Facts about our auctions

Auctions

Our auctions take place twice a year in the bel étage of our head office at Kurfürstendamm 200 in Berlin. At the so called Lucullus House – which after several renovations is one of the most beautiful houses at the Kudamm – auctioneer Elisabetha Schlegel leads competently and humorously through the auctions.
The auction is public and voluntary. The lots are processed chronologically, as listed in our catalogue. The sale will be made to the highest bidder. Bids can be made on-the-spot, in writing, via fax, by phone or via a commission agent. We will be happy to provide further information about your options.

Auction catalogue

The lots are presented in a high quality, full color catalogue. Additionally, almost all single lots will be depicted in our online catalogue. Our catalogues are produced with great attention to detail and reach an international circle of buyers. They are shipped to consignors and buyers about 4 weeks prior to the auction date. Request our catalogue to find out more about us.

Bids

Bids can be made on the spot, in writing, via fax, by phone, online or via a commission agent. We will be happy to provide further information about your options. We would ask you to use the bid form at the front of the catalogue. You also can download this form as a pdf-file. It is also possible to bid directly via our online catalogue! We would be grateful if you could send your bids in time.

Feel free to make your bid for the full amount you would be prepared to pay.Written bids will be handled with the utmost care and in protection of interest. Bids marked „best“, „in any case“ do not carry an absolute right to knockdown. Knockdown is not given on the basis of the highest price bid but in accordance with the bidding increments. Bids on lots without a calling price will receive knock down for prices of up to 100.- Euro to the highest bidder. For prices of more than 100.- Euro, knock down will be to the nearest higher bidding increment. The minimum bid is 5 Euro. Phone bids during the auction are possible, provided these have been arranged for with us in advance.

The sale will be made to the highest bidder.

Commission rate

We gladly grant an individual commission rate (according to the type and volume of your consignment). Please contact us; we will take time to advise you on that matter.

Commission for referrals

Referrals are always welcome, and if a contract is signed, you will receive a generous commission.

Complaints

Any objection or complaint will have to be made within 10 days of the handover / delivery. Any objected lots have to be returned in their original condition and with their original lot card. Affixation of examination marks by acknowledged experts will not be considered a deviation from the original condition. In exceptional cases, the deadline for objections may be extended, if this is previously agreed upon with the auctioneer.

In justified objection cases the buyer will receive a full refund of the sale price, provided the lot in question is returned. Any further claims are precluded. Lots won through giving an incorrect lot number cannot be objected to.

Consignment

You may consign goods for auction at any time; however, it would be helpful if you could give us notice some time in advance so that we can go over the details of your consignment together. If you want to submit larger objects we can arrange for pick-up by one of our employees.

Dates

For information on the viewing, the procedure of the auction, on the consignment and other deadlines please look at the right bar ("Current events").

Please contact us and we will be happy to assist you in this matter.

Examination

In order to achieve the best possible price, specialties and rarities are examined, tested or certified by highly qualified associated examiners. A current list of associated examiners can be found on the website or in the appendix of the corresponding Michel catalogue. Should you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact us.

Hammer price

The sale will be made to the highest bidder.The auctioneer, in consideration of the consignee’s best interests, has the right to refuse the knockdown, to withdraw lots, in special circumstances to re-group lots. The bidding increments (subject to change) are as follows: up to 100,- € = 5,- € / above 100,- € = 10,- € / above 500,- € = 20,- € / above 1000,- € = 50,- € / above 2000,- € = 100,- € / above 5000,- € = 200,- € / above 10000,- € = 500,- €. In case of bids of equal value, the order in which they were received decides.

Knockdown constitutes a binding sale, with it the risk transfer to the buyer; ownership on the other hand does not pass until full payment has been received.

Handling

Upon receipt of your material we determine an estimated value. The lots are taken into commission and will be stored safely and accordingly in our facilities. Our philatelic and numismatic specialists will describe your consignment with greatest care. The estimations will be made according to the market situation. The description of the lots and the respective pictures will be incorporated in to our catalogue.

Hotel reservation

If you need a hotel reservation please contact our office. It will be our pleasure to assist you.

Insurance

The material delivered to the auctioneer will be kept in specially secured rooms and treated with special care. The auctioneer insures it against the ordinary risks of transportation and storage at the expense of the consignor. The insurance rate for the storage will amount to 0.5 percent of the bid price.

You are welcome to send us your material and we provide an insurance for the shipping:

- Domestic: up to 25.000,-€ (regular parcel)

- International: up to 25.000,- € (by registered parcel with decleration of value 500,- €)

Contact us for further information please call. Please register in writing 2-3 days prior to the package sending – e.g. by post card, fax or e-mail.

Limiting your order

You are interested in several lots, but you do not want to spend more than a certain total amount? Then simply use our free “Maximum-Service”, allowing you to make your bids with ease and confidence and without worrying.
Bid on all lots which are of interest to you and then set the limit for the amount you are prepared to spend (this way you define your financial maximum at the end of the order process).Thus you can rest assured that your budget will not be exceeded.

List of results

The results of our auctions will be published on our website a day after the auction took place. Additionally, all catalogue recipients, bidders and buyers receive this list in written form or as an email newsletter. Please notice that this list – due to the subsequent sale (about 4-6 weeks) – is subject to frequent change. Please contact us for the most current version!

Online catalogue

All single lots, some selected parts of collections and the available certificates for single lots of this auction are pictured in our online-catalogue.

Payment

Your final settlement will be made about 6 weeks after the auction. Payment can be made according to your preferences.

Payment conditions

Important instructions for our customers, living outside of Europe: Invoice payable to the following account, in EURO currency only!

Account Holder:

Schlegel Berliner Auktionshaus für Philatelie GmbH, Kurfürstendamm 200, 10719 Berlin

Bank Account Details:

IBAN: DE89 1005 0000 6000 0124 10
BIC (SWIFT): BELADEBE

Bank Name & Address:

Landesbank Berlin AG, Alexanderplatz 2, 10178 Berlin, Germany

Ways of Payment:

We prefer to obtain the amount by remittance (telegraphic transfer, T/T).
We accept cash remittances on sender’s risk when sent in a registered letter.

Please state as reference – irrespective from the way of payment - your customer number and the invoice number.

Payment by installments

We permit payment by installments when the knock down price is appropriate. This does however require a written arrangement prior to the auction.

Payment in advance

We offer advance payment corresponding with the typical conditions in our sector.

Photocopies / Information / Viewing Consignments

Feel free to take advantage of our photocopy service! We will be happy to provide you with photocopies of any single lot which may interest you. Please use the order form for this service (you can download it here as a pdf-file). Please enclose 0.25 Euro for each single lot in valid stamps or cash. Please do not forget to include return postage of 1.50 Euro or a stamped self-addressed envelope. Photocopies or lists of collections can only be provided under certain circumstances. We provide digital scans of our lots as well (as far as technically possible).

If you do not have the time or opportunity to come to Berlin yourself we will be happy to help you. Just contact us! Our expert staff will be happy to answer questions and describe the collections you are interested in. Please give us a call and cite the lot numbers in question to arrange an appointment. We look forward to your call. During the week prior to the auction viewing consignments are no longer possible as all lots have to be available for public viewing.

Viewing consignments can, upon request, be ordered immediately upon receipt of the catalogue at the recipients cost and risk, provided that the recipient guarantees a timely return within 24 hours. In case of any return out of time, the recipient is liable to the full extent of the knockdown price achieved. Lot consisting of mint stamps as well as collections and large lots will not be send out for viewing. Customers not known to the auctioneers will be asked to name verifiable references. We charge 6 euros (package)/ 3.50 euros (registered mail) plus 1.50 Euros (per 1.000 Euros insurance). It is not possible to send viewing consignments in the week of the auction.

The processing: From consignment to the final settlement

After you handed in your consignment you will receive a provisional confirmation. The material delivered to the auctioneer will be kept in specially secured rooms and treated with special care. The auctioneer insures it against the ordinary risks of transportation and storage at the expense of the consignor. The auctioneer is free to classify and describe the consigned objects according to his professional judgment, even differently from the receipt. The auctioneer establishes the estimated prices for the consigned items according to the market situation.
After the catalogue has been printed, you will receive a definitive confirmation stating your lot number as well as a copy of the catalogue. Shortly after the auction, you will receive a detailed provisional final result. The settlement is about 6 weeks after the auction, subject to the receipt of the auction proceeds. Prior to payment by the buyer, the consignor is not entitled to his own payment of the auction proceeds.

Purchase

If you intend to sell your stamps, collection or even whole estates, then you’ll succeed here. We provide free consultancy and determine the purchase value after examining your goods. Payment is made in cash or via bank transfer.

Viewing

All lots can be viewed Schlegel, Kurfürstendamm 200. Usually, the viewings take place 1-2 weeks before our auctions (see "current events"). Don’t miss the opportunity to take a look at the rich and varied selection of stamps, coins, etc. we offer at each auction. Please contact us, if you would like to reserve a table for the viewings. If you plan on viewing a substantial volume of lots, please contact us beforehand, and we have them available at your arrival.

If you are unable to come to the viewings, please contact our specialists. They will be happy to provide you with information about the lots which interest you. We look forward to your call!