Alexander's Buyer's Guide for Bidding, Absentee, Bidding Increments & Abbreviations
Bidding Options
Live Bidding
How to Participate in Live Internet Bidding
- Existing registered customers can bid live online through our website at www.historyauctioneers.com.
- New bidders must register here in order to place a bid. Please register at least 24 hours before the auction to confirm your registration.
- A 25% buyer's premium and applicable state sales tax applies for all bids through www.historyauctioneers.com or www.alexautographs.com. (Wire transfers will only be accepted for amounts exceeding $750).
- There will be processing fee of 3% added to all credit card and PayPal transactions.
- A 5% surcharge applies for using any and all third-party bidding platforms, such as, but not limited to, Invaluable.com, Bidspirit.com, Liveauctioneers.com, etc.
How to participate in Live Phone Bidding
- Bid live with an Alexander agent over the phone - just as if you were attending in person.
- Agents will call you a few lots before before your interested lot comes up for sale. They keep you up-to-date during the bidding, and place any bid request that you wish.
- You may call us at (203) 276-1570 to request your phone reservations.
- Phone reservations for any number of lots will be accepted up to 24 hours prior to the auction date.
- A 25% buyer's premium and applicable state sales tax applies.
- There will be processing fee of 3% added to all credit card and PayPal transactions.
Phone bidding will not be recorded in your online bidding account with us.
Live in Person
You're welcome to pop in our office whenever you wish during auction days . If you can, please call or email to let us know you are coming.
Phone 203-276-1570
Email [email protected]
- You must have identification available in order to bid.
- New clients should be prepared to present any major credit cards. We accept cash, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express. We do not charge a fee to use a credit card.
- A 25% buyer's premium and applicable state sales tax applies.
Live auctions are held at:
Alexander Historical Auctions
106 E Main St., Suite 103
Elkton, Maryland 21921
Absentee Bidding
Online Absentee Bidding
- We encourage all bidders to place absentee bids online through our website at www.historyauctioneer.com in order to receive outbid notices and being able to track your bids in your account. Existing registered customers can login to place absentee bids online through our website at www.historyauctioneers.com.
- New bidders must register at least 24 hours before the auction to confirm your registration.
- Absentee bids are accepted until the beginning of the live auction.
- Absentee bids recorded on day of auction will be entered at full maximum absentee bid amount, and not entered incrementally.
- A 25% buyer's premium and applicable state sales tax applies for all bids through www.historyauctioneers.com. We do not charge additional credit card fees.
- A 5% surcharge applies for using any and all third-party bidding platforms, such as, but not limited to, Invaluable.com, Bidspirit.com, Liveauctioneers.com, etc.
Absentee Bidding via phone, email or fax
- Absentee bids that are left with our staff via phone, email or fax will not receive outbid notices and will not display in your online account.
- Bidders may submit absentee bids by calling us at 203-276-1570, emailing [email protected] or by fax to 203-883-1483.
- We do not accept voicemails for absentee bids. You must speak with a representative in order to place an absentee bid via phone, email or fax.
- Bidders who use fax or email are encouraged to confirm their bids at least 24 hours before the live auction.
- A 25% buyer's premium and applicable state sales tax applies for all bids through www.historyauctioneers.com.
- A 5% surcharge applies for using any and all third-party bidding platforms, such as, but not limited to, Invaluable.com, Bidspirit.com, Liveauctioneers.com, etc.
Bidding Increments**
$0 - $100 / $10
$100 - $500 / $20
$500 - $1,000 / $50
$1,000 - $2,000 / $100
$2,000 - $5,000 / $250
$5,000 - $10,000 / $500
$10,000 - $20,000 / $1,000 (or at auctioneers’ discretion)
$20,000 - $50,000 / $2,500 (or at auctioneers’ discretion)
$50,000 - $99,000 / $5,000 (or at auctioneers’ discretion)
$100,000 - $999,999 / $10,000 (or at auctioneers’ discretion)
$1,000,000 - $1,999,999 / $50,000
$2,000,000 - + / $100,000
Abbreviations:
We use the following abbreviations in lot descriptions. It is the buyer's responsibility to read and understand these abbreviations.
A.L.S. - “Autograph Letter Signed” Letter completely in the hand of and signed by the noted individual. These letters always have a salutation, ie: “Dear Fred”, “Sir”).
A.N.S. - “Autograph Note Signed” A very short A.L.S., perhaps only a single line.
S.P. - "Signed Photograph"
I.S.P. - "Inscribed Signed Photograph" A signed photograph bearing an additional inscription, potentially a dedication, military rank, etc.
T.L.S. - “Typed Letter, Signed” Body of letter is typed.
Manuscript L.S. or D.S. - Body of the letter or document is in another hand, but piece is signed by the person of interest.
D.S. - “Document, Signed” Could be a printed document, a check, etc. Signature is hand-signed.
A.Ms.S. - “Autograph Manuscript Signed” Usually a lengthier text, no salutation, handwritten and signed by the noted individual. Ex.: a signed legal brief, a war reminiscence, etc.
A.Q.S. -“Autograph Quote, Signed” A quote of any type handwritten and signed by the noted individual.
A.M.Q.S. - “Autograph Musical Quote, Signed” One or more bars of music, with or without lyrics, handwritten and signed by the noted individual.
A.L., A.M.Q., A.Ms., A.N., A.Q. are all handwritten by the note individual, but NOT signed.
**Alexander Historical Auctions reserves the right to adjust bids to the proper increment if necessary.