Selling Guide from Henry Adams Auctioneers | Antique & Fine Art Auctions

At Henry Adams, we make the entire process of buying and selling at auction as easy and as flexible as possible, both for the regular experienced buyer and for the first time or novice buyer.

Condition Reports

We will provide a condition report and/or image for potential buyers unable to attend the saleroom in person. This gives details of wear and damage but a written report is no substitute for viewing the object in person, something we strongly advise everyone to do. The report is our opinion of the condition of a piece. Contact us for more information.

Attending a Sale in Person / Registering to Bid

If you are intending to bid on an item, the first thing you need to do when you arrive is register at the Auction Office in order to collect a bidding number. We reserve the right to impose a deadline prior to the auction by which you must register or by which we must receive commission bid. If you wish to bid on high value lots this deadline may be several days before the auction in order to allow us sufficient time... Read more Read less

Absentee (Commission) Bids

You may leave commission bids with us indicating the maximum amount to be bid against a lot (excluding the buyers' premium and/or any applicable VAT). We will execute commission bids as cheaply as possible having regard to the reserve (if any) and competing... Read more Read less

Telephone Bidding

If you are unable to attend an auction, we can usually facilitate telephone bids on those lots with a minimum published estimate of £300. Since lines are limited, please make arrangements for this service well in advance. Registration is required as above.

Payment

Buyers are reminded that a premium of 20% plus VAT is payable on the hammer price for lots in our sales. Bidding online using the saleroom incurs an extra charge of 4.95% plus VAT. We accept the following methods of payment:

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Collection of Goods

Goods cannot be removed by buyers until they have paid in full. Please note what our Terms of Sale say about collection and storage. It is important that you pay for and collect goods promptly. Any delay may involve you having to pay storage charges.

Terms of Sale
Conditions of Business

Glossary of Terms

Buying at Auction

Selling at Auction

Lot numbers

Each item to be auctioned carries a number to identify it.

Estimate

This is an approximate guide to the price that a lot is expected to realise.

Reserve

This is an amount pre-agreed with the vendor that bidding must reach in order to sell. The item will not be sold for less than this amount, subject to a 10% auctioneers’ discretion. Reserves are not made public by Henry Adams.

Note: Henry Adams do not place reserves on items we deem to be worth less than £100.

Commission Bid

You can leave your bids with us and we will endeavour to buy for you, as cheaply as possible. The bidding does not start at the amount you left it will start well below, subject to other bids that may have been received.

Telephone Bid

A limited number of telephone lines are available if you are not able to come to the saleroom but still wish to bid in person. Telephone lines are only available for lots with a published estimate of at least £500.

Hammer Bid

This is the price that the lot is sold for at auction. In addition to this price, the buyer will have to pay a ‘buyer’s premium’ charge of 20% plus VAT.

Artist’s Resale Rights (ARR)

Since 2006 the Right has only been paid to living artists. However, from 1 January 2012 the right extended to include sales of works by artists who have died within the last 70 years (following the existing term of copyright). Artist’s heirs and beneficiaries will be entitled to a resale royalty of 4% of the hammer price when any artwork is sold for €1000 (approx £830 depending on the exchange rate) or more. Purchasers of such works will be required to pay the 4% Resale Right when settling their account with us for the item purchased which is then submitted to the Artists Collecting Society who administer the payments to heirs and beneficiaries.

Buyer’s Premium

All purchases are subject to a buyer’s premium charge of 20% plus VAT.

Buying at Auction

At Henry Adams, we make the entire process of buying and selling at auction as easy and as flexible as possible, both for the regular experienced buyer and for the first time or novice buyer.

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