Many of our listing policies and regulations are based on state and/or country trade laws. Please consult the following policies and the Proxibid User Agreement before listing an item for sale on our site to be sure we allow it and, if we do, be certain it is in the spirit of Proxibid and gain awareness of any rules and conditions we, or any other such jurisdiction, may have regarding its sale.
Please also note that Proxibid partners for payments and advertising may have additional requirements and restrictions on the acceptability of listings in certain categories when using these services. Categories where these additional restrictions are likely are noted below.
If you have questions about the applicability of any of these policies, please reach out to us at listing.compliance@proxibid.com to learn more.
Overall Policy on Prohibited and Restricted Items
These policies have been created to ensure a safe, fair, and educated experience for all Proxibid users. As a seller, you hold a key role in constructing user experience on our site. In turn, you are held responsible for following these rules. If broken, you may face consequences including but not limited to restrictions on your ability to sell through our platform and suspension of your account privileges. Learning and following these policies will help keep you from unintentionally breaking any rules and further supports a reliable, trustworthy community of members.
Proxibid is aware that mature content is very subjective and that an item that may cause offence to one may not necessarily cause offence to others. Auction houses selling mature content are expected to refrain from using salacious language and ensure they are listing lots appropriately. Proxibid understands that not all erotic art is considered mature, and we exercise judgement in allowing mature content for artistic, academic, educational and collectable purposes. Proxibid takes into consideration the explicitness of the content and in some cases will ask auctioneers to blur certain parts of the lot when necessary.
*This category will have additional partner restrictions for advertising and/or payments processing. Please reach out to us at listing.compliance@proxibid.com to review.
The sale of wine and spirits is allowed so long as the listing adheres to federal, state, local and any other applicable laws and regulations. To ensure this, we ask that you email a copy of your alcohol license to listing.compliance@proxibid.com for us to keep on file. Additionally, any alcohol listing must clearly detail an accurate, lawful shipping and delivery policy (these vary from state to state), the buyer’s age requirement, and include a clause stating your eligibility to sell wine through our platform. The Wine Institute is a great resource for further information regarding the laws governing the sale of wine.
The sale of physical liquor license documents is not permitted.
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Note: Generally, the sale of alcoholic beverages is not common practice on the Proxibid platform. In some circumstances, the sale of wine or vintage spirits may be permitted so long as it complies with any federal, state, and local laws. Please see the Controlled Categories section below for further information. This category will have additional partner restrictions for advertising and/or payments processing. Please reach out to us at listing.compliance@proxibid.com to review. |
This policy is comprised of the following sections:
Every day, Proxibid’s broad audience includes art collectors who bid on both original works and replicas. To ensure a healthy marketplace for all participants, it's important to represent items accurately.
Knowingly selling, trading, producing, or advertising any unauthorized copy or reproduction of any work of art is prohibited on Proxibid. It is also prohibited to describe or advertise any item as genuine if you cannot provide reasonable evidence to prove its authenticity.
It is prohibited to knowingly participate in any way in the advertisement or sale of any work of art using any deceptive practices, including, but not limited to, false or misleading claims of the item's scarcity, value, provenance, condition or investment potential. Disclaiming knowledge of, or responsibility for, the authenticity or legality of an item that you describe as genuine is also prohibited on Proxibid.
Reasonable evidence of authenticity
Different types of art require different kinds of evidence to support authenticity.
For a work by a master artist to be listed as genuine/authentic on Proxibid, one of the following must be true:
- If the artist has a catalogue raisonné, the work must be listed in that catalog. The Proxibid listing must include a reference to the work in the catalogue raisonné.
- If the artist has a catalogue raisonné in progress, it must have been reviewed by the authors of that catalogue raisonné and marked for inclusion in the published volume. This documentation should be available to any bidder that asks.
- If the artist does not have a catalogue raisonné or one forthcoming, it must have been reviewed by the leading scholar on the artist’s work. This documentation should be available to any bidder that asks.
For a work by living, contemporary artist to be listed as genuine, the Proxibid listing should include provenance beginning with the artist/the artist’s gallery.
Attribution qualifiers
If you cannot provide reasonable evidence to prove an item's authenticity, it should be cataloged as "after" or "in the style of" the named artist.
Below is how works “in the style of” and “after” should be listed:
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When you list a work of art "by" a master artist that is not a copy of a known work, it should be listed as "in the style of" that artist.
- Should be described as "in the style of" both in title and description
- Should include a clear definition of "in the style of". A suggested definition:
- “In the style of” works are works by an unknown creator whose style is strongly under the influence of the style of the named master artist. (Source: Getty Art & Architecture Thesaurus)
- Should only include a Certificate of Authenticity if the certificate includes the name of the replicating (i.e., the non-original) artist and if the replicated artist is mentioned the words “in the style of” must precede the name. The COA must be included in the images for the listing.
- Should not use the following words, or variations of the words:
- Signed, signature, mark
- Authentic, authenticity
- Attributed, Attrib., or variants
- Original
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Exact copies of works of art by a master artist*
- Should use "after" in the title and description
- Should include a definition of "After". A suggested definition:
- For paintings/unique works: The word “after” is used for a work by an unknown creator who has created a copy of a known work of the named artist. (Source: Getty Art & Architecture Thesaurus)
- For prints/multiples: The word “after” is used for a print that reproduces a work of art by the named artist in another medium.
- Should indicate exactly which work is being copied
- May not be posted on Proxibid if they bear a forged artist's signature
- Should only include a Certificate of Authenticity if the certificate includes the name of the replicating (i.e., the non-original) artist, the name of the replicated artwork, and if the replicated artist is mentioned the words “after” must precede the name. The COA must be included in the images for the listing.
Definitions:
Master artist: A master artist is an artist with a well-established secondary market. A well-established secondary market means that the artist’s work routinely sells at auction and is generally in high demand.
Certificates of Authenticity or Appraisal (“COA”): Legitimate Certificates of Authenticity ("COA") can help establish the authenticity of a particular item or give a buyer certain rights if the item is later proved to be a fake. Proxibid requires that sellers who refer to a COA in their listings include who issued the certificate and any additional information relevant to that certificate. It must meet the following criteria:
- The person executing the appraisal either has earned an appraisal designation from a recognized professional appraiser organization for demonstrated competency in appraising the type of property being appraised or can demonstrate verifiable education and experience in assessing the type of property being appraised.
- The person executing the appraisal is not the buyer, recipient, or seller of the article and does not benefit from the results of the appraisal (other than for the cost of the appraisal); and is not an employee of any business that is a party to the transaction.
The certificate must contain:
- A description of the article that is detailed enough for a person who is not generally familiar with the type of article to determine that the appraisal is about the article in question
- Descriptive information on the article, including but not limited to: the size of the article, the medium, the artist or culture, approximate date the article was created, and a professional quality image of the article.
- The name and address of the qualified appraiser
- The qualifications of the appraiser who signs the appraisal, including the background, experience, education, and any membership in professional appraiser associations.
- The date on which the article was appraised.
All automobile listings should include a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) in the Description or Condition fields.
Catalytic converters are not allowed.
Any currently active credit cards, debit cards, store cards, pre-paid cards, and lotto tickets are not allowed.
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Note: Proxibid may allow the sale of inactive credit cards of a collectible nature. If a card is deemed collectible, the expiration date on the face of the card must be at least ten years old. Any identifying characteristics on the card, such as the cardholder’s name or picture, the card’s number, etc. must be blocked or blurred out. |
The sale of counterfeit currency and stamps is prohibited on Proxibid. Any equipment designed for the manufacture of such items is also not allowed. Any replicas must be accurately described as such. Any grading mentioned in the item’s listing must be accompanied by valid, documented proof from a certified grading company.
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Note: Please be aware of local and state laws concerning the sale of coins and other types of currency. For example, you may learn about certain restrictions for the sale of coins in the state of Minnesota here: https://www.revisor.mn.gov/laws/?id=120&year=2013&type=0 |
The sale of certain destructive devices including but not limited to automatic weapons, high-capacity magazines, certain classes of ammunition, sound suppression devices (“silencers”), potato guns, bazookas, cannons or launchers, bombs, atom or nuclear weapons, explosives, grenades, incendiary, land mines, missiles, rockets or launchers, nerve or poison gas, or hazardous material of any kind is prohibited on the Proxibid platform.
Certain modifications of/for firearms are also not permitted, including bump stocks, pistol shoulder braces and/or secondary braces, auto sears or firing mechanism conversions, and any type of automated or remote fire control unit or device.
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Note: The sale of firearms through the Proxibid platform is severely restricted by federal and state laws. If state and federal law deem the sale of a firearm allowable, the item's listing must be accompanied by an FFL license. Please see the following website for further information about obtaining an FFL license: https://www.atf.gov/firearms/apply-license This category will have additional partner restrictions for advertising and/or payments processing. Please reach out to us at listing.compliance@proxibid.com to review. |
Antique (manufactured pre-1898) and Curio & Relic (inoperable; museum pieces) firearms may have specialized treatment. To learn about what kinds of firearms and ammunition can be sold on the platform, reach out to us at listing.compliance@proxibid.com.
US law prohibits Proxibid from facilitating transactions involving an Embargoed Country in violation of applicable sanctions. This means that the Proxibid platform cannot be used by sellers or buyers in Embargoed Countries, and there are restrictions around items of Embargoed Country origin.
Embargoed countries include Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Sudan, Syria, and Crimea. Additional information may be found on the U.S. Department of State website.
Carpets of Iranian/Persian origin may be listed on Proxibid only under the following conditions:
- Both the buyer and seller are in the United States
- The carpets are already located within the United States
- The transaction would not violate any other aspect of the sanction's regulations (e.g., no party to the transaction is a sanctioned party).
The sale of certain destructive devices including but not limited to automatic weapons, high-capacity magazines, certain classes of ammunition, sound suppression devices (“silencers”), potato guns, bazookas, cannons or launchers, bombs, atom or nuclear weapons, explosives, grenades, incendiary, land mines, missiles, rockets or launchers, nerve or poison gas, or hazardous material of any kind is prohibited on the Proxibid platform.
Certain modifications of/for firearms are also not permitted, including bump stocks, pistol shoulder braces and/or secondary braces, auto sears or firing mechanism conversions, and any type of automated or remote fire control unit or device.
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Note: The sale of firearms through the Proxibid platform is severely restricted by federal and state laws. If state and federal law deem the sale of a firearm allowable, the item's listing must be accompanied by an FFL license. Please see the following website for further information about obtaining an FFL license: https://www.atf.gov/firearms/apply-license This category will have additional partner restrictions for advertising and/or payments processing. Please reach out to us at listing.compliance@proxibid.com to review. |
Antique (manufactured pre-1898) and Curio & Relic (inoperable; museum pieces) firearms may have specialized treatment. To learn about what kinds of firearms and ammunition can be sold on the platform, reach out to us at listing.compliance@proxibid.com.
Government identification cards, official government or law enforcement documents, IDs and/or licenses, passports, transit employee uniforms, airplane operations manuals, USPS mailbags, shipping-related items, etc. are not permitted.
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Note: Federal regulations ban or restrict the sale of most government, transit, and shipping related items. |
Human body parts or items made from human organs are prohibited on our marketplaces. As an exception, anatomical skeletons are permitted if they have been used for medical teaching purposes (provided provenance is cited). Exceptions are also permitted for human hair and teeth and items that contain human hair and teeth.
Though the sale of oddities and other such antique or collectible items featuring the by-products of human remains and body parts is allowed on our platform, there are certain shipping restrictions that must be taken into account when listing these lots. For example, items of this nature may not be transported across New York, Georgia, and Tennessee state borders. Be sure to check your local legislation for further details.
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Note: Items containing human scalp hair (such as that which was used in Victorian mourning jewelry) are allowed and will not be subject to shipping and transport restrictions. |
Signed/autographed memorabilia should be accompanied by a COA/LOA from one of the following authentication services:
- PSA/DNA
- JSA
- Tristar
- Steiner Sports
- Upper Deck Authenticated
- Mounted Memories
- Beckett Authentication Services
- SGC
- Roger Epperson (all music)
- Frank Caiazzo (Beatles)
- Phil Sears (Walt Disney)
- John Reznikoff (Historical)
Proxibid will require most signed/autographed items in an auction to have COAs/LOAs from the above services under any of the following circumstances:
- An expert panel reviews your catalog and finds a significant amount of questionable material. The expert panel reviews all catalogs periodically, and specifically in response to complaints from our community of auction houses and bidders; or
- Winning bidders issue a high number of complaints relative to other sellers on Proxibid.
- In these circumstances, 80% of signed material in your auction must be accompanied by a COA/LOA from one of the above services. The listing must include either a picture of the COA/LOA or the certification number in the description. If your catalog does not meet these standards, Proxibid reserves the right to remove individual items or the entire catalog from the platform, and repeated offenses will result in account limitations (e.g., no advertising), suspension, or ban. Further, should Proxibid find that the certification number does not match the item in question, Proxibid will remove that item from the platform immediately.
A mystery item is a product (box, crate, pallet, storage unit, etc.) that contains an unknown item or items. Buyers are willing to pay a fixed price without knowing the content until they open the item.
A mystery item applies to anything sealed where the seller is unaware of contents prior to sale and handover to the customer, including storage units or boxes. A full description and detail of content must be disclosed on all Proxibid.com events, therefore mystery items are not an allowable item.
Any item described as Native American, Alaska Native, or American Indian must be made by an enrolled member of a state or federally recognized tribe or by someone certified as an Indian artisan by a recognized Indian tribe.
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Note: Sale of any antiquities and artifacts must meet trade specifications outlined by The Indian Arts and Crafts Act, Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, and The Federal Cave Protection Act. |
Images featuring graphic erogenous zones, child nudity/pornography, real or fictionalized depictions of an obscene nature - bestiality, necrophilia, rape, scat, incest, etc. are forbidden.
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Note: Any item that depicts a person of any age naked or otherwise exposed in a sexually explicit manner is strictly prohibited for public sale on our site. Nude child/adolescent content from artists such as David Hamilton, Jock Sturges, Bill Henson, Sally Mann, or similar) are prohibited. This category will have additional partner restrictions for advertising and/or payments processing. Please reach out to us at listing.compliance@proxibid.com to review. |
Items that glorify or otherwise capitalize on human tragedy with no regard or sensitivity to the suffering caused by such events are strictly prohibited. Items that promote or commemorate non-governmental hate groups (i.e., KKK, Aryan Brotherhood, Neo-Nazi groups, etc.), items merchandising an act of violence against an individual (human or animal), items marketing intolerance toward religion, sexual orientation, race, or ethnic background are also not tolerated and will be flagged for removal.
Descriptions of authentic/period artifacts that belonged to members of hate groups or are emblazoned with those groups’ insignias or are artifacts of historical atrocities may not glorify those groups or events, or any intolerant views of those groups. Titles and descriptions may not use racial slurs.
Reproductions of authentic/period artifacts from historical atrocities or that belonged to members of hate groups or that are emblazoned with those groups' insignias, are prohibited.
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Note: We understand certain items in question may feature social, artistic, historical, or political value. If you feel that your item(s) fall outside of the above restriction, please contact us at listing.compliance@proxibid.com prior to listing for approval. For faster approval, ensure the item description addresses its social, artistic, historical, or political value. This category will have additional partner restrictions for advertising and/or payments processing. Please reach out to us at listing.compliance@proxibid.com to review. |
The sale of stolen or illegally obtained items is in violation of state, federal, and international law. If such a listing is brought to our attention the appropriate authorities will be contacted immediately and we will provide any pertinent documentation to aid in their investigation.
Equipment prohibited by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) such as radar scanners, cell, GPS, and other signal jamming devices is not allowed.
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Note: These items are restricted in an effort to preserve the integrity of our platform and support the safety and privacy of the public. |
Any wild live animal, plant, or their products sourced illegally or traded in contravention of any law. Proxibid does not permit the listing of any type of ivory on the platform.
A "watchlist" listed below highlights some of the most common wildlife and plant materials that may be problematic to buy, sell, import, or export. As a buyer or seller of items made from or containing wildlife products it is important that we and our clients are aware of the laws governing commercial trade. If there are any further questions or information not addressed here, we encourage contacting the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for guidance on the legality of selling certain items.
- African elephant Ivory
- Asian elephant Ivory
- Rhino horn
- Sea turtle shell and leather
- Taxidermized migratory birds and parts
- Taxidermized bald and golden eagles and parts
- Grizzly bear, jaguar, or other U.S. species listed as endangered or threatened
- Walrus ivory
- Whale teeth or bone
- Polar bear
- Brazilian rosewood
Additional examples are outlined below, but these are not exhaustive, and we encourage contacting us at listing.compliance@proxibid.com and/or the references cited at the end of this article:
Bears (Asiatic Black Bear, Giant Panda, Sloth Bear, Sun Bear)
Products derived from these species are prohibited. Such items may include but are not limited to bear bile, claws, fur, meat, medicine, skulls, taxidermy specimens, and teeth.
Big Cats (Cheetah, Jaguar, Leopard, Ocelot, Tiger)
Products derived from these species of concern are prohibited. Such items may include but are not limited to bear bile, claws, fur, meat, medicine, skulls, taxidermy specimens, and teeth.
Protected Birds (Falcons, Eagles, Parrots)
Products derived from bird species of concern are prohibited. Sample products include but are not limited to: bones, eggs, feathers, nests, skulls, and taxidermy specimens.
Cetaceans (e.g., Dolphins, Porpoises, Whales)
Products derived from cetacean parts are prohibited. Sample products include but are not limited to: ambergris, bones, meat, oil, scrimshaw/teeth, and skulls.
Corals (e.g., Black, Elkhorn, Red, Pink, Staghorn)
Products derived from black, Elkhorn, red, pink or Staghorn coral are prohibited. Sample products include but are not limited to: decorative items, jewelry, and sculptures.
Elephants (African, Asian)
Products derived from elephant parts are entirely banned. Sample products include but are not limited to: ivory- raw ivory tusks, figurines (e.g. netsuke, okimono), game sets (backgammon, chess, pool sticks), jewelry (necklace, bangle, pendant), puzzle ball, puzzle box, sculptures, snuff bottles, walking stick, handles; elephant hair- jewelry, ornaments; leather- belts, shoes, briefcases, wallets; trophies: head mounts, tails, feet (umbrella stands, ice buckets, etc.).
Marine Turtles (Flatback, Green, Hawksbill, Kemp’s Ridley, Leatherback, Loggerhead, Olive Ridley)
Products derived from marine turtle parts are prohibited. Sample products include but are not limited to: eggs, leather products (boots, belts), meat, oil, sunscreen, shell, shell products (hair clips, earrings, spectacles) and taxidermy specimens.
Pangolins (Asian, African)
Products derived from pangolin parts are prohibited. Sample products include but are not limited to leather products (boots, belts), meat, medicine, scales/skin, and taxidermy specimens.
Primates (e.g., Bonobo, Chimpanzee, Gorilla, Monkeys, Orangutan)
Products derived from primate parts are prohibited. Sample products include but are not limited to: furs, hand ashtrays, meat, medicine, skulls, and taxidermy specimens.
Reptiles & Amphibians (e.g., Plowshare Tortoise, Iranian Spotted Newt, Lake Titicaca Frog)
Products derived from the reptile and amphibian species of concern (as defined by conservation groups) are prohibited. Sample products include but are not limited to: leathers, belts, boots, bracelets, handbags, shoes, meat, teeth, skulls, shells and taxidermy specimens.
Rhinoceros (Black, Greater One-Horned, Javan, Sumatran, White
Products derived from rhinoceros parts are prohibited. Sample products include but are not limited to: bags, beads, bracelets, briefcases, libation cups, medicine/remedy, raw horn or horn pieces, tonics and trophies (head mounts, feet, tails).
Sharks and Sawfishes (e.g., Great White Shark, Basking Shark, Whale Shark, Smalltooth Sawfish)
Products derived from sharks, rostra (sawfish bill) and shark fins/fin products are prohibited. Sample products include but are not limited to fin cartilage, fresh and dried fins, shark fin soup and sawfish rostrum.
Tibetan Antelope
Products derived from Tibetan Antelope are prohibited. Sample products include but are not limited to: antlers, cloth, fiber, shawls, taxidermy specimens, and wool.
For more information contact your local government department responsible for wildlife trade regulation or the national CITES Management Authority. Further information on wildlife conservation and threats to species from illegal and unsustainable trade can be found through these organizations and websites:
Wildlife Trade Laws:
- Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES)
- Endangered Species Act
- Lacey Act
- Marine Mammal Protection Act
- Migratory Bird Treaty Act
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Elephant Ivory Regulations
About Wildlife Trade: