Conditions of Sale
Terms of Sale
The auction will be a two-day sale, beginning at 10:00 AM (Eastern Time) on Saturday, April 8, 2017 and concluding on Sunday, April 9, 2017 beginning at 10:00 AM (Eastern Time). The auction may be delayed at the discretion of the auctioneer. The on-line Invaluable and Liveauctioneer componens are an important part of this auction. Failure to connect with Invaluable will be deemed a reason to delay the start of this auction.
Bidders may participate in this auction through Invaluable's or Liveauctioneer's live auction service. To utilize this service you must pre-register with Invaluable or Liveauctioneer at least 24 hours before the auction. This catalog will be on their sites in March. Please visit http://www.invaluable.com to register and be assigned a user name and password.
You may purchase any lot being auction EARLY and end the auction for that item. You must agree to pay the high estimate plus the buyer premium and there can be no earlier bids on the lot. Call or email if you wish to exercise this option.
We will be pleased to contact you by phone from our office if you want to participate in the auction live. We are unable to accept incoming calls but we would be pleased to have a representative contact you on the day of the auction before lots in which you are interested are offered. Please call us early and not later than two hours before the auction to reserve a phone line for this service. We will not display bids on our web site nor will it be possible to bid through our web site during the auction.
Consignors may not bid on their own material nor have others bid on their behalf. All bidders will be registered and must attest that they will not engage in "shill" bidding (bidding to increase the price without any intention of buying the lot). Violators of these provisions will be exempted from this auction and will be prohibited from ever bidding in future Written Word Autographs auctions.
The winner will always be the high bidder. Lots will not be reopened after the hammer for any reason.
Bids will generally not be accepted for any amount less the "low estimate" for any lot. Please be aware that most lots carry a reserve beneath which the lot will riot be sold. The low estimate is always equal to or less than the consignor's reserve.
Bidding will proceed in the following increments:
Bidding Level Increment
$100 to $500 $20
$501 to $1,000 $50
$1,001 to $5,000 $100
Over $5,000 $500
All bids will be opened at either the highest bid or the minimum estimated value, the minimum estimated value or one increment above the second highest ceiling bid. For example if bids of $200 and $500 are left for a lot with an estimate value of $200 to $400 the opening bid would be $220, one increment ($20) above the minimum. Absent any further bidding the lot would be sold to the $500 bidder for $220. Instances where there is a single bid in excess of the minimum, the lot will be opened one increment above the lowest estimate. For example a bid of $400 on a lot with a minimum value of $300 would force an opening bid of $320.
There is a 20% buyer premium for all bids, whether by mail, telephone, email or live bid on Invaluable.
All autographs are unconditionally guaranteed to be authentic by The Written Word Autographs. Any item may be returned for a full refund for any reason as long as it is returned in the same condition as sold within 30 days of having been received. There is no time limit for returns of items that prove not to be authentic, to the original buyer. If another recognized authenticator does not share our opinion about the authenticity of any item you purchase from us we will definitely issue a full refund for the purchase price, including the buyer's premium and shipping. The authenticator needs to state in writing the specific reason that they feel it is not genuine i.e. that the item is a forgery, secretarial, autopen or a printed example. Cash refunds will be given up to six months after our sale, credit against future purchases will be issued on any return after that time.
Illustrations on our website are actual representations of the item being auctioned. No framed or matted material being sold has been inspected out of the frame or mat.
Payment is due upon receipt of our invoice. Winning bidders are liable for the buyer's premium if they renege on their obligation. Payment may be by check, money order or major credit card. Lots will not be shipped until payment has been received. All material will be shipped by United States Postal Service and fully insured. Foreign shipments will be sent by International Priority Express at a cost of $40.00. Domestic shipments valued over $5,000 will be shipped by Registered Mail; all other shipments will be by Priority Mail, insured. The following shipping charges will be added to winning bids:
Shipping Terms
Shipment Total Shipping Charge
$ 50 to $ 99
$10
$15
$101 to $500 $18
$501 to $1,000 $25
$1,000 to $5,000 $30
Over $5,000 $40
Oversized and framed items and international shipments will be priced separately according to the actual shipping cost.
