TERMS OF SALE

  1. ALL LOTS IN THIS AUCTION ARE OFFERED WITHOUT RESERVE. All bids are per lot as described in this catalogue. The right is reserved to withdraw any lot prior to sale, to divide a lot, or to group two or more lots belonging to the same vendor. The auctioneer shall regulate the bidding on the floor. The auctioneer reserves the right to reject any bid. In the event of any dispute, his decision shall be final.
  2. The highest bidder shall prevail at one advance over the next highest bidder. Tie bids shall go to the first received. A BUYER’S PREMIUM OF 15% WILL BE ADDED TO THE HAMMER (SELLING) PRICE AND BECOMES PART OF THE TOTAL PURCHASE PRICE.
  3. Successful FLOOR BIDDERS must pick up their lots or arrange for delivery immediately after the sale. PAYMENT IS DUE AT THIS TIME. MAIL BIDDERS known to us may have their lots forwarded for payment within three days. Others will receive an invoice immediately after the sale and must make remittance before lots are sent. Overdue accounts will be billed a 3% service charge per month. Lots not picked up and paid for after 30 days may at our discretion, be re-offered in the next available auction. Ownership shall not pass to the buyer until full payment has been received.
  4. Shipping and handling are charged to the account of the buyer. Shipments to Canada will be sent by Expedited parcel, and Xpresspost USA to the USA. Shipments up to 500g for all other destinations will be sent by registered mail, over 500g will be sent by Xpresspost International where available.
  5. In our opinion, all lots are as described. If a prospective purchaser wishes to obtain another expert opinion - acceptable to us - on a lot (not including mixed lots or collections containing undescribed stamps), he must request an extension in writing before the time of the auction (on the bid sheet is acceptable). Lots sold under this condition shall be held open for up to 120 days, after which the lot will not be returnable for any reason. Items that already have such certificates are sold on the basis of those certificates (unless otherwise stated in the description). Expenses for certificates shall be borne by the purchaser. If a negative opinion is received within the 120 days, the purchase price will be refunded in full, and the expertising fee (to a maximum of $40) will be paid by us. All lots sent on extension must be paid for under our normal terms. The inability of an expert committee to render an opinion on a lot is insufficient grounds for its return.
  6. Claims for errors in description, including condition, must be made within 7 days after receipt, but no later than 45 days after the auction. Stamps returned must be in the state received and must be sent by registered mail or bonded courier. Lots back stamped, marked or encapsulated by experts or expert committees are not returnable. It is the purchaser’s responsibility not to let this happen. Stamps described as having defects are not returnable on account of their condition. No lots may be returned by bidders who have had an opportunity to examine, or an agent, view them on their behalf before the sale, nor any stamps which have been photographed for perforations, centering, margins or cancellations. All stamps photographed in colour are reproduced with extreme care as to accuracy of colour and shade, however stamps photographed in colour may not be returned because of shade differences between the lot and photograph.
  7. All lots are sold in CANADIAN FUNDS. Lots delivered in Canada will be charged G.S.T. also O.S.T. in Ontario, and H.S.T. in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador. For the convenience of our American clients, U.S. funds will be accepted at a rate of exchange to be determined on the day of the sale and announced at the opening of the sale. If you wish to pay in U.S. funds, please pay the amount stated on your invoice.
  8. QUALITY RATINGS. Superb, extremely fine, very fine, fine to very fine, fine, very good, and good. The word ALMOST preceding the quality rating - as for example in "almost very fine" - means that the quality is better than fine but not quite very fine.
  9. CATALOGUE NUMBERS, OWNERS CATALOGUE AND VALUES used are from the most currently available edition of Scott’s standard postage stamp catalogue, and are quoted in US dollars. For B.N.A. material, numbers and values are from the current edition of the Unitrade Canada Specialized Catalogue (abbreviated UCS) and are in Canadian dollars, with appropriate premiums. When we catalogue a collection we omit all obviously faulty, damaged, faked or forged stamps; our count of the stamps and catalogue value will be a conservative calculation. Owners sometimes catalogue every stamp or portion thereof, regardless of quality. We accept no responsibility for these valuations. Errors may occur nevertheless and (in spite of all our careful work) all collections are sold "as is".
  10. AGENTS BIDDING ON BEHALF OF OTHERS If you have complicated bids to be executed or wish an outside opinion as to the value and condition of a lot we shall be pleased to furnish a list of agents. If you instruct your agent to bid on the basis of our descriptions, we presume that he has inspected the lot and agrees with our description in executing your bid.
  11. This sale is conducted by and for the account of R. Maresch & Son Auctions Limited.

THE PLACING OF A BID SHALL CONSTITUTE ACCEPTANCE OF THESE TERMS OF SALE.

AUCTION CATALOGUES AND PRICES REALIZED
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please request a subscription

ABBREVIATES

ACSC -Australian Commonwealth Specialists’
B.O.B. - Back of the Book
 c.d.s. -circular date stamp
CS - Canada Specialized
FDC - First Day Cover
f-v.f. - fine to very fine
g - good
h.h. - heavily hinged
h.r. - hinge remnant
hs - handstamp
l.h. - lightly hinged		 LL - lower left
LR - lower right
Mi - Michel
ms - manuscript
n.h. - never hinged
o.g. - original gum
PP - plate position
R&S - Reiche & Sendbuehler
S.G. - Stanley Gibbons
"SON"- socked-on-nose		 U.C.S. - Unitrade Canada Specialized
UL - upper left
UR - upper right
v.g. - very good
v.f. - very fine
v.l.h. - very lightly hinged
Y&T - Yvert & Tellier Catalogue
€ - Euro
£ - British Pound Sterling
¥ - Japanese Yen
Zum - Zumstein Switzerland Specialized Catalogue

SYMBOLS

- original gum, never hinged
- mint with original gum
- no gum or regummed
- mint and used
- used
- cover or card
- essay
- literature
- proof
- forgery


PHOTOCOPIES AND SCANS
Copies of smaller lots (no large collections) can be sent. 
 BY E-MAIL, FAX, or MAIL the first page $6.00 with each additional page at $1.00 each. Postage additional.
We regret that requests for copies or scans without pre-payment – MasterCard, Visa can’t be processed. 
Please email your request to: Tony Maresch

 

Shipping to USA and International

In an attempt to keep the high cost of shipping down, for you the customer, we will be using the following shipping methods as our standard for the appropriate countries.

USA - All packages sent to the USA will be shipped via Xpresspost USA.

INTERNATIONAL - All packages up to 500 gms (1 lb) will be sent via Security Registered mail. Packages over 500 gms (1 lb) being sent to the Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Brazil, Cayman Is, Chile, China, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Grenada, Guyana, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Korea (South), Luxembourg, Malaysia, Morocco, Netherlands and Antilles, New Zealand, Norway, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria and Taiwan will be sent via Xpresspost - International.

- Packages over 500 gms (1 lb) being sent to countries other than those listed will be sent via FedEx.

A tax ID (Receiver's U.S. (IRS) Internal Revenue Service number or Social Security number) is required by the US Bureau of Customs and Border Protection for all shipments to the USA for items valued over US $200, a day time phone number is also required for all shipments leaving Canada.

We can, if preferred, send items via FEDEX or UPS if requested (preferably at time of bidding).
All packages sent outside of Canada require a daytime phone number.



  • FOREIGN EXCHANGE

    We are a Canadian company and our prices are in CANADIAN FUNDS. 
     For the convenience of our many customers living in the United States of America and overseas, on our invoices, we quote the equivalent amount in U.S. funds. THE BUYER MAY CHOOSE EITHER THE U.S. OR THE CANADIAN AMOUNT, BUT THEY ARE NOT PERMITTED TO MAKE THEIR OWN EXCHANGE RATE. We balance the sale on amounts printed on the invoice. Please note that we are not in the foreign currency business and we only wish to assist buyers in making it easier to remit payment to us.

    The value of the Canadian dollar changes almost every day against all other foreign currencies, and it may change by several cents inside a month. The approximate exchange rate, quoted in newspapers, is based on million dollar transactions and differs quite a bit from the amount banks charge to buy or sell smaller amounts.

     


    METHODS OF PAYMENT

    BANK DRAFTS – Payable at any Canadian or United States bank, at par in Toronto.
    BANK TRANSFERS – When paying invoices by bank transfers, wires, etc., please make note on correspondence to our bank – to “PAY AND CREDIT THE ACCOUNT OF R. MARESCH & SON AUCTIONS LTD.” ROYAL BANK OF CANADA, 20 King Street West Branch, 20 King Street west – Lower Level, Toronto, ON M5H 1C4 CANADA. Money must be wired to our bank with all service charges pre-paid. Account and transit numbers will be sent at time of invoicing if this method of payment is desired.
    PERSONAL CHEQUE – in Canadian or U.S. funds only, drawn on a Canadian or U.S. bank respectively. Personal cheques must be from a bank inside either Canada or the United States.
    VISA or MASTERCARD – Please state the account number and expiry date. (There is a 3% handling charge in our Public Auctions.)
    POSTAL MONEY ORDER – In Canadian funds payable at par in Toronto (please advise us when you have made payment in this manner, as it can take a month to reach us.)

    We regret that we are unable to accept payments by Euro-cheques or personal cheques in any other currency, drawn on any other banks. Canadian financial institutions will not credit our accounts when depositing such cheques. They must be sent out for collection, a process that takes up to 4 to 6 months, as well as charging us for collection expenses that run from $60 upwards per cheque.