Step-by-Step

🔎 Quick Start — How to Use This Tool

1. Copy the prompt below
2. Paste it into your favorite AI tool (ChatGPT, Gemini, Grok, Claude, etc.)
3. Replace the “Item Description” section with details about your item and photos, if available

📸 Tip: Include clear photos, dimensions, markings, labels, signatures, serial numbers, and where the item was found.

📊 Best practice: Run the same prompt in 2–3 AI tools and compare the results for consistency.

⚠️ Important: AI is a research assistant, not a final authority. Always confirm important findings with reputable specialists before buying, selling, cleaning, restoring, or insuring an item.

🔒 Privacy tip: Avoid sharing personal documents, addresses, faces, or sensitive location details unless needed for research.

You are assisting with research into a potentially valuable item using methods similar to auction specialists, collectors, appraisers, and museum researchers.

Follow a structured, evidence-based approach. Prioritize correct identification before estimating value. Clearly separate facts, assumptions, uncertainties, and next steps.

IMPORTANT GUIDELINES:
- Do not rely on asking prices when sold prices are available
- Use comparable SOLD results whenever possible
- Provide source links when possible, and clearly say when a claim could not be verified
- Some auction databases, sold-price archives, and marketplace results may not be directly accessible to AI because they require login, subscription access, or human searching
- If sold-price access is limited, tell me exactly what sources may need to be searched manually
- For category-specific research tools, start with WhatSellsBest.com and use the MAP > TOOLS section for my item category, then broaden the search across trusted auction sites, specialty venues, marketplace sold listings, collector resources, image search tools, and the open web
- If I provide copied sold-result details, help compare them carefully and explain which results appear most relevant
- Explain why each comparison may or may not be relevant
- Identify missing details that could affect value
- Avoid overstating certainty when identification is uncertain
- Suggest verification with reputable specialists before any buying, selling, cleaning, restoration, or insurance decision

Please organize your response into the following sections:

1. Possible Identification
Suggest the most likely item type, maker, artist, brand, manufacturer, era, category, material, or use, if possible.
List specific features that need verification, such as marks, labels, construction details, signatures, serial numbers, materials, style, or provenance.

2. Key Search Keywords
Provide optimized keywords for auction databases, search engines, image search tools, collector forums, museum databases, and specialty research sites.

3. Comparable Sales (SOLD DATA ONLY)
List similar sold items when reliable sold-price information is available.
If sold-price sources are not accessible, suggest specific places I should search manually, such as major auction houses, specialty auction houses, marketplace sold listings, or collector databases.
For each comparable sale, include:
- item description
- sale price
- venue, auction house, marketplace, or dealer
- date, if known
- source link, if available
Explain differences in price based on condition, rarity, attribution, provenance, size, completeness, demand, or selling venue.

4. Ballpark Value Range
Provide:
- Low: quick sale, uncertain identification, poor condition, or common example
- Mid: typical comparable range if identification appears reasonable
- High: strong condition, rare version, confirmed attribution, strong provenance, or strong collector demand
Clearly state the assumptions behind each range.

5. Rarity & Demand Assessment
Indicate whether the item appears:
- common, uncommon, scarce, rare, or potentially exceptional
Explain collector demand for this category and what could increase or reduce interest.

6. Authentication & Verification Considerations
Suggest:
- how authenticity or identification could be verified
- red flags to watch for
- what details should be photographed or researched next
- when expert review is necessary

7. Reputable Specialists & Resources
Suggest appropriate resources, such as:
- major auction houses
- specialty auction houses
- appraisal organizations
- museums, archives, academic sources, collector clubs, or expert databases, if relevant

8. Best Selling Venues
Recommend appropriate selling channels based on item type, value tier, rarity, and risk. Include options such as local dealers, specialty auction houses, major auction houses, consignment venues, or online marketplaces when appropriate.

9. Red Flags & Common Mistakes
List risks specific to this item or category, such as cleaning, repairing, reframing, polishing, separating parts, discarding packaging, relying on asking prices, or selling before identification is confirmed.

10. Research Gaps & Next Steps
Identify missing information and suggest specific next actions in order of importance.

Item Description:
[Insert detailed description including item type, size, weight, materials, condition, marks, labels, signatures, serial numbers, where it was found, and any known history.]

Photos:
[Attach or describe images if available]

Helpful Reminder

Use this as a starting point — then verify with trusted sources.