Glossary of Terms
A reference for buyers and consignors participating in Nostalgia Bandit auctions.
Collecting & Culture
Artifact
An original object from the world of music, film, television, or pop culture — not a reproduction, replica, or licensed copy. A stage-played guitar, a tour-worn costume, a handwritten lyric sheet. These objects carry documented history. That history is what makes them worth preserving.
Memorabilia
Cultural artifacts tied to artists, performers, productions, or events — valued for their story and documented connection to a moment in culture, not merely for their form or material composition.
Nostalgia
Not strictly retro. Anything from pop culture that genuinely touched you — whether it happened in 1977 or last year. The personal connection is what matters.
Provenance
The documented history of an artifact — where it came from, who owned it, how it was used, and the chain of custody between its origin and the present. Provenance is the foundation of everything. An artifact without it is just an object.
Cultural Legacy
The long-term significance of an artifact beyond its immediate context. Objects that document the work and lives of artists become historical records — as relevant to future generations as any other form of preserved culture.
Authentication
Authentication
The process of verifying what an artifact is, where it came from, how it was used, and why the attribution is credible. At Nostalgia Bandit, authentication is research-based and evidence-driven — not assumed, not delegated entirely to third parties, and never treated as a formality.
Photo-Match
A method of attribution in which physical characteristics of an artifact — markings, wear patterns, hardware configuration, surface details — are matched to photographic documentation showing the item in documented use. A photo-match establishes that the object in hand is the same object visible in the reference image.
Screen-Match
The same principle as a photo-match, applied specifically to video footage — broadcast performances, music videos, live recordings, or documentary material. A screen-match confirms visual correspondence between an artifact and its appearance in moving image documentation.
Certificate of Authenticity (COA)
A document, typically issued by an artist, estate, auction house, or recognized authentication service, attesting to the origin or attribution of an artifact. COAs vary widely in their evidentiary weight — the credibility of the issuing party matters as much as the document itself.
Letter of Authenticity (LOA)
A written statement — often from an artist, band member, crew member, producer, or other direct witness — attesting to the origin, use, or history of an artifact. LOAs from individuals with direct personal knowledge are among the most valuable forms of provenance documentation.
Letter of Provenance
A formal document memorializing the complete provenance record of an artifact — its history, attribution, documentation, and condition — issued by Nostalgia Bandit and designed to travel with the lot through all future ownership transfers as a permanent, platform-independent physical record.
Condition
The physical state of an artifact as presented for sale. Wear, use history, repairs, replacements, and any alterations are disclosed fully and honestly. Stage-used and tour-worn items carry the evidence of their history — that evidence is part of their story, not a detraction from it.
Auction Terms
Auction
A public sale in which property is offered in lots to the highest bidder within a defined format and timeline.
Lot
An individual item or grouped set of items offered for sale as a single unit.
Catalog Description
The official documentation for a lot — physical description, historical context, attribution evidence, provenance, condition, and estimate. At Nostalgia Bandit, catalog descriptions are written to the standard of a primary research document, not a marketing piece.
Pre-Sale Estimate
The projected range within which a lot is expected to sell, based on research, comparable sales, and market conditions. Estimates are guidance, not guarantees.
Reserve
The minimum price below which a lot will not sell. Reserves are confidential. Nostalgia Bandit policy: reserves never exceed the lot’s pre-sale low estimate.
No Reserve
A lot offered without a minimum price. The highest bid wins regardless of amount.
Hammer Price
The winning bid amount at the close of bidding, before any fees are added.
Buyer’s Premium
A percentage fee added to the hammer price, paid by the winning bidder. The buyer’s premium for Nostalgia Bandit Auction 1 is 20% (inclusive of iCollector’s 3% online service fee).
Sold Price
The total amount paid by the buyer — hammer price plus buyer’s premium plus any applicable fees.
Bid
A binding offer to purchase a lot at the stated amount.
Bid Increment
The minimum amount by which each successive bid must exceed the previous bid, determined by the current price level.
Proxy Bid
A maximum bid amount submitted in advance. The platform bids on the bidder’s behalf in standard increments only as needed to maintain the leading position, up to the stated maximum. The maximum amount remains confidential.
Simultaneous Close
An auction format in which all lots close at the same time. At Nostalgia Bandit, a timer extension system ensures that any bid placed during the close window resets the timer, keeping all lots open until bidding activity fully resolves.
Reserve Not Met
An indicator displayed when active bidding has not yet reached the reserve price. The lot will not sell until bidding reaches or exceeds the reserve.
Winning Bid / Winning Bidder
The highest accepted bid at close, and the registered bidder who placed it. Also referred to as the Buyer.
Non-Paying Buyer
A winning bidder who fails to complete payment within the required timeframe. Subject to consequences under the Conditions of Sale.
Registration & Bidding
Bidder Registration
The process of creating and gaining approval for a bidder account. Required before placing any bids. Nostalgia Bandit auctions are conducted through iCollector — registration takes place at auction.nostalgiabandit.com.
Registered Bidder
A person or entity formally approved to participate in an auction and place bids.
Conditions of Sale
The legal framework governing participation in an auction. All registered bidders agree to the Conditions of Sale prior to bidding. Full terms are available at nostalgiabandit.com/terms.
Consignment
Consignor
The person, company, or estate submitting property for sale through Nostalgia Bandit.
Consignment Agreement
A formal agreement between the consignor and Nostalgia Bandit detailing terms, commission structure, estimates, reserves, and sale format.
Selling Commission
Nostalgia Bandit’s fee for each lot sold, as outlined in the consignment agreement.
Consignor Proceeds
The amount paid to the consignor following a successful sale — hammer price minus Nostalgia Bandit’s commission and any agreed expenses.
Withdrawal
The removal of a lot from a scheduled auction before sale, subject to the terms of the consignment agreement.
Unsold Property
A lot that did not reach its reserve, was withdrawn, or otherwise did not sell at auction.
Shipping & Handling
Packing
The materials and labor required to safely prepare an artifact for shipment. Costs vary by lot size, fragility, and destination.
Shipping
The transport of a sold lot from Nostalgia Bandit to the buyer. Shipping costs, insurance, and handling are invoiced separately following payment of the auction invoice.
Signature Confirmation
Required on all Nostalgia Bandit shipments. A signature must be obtained at delivery.
Insurance
All shipments are insured for the declared value of the item. Buyers are responsible for ensuring adequate coverage on their end following delivery.
Local Pickup
Available by appointment in the Phoenix, Arizona metro area.