony mug, utensils, a goblet from Rivendell, and a poster from the walls of the Green Dragon. There were a few other auctions, but not more than half a dozen, if that. The auctions took place in late 2002.

All items from the New Line auctions came with a holographed COA that looked like this:

Yes, I have deliberately shrunk and defaced my COA, to prevent unscrupulous types from copying it.

The items New Line auctioned went in the $500 and up to about $2,000 range at that time, and only one or two of these items have come up to market again since then. When they did, they fetched stupendous amounts. We LOTR collectors tend to hang on to our stuff, which makes the few things that do get out all the more desirable.

If you see a seller auctioning one item after the other, and claiming they're Lord of the Rings props, for heaven's sake, save your money. Anyone who has watched the movies to any extent knows that a tarnished Turkish pitcher, a silver spray painted jewelry box, or a raggedy brass bowl with greek key handles was hardly a prop in LOTR, no matter how many COAs they churn out.

Most of the items they are selling as "props" look like rejects from the worst kind of flea markets, but people are snapping these up, including dollar store necklaces sold as "authentic Gone with the Wind" props. They didn't even HAVE plastic beads in those days, folks!!!!!

In any event, for any one seller to have dozens upon dozens of so-called Lord of the Rings props, is completely unlikely, but many, many bidders have fallen for it.

One seller, who has claimed in the past to have connections in the business, also gets his facts wrong, claiming these props were used in filming in 2004.  Wow, I want him to use his connections so I can see that 2004 footage, lol!

Use your noggin, folks.  If it looks Turkish, Egyptian, or Moroccan,or plastic, well then  it's probably not Elvish.

Check your seller to see how many other so-called props auctions they've done. What prices have they fetched?

Stop and consider. With as many devoted fans, don't you think a real item would attract considerable bids? A real Rivendell vase (*shudder*) is not going to sell for $56.99.