The Illustration Exchange

[SableStar]

Here's how they do it---they will handle shipping if it is a comics auction --very reasonable. But a mainline auction--this one is Illustration Art, they won't. I have used the UPS store several times there and I like what they do.
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----SableStar

[garibaldi27]

is it me or is anyone else feeling dismal about the next auction. Last one most price were sky high and I didn't see anyone get any good deals rather pay higher than top dollar. Not that I want everything cheap, rather I can't afford some of those prices.

With this one being in Beverly Hills I suspect there will be more clientele that are attracted to this sort of art and have money to burn

[Braxus]

Sucks for folks like me that live in California. The 19.5% buyer's premium already hurts. Add to that a 9.25% state sales tax and I get to have pleasure of paying almost an extra 30% on top of any winning bid!

Frazetta piece has a cool 150K reserve according to the catalog that was just sent out.

[Egrove]

There are three works I'm interested in, all of which at present have seriously low price estimates but which I suspect will go for much higher. I am nonetheless optimistic that given the large number of sci-fi artworks in the auction, most of which are higher profile than the one's I'm interested in, I might be in luck. There's one work I'll break the bank to get... just hope no-one else feels the same way.

I don't think the fact the auction is in California will be a huge factor, - anyone who knows this type of work and is interested has probably been phone bidding etc in HA auctions for years anyway; - the only impact I can see will be that the number of such bidders who can attend the floor sessions in person will be increased, which perhaps increases the likelihood of last minute bidding wars as buyers get caught up in the moment.

Ed

[Crow331]

[Sebastian]

Perhaps you can just get a relative in another state to register as a bidder. Most of the bidding occurs online.

I believe a credit card is needed for full online bidding registration, but you can of course avoid any charges to the card by paying by bank wire transfer.

[Sebastian]

On the topic of 3rd party shipping, in the last 2 years I have purchased at least three paintings through their fine art Illustration auctions - rather than comic art auctions.

I have only been forced to use 3rd party shipping once - for the most recent purchase. Every other time Heritage have just shipped it themselves, and usually charged roughly the air freight cost.


My total 3rd party cost for this single painting already exceed $1100 USD - without counting customs duty. And it still hasn't arrived yet. That is about twice the current Fedex airfreight cost (which itself has recently doubled in cost).

Perhaps Heritage are just trying to improve their margins. But from my experience, 3rd party freight dramatically changes the economics for international bidders.

[Crow331]

Now here's a question ...

we all know that it's legal in Texas for Heritage to bid on their own items, but this doesn't apply to California. I would be real interested in knowing if the practice continues and I'm sure a few of the people who started lawsuits against Heritage would like to know as well !

[Ray Tolomeo]

Terms and conditions of sale remain the same as before. Reference numbers 13, 21, and 22 in the back of the catalog.

[Crow331]

They can write that in the catalog all the want, but I don't know how they can actually continue the practice in a state where it is illegal to do so.

[SableStar]

I just got back from previewing the art at the upcoming Heritage auction. This is a bit over 100 miles each way for me and today the traffic was unbelievable both ways--over 3 hours each way (and spending an hour there). But it was worth the effort--it does help to see the pieces when possible. Like most of us, I usually buy off pictures, but sometimes it is nice to see what pieces are a bit dull (aged paint maybe, not dull in subject) and which ones sparkle. Of the ones I was watching, 2 were significantly larger than I envisioned and one looked absolutely amazing in person, whereas I was only giving it passing attention online. One piece was significantly smaller.

But here's what blew me away. The showing was from 12-5 (we were invited to a wine and cheese showing this monday night, but who could make that trip?--well, I'm sure some can). We were there from 1:15 to 2:15 prime time---and we were the only people there. I was quite surprised by this--expected to at least run into Gregg. I guess most people just tackle it online like I usually do. It's pretty clear, seeing them all, that pinup is the core of the auction. Some good sci-fi/fantasy and some (more) just average. The Frazetta is nice, relatively small. All in all, I have a few targets and it should be interesting.
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----SableStar

[Sebastian]

Thanks for the impressions. The early bidding has been rather subdued.

I am starting to think we were going to see a huge flurry of extravagant floor bids - just like the auction in Feb.

[Ray Tolomeo]

I should be there for the auction on Thursday if anyone else is going to be around.

[scribe]

[Sebastian]

The lack of additional bids (so far) for the Frazetta painting is interesting.

Maybe my number crunching is off, but it seems hard to imagine that anyone could truly expect to pick it up for less than that reserve price.

Then again, there are still plenty of paintings without any bids at all.