Update: Culture Monster reports that the auction has been removed from Ebay.

Mashable reports that an Ebay auction is underway–ending some time in the middle of Wed, January 19th at 7:22PST–for the identity of graffiti artist Banksy. Several dozen bidders have driven the price of the sheet of paper containing Banksy’s legal name up to $999,999.

In the listing, the seller states, “I have uncovered [Banksy’s] identity by matching up the prices of his sold pieces to corresponding tax records. I will reveal no more details… I give you 100% assurance that it is most certainly the full name of the street artist known as ‘Banksy.’”

The seller also says that eBay had previously terminated his auction because he was selling an intangible good; the seller is now technically offering for auction a piece of paper containing Banksy’s legal name.

With the bids up to a level that effectively stymies the whole auction, the question becomes–as with all things Banksy (the picture above was floated three years ago as evidence of Banksy’s real identity)–whether the artist is behind the publicity stunt himself.

Street Artist Banksy to Be Unmasked Via eBay Auction (Mashable)

Banksy Identity Auction Removed from Ebay–Was It a Hoax? (Culture Monster/Los Angeles Times)