Bidding

Attending a gallery auction in person can be an exciting and rewarding experience. However, if that is not possible, PBA accepts bids in a number of ways (See Ways to Bid) which are used competitively against all other bidders. Detailed descriptions in our print and online catalogues combined with the high resolution online images for each item mean that clients are able to bid remotely with confidence. We are always happy to provide additional details by phone or email. PBA Galleries treats all bids and bidders confidentially. We do not share bidding information with anyone, including other bidders and consignors.

Some bidders may desire to have their bid executed by a third party. There are many reputable book dealers in the San Francisco area that can do this. These dealers can also examine the items in detail and give an opinion of value. A good place to search for such a dealer is the membership directory of the Antiquarian Booksellers Association of America (ABAA).

Our bid increments are:

$0 – $200 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$10

$200 – $500 . . . . . . . . . . . . .$25

$500 – $1000 . . . . . . . . . . . .$50

$1000 – $2000 . . . . . . . . . . .$100

$2000 – $5000 . . . . . . . . . . .$250

$5000 – $10,000 . . . . . . . . . $500

$10,000 – $20,000 . . . . . . . .$1000

$20,000 – $50,000 . . . . . . . .$2500

$50,000 +. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$5000 or at the Auctioneer’s Discretion

The final sale amount includes the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium of 20% for the first $100,000 and 15% for the amount over $100,000. Our buyer’s premium is amongst the lowest in the industry.

For more information regarding buying at a PBA auction, please see our Buying Guide.