Item-level evidence control
Provenance is the documented history attached to one physical item. It can strengthen an intake file, explain custody and preserve useful context, but a seller name, marketplace screenshot or old receipt does not automatically establish authenticity, complete ownership history or resale rights.
Direct answer
Assign one internal item ID, then record who supplied the item, when and how it transferred, which documents arrived with it, which identifiers appear on the item, and every later inspection, service or ownership event. Keep originals or lossless scans, note who captured each record and preserve contradictions instead of silently correcting them. State clearly what the file proves, what is seller-reported and what remains unknown. Treat provenance as one evidence stream, not a substitute for a defined authentication review.
Use this before requesting a quotation
Create the item ID before photography, cleaning or repacking. Record intake date, source channel, supplier or consignor reference, delivery method and the staff member who received it. Photograph the item and included materials together so later paperwork cannot be attached to the wrong piece.
Store what the source said about purchase, ownership, age, repairs and included accessories as attributed statements. Do not rewrite a recollection into a verified fact. Record the communication date and retain the original message or document where lawful and appropriate.
List receipts, invoices, service records, certificates, dust bags, boxes and cards separately. For each, record visible names, dates, item references, issuer and whether the document can be matched to the physical item. A document with no reliable item link remains contextual evidence only.
Photograph and transcribe serial, date, style, batch or repair identifiers exactly as visible, including uncertainty. Note location and image filename. An identifier may help reconcile records, but its presence alone should not be described as proof of authenticity or lawful title.
Arrange documented purchase, transfer, consignment, inspection, repair and return events by date. Give each event a source reference. If dates conflict, show both entries and the unresolved conflict. A clean-looking timeline created by deleting inconvenient evidence is less trustworthy than an honest incomplete one.
Log where the item is stored, who releases it for photography or service and when it returns. Version the provenance summary instead of overwriting it. Keep a change note when new documents arrive, an attribution changes or a prior statement is withdrawn.
Translate only supported facts into listing copy: for example, an included dated service document or a seller-reported purchase location. Avoid phrases such as full history, guaranteed provenance or one owner unless the complete evidence supports them and the reviewer approves the wording.
Reusable buyer brief
Internal item ID and intake date: Supplier or consignor reference: Transfer method and custody start: Source statements and original location: Receipt or invoice identity match: Service or repair record references: Item identifiers and image filenames: Included packaging and accessories: Chronology events and evidence source: Conflicts, gaps and unresolved questions: Approved public provenance wording: Reviewer, version and review date:
Fill only the details relevant to your request
Before you send the request
Not by itself. Provenance can support identity and custody, while authentication has its own scope, method and conclusion. Record both without treating either as broader than it is.
It can document how an item was represented at one time. Preserve the URL, date and seller attribution, but do not treat the listing or its displayed price as independent proof.
Show the documented periods and label the gap unknown. Do not invent an owner, date or transaction to make the chronology continuous.
Usually only the minimum supported item information belongs in public copy. Store sensitive source records securely and follow applicable privacy and record-retention duties.
Keep the request specific
Evidence quality comes from identity matching, source, date, custody and consistency. Ten screenshots copied from one unsupported listing remain one weak source. One original record that clearly identifies the item may carry more value, but its exact scope still needs to be stated.
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MINJI separates observed item facts, attributed source statements, documentary evidence and reviewer conclusions. FTC substantiation guidance informs the claim boundary; the workflow never treats marketplace presence, displayed amount or document volume as automatic proof of authenticity or title.
Ready with the key details
Send the product reference, estimated quantity and destination so the conversation starts with useful context.
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