Buying at Auction

Viewing
Prospective purchasers are encouraged to inspect property prior to the sale. All lots offered are available for inspection at the Viewing held prior to the Auction. If you are unable to attend the Viewing and would like a condition report on any lot offered, you may telephone and any reasonable request will be dealt with promptly.

Estimates
The pre-sale estimated prices printed in the catalogue are the approximate prices expected to be realized (excluding the Buyer’s Premium). They are intended merely to serve as a guide to prospective purchasers.

Bidding
To bid at the Auction, you need a Paddle Number. The Registration Desk opens half an hour prior to the commencement of the Auction. You will need to fill out a Registration form. Proof of identity and a trade reference or a 25% fully refundable deposit will be required if you are not known to Kestenbaum & Company. When you successfully purchase a lot, the Auctioneer will ask you for your Paddle Number. Bids are usually advanced at 10% increments.

Absentee Bidding
Commission Bids: Kestenbaum & Company will execute bids on the buyer’s behalf with care and discretion at the lowest possible price as allowed by other bids and any reserves. Use the Absentee Bid Form in the catalogue or available at the viewing. Take care to write the lot number(s) and first word clearly. The bid that you leave represents the highest price that you are willing to pay for the lot, exclusive of the Buyer’s Premium. If there is limited competitive bidding, you will be successful at a lower price. The Buyer's Premium is 18% of the final bid price for each lot sold of the first $100,000 and 12% of the final bid price above $100,000.

Telephone Bidding: Bidding may also be conducted live via telephone on lots estimated in the catalogue at least at $500 or more. As the number of telephone bidding lines available in the saleroom is limited, such arrangements must be made 24 hours before the sale commences. Successful bidders will be notified by receipt of an Invoice mailed out on the day following the sale. You are welcome to call the offices of Kestenbaum & Company from 1 pm on the day following the sale to check the outcome of your bid(s).

Payment
Payment may be made during the sale and lots collected. In order to avoid delays, buyers are advised to make known any special arrangements for payment before the sale. If you have not purchased with us previously, checks will need to be cleared before any purchases are released.

Shipping
We have an arrangement with the Antiquarian Distribution Center, an independent shipping company to provide service. Shipping arrangements may be made through them. Alternatively, you are welcome to make your own arrangements. Kestenbaum & Company does not provide packing or shipping services.

Prices Realized
List of prices realized will be posted on this Web site following the sale.

N.B. All Bids are subject to the Conditions of Sale printed in the Catalogue (see below).

Back to top

Selling at Auction

Free verbal auction estimates are obtainable from our Specialists. You may be required to provide a photograph of the object or painting or a Xerox of the title page of a book for this purpose. Where practical, an appointment can be scheduled. Some items of a specialist nature may require further research and can be left with Kestenbaum & Company for that purpose. There is no obligation to sell.

If you decide to sell, you will be given a receipt for your property as well as a Consignment Agreement stating the agreed pre-sale estimates, reserves and terms of business. Your property will be directed to the relevant Specialist for further research and cataloguing.

The catalogue is produced and distributed to interested subscribers worldwide 3-4 weeks before the date of the sale. You will be sent a complimentary copy along with a Pre-Sale Advice letter, confirming the estimate(s) and reserve(s) agreed upon.

You are welcome to attend the Auction.

You will be notified of the Auction outcome with a Post-Sale Advice letter, mailed out on the day following the sale.

Payment is made 45 buisness days after the sale, less commissions and applicable charges. Details of commissions and charges are given on your Receipt and Consignment Agreement. A breakdown will be given on the Settlement Statement enclosed with your check.

N.B. All Consignments are subject to the Conditions of Sale printed in the Catalogue (see below).

Conditions of Sale

Property is offered for sale by Kestenbaum & Company as agent for the Consignor. By bidding at auction, the buyer agrees to be bound by these conditions of sale.

1. All property is sold “as is,” and any representation or statement in the auction catalogue or elsewhere as to authorship, attribution, origin, date, age, provenance, condition or estimated selling price is a statement of opinion only. All interested parties should exercise their own judgement as to such matters, Kestenbaum & Company shall not bear responsibility for the correctness of such opinions.
   
   
2. Notwithstanding the previous condition, property may be returned by the purchaser should such property prove to be defective, incomplete or not genuine (provided such defects are not indicated in the catalogue or at the sale). Written notice of the cause for return must be received by Kestenbaum & Company within fourteen (14) days from the date of the sale of the property, and the property must be returned to Kestenbaum & Company in the same condition as it was at the time of sale. Any lot containing three or more items will be sold “as is,” and is not subject to return.
   
   
3. The highest bidder acknowledged by the Auctioneer shall be the buyer. The Auctioneer has the right to reject any bid and to advance the bidding at his absolute discretion and, in the event of any dispute between bidders, to determine the successful bidder or to reoffer and resell the article in dispute. Should there be any dispute after the sale, the Auctioneer’s record of final sale shall be conclusive. On the fall of the Auctioneer’s hammer, title to the offered lot shall pass to the buyer, who shall forthwith assume full risk and responsibility for the lot and may be required to sign confirmation of purchase, supply his/her name and address and pay the full purchase price or any part thereof. If the buyer fails to comply with any such requirement, the lot may at the Auctioneer’s discretion, be put up again and sold.
   
   
4. Kestenbaum & Company reserves the absolute right to withdraw any property at any time before its actual final sale.
   
   
5. All lots in this catalogue are subject to a reserve, which is the confidential minimum price acceptable to the Consignor. No reserve will exceed the low presale estimate stated in the catalogue.
   
   
6. The purchase price paid by the purchaser shall be the sum of the final bid and a buyer’s premium of 23% of the first $150,000 of the final bid on each lot, and 18% of the final bid price above $150,000, plus all applicable sales tax.
   
   
7. All property must be paid for and removed from our premises by the purchaser at his expense not later than ten days following its sale. If not so removed, storage charges may be charged of $5.00 per lot per day. In addition, a late charge of 1.5% per month of the total purchase price may be imposed if payment is not made.
   
   
8. Kestenbaum & Company accepts no responsibility for errors relating to the execution of commission bids.