NPS AUCTION: PRACTICES AND PROCEDURES

1. Only members of the NPS can place items in the auction.

2. If possible, items for the auction should be given to the auctioneer at some meeting prior to the auction night. Otherwise, so long as the auction is not filled, items may be brought on auction night, preferably by 6:00pm to allow time for them to be written up.

3. Anyone in attendance during the auction, member or not, may bid and buy at the auction.

4. Payment must be made at the close of the auction.

5. Payment must be made in cash; only by agreement with the auctioneer can payment be made by check; the reason for this is that the payment is immediately made to the seller if he or she is present.

6. On any given auction night, each seller is limited to five items in the auction unless some room in the auction remain unfilled by the sellers.

7. NPS does not at the present time charge any fee or percentage of the auction sales.

8. When preparing an item for the auction, the seller should prepare an information “tag” that includes some identification of the item, a minimum bid, and the name of the owner/seller. This “tag” should be on the outside of any packaging so that the Lot Number can be written on it by the auctioneer.

9. An unsold item may remain in the auction for two additional times (total of three). After that, it will be withdrawn and returned to the seller.

10.A seller may withdraw an item, or change the minimum bid, only upon informing the auctioneer.

Suggestions for the best returns at auction

· Be aware that the members of the NPS are generally interested in “bargains.” Price your items

accordingly.

· You will help yourself by including important information. Identify the items for sale a precisely

as possible (Scott # for example), and if there is a “standard” catalog value (Scott or Brookman,

for example), give it. If the stamps are relatively modern US that will be evaluated primarily by

face value, express that value. Indicate whether used or mint (and if mint, whether hinged or

never hinged). Potential buyers need to know to evaluate the item and thus whether they want to

bid a given amount.

· In identifying the item for sale, indicate any known faults.

· If you have other questions, please feel free to ask the auctioneer: he’s no expert either!

P.S. If you arrive on auction night before the auctioneer, please leave the tables empty near the front of the room so that he can immediately put out the items he has already prepared; and wait until he has done this before expecting him to give attention to items that you are bringing.