Descriptions:
A.L.S. – Autograph Letter Signed (a letter entirely in the hand of the person named and signed)
T.L.S. – Typed Letter Signed (a type written letter signed by the person named)
L.S. – Letter signed (a letter in the hand of a secretary, although signed by the person named)
D.S. – Document Signed (a document, either printed or in the hand of a secretary, although signed by the person named)
F.D.C. – First Day Cover
M.S. – Manuscript
A.Q.S. – Autograph Quotation Signed
A.M.Q.S. – Autograph Musical Quotation Signed
A.N.S. – Autograph Note Signed
F.D.C. – First Day Cover
n.d. – no date
n.p. – no place
Carte-de-visite - A popular form of mass produced mounted photographs invented in France, originally used as calling or visiting cards. Carte-de-visites, similar to the cabinet photograph, but smaller were popular in the nineteenth century. The standard size is about 2½” by 4½”
Cabinet Photograph – A photograph, usually measuring 4 ½ inches by 6 ½ inches, mounted on a card that provides narrow margins at the top and sides although with a deeper margin at the base where the name of the photographer would appear. These photographs were popular in the nineteenth century. Sometimes these photographs were issued in a larger size, known as Imperial Cabinet photographs.
Free Front – An address panel or the addressed front of an envelope signed by a Member of Parliament for free postage. (Also known as free frank)
Integral Leaf – A leaf of a letter joined to that on which the message is written. Quite often the integral leaf will include the address of the recipient as the leaf was originally folded around the message leaf to act as an envelope.
Paraph – A flourish or swirl that appears beneath a signature.
Third Person - A letter or document in which the personality refers to himself in the third person, for example: “Mr. Churchill presents his compliments to Mr. Chamberlain…”
Vellum – An animal skin, often from a sheep or calf, that was especially prepared for issuing written documents.
Measurements:
All measurements are in inches, horizontal measurements are given first and the paper sizes used in our catalogues are:
12mo – approximately 3 x 5 inches
8vo – approximately 5 x 7 inches
4to – approximately 8 x 10 inches
Folio – approximately 8 x 11 inches
Condition:
We would recommend that buyers satisfy themselves personally with the condition of each lot, however the following abbreviations are used in the descriptions as a guide to the condition:
EX – Excellent
VG – Very Good
G – Good
FR – Fair
P – Poor
VR – Varying condition
Foxing – Light brown stains of mold that sometimes appear on older paper, the spots apparently though to resemble a fox’s paw prints.
Silvering – A term for the process of oxidation that sometimes occurs with older photographs causing some discoloration, particularly evident at the edges.
Please also note that * at the end of a description indicates an approximate count.
Items being described as matted or framed and glazed have not been inspected out of their frames and the condition is only given on the appearance of the piece as viewed in the frame.
General:
Auction – The process by which an item is sold publically to the highest bidder.
Bid - The amount of money a buyer is willing to spend to purchase a particular lot at auction.
Buyer’s Premium – charge added to the Hammer Price to be paid to the auction house by the Buyer
Commission Bid – A procedure which allows a bidder to participate in the bidding process without being physically present.
Consignment – items sent for sale at auction
Consignor (or Vendor) – the person that put the object up for sale
Estimate – an educated guess of the auction house of what a lot should sell for
Hammer Price – price of an item before Buyer’s Premium and any other appropriate charges have been added. Also referred to as the ‘price realised’
Increment – the amount by which the auctioneer will increase bids as the sale of a lot progresses.
Lot – the object or group of objects out up for sale as a unit
Paddle Number – It is a prerequisite of buying at auction that those intending to bid in person on the day of the sale register with the auctioneer in order to obtain a paddle number.
Reserve – A price set by the vendor that buyer’s must meet before the seller is obligated to sell.
Vendor’s Commission – charge that sellers pay on any items they sell at auction. (This covers insurance, authentication, advertising, etc)
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