Chapter 97: Works of art, collectors' pieces and antiques

1. This chapter does not cover:

1. (a) unused postage or revenue stamps, postal stationery (stamped paper) or the like, of heading 4907;

2. (b) theatrical scenery, studio backcloths or the like, of painted canvas (heading 5907) except if they may be classified in heading 9706; or

3. (c) pearls, natural or cultured, or precious or semi-precious stones (headings 7101 to 7103).

2. Heading 9701 does not apply to mosaics that are mass-produced reproductions, casts or works of conventional craftsmanship of a commercial character, even if these articles are designed or created by artists.

3. For the purposes of heading 9702, the expression ‘original engravings, prints and lithographs’ means impressions produced directly, in black and white or in colour, of one or of several plates wholly executed by hand by the artist, irrespective of the process or of the material employed by him, but not including any mechanical or photomechanical process.

4. Heading 9703 does not apply to mass-produced reproductions or works of conventional craftsmanship of a commercial character, even if these articles are designed or created by artists.

5.

(A) Subject to notes 1 to 4 above, articles of this chapter are to be classified in this chapter and not in any other chapter of the nomenclature.

(B) Heading 9706 does not apply to articles of the preceding headings of this chapter.

6. Frames around paintings, drawings, pastels, collages or similar decorative plaques, engravings, prints or lithographs are to be classified with those articles, provided they are of a kind and of a value normal to those articles.

Frames which are not of a kind or of a value normal to the articles referred to in this note are to be classified separately.

1. Heading 9705 includes collectors' motor vehicles and aircraft of historical or ethnographic interest which are:

1. (a) in their original state, without substantial changes to the chassis, body, steering, braking, transmission or suspension system, engine, wings etc. Repairing and restoring is allowed, and broken or worn-out parts, accessories and units can have been replaced, provided that the vehicle is preserved and maintained in the historically correct condition. Modernised or modified motor vehicles and aircraft are excluded;

2. (b) in case of motor vehicles at least thirty years old, in case of aircraft at least fifty years old;

3. (c) of a model or type which is no longer in production.

The requisite characteristics for inclusion in a collection — being relatively rare, not being normally used for its original purpose, being the subject of special transactions outside of the normal trade in similar utility articles, and being of greater value — are presumed to be fulfilled for motor vehicles and aircraft which comply with the above three criteria.

This heading also includes, as collectors' items:

• motor vehicles and aircraft, irrespective of their date of manufacture, which can be proved to have been used in the course of an historic event,

• motor racing vehicles and racing aircraft which can be proved to have been designed, built and used solely for competition and which have achieved significant sporting success at prestigious national or international events.

Parts and accessories for motor vehicles and aircraft are classified in this heading, provided that they are original parts or accessories, that they are at least thirty years old (for motor vehicles) or at least fifty years old (for aircraft), and that they are no longer in production.

Replicas and reproductions are excluded, unless they fulfil the above three criteria.